Rosie's Games

Chapter 43: The Duke's Lover

Prospective spouse?

Rosalind felt her soul leave her body. What was he talking about? By now, the engagement hadn't been finalized yet! The only ones who knew about them being together that night were the women who accompanied Victoria.

Obviously, those women spread the news, but no one even thought about an engagement!

She glared at him. What was his purpose?

"Prospective spouse?" Prince Lawrence scoffed. "It seems that the Duke is still uninformed about the protocol in the Empire Miss Lux is"

"My fiance. Thank you, my Prince. I am very well aware of that fact. Lady Rosalindif you please"

"Thank you," Rosalind said. The man just announced their engagement and even called her his fiance. He just started the game, a terrible terrible game.

Rosalind smiled and watched as the Duke left. She then turned towards Princess Isabel and beamed.

"Princess Isabel"

"What is your relationship with the Duke?" Princess Isabel didn't hesitate to address the elephant in the room.

"Pardon?"

"Do not act foolish on me. I know what you are trying to do!" Princess Isabel said. "Acting all innocent and dumb so men will protect you!"

Rosalind frowned. Even in her past life, she knew that Princess Isabel had a temper, but by the time Dorothy became the Queen and Rosalind became one of the ladies-in-waiting, Princess Isabel chose to stay in her own lands a place near the North. It was something that the Emperor give her so she could try to send letters to the Duke.

Their interactions in the past had been limited, to say the least.

All she knew was that the Princess chose to spend her life in solitary after being rejected by the Duke.

"What is your relationship with the Duke?" Princess Isabel hissed.

"Isabel, please do not make a scene here" Prince Lawrence intervened.

"No. I want to know. Why would the Duke proudly call her his fiance and even gave her a horse as a gift?"

"Princess"

"I want to know."

Rosalind sighed inwardly. She had seen the Duke's appearance, and while the man was indeed very attractive; it was not like one can eat good looks.

One way or the other, the Duke would grow old, his perfect features would turn wrinkly.

But then again, being married to someone who looked like a god was definitely better than marrying someone average. She had to agree that being married to someone with good looks was going to make waking up every morning bearable especially if that attractive man chose to spend the night with you.

The thought of it somehow made her blush.

"You"

"Isabel we should go inside my tent."

"No, older brother Lawrence! I want to know what her relationship is with the Duke! Look at her! Her face is flushed, eyes teary. Have I done anything to hurt her? Isn't she someone who wanted to attract the pity of everyone around her!? Ha I cannot believe that I have stooped so low and talked to someone this filthy!"

"Isabel"

"Your Highness, it seems that there has been a misunderstanding," Rosalind spoke.

"What misunderstanding?"

"Perhaps it wasn't clear, I am the Duke's lover." Rosalind suddenly smiled. "I do not intend for you to misunderstand his words."

Lover.

The word isn't something that nobles, especially someone from the Lux Family, could use freely.

"Lover?" Princess Isabel said. "You How vulgar! I do not believe you!" Princess Isabel stomped her foot, her face flushed. Rosalind knew that the woman was about to throw a tantrum, so she took a step back and prepared herself to watch the show.

The word lover was something that commoners used, but not many people who were a member of the nobility had been lucky enough.

In this time and age, all of the marriages inside the nobility had been decided since the day they were born. Most of the younger children were already engaged before they turn five.

The only exception was the Lux Family and the Royals.

Because of the special status of the Lux Family and their relationship to the Royals, both parties had agreed not to announce any engagements before the Blessed one of each generation appeared. Though there were downsides to this, the advantages were sufficient for them to agree to this arrangement.

So, how could someone from the Lux Family suddenly proclaim that they have a lover? This was not just going to damage Rosalind's reputation, but the entire Lux Family! Many people would doubt such claims too!

"Young lady," everyone turned towards the man wearing all-black clothing with an equally black hood that covered his face. He approached her, put his palm on his left chest, then gave her a bow.

"His Grace told me to give this to you. It will be cold in the mountains tonight. You can use it to keep yourself warm. His Grace specifically asked our tailors to find the best demonic bear fur for this coat."

"I" Rosalind blinked. Demonic bears? She heard about those bears before.

Those animals were one of the deadliest predators that could be found in the North. They could grow as much as twenty feet with robust bodies and they always prefered to slaughter young children and women.

Because they had a dark curse, their meat could not be consumed, but their furs were different. They were most famous for their furs that could block an attack from an ordinary sword, arrows, or daggers!

She stared at the man, then she met the red orbs beneath the hood. It was the man with red eyes!

"Thank you," she said.

"Here is a dagger made of the fires from the Northern border. The Duke wanted you to have this to defend yourself."

"Thank you," Rosalind smiled, impressed by the Duke's timing. He knew that everyone would question their relationship, so he purposely asked one of his men to give her these things in front of everyone! The man had been giving while she had been receiving. While she was grateful, a part of her didn't want to owe the man too much.

She needed to reciprocate.