The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 110: Why Was He Here?!

Chapter 110: Why Was He Here?!

She admitted it, she wanted to see what the child of the Marquess would be capable of. Adeline was only five-years-old but she was able to quickly uncover the scheme.

In the morning

Upon awakening, the Duke didn’t bother checking up on his condition. He immediately ran to the cabin to see where that assassin was. The cabin was cleared out...

That b*stard ran away!

Why did he leave him alive though? The last thing he remembered was their fight. He was pushed to the ground and after that, he could not recall anything.

Maybe it’s good that he ran away, the Duke thought. He was hoping that he would never return to his territory. He came alone on a horse, and that horse was now gone.

Of course, he stole it.

This was a remote cabin, for miles there was nothing around. He had to walk in his weakened state until he reached civilisation. Shivering, he pulled his coat tightly around himself. The cold had seeped into his bones during the night, his dreams were filled with Alice...

From when they met to when he planned her death... Everything played out in front of him like he was at a theatre, watching a play about his life.

She was a poor nobleman’s daughter. She was dissatisfied with her status and yearned to climb up the social ladder. She was very much like himself.

She was bold, even pursuing him while knowing he was already married. At first, the Duke hadn’t thought much of it.

He had assumed she knew the limits of their arrangement. But the first time she approached him, he allowed it, justifying his actions by telling himself it was her choice.

She approached him first... It’s not my fault, it’s her fault for being delusional

She accompanied him when the Duchess would leave on business trips, she was newly appointed and had much to deal with. She would be gone for long stretches of time.

And during that time, the Duke would take over as the Master of the household. That, coupled with Alice gave him a taste of what he always wanted but could never get.

She enjoyed the benefits he gave her, she wanted a title but she knew that wouldn’t happen. With the substantial monetary and other benefits she was able to carve a place for herself.

Her reputation in society had skyrocketed, she oozed confidence everywhere she went. But when the Duchess hosted a gathering, she tried her best to make herself scarce.

Her head hung low, she didn’t have the courage to approach the Duchess. Fear? Guild? Shame? Maybe all. It worsened after she realised that she was pregnant.

This wasn’t supposed to happen! We were careful!

She wanted to be a mother, but she didn’t want to give children to the Duke. She didn’t want her child to be an illegitimate child, she had her dreams... A kind husband, a child born out of love... She had neither.

The reality of her situation hit her hard, and she felt trapped in the consequences of her choices.

The reputation she built in the society would be gone in an instant... Her father who enjoyed the benefits she brought, immediately turned against her and kicked her out... She had no choice but to meet the Duke.

But because the Duchess was home, he sent a servant to deal with her. That was when it really hit her... Her position... She was dispensible, she wasn’t important. The dreams she had about ruling society could only remain dreams.

She saw the delight in his eyes after finding out that she was pregnant. With a hardened gaze, she asked him for more benefits. She had a house and a bunch of servants who were at her beck and call.

For a while, she lived comfortably, even grandly, as his secret mistress. But it was a gilded cage.

For ten long years, she had been with this man... She hated him and loved him... But he only found her bothersome. He didn’t bother hiding it. He would only visit when the Duchess was away, and even then he never looked at her once.

This is my life now... It’s my own fault...

She couldn’t step outside into the city... Her son can never have the life he deserves. She knew the Duke would never leave the Duchess. Out of resentment her demands kept increasing and the Duke’s patience thinned.

When her demands became too much, he decided that he needed to remove her from the equation permanently.

He was going to separate his child from ’the crazy b*tch’. He offered her a hefty sum of money, urging her to leave with the promise that he would raise Everett as his own.

Saying that he would take in Everett and give him the life he deserves. And with the money she can live a great life and start over in a different city...

Desperate and vulnerable, Alice accepted his offer. She could have lived the life she always wanted... But at the last minute, she came to her senses. She could never abandon Everett!

She knew the Duke too well, he would see Everett as nothing more than an asset, a pawn in his grand schemes. She refused, determined to protect her son.

That decision was something the Duke could not accept, she was trying his hand... He was afraid of being caught, and this woman was testing his patience.

I gave her many chances. This is her own fault.

Thinking she was doing all of this only to extract more money from him, he decided to have her killed. It would only benefit him. No annoying parasite, his son would be under his control. He would eliminate her, leaving no one who knew the truth of Everett’s birth.

As he went through his memories the biting cold brought him down. He barely made it to a local town. He didn’t bring anything that could expose the fact that he was the Duke... He couldn’t risk it.

But now, because of that very decision, he couldn’t get immediate help. His entire self was dirty, that damned assassin left him on the ground to suffer! No one believed that he was a nobleman.

With clenched fists, he had to lower his dignity and beg people for him. He had a knife on him, it wasn’t too expensive or rare but it was enough to get him some money from the sale.

He finally could head towards the estate... He wondered what excuses he could give for his state. The humiliation he suffered... There was no one who could help him. Everyone in the Duchy was loyal to the Duchess.

A man like him with no powers... People rarely hid their thoughts, they thought he was lucky to marry the Duchess and become the Duke. From a nobody to ’ruling’ the Duchy... He couldn’t form allies to go against the Duchess.

She quashed every attempt at rebellion. The respect she received only amplified his insecurities.

Walking into his home, he wished to quickly head to his room but the scene in front of him shocked him...

Why was he here?!