My Bratty Wife
Chapter 56 - Fifty Six

Chapter 56: Chapter Fifty Six

Suzy pushed open the door of her chamber, the books clutched tightly in her arms. A sliver of sunlight peeked through the drapes that covered the window, casting a long shadow across the plush carpet.

The weight of the past few days settled upon her shoulders. The nightmare, Ryan’s brooding demeanor, the upcoming ball – a whirlwind of emotions threatened to engulf her.

"Can I pull it off?" she murmured to herself, picturing the grand ballroom, the elaborate swirling gowns, the endless formalities, the socialization, the dances, the forced smiles, the watchful eyes of the guests. A flicker of doubt crossed her features, but she quickly squashed it. Negative thoughts wouldn’t help.

Closing the door to her chambers behind her, Suzy stepped inside, a small smile playing on her lips. But the smile vanished in an instant, replaced by a shriek of pure terror.

A figure stood beside her bed, covered in darkness, its face obscured. Suzy’s scream ripped through the air, raw and primal. The books tumbled from her grasp, clattering to the floor in a forgotten heap. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat echoing in the sudden silence that followed her scream.

Her breath hitched in her throat as the figure remained motionless, its presence a suffocating weight in the room. Terror flooded her veins, the memory of the well, of her desperate cries for help, playing on a loop in her mind.

The figure in the shadows shifted slightly, then hesitantly stepped forward into the dim light filtering through the window.

"Your Grace—" he began, his voice low and apologetic. But before he could finish the sentence, a surge of adrenaline propelled Suzy into action.

With a primal scream that echoed in the confined space of the room, Suzy lunged for the nearest object – a heavy, leather-bound book from the stack that had fallen to the floor.

In a movement fueled by terror, she hurled the book with all her might. It sailed through the air with a satisfying thud, connecting squarely with the figure’s head. A surprised yelp, followed by a low, pained groan, ripped from his lips.

Suzy froze, her chest heaving with exertion and fear. She squinted through the dim light, her eyes adjusting slowly to the sudden movement. The figure, now illuminated by the window’s glow, stumbled back, clutching his head with a grimace.

As her terror subsided, a wave of confusion washed over her. The figure she had envisioned – a menacing silhouette, a harbinger of doom – was not what she expected. Standing before her was a young man, no older than herself, perhaps twenty-five or twenty-six at the most. His blond hair, slightly tousled from the impact of the book, framed a face that could be described as more... pretty than menacing. His eyes, a warm shade of brown, held a mixture of surprise and sheepishness.

He was clad in a guard’s uniform, the familiar leather jerkin and metal breastplate glinting in the faint light. The insignia of the Duchy shimmered on his chest, identifying him as one of their own.

Suzy’s scream gradually subsided into a series of choked gasps. Her grip on the remaining books tightened unconsciously, knuckles turning white. "What... what are you doing in my room?" she stammered, her voice raspy with fear.

The young guard winced again, rubbing the spot where the book had connected. "Ow," he muttered under his breath, then straightened up, forcing a sheepish smile. "I... I apologize, Your Grace. I didn’t mean to startle you."

His words did little to quell the tremor in Suzy’s voice. "Apologize? You’re in my private chambers uninvited, and you expect an apology?" Despite the fear that still clung to her, a spark of defiance ignited within her.

"Forgive me, Your Grace," he stammered, his voice laced with a touch of amusement despite the throbbing pain. "I... I seem to have made a rather unfortunate entrance."

Suzy narrowed her eyes, her initial terror giving way to a cautious curiosity. "Unfortunate entrance? You could have said hello!" she exclaimed, her voice still laced with a tremor of fear. "Sneaking around in the shadows... do you have any idea how you scared me half to death?"

The young man’s grin faltered slightly, replaced by a look of genuine concern. "My apologies, Your Grace," he said, his voice sincere. "I didn’t mean to frighten you. I was... well, I was instructed to wait here discreetly for you."

Suzy raised an eyebrow, skepticism coloring her voice. "Instructed by whom?"

"By... by His Grace," the young man stammered, his gaze flickering down to the floor. " I was assigned to you as your personal guard"

Suzy’s brows furrowed in confusion. Ryan? Her brows deepened. A personal guard? Ryan hadn’t mentioned anything about a new guard and why would she need a personal guard whereas there are plenty guards in the castle making sure everyone is safe.

"Personal guard?" she echoed, her voice laced with disbelief. "There must be some mistake. I already have guards assigned to me."

The young man shook his head, his brow creased in worry. "No mistake, Your Grace. The Duke himself issued the order. He said it was... necessary."

Suzy’s heart skipped a beat. Ryan wouldn’t go to such lengths unless there was a serious reason. But this guard? This... bumbling young man with a bruise forming on his forehead? A wave of frustration mingled with the lingering fear.

"Well?" she demanded, her tone laced with authority. "If you’re to be my guard, then perhaps you should explain yourself a bit further. Who are you? And what exactly is going on?"

The young guard took a hesitant step forward, his eyes flitting nervously between Suzy and the fallen books. "My name is Noah, Your Grace," he finally managed. "And... and I believe there might be some danger. The Duke... well, he wants to keep you safe."

Suzy stared at Noah, her gaze lingering on the glinting metal plates of his armor. The uniform, designed to inspire fear and respect, now looked comical on the bewildered young man. She needed a guard, yes, but one who wouldn’t give her a heart attack every time he entered a room.

"Alright, Noah," she said finally, her voice firm. "Since you’re here to stay, there will be some ground rules."

Noah straightened up, a hopeful glint in his brown eyes. "Of course, Your Grace. Whatever you need."

Suzy gestured towards his uniform. "For starters, that outfit. It’s a bit... much," she admitted, trying to keep her voice from trembling. "Something less... intimidating, perhaps? A simple shirt and trousers would suffice."

Noah glanced down at his uniform, then back at Suzy. "Oh, right," he stammered, a blush creeping up his neck. "I suppose it is a bit... conspicuous. Apologies, Your Grace. I just came straight from the barracks."

Suzy offered a weak smile. "No worries."

This might actually work. This young man, despite his initial bumbling entrance, seemed genuinely eager to please. Perhaps, with a little guidance, he could be a valuable asset.

"Alright," she continued, laying down the ground rules. "First and foremost, you do not enter my room without my express permission. Is that understood?"

"Absolutely, Your Grace," Noah confirmed, nodding vigorously.

"Second," she added, holding up a finger, "you will maintain a distance of at least five paces from me at all times, unless the situation demands otherwise."

Noah pondered this for a moment, then nodded again. "Five paces," he repeated, committing the rule to memory.

Suzy outlined a few more basic instructions, her voice gradually regaining its strength. She explained the layout of the castle, the location of the main hall and her usual routines. Noah listened intently, soaking up every word.

"I understand, Your Grace," he said once she finished. "My sole purpose is to ensure your safety. I will follow your instructions to the letter and do whatever it takes to keep you out of harm’s way."

"Alright, Noah ," she said, a hint of weariness in her voice. "I think that’s enough for now. Why don’t you... Report to the head guard and get yourself settled. And try to find some... less ’ loud attention’ attire."

Noah beamed, relief washing over his features. "Thank you, Your Grace. I won’t disappoint you." With a quick bow, he turned and practically skipped out of the room, leaving Suzy alone with the scattered books and the lingering echo of her own fear.

As the door shut behind him, Suzy sank down onto the chaise lounge, a wave of exhaustion washing over her.

A soft rap on the door startled Suzy from her rest. "Come in," she called out, her voice raspy from the earlier scream.

The door creaked open, and Doris entered, her face etched with concern. "Milady," she began, her voice gentle, "is everything alright?"

Suzy forced a smile. "Yes, Doris, everything is fine."

Doris cast a worried glance around the room, then her gaze fell on the scattered books. "The books seem to have taken a tumble," she remarked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Suzy chuckled weakly. "Indeed they did, Doris. A bit of... clumsiness on my part." She gestured towards the window. "Would you mind opening the drapes a bit? I could use some light."

Doris nodded, her smile widening slightly. She crossed the room and gently adjusted the drapes, allowing a stream of golden sunlight to bathe the room in a warm glow. "The sun is setting beautifully, Milady," she said, gesturing towards the window.

Suzy gazed out the window, a wave of peace washing over her as she watched the fiery hues dance across the horizon. "Indeed," she murmured. "Beautiful."

"Dinner will be ready shortly, Milady," Doris announced. "Would you like me to help you with your gown?"

Suzy hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, Doris, that would be lovely. Thank you."