The Duke's Masked Wife

"Thank you for the donations. We shall make good use of it. Please come again whenever you feel troubled or just in need of prayer," Peter said as he waved goodbye to the visitors. "Thank goodness the snow is not so bad today. I feared we wouldn't have many visitors today. I-no," his mood quickly changed when he spotted a carriage with the flag showing a falcon coming his way.

Peter was ready to run but then he remembered what happened last time with Edgar tripping him up. Instead, he remained where he stood and prepared himself to be toyed with by the devil.

To his pleasant surprise, it wasn't Edgar who stepped out of the carriage. After two large men stepped out, it was revealed to be Alessandra who came to visit the church.

"Oh thank heavens," he sighed in relief, touching where he felt the tightness in his chest. One of these days just seeing Edgar's carriage will make his heart fail. "Why has she come to the church? Duchess!" He cheerfully greeted her. "And big men," he gulped when they stared at him.

"It is nice to see you again Peter," Alessandra said as she walked up the church steps. "Did you think I was Edgar? You seem afraid."

"It is a normal reaction whenever he comes. He is not somewhere waiting to surprise me, is he?" Peter asked, looking around the trees and bushes to try to spot Edgar.

"The Duke doesn't have the time to hide somewhere to scare you," said Sally to the priest who was full of sweat despite the cold air from the snow.

"No," Alessandra shook her head. "Edgar would if it meant scaring Peter."

"Finally, someone realizes what that man is truly like. Have you finally come to divorce him? The church can make it happen quicker. Hey!" Peter yelled, jumping back when the two men pointed a sword and dagger at him.

"If you wish to keep your hands, do not put the idea of divorce in her head," Reed warned the priest. He was starting to remember just exactly who this man was. "They allow anyone to become a priest these days. Have you stopped scamming or is this your new plot? Waiting to steal the donations the church receives."

"F-First, there is to be no fighting or pulling out weapons when you are visiting the church. Second, I am a changed man so please put away those things before I get hurt. I won't mention divorce again. The Duchess will have come to me when she finally wakes up," Peter muttered.

"I am not going to divorce, Edgar. Not now, not ever. Reed and Caleb, please refrain from pulling out your weapons here unless there is danger. We should respect the church. Without Peter, Edgar and I would have to wait another day to be wed. I don't want the man who married me to Edgar to be hurt. Besides, I find his words to be funny," said Alessandra, trying her hardest not to laugh at Peter's fear of Edgar in his face.

It might be considered to be awful but she loved the nervous wreck Peter was when it came to Edgar.

Reed and Caleb listened to Alessandra and put away their weapons for now. However, if divorce were to be brought up again, they could not guarantee the priest would live. No one was going to separate the happily married couple on their watch.

"You sure love surrounding yourself with dangerous men, don't you?" Peter asked as he fixed his clothes. First Edgar and now these two giants. He needed to pull her aside to check what was going on in her head to be making these decisions. "Why have you come to the church? Is it donations, prayer, or..." Peter winked at her.

"I am not divor-"

Peter lunged to cover Alessandra's mouth to stop her from saying the forbidden word. He almost knocked the mask off her face because of it. Unfortunately, it turned out that touching her had worse consequences than mentioning divorce.

"I knew I was going to die today," Peter cried as the two men grabbed him.

He was peeled away from Alessandra like what someone would do with the skin of a fruit.

"I am fine," Alessandra reassured Caleb and Reed before they could harm Peter. She straightened out her mask before anyone might see what was meant to be hidden. "Everyone can stay outside while I go in to pray. I won't be long. If there is trouble you can come to me. Come along, Peter."

"What she said," Peter pointed at Alessandra and then followed behind her inside the church. "I must add that I am to avoid you when you come to the church," he said when they were out of sight of her guards.

"That is not nice. I will send Edgar to change your mind if you do wish to see me," Alessandra said teasingly. She looked around at every inch of the church. Alessandra remembered it all clearly from the night her life changed for the better.

"You!" Peter exclaimed. He could not believe she would be so evil to send her husband to him. "You've changed since the last time you were here. You were more innocent. Now you seem to be playful like your husband."

"Really? I  don't feel like I have changed that much. No, I did have to change a bit to survive in Edgar's world. I am still getting used to his world and slowly adapting to it. It is not easy with the remarks I must always hear. Especially when it comes to a child," Alessandra softly spoke as she walked with Peter.

"It is not an easy place you found yourself in. The church gets wind of all kinds of things and I have heard your name come up a few times. Do not let their words destroy you, Duchess. I learned your father died the night you came to be married. I have no idea what life you had before that night but I pray you enjoy the one you have now. Do not let anyone break you," Peter advised her.

"Thank you for the motivation, Peter. Just a moment ago you were trying to have me divorce Edgar. I have come to pray for someone to heal from an accident and pray for everyone around me to be safe," Alessandra gave her reasoning for her visit as she was sure he was curious "Is that alright?"

"Of course, it is okay. Besides your husband, we don't send away anyone who comes to pray. Technically, he never comes to pray. Only to make my life hell. You can go up to the altar and kneel to pray," Peter pointed to the altar at the front of the church. It was empty since the last visitor left before she arrived. "I shall not interrupt you or any of the other priests.  Maybe this will spark your husband to pray but make sure he goes to another church."