The Atrocious Duke'S Wife
{Season 2} Hidden Stories

Previousley....

The charming smile that the man had always withered, made his heart seem to want to escape from its place. His breath choked, as if a foreign feeling pressing down on his stomach was now rising and holding his breath that wanted to come out.

"Anastasia Emerald, marry me."

...~ The Atrocious Duke's Wife...

...Chapters ...

...(41) ...

A few days later after that, the Count and Countess Emerald couple had calmed down a little when they heard the explanation from their daughter about the proposal being conveyed to their daughter.

Anastasia was overwhelmed to explain everything to her parents who were very excited when a proposal from a part of the royal family was addressed to her.

Currently, the Emerald family is in the dining room to carry out their lunch obligations.

Anastasia seemed to be focused on her food, as she looked up, the girl was a little confused by the unusual gazes from her parents.

"Dad, Mother. Do you guys want to say something? Stop looking at me like that." The golden-blossomed girl sighed.

"No, we're just confused, Ana. Why do you even rely on certainty on Prince Darren? Aren't you afraid he's offended?" ask the Mother.

That's right, after prince Darren proposed to Anastasia, the girl was confused as to what to answer. So he wanted to ask for time to answer the question - or rather the statement - of Prince Darren.

Of course he was confused. Although Anastasia was aware that she had a slight liking towards the prince. But... is that little bit of love enough to convince her to marry a prince?

"Then what should I do, Mom? There's no way I should just answer yes. I have to think about and consider a man who will accompany me for a lifetime," Anastasia replied still confused.

The Count and Countess Emerald exchanged glances, in fact they were very happy if their daughter received a proposal from a prince.

Because if their daughter marries the prince, their family will also be brought high in her name. However, they also did not want to force if their daughter did not want this marriage.

"All right, if that's what you want. Father and Mother will respect and support all your decisions" said the understanding father.

Anastasia smiled as her parents fully understood her decision. The girl felt as if she was the luckiest child to have parents like her father and mother.

"Thank you, Dad, Mom."

...~•~...

There was a knock on the door of a girl's office who was struggling with a paper containing the strategy he had made together so far. He wanted to check back, and try to find an error that might have been missed in their plan.

But when his iris moved in focus following letters and pictures, the sound of a knock just now made all his attention open.

He snorted a little annoyed, but before long he invited someone who knocked in.

"Come in" he ordered with eyes that refocused on the map below. His hands also began to add some graffiti on the paper containing information on the layout of the region.

The door creaked, indicating that someone was pushing it. "Sorry to interrupt your time, My Lady. However, Viscount la Devoline has been waiting in the living room and wants to talk to you."

Cassandra looked up, and the movement of her hands came to a halt upon hearing the name. Before long, the brown barley girl clenched her hands tightly.

"Tell him to come in here to see me" the girl said incontrovertibly.

The waiter bowed respectfully, then returned to his duties. "All right, My Lady."

Cassandra packed various items scattered on the surface of her desk, then the girl sat on the sofa in her room.

What's his father here for? Indeed, some time ago, his father had visited him and said that the man felt proud of him who managed to get the title of Countess for his own efforts.

Can not be denied, at that time Cassandra was happy to be made. And the gaze that his father laid was completely genuine, there were no lies. His father really appreciated his hard work.

But of course it could not cure all the incisions that his father created in his heart because of the actions of his father at that time.

Where she was always forced to be a submissive princess, a daughter who always obeyed, and a daughter who would always keep quiet following all her father's wishes.

Cassandra still can't get rid of all those bad memories. Even the scars from his father's harsh words and treatment still entangled his heart like a pointy thorn.

"Good day, Countess."

The greeting attracted her from the puddle of daydreams dissolving Cassandra in her mind, so the girl immediately took a breath.

"There's no need to be formal like that, Dad."

The garnet girl tried to smile sweetly, her polite sitting position. His hand pointed to the sofa chair in front of him, allowing his father to sit down.

"I hear you, you want to talk to me? What if I sit down first?"

Christone looked at her daughter who was speaking in a soft tone, then sat down on the sofa her daughter had provided.

"Oh yes! I forgot! I'll bring you some snacks for Dad-"

"No need, Cassandra. There's no need," the Viscount's piece held back his daughter who wanted to stand up.

Cassandra was stunned, but before long she returned to her original position. He did not know why he suddenly became nervous in an instant like this.

"Is this the reason why you've always rejected the noble men I've chosen for you? Because you like Duke Floniouse?"

The girl gasped for a moment, would her father ban her actions again like before?

"Yes, Dad." Cassandra tried to calm down.

They remained silent for quite a while. Christone stared at her daughter for a long time, until the old man looked down while holding each other's hands. "Listen, Cassandra.... Dad, I want to apologize to you."

Cassandra stared blankly. The light within his eyeballs dimmed, and the previously formed sweet smile now faded.

"Why Dad apologized-"

"Dad...! Want to apologize for everything that father did to you. I know you won't forgive me for all of your deeds. But, I still want to apologize to you." 

The Viscount-titled man had almost dropped a tear from his eyes, but he remained formidable to hold it in view of his pride as a man.

"Dad was afraid all this time, that you would have the same fate as Dad," said Christone staring at the daughter's only puppet.

Cassandra was still silent, she wanted to hear everything her father wanted to say.

"Dad wants to tell you something, I hope you're not tired of hearing it" the man added.

"There used to be a noble man who got the love of a noble woman whose status was higher than his."

"But the man refused the proposal of the noblewoman, because there was someone else in his heart. The man apparently loved the woman from among the commoners, and was determined to marry the woman." 

"His family, of course, rejected the foolish decision the man had made. Which fool rejected a noblewoman for the sake of a commoner's woman?"

"But love blinds the man. The man defies his family, and marries the woman with a passionate love in his heart."

"Initially, everything was happy. They live happily. Although the woman could do nothing to help the man in his work, the man was still satisfied with the presence of the woman he loved by his side."

"Shortly from that, it was stated that the woman was pregnant. The news was certainly very happy for the man because the woman was pregnant with her child. Day after day, the man always accompanied the woman who was pregnant with her child and tried to obey all her wishes."

"Their first child was born, and it turns out that their first child was a girl. And the child is very similar to his mother."

"The man began to love his wife and children all his heart, he gave everything his little family wanted and needed. Until there's something that makes that man ruined happens."

Cassandra can see the various expressions her father shows while telling all those stories. From then on, the girl just quietly listened carefully.

But who would have thought.it turns out that the girl felt various feelings that were tossed in her heart.

Christone furrowed her brows trying to continue the story she was telling. The man wanted to convey everything until there was nothing left.

"At that time, his daughter was only two years old. The girl was still very innocent, holy, and happy. With his sweet smile that always accompanies him.The man felt the smile that his daughter floated can eliminate his fatigue after work."

"The man found his wife making out and making love to another man who worked as a horseman at his residence."

Cassandra felt strange, why is this story so piercing her heart? Though before, he had read more tragic love stories than this.

Even the sculpture of his father's face at this time stated a very painful thing.

"Lantas, the man caught them and slapped the wife. His entire sacrifice to his wife, as if like a piece of garbage in the eyes of his wife. It's worth nothing."

"That very night, the man immediately ordered his subordinates to kill the horseman. His wife was furious, and berated the man for being cruel according to his wife."

"The man felt as if his heart was cut to pieces, when the dearest look of hatred from his wife was clearly fixed on him."

"His wife said that she married the noble man because she was forced to. His wife said that the man was just a tool, so that his wife could live happily by eating all her property."

"Because of the great betrayal after a great effort, the man could not think clearly and immediately drove the wife from her house. The woman finally left, having been content to curse her husband and left without caring for her daughter."

After a while, Cassandra finally realized something. Therefore, he intended to cut off his father's words. "Dad.don't tell me...."

The brown-robed girl immediately silenced her mouth with tears that began to plunge down her cheeks when she saw the bitter smile her father had displayed.

"That's right, my daughter. That man is Dad," I Christone tried to smile.

Cassandra couldn't hold back her tears anymore, so all this time her father had actually experienced that tragic story? His father actually experienced such a deep betrayal?

How can... there be someone who returns one's sacrifice with betrayal? What kind of people are they...?

"Therefore, Cassandra. I've always educated you hard, and I always wanted you to marry someone who deserves to be with you. Dad.. don't want you to waste your life for the love that's ready to stab you at any time" Christone said, wiping her daughter's head.

Cassandra's cry cracked, and before long the girl immediately knelt on the floor and hugged the father who was sitting on the sofa.

"Why...? Hix.... Why didn't you tell him from the beginning...?! Why Dad, why?!!"

"Sorry.I'm sorry. I used to think that you didn't need to know that sad story. But in the end, I still have to say it." 

"Ji. If only Dad had told me from the beginning, I might.. hiks... wouldn't have hated Dad! I probably won't suffer because of Daddy's rude treatment! Because if you tell me from the beginning, I'll understand your concern for me...!" cassandra cried out.

But even so, the girl still wanted to reveal everything.

"I'm sorry... Dad's wrong. Please forgive me. But know it, Cassandra. I love you more than anything in this world. Because you're Dad's daughter...." 

The brown barley girl clenched closer to the figure of the man who had hurt and loved her in his arms, and she unconsciously felt very happy when she heard everything.

Right now he didn't care.although his father might lie to him, he didn't care. But if his father is really honest, then he is certainly happy.

The most important thing right now... Cassandra is not going to do something that will probably destroy her plans towards a happy ending.

One word was enough to pluck out the sharp thorns that had been wrapped around his heart all this time.

"Cassandra loves you too."

...~•~ ...

"Because in three days we have begun our action, it would be nice to repeat all the plans we have arranged."

A house located in the village of Cermony, became the place of the gathering of the three humans.

"That's right, especially Duke Floniouse's job is to lead his army through Nephorine's main defenses, right?" prince Darren asked.

"Yes, that's right, Your Majesty. And your job is to try your best not to get killed and kill as many enemies as possible" Cassandra replied.

"Did you underestimate me, Countess?" Prince Darren swooped an eyebrow while scaling.

Cassandra chuckles. "Don't be too serious, Your Majesty. I'm just kidding."

"That's right. Don't take it too seriously or you'll quickly get a frown, Your Majesty." Arlen added while embracing his lover who was sitting next to him.

Prince Darren only snorted at this childish couple before him.

Whereas in the talk of the people in Erosphire, Countess la Devoline and Duke Floniouse were very serious people and almost never smiled.

Who would have thought, rumors are rumors. Prince Darren has experienced that.

"Alright, alright. It was enough to make a mark," Cassandra's thump then unrolled the map on the surface of the wooden table before them.

"This is a map around the Nephorine's main defense. On the left, there will be a plateau where we will fill with archers as I said," pointed the girl at the part she had looped.

Princes Darren and Arlen stared intently at where the pointy index finger was pointing.

"While in the middle, it was filled by Arlen and his troops. And around Erosphire, we'll be occupying Prince Darren's army along with the army and His Majesty the King to protect the kingdom."

When he came back to explain, suddenly Jeanne became a cutter of the girl's words.

"Sorry to interrupt, but because I feel bad, I made some snacks for you," said the woman put a nice drink and food.

"Thank you, what a coincidence that you're here. You have to listen because you're part of this plan, too" Cassandra said.

"Alright, Countess," replied Jeanne.

It didn't take long, the brown barley girl again explained all the steps they were going to take.

"After the time is right, we will throw as many smoke bombs as possible towards the enemy forces that are in the main defense, he said, after that the Cermony army came ambushing and helped Arlen's army defeat the enemy who had a large number in the main defense."

"So you're using that archer only as Prince Yari's switcher?" keka Prince Darren.

Cassandra nodded. "Yes, as I said before, Prince."

"At yesterday's meeting, you said you'd lead an archery squad? Didn't you say that you had to go undercover to trick Prince Yari?" cut Arlen.

Cassandra smiled faintly, surely Arlen would ask that. "Actually, I want to add a little spicy seasoning."

"Spicy seasoning?" Prince Darren and Jeanne said it together in confusion.

"But for that, I need someone to replace me as the leader of the archery squad," Cassandra sighed. "I've sought help from people I know, but no one wants to risk his life in war."

"However for what, Countess? If you can't be the leader of the archers because you have to go undercover at the same time, why are you offering to?" ask Prince Darren.

"Thus, Prince Yari will truly believe that I am the real witch, Your Majesty, " replied Cassandra.

"It is certain that Prince Yari will kidnap me as the leader of the archer army, therefore I will have to find a replacement. If Prince Yari catches the wrong person, he will automatically think that I am indeed your subordinate magician who disguised himself to instigate him at the same time," she added.

Yes, from the beginning they had discussed it. They will deliberately make Arlen a fake witch who pretends to help the Nephorine kingdom.

While they will deliberately make Cassandra as the real witch.

Because in the previous meeting Cassandra was very seen defending Prince Darren, it is certain that Prince Yari will think that Cassandra is a subordinate of Prince Darren.

They deliberately want to make prince Yari believe that Cassandra is the witch for their final plan.

"Therefore, Arlen, you continue to follow our plan. Tomorrow, you must go undercover and go to the Nephorine kingdom" Cassandra said.

"Yes. But, where should we find your replacement?" tanya Arlen seemed to think.

Cassandra did the same thing, but before long the presence of a girl made the attention immediately directed by her.

"Then I will be your replacement."

Cassandra was surprised to find the presence of a golden unraveling girl suddenly appearing in the doorway while saying out loud.

"Ana?!"

...23.03.2021...