Rosie's Games

Chapter 92: Mercenaries 10

"Since Rosalind Lux is here, let her come forward and have her test the orb." Federico's right-hand man requested calmly. Despite the annoying delay, no one said anything about the inconvenience that Rosalind had caused because of the General.

It seems that even the blessed ones viewed the General in a positive light it was something that Rosalind never expected. After all, these people always saw the Northerners as barbaric.

"Young Duchess go ahead and approach the orb," General Lytton uttered. She knew that everyone never really took her seriously. After all, she was the one with the black hair. However, she still felt giddy as she walked toward the orb.

She knew that the two blessings would cancel each other out, leaving her without a light, but touching the orb was still enough to excite her. For some reason, it was making her feel like she was approaching home the past.

She stood in front of the large orb. She knew that not many people were paying attention to her. The representatives from the other Empires and Kingdoms, even the blessed ones, were talking to each other about some random topics.

Earlier, she heard that her grandfather asked everyone to follow him in his study. While she did not know what they were talking about, it was apparent that the conversation affected everyone's mood.

Slowly, she lifted her hands and touched the orb. Then she smiled. The familiar warmth of her blessing flowed inside her. Yet, just before it could reach her heart, a cold sensation intervened, wrapping around her heart, protecting her from the warmth. While the warmth was comforting, the cold was aggressive, but to her, the two of them felt strangely at peace with each other.

It was as if they were made to exist together.

She opened her eyes and just as she expected, there were no changes in the orb.

The blessing did not show.

Without saying a word, she went back to her seat, her steps lighter than it was before.

Something about the orb seemed to awaken a different sensation inside her.

"Did you really expect that you would get the blessing?" it was Dorothy who asked the question. The woman was taunting her from behind.

"You have no idea what I was expecting older sister." She turned and smiled at Dorothy. One in white, one in black. The two faced each other, staring into each other's eyes for a few seconds.

Just as Dorothy was about to say something, Federico's voice boomed.

"It seems that the Goddess has yet to give her blessing. Everyone, please do not let out sour the mood. We have prepared great food and drinks from various parts of the continent. Let us enjoy the night and pray that the Goddess will soon give another blessing to the Lux Family." Federico said. One would think that the old man was fine as he was smiling at everyone. Yet, Rosalind knew that this event would change the old man in various ways.

For instance, the old man had been obsessed with making himself stronger. He studied the blessing of the light to make it purer and more potent. He discovered various ways of creating illusions by bending the light. In fact, it was because of his notes that Rosalind learned how to bend the light in her past life.

The man wanted the Lux Family to be the most powerful and respected blessed family on the continent.

Then one day. The Goddess did not give him something that he always wanted- the pride of having a third blessed individual inside the Lux Family.

She knew the old man too well.

She knew that he would probably make Martin marry another woman for the sake of having another child. He may even encourage the other members of the family to birth more descendants just to have more children that would possibly receive the blessing of the Goddess.

Just thinking about this made her smile.

Oh. She would be enjoying their downfall.

"Young Duchess" General Lytton bowed at her. "It seems that the Lux Family failed to receive the blessing this time."

"It seems so" Rosalind smiled. Despite being labeled as a barbarian, the old General was actually a very smart man. He was versed in politics and history and she could not help but indulge herself while she had the conversation with him earlier. Their conversation revolved around military strategies and economics which she had studied in the past.

"Do you want to have some tea? I "

"General, we are not supposed to stay here." Lieutenant Henrye Bohan interrupted them. "Please control yourself."

"Ah this lad how dare you embarrass me in front of the Duchess?" General Lytton chuckled and elbowed the younger man.

"General, is there somewhere you need to be?" she could not help but ask. "This banquet does not interest me too much. I would like it if we talk some more. Perhaps "

"Oh? Does the young Duchess want to meet everyone else that would accompany your trip to the North?" General Lytton asked.

"If that is not a bother "

"A bother? The young duchess is a smart young woman. Why would it be a bother? We are but lowly soldiers tasked to serve the Duchess! Come on we shall "

Their conversation was interrupted when a panicked maid approached Victoria and whispered something in her ears. In response, Victoria's eyes widened, her eyes immediately landed on Dorothy. Then she quickly bid everyone goodbye before approaching her daughter and dragging her out of the gardens.

Seeing this, Rosalind could not help but smile. She knew exactly what was going on.

"Let us go ask permission to leave from Grandfather," Rosalind uttered. She did not want Federico to use this opportunity to chastise the Northerners for not respecting him in his own home. So, she and the General approached the group of Blessed ones that were having a conversation.

"Your Blessedness" The General and Rosalind bowed. "I hate to interrupt your conversation." The General was smiling, beaming in fact. "But I do not want to be seen as rude. After coming to a banquet that I was not invited to and even leaving without saying a word."

"General Lytton please everyone is welcome to join the banquet." A woman with blue hair said. "We are glad to have you here. Why not spend more time at the banquet? I am certain that there were many dishes here that can only be eaten in this part of the continent."

"Ah Miss Jean Hydran. Thank you for those words. But as much as I would like to spend more time at this wonderful and joyful banquet, I needed to get back to my soldiers. The reason why I came is to ask his Blessedness Federico if I could bring his granddaughter with me to greet the soldiers that would accompany her to the North. I do not want to create another rumor about the young duchess. After all, the people of the North cannot do anything to try and quench those rumors. I simply do not want to drag the duchess name down."

Almost immediately Federico's face turned ugly. The General sounded cordial but how could they miss the meaning behind his words?

The North is powerless in this Empire. Because of that, they cannot do anything about the rumors surrounding the young duchess. It was a dig into the Lux Family.