Rosie's Games

Chapter 255: The Rules of the Duchy

"You"

"Elias" Valentin was quick to pull Elias away. It was clear that Elias was prepared to fight the woman named Magda.

"They are coming," Valentin added as he looked at the next wave of beasts coming their way.

And just like that, Rosalind started enhancing the next batch of warriors that were going to fight. When daylight came at around ten in the morning, Rosalind was already so exhausted, all she wanted to do was to get some sleep.

She had not had any rest for the past forty-eight hours now and, while she could use her own Blessing to make herself alright, she still craved a good bed.

"What about them?" Magda pointed at Valentin and Elias. "Are they going to stay in the tower?"

"I remember there is another house outside of the tower?" Rosalind asked.

"Those are for servants and sentries."

"They will be my guards from now on."

"Have you informed His Grace about this?"

"Not yet." How could she inform him when he is not here?

"Well first, you needed to inform the butler about the changes that you want to make, then the head maid, so she could send enough food for them."

"We should go to them."

"To see them"

"Don't I have the right to talk to the Butler and the head maid?"

"Will officially"

"Bring me there," Rosalind said as she walked towards her carriage. "Get your things and meet me in the tower." She looked at Elias and the others. "I have some things to settle."

With that, she, along with Magda, went inside the carriage.

"They are living in the servant's house," Magda said. "In the past, the Duke allowed Mr. Walford's father and grandfather to visit the main house. They mostly do the cleaning but since Duke Lucas became the Duke, that has stopped. Instead, Duke Lucas made a house where he can meet visitors. It was much smaller than the main mansion, but it is where the other servants had been staying. It was also where the Butler and the head maid manage everything about the household."

"And by everything you mean"

"Everything from money to the salary and managing the gifts that the Duke received. The Butler is also in charge of making sure that all soldiers are well-fed. He employs a lot of cooks to make the food every single day."

Rosalind nodded. This Butler and Head Maid's responsibilities were different from the responsibilities that the butlers and the head maid had in the Aster Empire. She could not help but wonder if this was also a part of their customs.

Soon enough, they arrived at a mansion that stood tall and proud, with a large grand entrance that led to a foyer. Since there was already light, Rosalind could clearly see the large windows that welcomed the natural light from the sun.

Walking inside, she saw marbled walls in the spacious foyer. The ceilings were high, giving the impression of even more space.

"This place has twenty large rooms," Magda whispered. "However, the special guests do not really stay here, but in the towers. There are simply too many eyes in this place. Even the King and his wife would choose to stay in one of the towers."

"Lady Rosie"

The two of them stopped walking and looked at Butler Lance Walford. Mr. Walford was wearing a black shirt and a white shirt with a black tie. His steps were light as he approached them. A polite smile appeared on his face.

"May I know why you two are here?" he asked. Despite the smile on his face, Rosalind could feel hostility coming from his gaze. It was as if he was the owner of this house.

"Do I need to inform you if I want to visit this mansion?" Rosalind asked. She was seriously curious about this matter. She was the future Duchess of this family. Why were they treating her as a guest?

Unless, of course, they expected her to leave or die just like previous women who wanted to attach themselves to the Rothley Duchy.

"Well, it is important that we have knowledge of your visit, Lady Rosie, so we could prepare something that you like. For instance, black bitter tea or the sweets that you adore."

"I wouldn't come here if I wanted sweets," Rosalind said. "I would visit the palace instead."

Her words made the man frown.

"Are you trying to insult the Duchy's food, Lady Rosie?"

"You are putting words in my mouth, Mr. Walford."

"Isn't that what you mean?"

"If I wanted to eat sweets, I would ask you to bring them to my tower and not waste time exposing my flesh to the cold just to eat something that I 'might' like." Rosalind's head was already hurting. She needed sleep. She had no time for this.

She looked around and noticed a few maids looking at them.

"I came here to inform you that I would like to add three more guards, sentries to the tower. They will be directly working under me."

"Unfortunately, Lady Rosie, I am afraid we cannot do that."

"Pardon?"

"The soldiers on the walls are quite lacking. I do not think I would be able to give you three more guards."

Rosalind's lips thinned. "It seems that you are very well informed, Mr. Walford." She did not mention anything about Elias and the rest, or the fact that they are one of the new soldiers. This only means that someone informed him about what happened.

"It is my job to be well informed about everything else concerning the Duchy." Butler Walford said, his face serious as he added. "Now, please go back to your tower. I would expect the lady to not involve herself in the matters of the Duchy from now on. After all, that is not the reason why the lady is here."

"What do you mean?" Magda asked.

"Lady Rosie is going to marry the Duke. She should be trained to follow the rules of the Duchy. Going to the walls and taking soldiers is not a part of those rules."

....

A/N: I think the butler is not wrong about rules. After all, the Duke is shrouded with secrets. :D