All Chapters of The Perfect Duchess Dies At Dawn: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

The day I learned the truth about my husband, Duke Alistair, and his adopted sister, Liana, I left. I abandoned my title, my home, and returned to my father's palace.A year passed. Then came news of chaos in the duchy.The servant Alistair sent spoke with desperation, “Your Highness, the Duke and your son are lost to reason. If you don’t return, I fear they will burn everything to the ground.”I looked at the blood I'd coughed onto my handkerchief. I nodded."Fine. I'll go back."The doctor had already given me my diagnosis. Consumption. I had only a month left to live.So I went back. And I played the part of the perfect duchess.I no longer demanded Alistair's loyalty. I even found him three new mistresses who looked just like Liana and sent them to his bed after he had sent her away for me.I no longer made Damian study the arts of statecraft and not forced him to master his courtly duties. Instead, I supported his ridiculous dream of joining the Expeditionary Force.I took the pai

Blood. So much blood.As I drifted in and out of consciousness, I felt life draining away. My child was leaving my body with the blood.The doctor came too late.I had hemorrhaged. I had miscarried.The doctor's final verdict was even crueler: I would never bear another child.For two weeks, I slept in a haze.In my waking moments, I heard the maids whispering outside my window."The Duke sent Miss Liana away in the middle of the night...""Sent her to that beautiful estate in the south. He wouldn't want her to suffer the slightest discomfort.""Sigh, it was bound to happen. Ten years. Did they think no one knew?""Ever since that ball ten years ago, Miss Liana has had him wrapped around her finger. At first, he worried because she was his adopted sister, but then...""Then they started sleeping together almost every night the Duchess was away. The whole staff knew. Only Her Grace was kept in the dark."Ten years.An entire decade.I wept until I couldn't breathe, my tears soaking my p

Alistair’s voice trembled as he held my collapsing body. "This isn't real... It isn't real..."His hands were shaking. Sweat dripped from his forehead.I could feel his panic eating away at his sanity."Get a doctor!" he roared at the servants, his eyes were bloodshot. "Get every doctor in the city! Now! Go!"The servants scattered in terror.Damian fell to his knees, his face ashen, his lips trembling."Mother... Mother, what's wrong?" He crawled toward me, wanting to touch my hand but not daring to. "Don't do this to me... You can't leave me... I'll never say those things again... I was wrong..."Tears streamed down his face, splashing onto the ground."Mother, please get up and look at me! I'll never talk back again! I won't join the Expeditionary Force! I'll do whatever you say!"Liana stood to the side. A strange light flickered in her eyes as she watched the scene unfold.She slowly approached Alistair. "Alistair," she said in her softest voice, "perhaps Seraphina is just playing

Alistair's POV"Your Grace! Did you hear me? The Young Lord is going to kill Miss Liana!"The butler's voice echoed in my ears, but I didn't react.I just held Seraphina, feeling the last traces of warmth leave her body."Your Grace!" The butler grew more frantic. "Miss Liana is going to drown!""Let her die," my voice was pure ice. "If she dies, she dies. What is it to me?"The butler froze."Everyone out," I said, clutching Seraphina tighter. "I want to be alone with her."The room was quiet again. Just me and her."Seraphina, you're still a little warm..." I pressed my cheek against hers. "Don't get cold so fast, please? Let me hold you a little longer..."CRASH!The door was thrown open.Liana burst in, soaking wet.Her hair was a mess, her clothes dripping water."Alistair! Help me!" she shrieked, stumbling toward me. "Damian is trying to kill me! He's really trying to kill me!"I looked at her coldly."You deserve it.""What?" Liana stared in disbelief. "I'm your adopted sister!

Alistair's POVThree days later, the smell of decay began to rise from Seraphina's body.I had to face reality."Prepare a funeral," my voice was dry. "A private one."Her coffin was placed in the most remote corner of the garden, right where the burned memorial tree had once stood.I dug her grave with my own hands."Alistair..." My mother rushed to my side. Seeing my hands, covered in dirt and blisters, she began to weep. "My child, what are you doing...""Go back to the convent," I said without looking up. "You are not needed here.""But Seraphina...""I said, go back!" I roared. "All of you, get out!"Terrified, my mother was led away by the servants.I dismissed most of the staff, keeping only a few essential servants.Then I gave the order: seal the duchy.No one in, no one out.Because what I had to do next could not be disturbed.It was just me, Damian, and Liana in the cellar.That's all that was left of us.On the first full moon, I took Damian to the sacrificial chamber.Lia