Chapter 014 Duke Hugh Ethan Griffith
Alwyn immediately gave a respectful greeting to the tall and imposing man before him. Without hesitation, he stood ready, like a loyal aide always alert in the presence of his superior.
"I apologize for my negligence, my Lord. I was careless and failed to anticipate everything..." Alwyn said in a low tone, trying to explain while holding back the anxiety weighing on his heart.
However, the large man seemed completely uninterested in Alwyn's apology. With a firm tone and a voice that echoed in the room, he commanded, "Leave! Prepare the carriage!"
"Yes, my Lord," Alwyn replied shortly, before quickly turning and leaving the room, leaving Atthy alone with the man.
Alwyn's steps were hurried yet full of unease. Though his heart was heavy, he knew there was nothing he could do except follow orders. Atthy was now with her future husband, and as an employee, he could only sympathize, not empathize. The dilemma gnawed at Alwyn's mind, but in a situation like this, he could not act beyond his role.
The worry about Atthy's condition continued to disturb his thoughts, but he knew that, as a subordinate, his role was limited—bound to the tasks assigned to him. Nothing more than that.
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"The state you're in doesn't look good..." said the tall man with a cold tone, his eyes appraising Atthy's body without a hint of compassion.
Atthy, who had been studying the imposing figure before her, finally caught a strong impression of his appearance. Despite his simple attire, the wealth implied by every item he wore was unmistakable. Atthy also sensed the deep respect Alwyn had shown when the man appeared—a respect that went beyond mere formalities. There was no longer any doubt; this was the man who had sent the marriage proposal for her—Grand Duke Griffith, the ruler of Alpen, whom even the royal family avoided.
He stood with perfect posture—upright, dignified, and unyielding, like a stronghold that defied any storm. His body was proportioned perfectly, every muscle chiseled with precision, reflecting strength not only in physique but also in mind.
His face was firm, with a strong jawline that added to his dominant presence. His skin, like stone worn by time, was flawless yet hinted at untold stories. His gaze was cold and sharp, like a blade that could peel away lies in an instant. There was no emotion in his expression, only a dangerous calm that made anyone think twice before approaching.
When he spoke, his voice was deep and steady—no need for him to raise his tone to show authority. Even in silence, his aura was enough to make others feel small in his presence. He was not someone who could be tamed, much less controlled.
"Greetings, Your Excellency Grandduke Griffith... I am Athaleyah Galina. I apologize for receiving you in such a state," Atthy said with a firm voice, despite her weakened body.
"No problem... But you're mistaken about one thing!" the man suddenly exclaimed, his voice rising sharply, delivering a stinging correction.
"Pardon?" Atthy responded, startled, her face showing clear confusion.
"I am not Grand Duke Griffith, but Duke Griffith!" Hugh declared with a booming voice, correcting the title without hesitation.
"Y-yes?!" Atthy stammered, surprised and a little confused, unsure of how to respond.
"Don't waste time, get out, the carriage is waiting!" Hugh barked, offering Atthy no chance to speak further. Without turning back, he walked out of the room, adding, "The journey still has a long way to go, another day to Eldoria."
"Eldoria?!" Atthy muttered under her breath, her face a mixture of confusion and disbelief as she processed the name of a region she hadn't expected to hear.
"Why does your face look like that?!" Hugh snapped, noticing Atthy's confusion. "The train only takes us to Alpen. After that, we'll use a carriage. It's still morning; if we hurry, we can reach there by evening..."
With that, Hugh walked away without giving Atthy a chance to ask any more questions. Atthy stood still, stunned by the explanation she had just heard.
"At least explain some things to me!" Atthy grumbled inwardly with frustration. "Alpen and Skythia, Grand Duke and Duke... Why is everything so confusing? There's definitely something wrong here... but what?"
With a sense of unease, Atthy sighed deeply, feeling the weight of her low status as her future husband treated her with such coldness. Hugh, with his imposing figure and beast-like aura protecting his domain, only made Atthy feel smaller.
"I guess I'll have to manage on my own... Come on, Atthy! You can do this, just a few steps to the carriage," she quietly encouraged herself.
Struggling, Atthy tried to lift herself up to stand and walk with elegance, though each step was incredibly heavy. The effort it took to move drained her completely. Her heart pounded, her body trembled, and cold sweat began to bead on her temples.
Seeing Atthy's condition, not a single guard remained unmoved. Randy even felt anger and frustration toward Alwyn, thinking Alwyn should never have informed the Duke, thus preventing the Duke from having to come personally to retrieve Atthy.
"If only Duke Hugh hadn't come..." Randy muttered to himself. With his rank and status as her fiancé, Hugh was the only one who could take action. Without Hugh's orders, no guard could freely touch Atthy.
The situation grew even more dire in the eyes of the guards. Although they had not interacted directly with Atthy, they could not ignore her pitiable state during the long journey.
The tension mounted as Atthy struggled to descend the train. Alwyn and Randy waited below, reaching out their hands to help her. At the door of the carriage, Atthy's body began to wobble, but because her head was lowered, neither Alwyn nor Randy immediately noticed.
HOP!
Suddenly, Atthy, who was about to collapse with her head dipping forward, was caught by Hugh, who was quick to act. Startled, Hugh felt the intense heat radiating from Atthy's body—hot as an oven. Without hesitation, he swiftly scooped her up and carried her into the carriage.
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"Harlan, head to the *Manor immediately!" Hugh commanded, his voice firm and authoritative as he stepped into the carriage.
"Yes, Your Grace," Harlan, the coachman, replied confidently.
Hugh turned, his piercing gaze locking onto Alwyn. "Alwyn, has a doctor been traveling with you?"
"Yes, Your Grace. We brought one when we were at Ceron City Station..." Alwyn answered, his voice slightly hesitant.
"Bring her to treat her..." Hugh ordered, his tone lower but filled with emphasis.
"Yes, Duke," Alwyn and Randy responded simultaneously, their voices united, as if to leave no room for doubt.
As soon as the order was given, Randy hurried off to find and bring Dr. Sarah. The doctor had previously boarded the special carriage used for the servants and was now required to move to the same carriage as Hugh and Atthy.
Meanwhile, Alwyn, Randy, and the loyal soldiers swiftly followed the carriage, moving with caution and alertness. Hugh's presence, with all its weight, created a tense atmosphere, as though this journey was not just a change of location but the beginning of something much larger.
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The large room in Duke Hugh's manor was cluttered with piles of documents, creating an atmosphere of mounting tension. The dim light from lanterns hanging from the ceiling only added to the gloomy ambiance filling the Duke's office. Papers lay scattered across the desk, some wedged between thick books, others lying untouched for days. The unfinished paperwork, which should have been completed by now, only served as an additional burden on Alwyn's heavy heart.
His steps felt weighed down, and with every passing second, the pressure on his shoulders seemed to increase. As the head of administration, Alwyn had always been accustomed to working in silence and precision. However, this time, something felt different. Important decisions that should have been easy to make had now turned into dilemmas that seemed unsolvable. All of this was because of the increasingly chaotic situation in the Skythia region.
As he stared at the scattered papers on Hugh's desk, a growing sense of anxiety gnawed at him. The administrative staff responsible for the inner regions of Skythia had fled—whether out of fear or because they didn't know how to handle the unfolding chaos. No one could provide clear answers about what was happening. What was certain was that the situation was worsening and required immediate attention.
"Alwyn," Hugh's authoritative voice broke the silence. "I've read your report."
Alwyn quickly turned around. Hugh was seated at the large desk, his expression flat but firm. In front of him lay an endless spread of documents. Alwyn knew Hugh relied on him, and now more than ever, he felt the weight of that responsibility.
"Yes, Duke?" Alwyn responded, trying to maintain his composure despite the turmoil inside.
"Why is this report different? It feels like there's no conclusion. Just meaningless rambling," Hugh said, his voice flat yet sharp.
Alwyn swallowed hard. "Apologies, Duke," he responded cautiously. "I understand your dissatisfaction, and I'm ready to accept the consequences. But... this is the situation. I haven't been able to draw any conclusions yet. All the information I received before meeting Lady Athaleyah Galina... is no longer relevant." He trailed off, hoping his explanation would make sense to Hugh.
Hugh stared at him for a moment, his expression unchanged. Alwyn knew that Hugh was not an easy man to satisfy, and this was one of those moments when he would have to brace himself for the consequences of his imperfect work.
"What do you mean by that?" Hugh asked, his voice growing firmer. "Are you sure that they—those two—are truly different?"
"Yes, Duke," Alwyn answered, meeting Hugh's gaze despite the discomfort creeping up on him. "I'm certain."
"Why? What do they want?" Hugh asked, his voice sharpening further.
"There's still no clear information, Duke," Alwyn answered honestly, though a sense of dread filled him. Everything he had discovered so far was insufficient to form a definite conclusion.
Hugh furrowed his brow, his expression becoming slightly more serious. "Then I want to hear your personal opinion on this matter..."
"Excuse me?" Alwyn was taken aback.
"Alwyn, the woman you brought here as my bride-to-be."
Alwyn froze. He hadn't expected Hugh to ask for his opinion on the woman who was to be his fiancée. He was not used to offering judgment on such matters, especially considering his position as a servant.
"Your Grace?" Alwyn hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
Hugh's gaze was unyielding, an order in his eyes. "Speak!" he commanded, his tone firm and clear.
Alwyn sighed. After thinking for a moment, he decided to speak cautiously. "I can't form a bad opinion about her, Duke," he answered firmly, though with a slight hesitation in his voice. "But we all know the main goal of this marriage. We must remain vigilant. But I think we should consider a different perspective... though I have doubts."
Hugh simply stared at him, silent. Alwyn could feel that something was amiss, something hidden behind Hugh's seemingly calm demeanor. He felt that his thoughts had likely been read by Hugh, but he chose to remain silent.
"Enough with the pretenses!" Hugh finally said, breaking the silence. "We know something is off. A low-ranking noble sends a fake bride... is he too bold, or simply a fool?"
Alwyn remained silent. He felt the growing anxiety not only from the deteriorating situation in Skythia but also from the uncertainty that was gnawing at him.
"Alright," Hugh said finally, his voice firm and commanding. "We'll continue with this game. But for now, leave this issue to Helena. I want you to focus on the coal mine problems. Some people are playing with fire there. Solve that!"
Alwyn stared at Hugh, trying to keep his expression neutral. "But Duke, that's not just an administrative matter. I'll handle it, as it's part of my job. But someone else should take care of Aldor's issue, not me."
Hugh looked at him sharply. "I know," he said in a lower voice. "But because of the rat problem in Aldor, the administrative matters have been neglected. I want you to sort it all out. Don't worry, Marcel will go with you."
Alwyn felt uneasy. "But Duke, wouldn't it be better if Randy accompanied me? He's more... experienced in the field."
"No!" Hugh said sharply, cutting off Alwyn's words. "Randy will be her guard until I find another escort."
Alwyn muttered to himself, but he couldn't argue with Hugh's decision. "Alright, Duke," he said, resigned. "I'll leave immediately."
Hugh merely nodded, returning his focus to the documents in front of him. "Do as usual. Don't worry about anything else. As for the girl, let me be the one to judge."
Alwyn's heart skipped a beat. Apparently, what he had been thinking had been clearly read by Hugh. "Understood, Duke. Excuse me," he replied, leaving the room with a sense of doubt and unease.
Once the door closed, Hugh turned his gaze back to the papers on his desk. "Who is she really?" he muttered to himself. "What are you thinking, Margrave? Is Griffith so intimidating that you're desperately trying to restrict our movements?"
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