Chapter 211
C211
An ironic, cold smile formed at the corner of Varkas’s lips as he observed the woman in silence, resting his hand beneath his chin.
He felt a bitterness in his mouth as he recalled the image of his wife threatening that she would leave with her if he sent this woman back to the Imperial Palace.
—Anyway… Her Grace the Duchess no longer requires me, so… —as the silence stretched on, the woman began to chatter with a tense face.
Varkas interrupted the woman’s speech by standing up from his seat, causing her to shudder and close her mouth as she watched his features.
He averted his gaze from that annoying sight and gave his instructions to the maids:
—Take this woman to the kitchen immediately.
—M-My Lord Duke, my request…
—If she begins to consume food on her own, I will send you back to the Imperial Palace again.
Signs of joy immediately appeared on the woman’s sallow face, so he added, as if pouring freezing water over her face:
—But, if she rejects even the food that you prepare, you will be expelled from this castle with only the clothes you are wearing.
Her face, to which vitality had returned just a moment ago, turned pale.
He walked past the woman who was attempting to protest and left the reception room, and as he crossed the room to climb the stairs again, he heard a rushed voice behind his back:
—My Lord Duke!
Varkas turned around to find Lorgin entering the building of the annex pavilion, causing him to frown.
The man crossed the room with quick steps and asked about his wife’s condition:
—How is Her Grace the Duchess? Is she still…?
—What have you come here for? —Varkas interrupted the man’s words with a fatigued face.
The knight directed his gaze toward the top of the stairs and then went straight to the point:
—The council has concluded. This is the list of candidates for the positions of the new lords in the northeastern regions, including Tarlen; if you approve it, we will begin the appointment procedures immediately —Lorgin said as he extended a bundle of leather parchments he carried under his arm, and while Varkas opened them and reviewed them quickly, the man added cautiously—: Likewise, Sir DarÃn sent a messenger; everything indicates he wishes to know the situation and when Your Lordship will be able to return to resume your duties.
Varkas lifted his gaze from the documents and turned toward the man. The knight asked, swallowing hard with difficulty:
—What shall I reply to the messenger?
—Tell them I will return after concluding the rest season —Varkas responded in a measured tone as he folded the parchments and tucked them away into his clothes.
Signs of surprise appeared on Lorgin’s face, as he had never anticipated that he intended to remain in Calmore during that entire period.
Varkas granted him no opportunity to object; on the contrary, he turned his back on him and continued climbing the stairs.
When he entered the bedroom again, he saw his wife immersed in a deep sleep due to the effect of the substance.
He remained observing her for a long while as she breathed peacefully with her long eyelashes unfolded, then he walked toward the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
The sky stretched grayish beyond the window, and he thought that perhaps snow would fall tonight.
## CHAPTER 211
Talia did not regain consciousness until dusk, so he summoned the maid immediately to bring the food.
Shortly after, an egg soup, a bun stuffed with various types of dried fruits, and a dish of stewed quail were placed on the table.
Varkas examined the dishes and then gestured with his head to the maids:
—The service is concluded, all of you withdraw.
—Then, call us at any time if you require anything.
After the departure of the two girls, he arranged an adequate amount of food on a plate and approached the side of the bed:
—Eat.
As he placed the plate on the bed, the woman who was looking distractedly toward the outside finally turned toward him.
Her eyes overflowed with an intense animosity, and while he ignored that look and forced her to grasp the spoon, he heard her fatigued voice:
—Until when do you intend to reiterate this sterile act?
—That is the question I would wish to pose —Varkas responded coldly as he sat on the edge of the bed—. Until when do you intend to continue with this tedious dispute?
Two pupils as dark as the depths of the ocean pinned him down.
Varkas did not care and presented her with the bowl containing the egg soup.
Talia looked at it involuntarily and a strange gleam appeared in her eyes; it seemed evident that she noticed this food was different from what was usually presented to her.
She searched the inside of the bowl with her eyes narrowed, then averted her gaze toward him and asked:
—This… who prepared it?
—It is food prepared by your nanny —Varkas responded calmly—. I considered that perhaps you would ingest sustenance if it was crafted by that woman.
As soon as he concluded his words, Talia threw the bowl away.
The sharp sound of breaking glass resonated, and the dense liquid scattered in absolute disarray over the carpet.
—She prepared this reluctantly because you ordered her to do so anyway, did you perhaps think I would rejoice and eat it if you presented me with something like that? —The woman’s slender shoulders trembled while she twisted the corner of her lips; she gave the impression of attempting to mock him, but the tears held back in her eyes made her look only desolate. She continued with biting sarcasm and a choked voice—: That woman no longer means anything to me. I got rid of her a long time ago because I grew as sick of her as I have grown sick of you! So please, all of you get out of my sight!
—If you do not ingest that food, that woman will disappear from your life forever.
The woman’s body, panting with indignation, tensed up:
—What does that mean?
—That woman belongs to the Empress’s faction, does she not? If she represents no utility to you, there is no reason for her to remain in my castle.
—That means… that you will send the nanny back to the capital?
Varkas’s lips twisted coldly:
—Why would I take that trouble? If the Empress sends someone to pick her up I will not prevent it, but I have no intentions of wearing out my soldiers for the sake of that woman ever.
A slight fear crossed her beautiful face in a strange way; this was the first emotional disturbance she had manifested since the loss of that wolf.
Except for the moments when her indignation erupted, she always looked as empty as a shell, so seeing her experience uneasiness and bewilderment made his insides churn for some reason.
He tried not to manifest that sensation, and added in a dry tone:
—If fortune accompanies her, perhaps she will find heavy labor somewhere in Calmore; of course, the probability of her dying on the street like strangers is the highest.
—… Are you threatening me now?
—Threat? What threat? —Varkas tilted his head toward her and raised the corner of his lips—. Have you not said that woman means nothing to you? Then, how could her expulsion from the castle be a threat?
She bit her chapped lips.
Varkas observed that aspect with a cold gaze, then rose from his seat and walked toward the door.
At the instant he was preparing to leave, he heard a trembling voice behind his back:
—I will eat.
He turned while continuing to hold the doorknob, discovering her face pale and stained by defeat. She said, gritting her teeth:
—I will eat, so just leave me alone.
Varkas remained motionless for a moment, then walked toward the table again.
He transferred small portions of the food arranged there to an additional plate and placed it next to the bed, so she took the bowl of soup with hands that trembled from the intensity of her attempt to contain her fury.
Then she began to swallow the sustenance little by little, with expressions that resembled swallowing filth.
Finally, when the entirety of the food he had arranged disappeared, she lifted her pale face flooded with cold sweat and pinned him with a sharp look:
—Are you satisfied now?!
He, in silence, brushed the empty plates aside.
Talia contemplated that act with trembling eyes, and said from between her teeth:
—I have done what you wanted! Get out of this room right now.
—It is possible that you may vomit involuntarily, so I will remain here for a few more hours before leaving.
It seemed that this response completely severed the subtle thread of her sanity, for she began to hurl at him every object that was within reach of her hand next to the bed:
—Get out! I told you to get out! I have done everything you wanted! Why do you continue to linger around me?!
Varkas threw his head back subtly to elude a flying cup, then approached the side of the bed in a single movement and seized her wrists.
He feared she would lose consciousness again due to the intensity of her fury and her violent resistance.
He sat in the chair while immobilizing within his arms the woman, who was practically going through a crisis of spasms.
Talia began to resist and to scream with an even greater ferocity:
—No…! Do not touch me…! The simple fact of you touching me gives me chills!
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