Serenade In Shadows Beneath The Veil of Deception 2

Episode 2: The Duke of Elodour.

The sound of porcelain against porcelain was the only noise in the room as Jacinth picked at her breakfast. Across the table, Zander read through documents, his face a mask of indifference.

Just a few days, and she feels as if she's already drowning, suffocating under the weight of it all.

Jacinth was struggling internally if she should say it out. They hadn't spoken with each other since their wedding night, and the few words they had exchanged felt more like a formality—a Duke and Duchess had to keep up appearances in public, after all.

Zander stared at his wife for a brief moment, crossing his legs with an air of calm authority. He slid the documents to his subordinate, who was standing beside him. The room was thick with anticipation, and after what felt like an eternity, Zander broke the silence, his voice soothing yet firm.

Zander Von Edrington

Is there something on your mind, Duchess?

𝘋𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘴.

𝘿𝙪𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙨.

Jacinth stopped for a moment. It felt like the title mocked her. Sure, she was the Duchess and lived up to all that expectation.

But the one her eyes were really searching for just wasn’t around anymore.

Jacinth Ashbourne

I... I wanted to ask something.

Zander waited patiently as she paused.

Jacinth Ashbourne

If it pleases Your Grace, may I be granted leave to return to my father’s household for a short time?

A heavy silence enveloped the entire hall. The clinking of glass and the rustle of fabric ceased as the servants halted mid-motion, their expressions frozen in anticipation. In the Edrington household, a longstanding rule dictated that the bride must remain away from her home for a full week after the ceremony.

However, Jacinth wasn't aware of that. Everyone holds their breath as waiting for Zander's response.

Zander Von Edrington

Marco shall accompany you to your Father's estate.

Zander casually raises his cup, as stunned silence envelops the room. The weight of disbelief hangs in the air, and all eyes are glued to him. Marco, his subordinate, shifts uneasily.

Marco Roosevelt

But Your Grace—

Zander Von Edrington

I trust you heard me the first time?

Marco Roosevelt

My apologies, Your Grace. `turning to Jacinth, bowing politely` My Lady, I shall be waiting outside.

Jacinth stands up and nods politely.

Jacinth Ashbourne

Thank you, Your Grace.

Zander gives a slight nod.

𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘺—𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳. 𝘔𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘵𝘩. 𝘐 𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘦, 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦—𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵—𝙃𝙚𝙧.

She turned to leave, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught the barest slouch of his shoulders, his hand rubbing the back of his neck as though the weight of his title pressed down on him.

At that moment, he looked nothing but a simple man she’d never believed him to be. And just as quickly, Zander straightened, his mask firmly back in place.

Jacinth Ashbourne

. . .

𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦. 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘦, 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵… 𝘪𝘧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩.

· · ·

Marco Roosevelt

Zander, have you any idea what this looks like? It’s been less than a week, and you’re granting the Duchess to go back to her father’s estate?

Zander Von Edrington

I am aware, Marco. Mother won't say anything.

Zander pinches the middle of his eyebrows.

Marco sits on the sofa opposite the study table. He speaks calmly this time.

Marco Roosevelt

It is not about your Mother, Zander. It is about you. After the Eldest Master's death, the noble families are questioning your legitimacy as Duke. You need to be cautious, Zander. You are not a physician anymore. You are the Duke.

Zander Von Edrington

Don't worry.

After a long pause, he replies.

— End of Episode 2 —

“ 𝖪𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝖺𝗌 𝖬𝖺𝗋𝖼𝗈 𝖱𝗈𝗈𝗌𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗅𝗍 ”

Hot

Comments



Cara De Clare — Reverie! 🌈

Jacinth should be more understanding of the situation, and her husband, Zander.

I know that she's grief striken, she found love in a political marriage, because of Rafael—which was unlikely during that period, rich people just lived other's expectations, where marriages without love was a usual thing. Couples just lived for one purpose, to do what is expected of them, to birth a heir and carry on the bloodline.

But Here's Zander. He's also stuck in it, with her. His brother died. He was handed down a title he never wished to carry — leaving behind the craft he liked; being a physician. And WORSE, he got married to the the girl he likes, yes — But she liked his deceased brother and can't seem to overcome the grief just yet. It's complicated. But Zander should be understood aa well. Men like him don't usually say their feelings out loud. It's in their eyes. Their eyes are more eloquent then they themselves. I like his character. He was well written. Thank you for creating him.

2025-03-19

  2

Love is in the air!

Wait! Does he like her from before. This doesn’t feel like a sudden infatuation — I think It's been a while. Maybe, while his brother lived, it was just a one sided love on his part. And our lady was unaware of that — as every other female leads of novels are unaware of the presence of their true admirers.

I hope his life love is reciprocated with hers in future.

  1

Nick

omg am confused if I like her or just saving the name of the family

2024-11-20

See all