The Duke's Substitute Wife
A Mystery

On the other side.

A man looked towards his left palm. That regret always haunts him every second, even minutes every day. No one knows behind that regret except her and those closest to her. The man also took a knife in the plate that he always provided to torture himself. He followed the palm line, the crossed line, I don't know how many lines were in his hand.

I hurt her

The man scratched his palm with the knife while recalling the incident 10 years ago.

"Son, promise me. You will marry the daughter of the Duke of Arland family. I don't want any debt." Said a woman lying weak.

The man who grew up was holding his mother's hand tightly. He nodded, his heart indeed being anchored to one of the Duke Arland's daughters. "I promise you, Mother." He answered while crying.

"Don't be a weak man. Promise me you'll take care of him. I'm sure, the daughter of Duke Arland is a good girl. Then you don't hurt him."

The man remembered what happened 5 years ago. Her mother was in an accident and Duke Arland was the first to help her.

"I promise you, whatever you want me to do."

"Mom knows, you're a filial son. Mom loves you very much. Promise me you will take care of Miss Abella with all your heart and soul. Don't ever hurt her." Said the woman smiling at her pale lips.

It was like a bolt of lightning and thousands of knives pierced right into his heart. Her lips twitched, her chest felt tight. As if he could no longer breathe. It's not the girl I want, it's not the girl.

"Remember you promised me." Said the woman feeling relieved. He could leave quietly without any burden. The man was still petrified unable to speak anymore. He just nodded feeling the pain in his heart and left the two women with their own thoughts.

The man also left. He went into his room. Then leaned his body behind the door. The body immediately slumped, sitting limp. He sat down on his knees drowning his head. Sobs began to come out of her tiny lips. What else to say, he was unable to refuse the request of the Mother he cared about the most.

"What are you doing?" the middle-aged scream was stirring in the room. His footsteps grew increasingly hasty and approaching. The middle-aged man snatched away the knife that was in the grasp of his right hand. "How long are you going to torture yourself, Duke?" asked the middle-aged man with a press.

Duke Cristin opened his eyes. He looked at the middle-aged man. People who loved him after the departure of his parents.

"Jawab ! when are you going to be like this?" he shouted with anger that began to explode in the crown.

"Until when do you keep lying about your feelings. Your mother over there won't calm down. Instead he'll feel guilty if you're like this."

"Armand, call the palace doctor." cried the middle-aged man.

"Dad," Duke Cristin greeted with a quivering voice. He hugged the middle-aged man so tightly.

"Son, stop torturing yourself like this." The middle-aged man stroked the sturdy back of Duke Cristin. His heart ached so much, seeing the child he confessed to like his own biological son torturing himself.

"I don't know Dad." Duke Cristin let out his tears. Every time he came to the palace just to torture himself. No wonder the nobles and servants knew of his arrival. Because Duke Cristin had been considered a child by Emperor Fristof the elder brother of Duke Cristin's mother.

"I can't break his promise, do you know? he's trying to get away from me, Dad. All this time I ignored him, insulting him. I tried to make him hate me, Dad. And now he hates me. Even he's already thrown me a letter of agreement." Sluggishly.

Emperor Fristof let go of his embrace, "He's gone not your fault. Don't blame yourself. Love is never wrong, son. It was you who made him guilty. I'll talk to the Duchess let her know everything. Ever since I saw the first time you met her. I know you've been harboring feelings for her."

Yeah, five years when a little girl fell. The little duke helped the girl, treating the wound on her knee. That tiny and pretty face of hers, made her heart beat. Right, he was interested in that little girl. With a strong determination he wanted to make the girl his only woman. But fate played him. Every time he wanted to get close to the girl. The little Viola kept moving away. He wanted to catch her, make her fall into his arms, but the distance was getting further and further.

"He doesn't love me. He just felt guilty for his sister." she said passing away, how hurtful it was to see a woman cuddling with another man.