Chapter 42: In the Duke’s Embrace [2]

Chapter 42

The kiss was neither tentative nor brief; instead, Soren’s lips pressed against hers with a deep, consuming intensity that seemed to draw the very breath from her lungs. When the Duke finally broke the contact, he did not immediately pull away, remaining so close that his warm breath brushed against her skin. He slowly dragged his gaze over her slightly parted lips, his tongue darting out to trace his own lower lip with a slow, deliberate motion that made the gesture look incredibly predatory.

Sigrid, still draped across his lap with her skirts pooling around them, forced herself to recover her composure. She tilted her head backward to meet his intense, icy blue eyes, her chest rising and falling with a shallow, breathless rhythm. "And why, pray tell, have you launched such a sudden and unprovoked attack upon me, Duke?" she murmured, her voice carrying a laced, aristocratic amusement despite her racing pulse.

Soren’s strong arm remained securely locked around her waist, anchoring her body against his solid frame as he looked down at her with unvarnished focus. "Is there truly something so terribly wrong with a husband kissing his own Duchess, Sigrid?" he countered, his low, gravelly voice sliding over the pronunciation of her name with a possessive weight.

Sigrid let out a soft, amused sigh, her lips curving into a graceful smile. "No, I suppose there is not," she replied smoothly, resting her hands against his broad shoulders. "It merely caught me entirely off guard. Given your formidable reputation and the frosty nature of our initial interactions, I had quite reasonably imagined you to be a man of a rather celibate disposition."

Soren’s gaze softened by a fraction, a trace of genuine amusement flickering in his eyes. "Do not make me sound so pitiful," he murmured. "However, I must admit it is entirely my own fault that you harbor such an impression. I have neglected to properly attend to you during these first few days of our living under the same roof, but I assure you, I was merely buried under the urgent administrative duties of the northern border."

Sigrid’s smile widened, her crimson eyes gleaming with a dangerous, playful light. "Who could have possibly predicted that the cold, unyielding Iron Duke of Aethermor actually harbored such worldly desires?" she teased, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

Soren did not flinch under her mockery; instead, he leaned in a fraction closer, his gaze steady and serious. "Even though I have openly admitted that I do not comprehend the intricacies of love, you remain an exceptionally beautiful woman, Duchess," he stated with a blunt, refreshing honesty. "And I must candidly confess that keeping my hands off you is proving to be a far more difficult task than I initially anticipated."

Sigrid’s eyes widened slightly in genuine surprise, and she let out a delighted, melodic laugh that echoed softly off the high mahogany bookshelves. Internally, she was thoroughly astonished by his lack of pretense; how could a man of his station simply voice such carnal admissions with absolutely no shame or hesitation? In her previous life, Prince Ragnar had never displayed such raw, unvarnished honesty. Whenever Ragnar had entered her bedchamber, he would cloak his base desires in grand, patronizing speeches, constantly whispering that he was attending to her out of sheer pity and royal benevolence, utilizing intimacy as a tool to manipulate her devotion.

Shaking off the brief, bitter ghost of the past, Sigrid gracefully slid down from Soren’s lap, her boots meeting the floorboards as she meticulously smoothed the fine silks of her skirts. She looked down at him, her posture returning to that of a poised noblewoman. "In that case, I shall remind you that I am exclusively yours to command, my Lord," she said, her voice dropping into a sultry, teasing register. "You may do with me as you wish." Internally, she mused that while this alliance was forged purely to facilitate her bloody vengeance, there was absolutely no reason she could not enjoy the physical fruits of having such an attractive, attentive husband.

Dropping into a flawless, shallow curtsey, Sigrid offered him a bright, sweet smile. "However, the hour has grown remarkably late, and I find myself quite famished after our journey. I would highly prefer to retire to the dining hall for dinner." Soren glanced toward the dark arched window, noting the pitch-black sky before rising to his feet with an easy, lethal grace. He stepped to her side and offered his arm. "Yes, of course," he agreed, his voice regaining its usual authoritative calm. "Let us proceed to the dining room." Sigrid placed her hand lightly upon his forearm, appreciating the solid warmth beneath his dark sleeve. As they walked down the quiet, torch-lit corridors, Soren looked down at her. "Our conversation tonight was exceedingly pleasant, Duchess," he remarked.

"Indeed, it was, Your Grace," Sigrid replied, her mind already shifting to the long game ahead.

Upon entering the grand dining hall, Soren stepped forward to personally pull out a heavy, high-backed chair for Sigrid, waiting until she was comfortably seated before taking his own place directly opposite her. Moments later, the heavy oak doors opened, and Lilith entered carrying a silver tray laden with Sigrid’s dinner, followed closely by a quiet estate maid who placed a hearty, steaming portion of roasted meats before the Duke. They began to eat in a comfortable, companionable silence, the tension of the capital finally beginning to drain from the room. Just as they were finishing their meal, the heavy double doors creaked open once more, and Orion strode into the dining hall, his expression exceptionally grim as he marched toward the head of the table. Without uttering a word, the commander presented a sealed, urgent missive to the Duke. Sigrid watched closely, her sharp eyes catching the subtle, immediate stiffening of Soren’s shoulders the moment his gaze scanned the parchment.

Soren folded the paper, tucking it securely into his tunic as he rose from his chair. He walked to Sigrid’s side, bending down to press a firm, lingering kiss against her cheek—a gesture of open, domestic affection that caused both Orion and Lilith to instantly stiffen, their expressions freezing in absolute shock. Sigrid had to exert immense self-control to keep from laughing aloud at the sheer comedy of their horrified, wide-eyed reactions. "I must leave immediately to attend to an urgent matter, Sigrid," Soren said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Sigrid simply nodded, offering him a serene smile. "Of course, Your Grace. Do what you must."

With a final, lingering look, the Duke swept out of the dining hall, Orion trailing closely in his wake. Sigrid rose from the table, gesturing for Lilith to follow as she made her way back to her private chambers. The moment they crossed the threshold and the heavy doors shut behind them, Sigrid began to unlace her tight traveling boots and slip off her leather gloves. Through the reflection of the silver vanity mirror, she could see Lilith hovering near the wardrobe, her hands fidgeting nervously as she desperately tried to summon the courage to speak. "Out with it, Lilith," Sigrid commanded smoothly, not bothering to turn around. "You look as though you are about to burst."

Lilith let out a startled gasp before dropping into a quick, apologetic curtsey. "Forgive my impertinence, milady!" she squeaked. "But... when exactly did you and the Duke become so incredibly close?"

Sigrid tapped a finger against her chin, a small, amused smile playing on her lips. "Hmm. Today, I believe," she answered nonchalantly.

Lilith’s eyes practically popped out of her head. "Today?!" she exclaimed, her usual proper decorum completely dissolving.

Sigrid turned around, raising an elegant eyebrow. "Yes. Is there some sort of legal or moral boundary preventing such rapid progress?"

Lilith quickly waved her hands in panic. "No, no, of course not, milady! It is just... it is an exceptionally short amount of time to have the ruthless warlord of the North kissing your cheek like a doting, loving husband!"

Sigrid chuckled softly, the sound rich and entirely unbothered. "Your surprise is entirely understandable, Lilith, but do not mistake these physical gestures for genuine, deep-seated love. However, we are legally wed, and as such, we shall continue to engage in such marital activities."

Lilith bowed her head, her face flushing slightly. "Yes, of course, milady. Let me go prepare your hot bath immediately." Sigrid nodded. "Go. I shall begin undressing."

As the maid scurried into the adjoining washroom, Sigrid slowly began to shed her heavy garments, her mind instantly returning to the profound revelations Soren had shared in the library. If Maria was indeed one of the "Gifted," cursed or blessed with the ability to see only her highly idealized, desired future, then her entire tactical advantage was severely limited. She cannot see beyond the moment she claims the crown and orchestrates my death, Sigrid calculated, a cold, vicious satisfaction settling deep within her chest. She knows absolutely nothing of my rebirth, nor does she possess any memory of my reign as the ruthless, iron-fisted Queen. She does not know how many lives I claimed, how powerful I became, or how I ruled with a blade. Maria only knew the surface-level details of the original timeline, and she had likely foreseen Soren’s future treason against the crown, believing she could use that knowledge to doom them both. Sigrid stepped out of her remaining silk undergarments just as Lilith called out that the bath was ready. A slow, chilling smile spread across Sigrid’s face as she walked toward the steaming water. It did not matter what petty details Maria thought she knew; it would not change the ultimate outcome. Sigrid stepped into the hot bath, her eyes glowing like hot coals in the dim light. She would still burn the capital to ash.

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Sorry for inconsistent updates guys, I’ve been very busy but now that we’re in summer break, I will make sure to upload Chapters everyday and this is a promise. Keep supporting me guys.