Duke Of Darkness

CHAPTER 5

Rafael stood in the middle of the vibrant flower garden, though his eyes were fixed on the ground with a vacant stare. His hands, more accustomed to holding a sword, now gripped a small trowel that felt oddly light in his grasp. It was strange to him. The flowers around him thrived, the result of long mornings spent there, a distraction from the inner turmoil and the raging battles at the border.

His reverie was interrupted by Frederick's deep voice cutting through the air. "I’m tired of seeing your face. How long do you intend to stay in our house?" The derisive tone was sharp, piercing.

Rafael straightened, not responding. His face remained emotionless, only showing the cold gaze he often used against the beasts on the battlefield. But Frederick's next words made his blood run cold.

“Did you know? Annette regrets marrying a low-status soldier like you!” Frederick’s words seeped in, slicing deeper than the claws of any beast Rafael had faced.

Rafael’s hand clenched at his side, the trowel in his grip almost snapping. Yet, he did not react, choosing instead to glance at Frederick briefly before walking away, passing him without a word, his steps steady toward the mansion. He knew that showing anger would only hand Frederick a victory. Still, the storm of emotion inside him was hard to contain.

He missed the Annette he once knew—warm and full of laughter, always ready to defend him in front of her uncle. Those memories now felt like shadows fading away, replaced by the coldness he now faced whenever they made eye contact.

Yes, Annette had changed just as their marriage was nearing its one-year mark. Rafael often found himself lost in thought, searching for the memories of their past moments. They were sweet to remember.

The night air felt cold, but it wasn’t enough to make Rafael move from his seat. He sat in the dark room with only the flicker of a candle. His eyes were fixed on the dying embers in the fireplace. The ticking of the clock on the wall seemed to pound on his patience. Over the past few months, Annette had changed. Her cheerful attention had turned into cold greetings, as though an invisible wall had formed between them. Rafael had tried to speak with her, but Annette’s responses were always short, like a cold wind brushing through a room without leaving any warmth.

A knock on the door broke Rafael’s thoughts. A young soldier stepped in, his face full of anxiety, shadowed by the dim room. “Sir, beasts have been sighted approaching the eastern border again. They’re getting closer to Hurbret village.”

Rafael stood up without a word, his body tensing immediately. “Prepare my horse,” he said firmly. The soldier nodded and disappeared down the dark corridor. Rafael donned his long coat, feeling the familiar weight of the sword at his waist. Inside the house, he might seem like a stiff, lowly husband, but outside, Rafael was the shadow guardian, the unseen force that protected Hurbret’s borders from devastation. The magic in his blood coursed as the adrenaline rose.

At the border, the atmosphere was tense. Thin smoke drifted from small campfires, illuminating the weary faces of soldiers struggling to stay alert despite their heavy eyes. Rafael moved among them, taking a position at the edge of the dark forest, watching the shifting shadows among the trees.

With swift movements, Rafael chanted an ancient spell that summoned the power within his blood. A dim bluish-red light enveloped his hands, glowing under the night sky. When the beasts leaped from the darkness, their glowing red eyes filled with hatred, Rafael moved as swiftly as the wind. His sword, wrapped in magical light, struck down the creatures one by one. Their screams echoed and then faded as their monstrous bodies turned to ash.

As other soldiers joined the fight, Rafael remained at the front, protecting them with a spell that infused the ground, creating an invisible barrier. Yet, he fought in the shadows, staying out of the spotlight. They might never know who protected them, and Rafael preferred it that way.

When dawn arrived, the battle was over. Rafael stood amidst the silent field, his breath heavy and beast blood splattered around him. The morning sunlight cast a glow on his face, damp not only with sweat but with the blood from the remnants of the battle.

In the distance, the roof of the Hurbret family home came into view, sunlight glinting off the windows. Rafael knew that behind those stone walls, Frederick might be planning his next insult. And Annette, who no longer smiled as she once did, might be sitting with thoughts he could not guess. But it didn’t matter. As long as he could keep his promise to Sir Laurent and protect this family, he would stand firm, even if hatred and scorn were the price of his efforts.

“I will win your heart back, Annette.”

Rafael vowed he would do whatever it took to make Annette look at him once more.

His steps slowed as he walked through the family library corridor. By chance, he saw Annette laughing happily as she admired a set of jewelry. Rafael’s heart tightened; he had never given her anything so luxurious, as his true identity was still hidden.

“Annette!”

Annette’s steps faltered when she heard her name. She turned with little interest, looking coldly at the husband she saw as useless. “What is it? Why are you calling me?”

The smile on Rafael’s face faded, unable to hold onto the warmth when faced with such a response.

“Say it! I don’t have time,” Annette said sharply, her tone biting.

“Where did you get that jewelry?” Rafael asked, staring intently at the necklace and white gemstone earrings.

“You don’t need to know. I got this from my household budget,” Annette said, scoffing with obvious disdain.

“Enough, I’m busy. I don’t have time to talk to you,” Annette added curtly, walking past Rafael without a trace of affection.