My Dear Duke(BL)
Chapter 58: Everything Will Be Fine

Chapter 58: Everything Will Be Fine

Asher was about to go back to his place like other servants since it was already the early hours of the night. The servants had prepared dinner and had gone back to their places. As usual, Mary stayed to serve and take care of other things. But that day, Asher was late because he went to check on Anne and feed her dinner since she woke up late from the previous sleep. Asher had to stay there until she fell asleep again so it took some time as her usual routine had been messed up with the previous sleep.

So he was just going back now.

However, just as he was about to step out of the mansion, he was faced with duke.

The duke had his head down but after bumping into Asher, he looked up and Asher was taken aback seeing him. The duke’s eyes half opened, looking straight into Asher’s eyes with no thoughts, just an empty galre. But it was the most scary. He had a mad look and Asher had to take a step back as he felt the duke was extremely furious and looked like had gone mad.

"Duke..."

Asher bowed his head to greet the duke and walked past the duke with quick steps. But Asher was curious and also worried something was wrong so he turned back to see the duke.

"Duke!"

Asher had to run back because he saw the duke wobbling, then suddenly falling.

Asher went to support him and the duke silently let Asher pull him up. Eventually, Asher managed to pull him up from the ground but the duke did not move.

Asher knew something was wrong. The duke looked sick. But his body wasn’t hot either. It was something else.

Asher in the end, made up his mind to help the duke to his room. He supported the duke and walked to the duke’s bedroom with slow steps, opened the door and went in before pushing him to the bed.

"Duke...are you okay?"

Asher asked because he was worried. Something was definitely wrong with him. It was very obvious.

"I am fine."

Asher still did not leave even after getting an answer. The duke was lying. How could he be fine when he looked like that?

He wanted to help him but didn’t know if he should really stay there. If the duke was bothered by something then he might find it annoying Asher staying there.

Asher quite hesitated...

Then,

"Does the duke want me to leave? If I can,I will help you."

Asher asked and waited for a very long time till he got an answer. He didn’t leave even though all he got for a response was silence.

After the long silence, the duke got up, turned to Asher, just expressionlessly requested to help him grab a pill bottle.

"Bring me the pill bottle on the top shelf."

Asher found the right one and brought it to the duke and watched as he quickly grabbed two, swallowed them with the glass of water he brought. Asher got the glass back and placed it back but immediately had to look back because he heard a groan followed by heavy panting.

He came to face the duke and saw him burying his face in his palms.

"Duke..."

The duke, he was...crying.

"D-duke...Are you okay?"

Even though Asher got no answer he still talked to the man because he felt sorry. This mighty man wouldn’t cry that easily, right? What happened? What made him cry like this?

"If something is bothering you, you can talk to me. I can listen to you."

Asher said but the duke was still the same. He silently cried, tears flowing through his palm to his hand.

However, standing there in silence, Asher suddenly jumped up when the duke raised his head and looked at him.

His eyes shining as they were still welled up with tears, his face with tears streaming down...it was all new. He never thought the duke could look this pitiful.

"Duke...Use me as you want if it makes you feel better."

Asher said determined even though he didn’t know where these words came from. He was so thoughtless, wasn’t he?

"Will you... really listen to me? I want someone’s opinion."

The duke’s voice was hoarse, slightly shaking. It sounded even more saddening to Asher.

"I will duke. Tell everything you have. I will safekeep your secrets. Trust me."

Asher said and walked toward the duke as he saw the duke was ready to talk to him. However, as they were both close now, the duke instead of talking, suddenly broke into tears again.

Asher knew how this feels. He was actually expecting this. He also couldn’t control his tears when he realised his mother would help him no matter what. When he was a child, just as he stopped crying with his mother’s consolation, he started to cry again when he felt relieved. He doesn’t know why it was a moment of relief but also an uncontrollable crying session.

"It’s okay..."

Asher pulled the duke into a hug and rubbed his back in a comforting manner.

The duke didn’t really cry out loud. He was trying his best to keep all the sounds inside panting but shaking as he cried.

Maybe he was trying to protect his dignity while still going through this.

Asher hugged him and comforted him just like his mother used to do.

It always worked. So was for the duke.

Asher wasn’t really expecting the duke to hug him back but he indeed did and silently cried for a long time. Asher didn’t move and stayed still letting the duke hold him or...holding him.

Asher was standing all this time when the duke was sitting on the bed. Asher knew it would be long so he got on the bed, pulled the duke closer.

Asher didn’t know why. He was so tempted to touch the duke’s hair and stroke wishing his all sadness would go away soon. Asher did it unknowingly. He didn’t know where his bravery came from but he stroked the duke’s hair, leaning his face close and burying it in the crook of the duke’s neck, then tightening the hug.

’Everything will be fine.’

He will be there for him.

He can be kind and caring to anyone in despair.

"Asher..."

Asher heard the duke say and pulled his face away.

"What is it duke?"

"Will you listen to my story? It’s..not interesting, not pleasant. I.."

"I will duke. Tell everything. I will listen to you."

"... I want your opinion...what am I going to do? I don’t know anything. I have no idea. I feel lost. It’s all terrible. I just want to disappear."

"Duke...it’s okay. Just talk to me."

Asher again buried his face and rubbed the dukes back, which seemed to calm down the duke.

"What happened?"

The duke hesitantly started to tell his problem, starting with his past to Asher, who kept hugging and comforting him throughout to the end.

Such a humiliating past....

How did he even get the courage to tell it to Asher?