The Marquise was scolding his wife, but the odd things were his grip around her forearm and her trembling shoulders.

«I told you to be more friendly! Look at that, now! The Archduke is leaving, and we didn't have time to have a proper conversation! What use do I have of a wife that doesn't know how to use her familiar bonds?»

His voice was furious and high-pitched, showing all the annoyance about something that wouldn't have changed no matter what Lyana did. His right hand was around the girl's wrist, while the left was clenched in a fist and shoving in the air.

Meanwhile, Lyana just bowed her head and started tearing. She didn't even sob while the drops crossed her face without a noise. It looked like she was used to that treatment, and even more that she knew what was going to happen.

«How dare you cry now? It's your fault!» the Marquise continued.

When I couldn't bear to watch in silence anymore, I stepped in and asked what that argument was about.

Maybe, it wasn't my place to meddle in. They indeed were husband and wife. However, I couldn't walk away after witnessing that scene.

Lyana's long sleeves and pale face suddenly made so much sense. With that kind of grip, the delicate skin of a woman would become dark. And the bruise would probably hurt for a few days.

«I was just teaching my wife to behave,» the Marquise explained. «I'm sorry if any of her actions made you feel unwelcome. We're both honoured to have you here! Right?» He turned to the woman and glared at her until she bowed her head in a hurry.

«None of the Marchioness's action made me leave. I have a campaign to carry on in the south.»

«I'm relieved. I hope your highness can pass here on the way back too.»

«Sure, if I use this road to go back.»

For the whole time of the conversation, Lyana hadn't stopped rubbing the place where her husband gripped.

«Is this the first time that something like this happens?» I asked her.

The man next to her shook his head and misunderstood the question as directed to him.

«My wife is still young, so she doesn't know how to behave. She will soon get better, by the way. I'm working hard on teaching some sense into her.»

«You shouldn't tolerate this,» I stated, and Lyana lifted her eyes on me for the first time. She trembled, scared to her guts.

«What can I do? I'm a bit too lax, that's true,» the man shrugged, and I almost punched him on the spot.

«You can come with me,» I whispered and, before the Marquise had time to misunderstand once more and follow me in war, I offered my hand to Lyana. «He won't be able to hurt you, I promise.»

Her trembling fingers reached my hand, and she stepped forward.

«What do you mean?» the Marquise asked, now confused.

«Let's go,» I finished and took a step towards the exit.

«Wait, you can't force my wife to follow you!»

«Don't make me laugh,» I replied.

He gripped the lady's arm and pushed her back.

Before realising what was happening, I stepped in and punched his face. His nose broke, and he fell on his butt.

«You can't do this!» he shouted before getting up. He ran towards me with the clear intention of getting revenge for the humiliation, and he just earned a second punch.

All the training done to be fit for my Queen revealed its fruits when my reflexes and speed improved by tenfold. Not just my sword technique, but my general fighting skills were up to par with the best warriors of the Empire.

A middle-aged, fat Marquise wasn't a challenge for me.

Too bad he fell back and landed on the ground. His head hit the paved courtyard's floor with a sick noise, and he didn't move anymore. He just looked at me and blinked, but he couldn't move his head even a degree. Nor talk, nor complain.

«Ouch,» I frowned.

That wasn't in my plans.

«You can testify that I was defending myself,» I sighed, turning to Lyana. «And no one will dare to create a scandal out of this. But I really don't have time to handle it...»

Lyana observed the scene with wide eyes until she took a decision I hadn't predicted.

«I just wanted to teach him a lesson. Who knew he would end up like this?»

At least, he wasn't able to hurt her anymore.

«It's not your fault, your highness,» she said.

She asked me to lend her a knife so that she could finish the work with her hands.

«Wait,» I stopped her. «It's not wise.»

«I will be the culprit, your highness. It won't hurt your reputation, I promise! I just can't live like this anymore. Prison is better than this.»

«That's not what I meant, lady Lyana. We shouldn't spill blood all over the courtyard. This can still be considered an incident.»

I moved her to the side and made her turn away from the dying Marquise.

«Listen, you now have to do two things. First, bring me one of his capes. A large one with a hood. Your husband will leave under everyone's watch tonight. Is there anywhere he would head towards at night?»

«Yes,» she sighed. «My husband goes to town quite often. I suppose he has a mistress there, or he plays cards till dawn with his friends.»

«That's good,» I nodded and started moving the body behind a bush. It would have been bad if anyone passed there by chance and saw the Marquise. I also had to remember to call myself out.

I would send a message to myself from the town to have a valid reason to leave without greeting the landlord.

Also, lady Lyana's death, which was going to happen in a few years, now sounded so suspicious. I couldn't leave her there, not after complicating her life with a couple of punches.

My Queen wouldn't like an irresponsible man. I had to find a way to extract Lyana from that situation without implying my name in the matter.