The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 317

KATHERINE

"I'm just taking a look around the facilities. I can manage on my own, you may leave," I replied firmly, though inside, my heart was pounding.

"I insist, you really shouldn’t—"

"Who are you to tell the Duchess where she can or cannot be on her own lands?" The Duke’s authoritative voice made me let out a breath of relief.

I had been just about to scream at the top of my lungs.

"Duke… Your Lordship, I wasn’t—I was only trying to help…" The man turned, lowering his head and dropping his thug-like stance.

"No one asked for your help, and I didn’t like your tone with my wife at all. Mr. Philip, remove this man from the harvest fields," he ordered mercilessly.

His displeasure was obvious, his threatening aura making everyone tremble.

"Yes, yes, sir," the accountant stammered, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his sweaty forehead.

The laborer remained silent, about to leave with his head down, but I stopped him.

"Wait! Before you go, move these bales. I want to see what’s behind and beneath them," I ordered coldly.

I saw how his body tensed and noticed the administrator’s eyes flicker with nervousness.

"Your Ladyship, there’s only a wall behind them. What could possibly be hidden in a donkey’s stable?" The administrator gave me a nervous smile, trying to act friendly.

"Do what the Duchess ordered. Clear out all that hay," the Duke growled, his voice commanding. "Rossella, come to my side."

He called for me, and we both stepped out of the narrow pen, watching closely as the man hesitated before clearing the bales.

"Did you find something?" The Duke’s warm breath brushed against my ear, sending chills down my spine.

"Not yet, just some suspicions," I answered, turning my face toward him.

For a few seconds, we stood close, blue eyes locked onto brown.

The Duke was the first to look away, shifting his focus back to the pen as it was cleared.

"It’s done," the burly worker finally said, dusting off his hands.

I walked inside the now empty pen, listening to the administrator’s murmurs behind me.

"My Lord, may I ask what exactly we are looking for? I have served you for many years, and before that, your father. If there is any problem—"

"For your sake, I hope there isn’t," the Duke warned.

I felt his presence filling the tight space as he stepped inside.

Rolling up my sleeves slightly to avoid getting my dress dirty, I examined the now exposed area.

The wall was just covered in dirt and yellowish stains from moisture, nothing more.

There wasn’t much else to search through. I looked up at the ceiling—nothing, not even a small window leading to this side. The floor!

I began tapping my heel against the wooden planks.

The Duke caught on quickly, even crouching down to inspect more closely, checking if any boards were loose, searching for a trapdoor, anything… but there was nothing.

Frustration creased my brow.

The Duke had trusted me, and now I felt like I had wasted his time, making a scene only to be proven wrong.

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