The Duchess and the Devil - Chapter 79.1

The soup, which had previously been edible, now seemed completely tasteless. She had gained an appetite when Derrick said he wouldn’t leave, but now Judith removed the tray from her lap with a grim expression. In the end, it happened as expected. But the demon’s departure seemed so early that the hostility towards the situation continued to grow.

And although Judith’s head remembered it perfectly, her heart could not accept it. It feels like only she and the child are left in this difficult world. Feeling of loneliness and abandonment.

Judith never thought that she would be able to experience feelings for the devil that she had never known before. Derrick, who helped and grabbed the tray that was about to fall, then immediately sat down opposite.

With many years of experience, Judith knew very well how to hide emotions in front of other people, but she did not understand at all what happened to her feelings in such a situation, when they fought in a hot dance and seemed to go out of order.

“So you better hide while I’m gone,” Derrick said extremely seriously, trying to get through to Judith.

Yesterday the demon behaved gently and kindly, but today he completely ignored her sadness, although he knew perfectly well how his wife felt. Which only made Judith more upset.

– For what?

“Because he might come here to find you in my absence.” And I need to buy as much time as possible. Is there any other place where you can stay besides the mansion?

Now Judith couldn’t think straight, she concentrated only on the feelings that were raging inside when she looked at Derrick. In the book she read recently, love was described exactly like this. Every time Judith thought about breaking up, her heart ached and difficult emotions washed over her.

“There is a villa off the coast that belongs to the Duke,” her voice was extremely quiet and depressed.

Derrick calmly looked at his wife and stood up:

“Then get ready to leave soon.”

Judith wanted to scream, “If you’re going to leave, don’t pay attention to me,” but the words got stuck somewhere in her throat. The approaching farewell took my breath away like a trap. Her heart was beating wildly, and the composure that had returned the night before left Judith again. This was a harbinger of approaching anxiety.

***

All Judith did in preparation for the villa was suffer from exhaustion. The number of people going with her was extremely small in order to deceive Hannibal’s eyes. There were only three maids and five knights who had served Judith closely all these years.

The beach villa was very different from the mansion. If there was a neat atmosphere in the metropolitan area, it was something for relaxation and real rest. The villa had a summery feel with royal blue patterns.

For two days, Judith slept all the time. It was difficult to fall asleep in the endlessly rattling carriage, but with Derrick’s magic everything turned out to be extremely simple. The carriage, which had been traveling all day, arrived at the dacha only at dawn. Waking up, the Duchess, as before going to bed, saw her husband in front of her.

– Did you wake up?

But Judith just looked at him silently. She knew very well: the moment of separation had come. Her chest was pounding wildly, but it was a little different from morning sickness. Derrick looked at her gloomily.

Golden eyes, full of moisture, were ready to cry at any moment. The demon did not want to see tears, but he understood that this was something inevitable. Her gaze, like a rope, wrapped around his ankles and wrists, not letting him go anywhere.

“Judith,” he understood perfectly well: as long as Hannibal exists, he poses a danger.

Derrick tried to find the right words, because his heart was beating quickly in his chest, giving off pain. He was not familiar with such a situation, so his voice mixed a range of feelings, echoing throughout the room.

– Do not think about anything. Only about your health. For me this is the main thing. For this reason, I’m leaving now,” his thoughts seemed extremely confused, and the sentences were not connected with each other when he spoke, looking at Judith’s pitiful face.

His words were extremely difficult. Finally, silence reigned.

Judith bit her lips painfully, frowning and bowing her head. The Duchess tried not to cry. Derrick, turning her face towards him, gently touched her lips. A cautious kiss was the peak of their separation.

Derrick didn’t try to lick or find Judith’s tongue like he usually did. On the contrary, the kiss was weightless. Derrick then lowered his head and kissed the necklace.

– We can meet again, right?

Despite the stupidity of the situation, Derrick sighed heavily and replied:

– No.