I Was Supposed to Kill the Duke, But I Became His Wife Instead
Episode 5
Aria slips into the west wing, the heavy oak door groaning shut behind her with a shudder
She moves cautiously down the darkened corridor, her cloak billowing softly with each step
Aria Vale/FL
💭 These halls are different
Aria Vale/FL
💭 Like the castle itself is holding its breath
She pauses before a grand door, ornate and reinforced with black iron
An emblem is carved into the wood it looks like a wolf's head, but the features are obscured by shadows
Aria Vale/FL
*reaching out, tracing the emblem with a gloved finger* A wolf... and a crown
Aria Vale/FL
This must be his private chambers
But that doesn't deter her
She pulls a thin, silver pick from her cloak and sets to work on the lock
Moments later, the lock clicks open with a barely audible sound
Aria Vale/FL
💭 He underestimates me
She slips inside, closing the door softly behind her
The room is vast part library, part study, part bedchamber
The walls are lined with bookshelves, and a grand bed sits at the far end, draped in black silk
Aria Vale/FL
*moving deeper into the room* He has good taste
Aria Vale/FL
Dark, but not dreary
Aria Vale/FL
Like the man himself
She begins to browse the bookshelves, pulling out tomes and flipping through pages
Most are in languages she doesn't recognize, or deal with subjects she doesn't understand
But one catches her eye a journal, bound in black leather, with no title or markings
Aria Vale/FL
*opening the journal* A diary? How curious
She flips open the black journal
The pages are filled with clean, sharp handwriting cold and precise, just like him
Aria Vale/FL
💭He writes like he speaks
Aria Vale/FL
💭 But even the most careful hands slip eventually
“Day 103.
Another assassination attempt today. Poison in the decanter again.
I’m running out of tasters.”
Aria Vale/FL
*narrowing her eyes*
Aria Vale/FL
💭 He’s being targeted? Not just by the court but from within his own walls?
This one’s different torn at the edge, the ink smudged slightly
“Day 115.
The Council wants me dead.
The king wants me married.
And I… I saw her again.
The girl from the garden. From years ago.”
Aria Vale/FL
*frowning* The girl from the garden?
She flips forward faster now
Aria Vale/FL
*muttering* Come on… come on…
“Day 117.
Aria. That’s what she called herself.
But I don’t believe that’s her real name.”
Aria Vale/FL
💭 From the start
Aria Vale/FL
💭 He’s been watching me
Suddenly behind her a soft thud
Her hand flies to the dagger beneath her cloak
Voice
Most women undress me in my chambers
Aemilian stands in the shadows by the door, eyes like steel
Aria Vale/FL
*masking the jolt in her chest* You left it unlocked
Aria Vale/FL
And if you’re keeping secrets, I have a right to know
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
*stepping forward* You have a right to nothing in this castle
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
And if you keep sneaking around… you’ll find more than you can handle
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
You’re not here to play pretend anymore, are you?
Aria Vale/FL
And you’re not the cold statue you pretend to be
He walks past her slowly taking the journal from her hands
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
*quietly* I chose you because I thought I could control you
He looks up, eyes unreadable
Duke Aemilian Cross/ML
Now I’m not so sure who’s playing who
Comments
prema okka pichi 💗
quite interesting
2025-07-04
1