Chapter 10: he doesn't exist for me

This wasn't a joke or taunt. I was being completely serious. I no longer wanted anything to do with a man who behaved this way.

But his aura of suspicion remained. I spoke once again to clear his doubts, "after trying so many times, I finally realized how useless all of it was. No matter how much I sought your attention, all you gave me was a disgusted look. And as a proud marchioness, I will not let anyone crumple my pride, not anymore."

'Because of this affection, I died.' I added in my heart. Just like you didn't feel any affection for me, 'I also feel no affection for you now.'

"you may be suspicious of me for now, but you will realize it eventually. I can even swear upon my family's name if you want the assurance."

He still was not believing. "I seem to recall you had said that in the starting too."

'yes, I did. I had thought that you would come to me if I play hard to get.' I sighed. It was difficult to talk to you in the past and now it was difficult to get rid of you. How annoying!

I folded my hands in front of my chest, a stance women never do here. At Least not a royal lady like me, "if I truly used this situation to once again garner your attention, would I not have accepted your visit for the first time you had come to meet me?"

"if you hadn't noticed, I was trying to avoid you like you always wanted. In fact, even now, you are here uninvited." I looked at his surprised reaction and a smug smile came on my face. "And I am continuously telling you that nothing has happened. Only you are the one, who is trying to make up things on your own."

"…" finally his façade was broken, he was looking a bit shocked this time. But he didn't say anything. The suspicion hadn't fully dissipated either. He must be thinking that it was one of my new tricks.

"I fully understand your hesitation to place your trust in my words. But I guarantee you'll see the truth about them from this point on. In fact, I have a proposition right now to start atoning for my past misdeeds."

"A proposition?" he asked, looking at me sceptically.

"Why don't we sleep in separate rooms? I would not come to your chamber from now onwards." I replied with a triumph looking at his reactions.

I could see his eyes widened again. This was the first time I saw him shocked thrice in a single meeting in many years of marriage.

"Separate rooms. You won't come to my chamber now?" he repeated my words like it was an alien language he couldn't understand.

"Yes, separate rooms. If you haven't noticed enough, then I will point out that I have already stopped coming there for the past 3 days." I spoke slowly and clearly to get the message across.

Although I made a suggestion for his benefit, it was for me as it was for him. I wanted my personal space to steel my heart.

Currently, Cassius and I were sharing his chamber. He asked me many times to sleep in my chamber, but I always made excuses that people were watching and words would go out.

He still looked sceptical. I wanted to smash the cup in my hands over his head to check what exactly was inside it? How could someone be so suspicious?

When I thought he wouldn't speak anymore and sit there like a statue, he finally managed to nod. "fine, then I will hope that you get a good sleep in your chamber."

But even after speaking, he remained seated there. Staring at my eyes, as if waiting for something. 'what is it now. Do you think you will see regret in them?' ha!

"Now if you excuse me, I am tired." With that without waiting for his reply, I stood up and walked out.

It gave me peace to see his dumb expressions. Now I have to do only one more thing. I have to be a good mother for Killian to stop him from beheading me in the future.

When I entered my room, Lina followed me from behind. I eyed the innocent girl, how is she still so pure even after living in the middle of politics.

She was looking worried. I raised a brow and she bowed her head. "Lina"

"Yes, my lady," she asked, bowing further.

"Do you want to say something?" I asked, looking at her hesitating face.

"Your highness, the wound in your hands need another dressing." She replied with a quivering voice.

I looked back at my hands. The white bandage had turned red now. I nodded and signalled her to come closer.

She took the bandages and walked towards me, sitting on the floor in front of my chair. Like always her head was bowed but I could see her eyes trying to look at my expressions discreetly.

I wasn't the same 26-year-old Duchess, I could now see things more maturely. "Is there something you want to say, Lina?" I asked her and she flinched.

"Your highness, his highness will.." I raised my hand before she could say anything. I don't want to hear a single word of sympathy.

"Lina, from today onwards, I want you to apply a rule," I said slowly and clearly. Lisa's paled face indicated that my voice must be sounding threatening. But I guess it's high time to make things clear.

"yes, your highness.." she asked, waiting for further instructions.

When I was sure I had her full attention I spoke again. "I don't want his highness and his staff here in any case, no matter what. And I don't want to hear anything related to them, no matter how much bigger the matter is.. from now on he doesn't exist for me anymore."

[Hey guys, hope you are enjoying reading the book, please do comment to let me know my flaws, add it to your library for further updates. And please do vote as you all know this book is under the contest of 'villain theme' and I was on first rank late night, now I slipped to second, if you could not for next 10 days, I may win the contest. Hope you would support my work. Thank you]