Chapter 77 - Do you give up on your marriage?

Fernando

"What's going on here?" Raul asked, approaching us both. "Is what I've just seen real? Is it really the duke?"

"Don't tell him about La Garrotxa yet, Isabela. Let's study the escape first, please," I murmured to my bride before the soldier arrived.

She nodded, understanding my request, and finally Raul came up the steps and greeted us.

"That's him!" said Isabela. "By the way, what took your carriage so long?"

"We had an inconvenience ahead of us, and we had to act."

"I see, was it the thieves again?"

"Yes, a group of six men on horseback, two of whom managed to escape. Your Majesty needs to do something to contain these delinquents on our roads, it's getting more and more dangerous to make long journeys."

"I'll try to talk to the king one more time, maybe he'll listen to me."

"Take your friend, the marquis, he has influence." Raul suggested, shifting his gaze to Isabela. "Has he eaten something bad, or is he trying to be funny?"

"I have no idea." Miss Isabela replied.

"From what I can gather, your feelings for each other go beyond your contractual relationship."

"That's right, my friend Raul Torres; we're both doing very well. What we feel for each other is true, we have no more secrets, and we are willing to love each other until the end of our lives."

"I understand perfectly. So she knows everything?"

"Yes, as he said himself, we have no more secrets, Raul." Isabela added.

"All right, no secrets." He sighed, looking relieved. "Now tell me, where am I going to stay? I'm very tired."

"Talk to them." I pointed to the employees next door.

Raul walked away towards the servants.

"Is that really right? Why can't we tell him?"

"You know, what are we planning? It's just a plan, Isabella. I don't want to leave you with false expectations. This idea of running away, well, it's quite risky. We have to study every detail thoroughly. Now, just imagine: what do you think will go through the king's mind when he finds out that the citizens of Barcelona are simply taking to the road and leaving? It's quite a delicate situation, don't you think?"

"Your Grace is right. For now, let's concentrate on developing the plan."

"Okay. Can we go back? I don't want to turn a blind eye to the other nobles."

"Yes." She agreed and smiled gently.

"Why the little smile?"

"You took me by surprise with your idea of helping others. I loved your attitude, my duke."

I gave her a gentle pat on the back, and we headed for the living room. However, just before we passed through the door, I spotted a dazzling golden carriage approaching and parking next to where the team was unloading Raul's belongings.

~

Isabela

There was this guy, Jorge, a rich guy who somehow had in his possession an ancient Persian manuscript, a very rare jewel in the 21st century. When I saw that man, all I wanted was to get my hands on those pages again and find out what was so special about them, and Jorge stood there, all cold, playing with the tip of his mustache. When we finally returned to the living room, I realized that only he and Carlos were sitting in the same place.

"Ah, you're back," said Jorge. "I heard you had a terrible experience with Mr. Jaime's scandal, that depraved old man."

"That's true, but it's over now, my dear Mr. Jorge."

"Have miss been well since then?"

"Yes. The Duke is always by my side, consoling me whenever possible. I closed the subject, avoiding meeting his gaze; after all, I had promised myself that I would never again suffer from that dark stain in my past.

"The Duke is a good man."

"Thank you, Jorge!" Said Fernando, who turned and took his seat.

"I'm looking forward to seeing you at the wolf hunt."

"Right, the wolf hunt… who's going to beat me this year?" The duke asked, with a smile of superiority.

The subject was too much for me, so I reserved my silence.

"This year, I'll bring the best wolves and beat Your Grace."

"A three-day event held in the mountains could deplete your remaining youth, my lord."

"I have the best strategy, these animals come down from the mountains in search of food in winter, and I'll be waiting for them to stop them from attacking the citizens."

"Well, that's a rather cowardly strategy, isn't it? The nobles, known for their battle skills, will do anything and offer to hand over the wolves they capture to the lady of their dreams. It's not fair to tarnish the reputation of so many nobles who can no longer take part in this adventure."

"But I'm told that Your Grace has never offered your wolves to anyone, so why are you making such a fuss about it now?"

"Now I have someone to inspire me, my bride, Isabela Bourbon."

The Marquis, who had remained silent until then, coughed.

"I also have my beautiful inspirational lady, who I will use to outdo Your Grace this winter. We'll both take the biggest of each pack, won't we, Jorge?"

"What? Don't tell me your companion is that lazy old man?"

"I didn't have much choice." They laughed. "But I'm confident."

"Good luck with second place."

"Don't proclaim yourself the winner before the hunt." Carlos Sanchez said.

~

That starry night, when the sky opened up like a blanket of bright, eager stars, wrapped my soul in hope. I dreamed of the day when the Duke and I would have our long-awaited happy ending. After all, who doesn't long for an outcome worthy of the most enchanting fairy tales? However, in the midst of this thought, I wondered how to entertain myself while the nobles went out hunting. It was a question that constantly discouraged me, my eyes lost in the verdant horizon and the majestic universe above me.

"Raul will be at the duke's side in the mountains. I have no choice but to rummage through the library; maybe I'll find something valuable to read." I took a deep breath as my hair swirled around my face.

Suddenly, along with the wind that ruffled my hair and transported me to a place of peace, I heard that shrill voice rouse me from my peace.

"Miss Joana."

"Yes, I..." When I turned around, I had the displeasure of seeing her standing there, ruining my moment of peace. What excuse could I give her to get out of my sight?

She caught me looking at her face and smiling. What did she see that was funny?

"It's such a beautiful night to sleep, and you're here all alone? Where's your husband?" She asked, visibly in a mocking tone.

"Come on, what are you doing here, Ana? For God's sake... just when I think I'm going to get some peace, a haunting appears."

"What? What did you say?"

"No, it's nothing. You've got me thinking; I'm reflecting here on how cynical people are in this world."

"I understand, miss. There are a lot of bad people, aren't there? But anyway, aren't you feeling well? Your face is very red."

"It's just the wind. Don't worry about me." I looked away from her and settled back into the wooden chair. "Why did you come here?"

"I'm feeling hot and came for a breath of fresh air, maybe we're thinking the same thing."

"What a coincidence."

"Can I be your companion?"

Ana de Hanover may not be involved with Lucia, but that doesn't mean we can be friends.

"Come on, why don't you tell another story? It's freezing, and you come up to me and say you're hot?"

"That's right, I'm hot."

"Why don't you take off your clothes and go into the forest?"

I heard her laugh, as ironic as it was provocative.

"You're a good woman, the duke was right to choose you as his wife."

"Ana! What do you want, huh? I'm here to rest my mind; your presence is becoming annoying."

"I'm just here to fill my lungs with cold air."

"Come on, who invited you to the event?"

"I don't want to discourage you, but you're not the only one invited, Joana Bourbon. Among the other women, I'm also one of them. Sometimes we don't get everything we want."

"Okay. You've already taken up your leisure time by annoying me with your presence, now you can get back to who invited you."

I noticed that she stood up with my peripheral vision; I didn't even want to face her.

"How about a bet?"

"What?" I retorted, turning to her.

"If the nobleman who's with me brings more wolves than the Duke of Barcelona, will you give up your marriage?"