Rosie's Games

Chapter 107: Trouble Brewing 3

Rosalind was definitely in a bad mood.

It was not because she did not know what they were planning, it was because she was supposed to earn millions of gold tonight for treating Princess Isabel and the banquet changed this. Compared to earning her gold, this banquet was simply useless.

She stared at her reflection. Donned in an ugly purple dress that looked too dark to be called purple, Rosalind frowned. She looked ten years older. This dress must be made for someone Victoria's age.

Before the sun rose, Victoria had already sent her people to drag Rosalind back to her quarters so they could try out some dresses that she was supposed to wear tonight. The lack of sleep and her spoiled plan left her in a foul mood.

"The dress was made for your sister Dorothy but seeing you and her have the same body type, I thought it would be nice to have you wear it. She had not worn this even once. Knowing her current predicament, I know that she would not wear the dress or at least would not be given the chance to wear the dress in the future."

Victoria gave her the smile that she always hated. "Purple is your color don't you like it?" she continued.

"I would have liked it," Rosalind responded. "If it did not look like I was already a married woman." Purple? Really? She could not fathom the lies. What gave Victoria the courage to do this?

She observed the older woman's face as she wondered if Victoria was deliberately doing this to irritate her or to make her laugh. Perhaps both?

"Ah How could you say that? This dress was made by the same tailor who created the clothes of her majesty, the Empress." Victoria said. "I do not think you would be able to wear such clothes in the North."

"Something like this does not work in the North," Rosalind said. "It's simply too cold."

"Oh Nevermind. Tonight, you will be wearing this dress and I will be accompanying you in the carriage."

"You wanted to accompany me?"

"Why not? Am I not your mother?"

Rosalind gritted her teeth. She glanced at the people behind them, servants and even the head butler Arman, who is going to betray the family very soon, was watching her every move. The woman purposely did this to try and restrict her movements.

A wise move, Rosalind could not help but commend her for the job well done.

Yet, this only made her more curious about Victoria's plan. Why was she doing her best to suppress her and make it seem as if she was nice to her? Everyone in this room knew that Victoria neglected her. Everyone knew that she sent her away.

This made the current atmosphere somewhat fake. For once, everyone was smiling at her and treating her very very well, and it was enough to make her even more suspicious. However, Rosalind chose not to show any anxiety on her face.

"Mother, It is nice of you to give me a dress that was meant for Dorothy. I appreciate the kind gesture. However, purple is not something that would suit a maiden like me. Let us not forget that I have yet to marry the Duke and wearing something that married women are supposed to wear when I am still unmarried would be an insult to the Wugary Kingdom and the Duke. Don't you agree?" she turned towards Victoria.

Before the older woman could respond, Rosalind continued, "I just started studying the etiquette of the North and have been receiving books from the Wugary Kingdom about the norms and conduct of a proper duchess and this is simply not one of them. Wugary might not be as rich as the Aster Empire, but they are warriors; brave men, and women who would not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for us. The least that we could do is to conform to their etiquette when we do something like entertaining them, especially when we were the ones who invited them to the palace. Don't you think so? Mother?"

"I " Victoria's mouth fell to the floor. It was because Rosalind started talking about the Wugarians out of nowhere. They were originally talking about the dress and Rosalind suddenly switched topics out of nowhere to the norms in the North?

"Well " Victoria forced a smile. She did not know if Rosalind was just acting ignorant or if she was simply like this.

"You do not have to worry about my dress, mother," Rosalind said, smiling. "His Grace, the Duke sent a few dresses that would be just as beautiful as this dress. Moreover, he had sent a few red gowns. I believe red is my color. Don't you think so too?"

By now, Victoria knew that Rosalind changed not just because of the Blessing but because of the Duke. She already sent her people to the house where Rosalind stayed all those years to try and find out the truth about Rosalind's relationship with the Duke, but they came up with nothing. Still, she refuse to believe that the Duke was doing all this just because he wanted to use Rosalind.

He must be aware of the Blessing!

Victoria already thought of this and has decided to use the information in the near future if and only if, their plans failed tonight. However, she was pretty confident that it would succeed.

"Oh my. What a sweet gesture. I did not know that the Duke would be so kind," Victoria smiled as she forced the words out of her mouth. The Purple dress that she prepared for Rosalind had something on it but since Rosalind refused to wear it, she was forced to change her plans for the night.

"Since the Duke is generous enough to give you a dress then, please wear it tonight," Victoria added.

"Thank you, mother," Rosalind responded.

On the outside, the two of them looked like a real mother and daughter talking about dresses and the Duke's gift. However, everyone in that room knew that both were only pretending to be nice to each other.

After she met with Victoria she immediately went back home so they could start preparing her for the banquet.

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