The Duchess and the Devil - Chapter 47.1

Derrick always acted unusually and boldly, which made Judith very embarrassed every time. And this time is no exception. She felt her face turn red and at the same time become hot. The Duchess wiped her wet cheek with the back of her hand.

“We better eat well,” Derrick said.

– Why? – Judith asked in surprise.

“I’ll be very hungry at night,” unlike the Duchess, who didn’t even eat half the plate, the demon had already almost finished his portion of meat. He quickly learned to handle cutlery elegantly.

And Judith couldn’t help but notice this, because initially he didn’t know at all how to use something like a knife or special dessert spoons. Now he moved his hand very gracefully and even nobly, like a real nobleman. It looked so natural and beautiful, which made Judith stare.

“I’m hungry, but I have no appetite,” she said. “I think I should go to the bath.”

– Aren’t we going to wash together?

Holding her breath, Judith turned her attention to the maids, who were whispering at Derrick’s casual and natural behavior, as if it were something normal and not at all embarrassing. Now every person in the house talked about the love between the spouses.

Judith sat up and answered, although she really wanted to pretend that she had not heard anything. However, Derrick would probably repeat his question.

– It’s not worth it.

– Why? Last time I liked it…

Judith pressed her finger to his lips, silencing him.

– Fine. I understood. I’ll be waiting upstairs, just be quiet,” during the entire time spent together, Judith realized: she wanted to teach Derrick to be silent. The demon, hearing this, smiled with satisfaction.

Everyone around was just trying to keep themselves busy, as some of the maids also blushed. When Judith turned around, they pretended that they had heard nothing at all.

But the Duchess believed that the only person who could be embarrassed now was her. Pretending that nothing had happened, she left the dining room and went to the bedroom. On the way, Judith looked out the window and felt a terrible feeling of discomfort. For some reason, the darkness around the house was too thick, as if she had fallen into the underworld. Sometimes it even seemed that she was moving, but this, of course, could not be. Judith waved her hand and started walking again.

Having reached the bedroom, the girl was met with darkness – none of the candles in the room were burning.

“Matches are downstairs,” the maid said excitedly. It looks like she forgot them.

She shrugged fearfully, afraid that Judith would scold her. However, the Duchess did not have the strength for this today. Sighing, she picked up the lamp the maid was standing with and said:

“I’ll wait here, so please go down and get some matches.”

The maid hurried down the stairs while Judith looked around the dark bedroom. Despite the fact that she spent every day and every night here, sharing a bed with Derrick, now she seemed too unfamiliar and even terrifying.

The burning flame of the lamp went out, and the smoke rising into the air swirled around. And the sound of footsteps walking down the corridor seemed completely different from the maid who had left. He was heavier and clumsier – masculine.

Judith turned around in fear. Derrick, who was leisurely eating at the restaurant, insistently approached with an angry expression on his face. Judith wanted to know what had happened, but suddenly a hand jumped out of the darkness and grabbed her by the collar, dragging her into the bedroom without any embarrassment.

Judith frightenedly tried to peer into the darkness, but saw nothing. The door closed with a loud knock and seemed to be completely broken. Gathering all her strength, the Duchess tried to break free from the tenacious grip. The tea table collided with her foot and collapsed, making a loud noise. The glass shattered with a crash, and several fragments got stuck in the calf, leaving long scratches.

But Judith was so surprised that she didn’t feel any pain at all. The room was in chaos. Feeling that her grip had weakened from the unexpected commotion, the Duchess hit the offender again and ran to the door. But it didn’t open – the handle was broken.