fiance chapter 6

The disparity between the Duke she knew and the man holding her left Sophia momentarily stunned. Then, the realization that she was standing in the hall of her family’s mansion, in her nightclothes, embraced by the Duke, jolted her back to reality. She pushed him away with all her might. With a slight curve of his lips, he released her. 

“Why?” He spoke as if she had pulled away to say something important. Though he had stepped back, he hadn’t fully let go of her hand. He smiled. In his face, Sophia saw the Duke she remembered, the one from last night, five months ago, laughing with the Emperor. 

“Let go of me,” she said, regaining some composure. He obeyed, taking a step back. Sophia tried to steady herself, but her legs felt weak. Could a brief embrace from the Duke truly have this effect? As Sophia frowned and gripped the banister, the Duke took her other hand and gently escorted her. 

“See? You can’t even walk properly on your own.” An arrogant smile played on his lips. Sophia, bristling, retorted, “I was walking just fine a moment ago.” 

“You shouldn’t overexert yourself so soon after waking. Where were you going dressed like that?” 

“To the garden…” 

“Why? Were you trying to avoid me?”

The Duke led her to a sitting room adjacent to the hall. He opened the door and ushered her inside with the air of a man accustomed to being in charge. Sophia sat on a small sofa and looked up at him. He pulled a chair close and sat facing her, still holding her hand as if they were lovers. His demeanor and expression were utterly foreign to her. That Duke, looking at a woman so tenderly…and that woman being her! Sophia stared, bewildered, as if at a painting. The Duke gently brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead. 

“How are you feeling?” he asked. Sophia subtly evaded his touch as she replied, “Fine. Remarkably well, considering I was poisoned.” Her words carried an edge. The Duke, feigning ignorance, replied calmly, “I’m glad. I was worried you might be ill.” 

“Why?” 

“Why what?” Sophia looked at the man with eyes as cold as glacial ice. He returned her gaze, his smile unwavering. 

“Why were you worried about me?” 

“Hmm…” He hesitated, a hint of awkwardness in his smooth voice. He paused, then asked, “Haven’t you heard? We’re engaged.” 

“I’ve heard. I’ve heard that I confessed to you and even drank poison meant for you.” 

“Then why pretend you don’t know? Ah, is it this? Do you want to hear me say I reciprocate your feelings? That I accepted your heart? That I, too, love—” 

“No!” Sophia interrupted, pushing the words away.

“I don’t believe it.”

The Duke fell silent and withdrew slightly. His smile remained, but it was now tinged with distance, no longer the tender expression from moments before. His look dared her to continue. Despite feeling a flicker of intimidation under his gaze, Sophia held her ground. 

“I don’t doubt you’re lying, but this doesn’t make sense. I know that much.” 

“Why?” 

“Because I didn’t particularly like you.” 

Sophia’s declaration hung in the air, followed by a sudden, chilling silence. The Duke’s smile vanished, his expression reverting to the aloofness Sophia remembered, the same look he had worn last night, the same vague expression she last recalled. 

“You didn’t like me?” His voice, stripped of its gentle warmth, was cold. Sophia flinched at the abrupt change, but she nodded. The Duke was silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. Sophia watched him, observing every nuance of his expression. While she had claimed not to suspect him of lying, Sophia was certain he had fabricated the story. Whatever had happened that night, she couldn’t have suddenly confessed to him.

But instead of admitting to a lie, the Duke broke the silence with an even colder tone. 

“Then what was your motive for approaching me?” 

“What?” Sophia blurted out, bewildered. The Duke offered a reassuring smile, yet his chilling words continued. 

“It’s strange, isn’t it? You claim you didn’t like me, yet you confessed, and then drank poison intended for me. I’m simply curious. Did you want to incur a debt? Did you deliberately orchestrate this?” 

“What are you talking about… I didn’t do anything like that! And how could I have known to drink the poison?” 

“Or perhaps, Sophia, you were the one who poisoned the drink. I only saw you collapse.” 

“No, I didn’t! I didn’t do it!” 

“You didn’t…?” The Duke frowned, sensing something amiss in Sophia’s vehement denial. 

“Don’t tell me…you’ve lost your memory?”