The Duchess and the Devil - Chapter 83.2

Now Judith didn’t care about everything that was happening around her. She was focused only on her thoughts. That is why the woman could not answer as sharply as before. Watching the Viscount, the Duchess suddenly remembered Sylvia’s face as she ran towards her, holding a dagger.

Of course it was Hannibal. But Judith was haunted by the fact that the girl lost her life so easily, because she was only involved in the struggle of demons. And now all the anger and resentment towards her seemed pointless.

On behalf of the lost Judith, the butler returned Sylvia’s body, which had been brought from the villa, to the Viscount. And rumors, of course, began to spread throughout the capital due to the unrest. At first, most people were interested in the horrific murder at the Duke’s villa. But gradually people split into two camps.

Some speculated that Derrick’s dating rumors were true. And Judith, who could not stand it, killed them. Others said that the Duchess was a witch who possessed black magic, which made the two suffer, and then she took their lives.

And be that as it may, all the accusations were focused specifically on Judith. Even without knowing the circumstances, people speculated and made similar assumptions, because Judith was the only one who did not have any injuries, while the bodies of Derrick and Sylvia were mutilated by the dagger.

Judith listened helplessly to the rumors that spread like wildfire. But there was no answer or refutation. She just felt an endless emptiness inside, as if there was now a huge hole gaping in her chest. The feeling of loss was eating her up from the inside.

Vincent came to meet the Duchess a month after the incident. Hearing the rumors, his brother could not say anything, as if something had broken inside him. And this changed his awareness of reality. But among other things, Vincent heard about the Duchess’s pregnancy. And he couldn’t imagine how a child could be happy when his mother looked like she was on the verge of life and death.

– I’m so sorry, Judith.

The Duchess just looked at her brother. Previously, she was afraid that he might turn out to be Hannibal, and then she would lose all her loved ones. All the strange actions of Vincent recently flashed through my head, which confused the girl so much. She wanted to scream and blame her brother for all his sins. After all, if it weren’t for him, Derrick could still be alive, everything could have turned out completely differently. But now every word seemed so meaningless, which is why they only got stuck in my throat, rotting inside.

“Madam,” the maid called out to her in a calm tone, having finished preparing the outfit.

The whole atmosphere around was extremely gloomy, as if the sky was forever covered with a dark cloud. Judith gazed at her reflection in the mirror. A velvet hat that covered her tied silver hair, a dress as dark as the night that she now feared, and silk gloves that covered the back of her hands, wet with tears.

There was not a single white element in her outfit, except for the feather-shaped brooch attached to her chest. But it was extremely difficult to see without proper lighting. Gradually the time came to say goodbye to Derrick, just like that time when he fell ill, died and lay in a coffin.

The procedure for preparing the funeral was absolutely identical. That is why this moment practically did not affect Judith. During the two weeks of preparation, the Duchess never shed a tear. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t sad. Rather, she could not accept the reality that was now clouded.

Even though she was alive, it seemed as if she no longer existed.

With the help of the maids, Judith left the bedroom and headed into the garden. The procession of carts continued through the previously open gate. And many people dressed in black bowed their heads.

When the Duchess appeared, the noisy atmosphere subsided, as if everyone present had been doused with cold water for a moment. Judith used to always look them in the eyes. But now she didn’t even want to think about it. The Duchess walked by, looking straight ahead. The panoramic view with haunting faces was extremely familiar.

Today is the day of her husband’s second funeral.