The Duchess and the Devil - Chapter 71.1

Judith looked at the black horse being pulled by the knight. The horse seemed so big that it could easily jump over the Duchess herself. This was Derrick’s greatest gift and one he was certainly proud of.

Soon the Duke himself, dressed in armor, came out of the tent. He wasn’t human, so of course he never wore anything like that.

– Everything is fine? – asked Judith.

No one could roam the forest on foot, so horses were always used for hunting. And the Duchess didn’t know: is this normal practice for a demon? And I hoped that there would be no problems this time. Moreover, how will the black horse react to the new owner and new treatment?

Apart from Derrick, the horse did not allow anyone to approach him. Saying that there was nothing to worry about, the demon touched Judith’s cheek, who was looking at him with tired and anxious eyes. There was still worry lurking in the Duchess’s heart.

In one motion, Derrick jumped into the saddle, but the horse immediately snorted, as if he sensed something different from his previous owner. The knights looked at the Duke in surprise, but he seemed not to attach any importance to what was happening, only gently touching his shiny mane. With one touch, the horse tamed, becoming the most obedient creature in the world.

But Judith noticed a bright red energy that swirled in and out of the horse’s eyes. It seems that Derrick has cast a spell on her, forcing even an animal that follows its instincts to remain silent. It was at this moment that the Duchess became convinced of the limitlessness of the demon’s power.

“Judith,” her gaze turned upward.

With the sun shining diagonally, it was difficult to make out Derrick’s face. However, intuitively she knew: her husband was smiling.

“I will be careful… And you, too, be very careful, wife,” instead of turning to the knights, like other nobles, Derrick decided to say these words to her.

And Judith knew the meaning of this expression much better than anyone: be careful when trying to find Hannibal. A secret request that even the knights would not know about.

It’s time to start the competition: a large bell rang at the security point. Hearing a loud roar, the birds immediately took off, and the echo was heard in the mountains. The fighters, one after another, headed into the forest. Derrick looked around, found Vincent with his eyes and headed straight after him, briefly looking at Judith goodbye. She didn’t move. from the spot even when the husband’s back in the distance became the size of a small, barely visible dot.

“Madam, let’s return to the waiting area,” said Lord Horton, who was standing next to the Duchess.

Judith rubbed the back of her head and looked at the ruby ​​necklace that now always hung around her neck. Not only because of the magical power, but also because it is a gift from a demon. However, the ruby, which always shone with a bright glow, now seemed poisonously dark.

Taking a closer look at the stone, Judith saw a break in the corner that had happened a few days ago. At this moment, the Duchess looked embarrassedly at the Lord, who had already called out to her several times:

– Madam?

Judith hid the necklace in her hem. Now the heart was beating fast just because of a small scratch. And the Duchess didn’t know if it was normal to be so nervous about such simple and ordinary things. Derrick said the necklace would become a shield. But the poisonous glow, like a smoldering ember, caused alarm.

Suddenly Judith heard a voice calling her. Raising her head, she saw several noble ladies. Having received the invitation to join them, the Duchess nodded, swallowing dry saliva.

– You are later than we thought.

— I talked to my husband.

The table was already full, except for one place – next to the Marquise. Judith sat down on it and greeted the ladies who had already arrived.

– You’ve been showing love lately.

– Yes! Even at a birthday banquet…

“You’re talking about when the Duke left with his wife, right?”