Life Becomes Duke's Beloved
Armand's Decision

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Armand closed his eyes enjoying the warm water that soaked part of his body. No servant dared to look at her this morning. Something not strange. They must be witnesses to unpleasant events.

Armand even seemed to ignore them, assuming they did not exist.

"Is there anything you need again, Your Majesty?" ask the senior waiter.

"No," replied Armand coldly.

The servants only stood stiffly, even as Armand stood up and changed into clothes. Armand seemed hesitant to enter the room he was staying in with Abela. But he kept the door open. This room is a little better. It seems the servants cleaned it as fast as they could.

Abela glanced at Armand with the corner of her eyes. He sat down to enjoy his morning tea. Armand said nothing before leaving Abela alone.

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Arriving at Armand in his study in the palace. The first thing he looked for was his assistant Ray. Ray looked nervous standing in front of his boss who looked to be in a bad mood.

"Orlando Isla's. He's going on a long vacation from the academy. Send him to Duchy and have Bastian accompany him. And to Abela Isla ...." Armand mentioned his girlfriend's name in a cold tone making Ray even more nervous. "Don't let him leave the palace."

"Your Majesty ...." Ray answered his master's orders obediently. He thought something happened last night. But Ray was unable to ask Armand. He was afraid of crossing his limits as Duke's personal assistant.

Ray retreats and immediately goes to his own room. Take care of what Armand tells you. Before going to see Abela.

"You're not allowed to leave the palace, madam," Ray said cautiously.

"What about my son's vacation?" Abela's question leaves Ray confused as to what to answer. It was so obvious that Abela realized it.

"Duke orders to take him to Duchy, the young master of Bastian who will accompany the young master Orlando." Finally Ray has said honestly.

"Allah ... I will obey your master's orders" Abela replied softly.

Ray stared at Abela's neck which was covered in scarves. The scarf that was deliberately loosely placed showed a little bandage that wrapped Abela's wound.

"Madam's?" Ray frowned staring at the bandage. Yesterday the bandage wasn't on Abela's neck. "Is your neck hurt?" Ray didn't mean to ask, because somehow he didn't want to listen to Abela's answer. Not asking looks disrespectful.

"Armand drew his sword around my neck" Abela replied, smiling cynically.

Ray was silent where he stood. Wondering in what heart his master had gone mad. How could he think of unsheathing his legendary sword at an ordinary woman who was in fact his own lover.

Ray is not the only one who is surprised to hear it but also Bastian who just arrived at the entrance. Bastian's face darkened before moving from there.

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"Do you need anything?" armand asked Bastian who entered without knocking on the door.

"What's going on?" bastian asked, his eyes staring at his father sharply.

"About what?" Armand actually knew what his son was asking right now.

"Mother ... What happened to mom?"

"From today stop treating him like that. Don't go near him. And go home to Duchy and accompany Orlando." Armand gave an order to Bastian who could not even understand anything yet.

"Dad will also keep Orlando away from his mother?" Bastian said he didn't believe it. "And why?"

"That's best for you both." Armand replied with a frown.

"I can't see what's good from Dad's orders."

"Bastian, just do what I say for now." Armand said coldly.

"Dad ... Won't tell me until the end? Why can't Orlando and I go near that woman ... Or why is that woman the father of the palace brackets?"

"That woman?" Armand repeated Bastian's question.

"You ....?" Armand looked at his son. "What do you know?"

"I don't know anything ... Why would I know that Dad didn't tell me. Orlando and I can only judge what we see with our eyes. She does not look a bit like my mother. Except his face of course."

"Australia ...."

"I know ... I won't say anything more. Like you, we're also just trying to lie to ourselves." Bastian furrowed his brows. Dodging from Armand's gaze.

The expression of his teenage son before leaving his room made Armand smile thinly. Lying to yourself. Armand repeated Bastian's words.

He leaned his back. Feeling tired. His gaze was far away staring out the window. He closed his eyes remembering the madness he had done last night. If he wasn't drunk, what would have happened. For sure he would easily obliterate what he had to vanish and regret afterwards.

Which is more painful? He knows the truth now if he has lost Abela forever or right then and there. What would it be more painful if he buried Abela's body inside the coffin instead of seeing her body move and look alive but with someone else's soul. Which is better?

Armand doesn't know yet what he's going to do next. About the witch. Right now he just wants to protect what's important to him. He had no idea if the woman was dangerous or not to Bastian or Orlando.

He would only look and pay attention to the woman first. If the goal is really just to destroy his body. Or there's another.

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"I don't know, I'll see you again this soon" Abela commented as Armand walked into her room.

"You won't be able to get out of here freely from now on." Armand confirmed what his assistant had just delivered.

”Yes ... I heard clearly from your assistant earlier. And ... Are we going to have lunch together?" abela asked to see the waiter serving lunch to the two of them.

"Why? You don't want to eat?" Armand said that in a shitty tone.

"Why should I not want to eat," Abela replied, raising one eyebrow in annoyance. "You didn't make me lose my appetite."

"Yeah!" Armand smiled sinisterly, his eyes staring at Abela sharply. As if to make a hole in Abela's head.

"Do I have to ask you? about your appetite?" Abela smiled as she said that.

"I don't need to have an appetite to eat. I eat because I have to. Didn't you?" Armand answered sarcasm.

"Oh ... Is that the same as the other lust?" abela asked to feed her food.

Armand smiled again but not the usual smile he had seen first, his gentle gaze had also disappeared. Abela swallowed the food that felt nothing. Her honesty changed a lot of things. What did Abela expect anyway? Armand who received it because of this body? That crazy thought was never thought of at all.

"Yes ... It's true what you said. I can kill without having a murderous lust." Armand said that calmly while cutting the roast. Making the waiter who was with them gulp nervously.

"I believe that. Of course,” replied Abela still eating quietly.

"About your desire to destroy that person's body or something has to do with what you have to accomplish. I'll let you."

"That sounds easy, but I don't have the strength for it" Abela replied. "This body has no power." Abela.

"You want to borrow my powers?" Armand smiled obliquely, an arrogant smile instead of teasing as usual.

"That's why I stuck to you."

Abela's answer somehow made Armand's anger appear. Why should he be angry about that fact.

"You .... " Armand did not continue his words and lowered his head, hiding his current facial expression.

Makes Abela wonder, how is Armand's current face.

"I ... Just bet with what I can. Again I'll say this, Armand. All this is out of my reach. I don't want this to happen either. I might sound shameless. But I need your help."

"What do I get from your gamble? I've lost what I wanted to keep." Armand's still down.

Abela smiled wryly hearing that. If only he had manipulated Armand and said that if Abela's real soul would return he would have achieved his goal seamlessly. And Armand wouldn't hesitate to do it. So why didn't he do it? Why didn't he lie about Abela's death. He'll leave too.

"I'll do it .." said Armand, widening Abela's eyes. "I've decided to do it."

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