Rosie's Games

Chapter 154: Robbery 2

"That is indeed interesting news," Rosalind nodded when the Duke informed her about the latest news concerning the Lux Family. "Marie getting pregnant is something that I already expected. She did not look well the last time that I saw her. However, to think that the Crown Prince is impotent is indeed news."

She wanted to know how he found out about the Crown Prince's inability to bear children, after all, in her past life, Dorothy and the Prince had children. She could not help but wonder if the father of those children was truly Lawrence or Jeames.

"It seems that this was because of the dark curse in his body," Duke Lucas said. When it came to information, the Duke really has it all. She wondered how big his network was as it seemed that he could easily get information with just a snap of his fingers.

"I wonder why not many people know about this curse and and why is it the Prince is still attending functions and events? I thought "

"You have underestimated the Royal Family of the Aster Empire." The Duke used a candle to burn the small piece of paper that she didn't know he was holding. "Do you think that the Royal Families could lord over a Blessed family if they were not capable?"

"Are you telling me that there is a method to suppress the curse?"

"There were rumors in the past about the ancestor of the Goosebourne Family, about the first King. At that time, the Empire was still a Kingdom and the King was just a small worshiper of the Goddess. He built a temple to pray for the dear Goddess and then he became aquainted with the first individual who receive the Blessing of the light. The two quickly became close friends and soon established the Empire together."

Rosalind heard the same story in her past life.

"I have never been to that temple," she said.

"Why would you have access to a temple that only the Royal Family can visit?" he asked.

"I " Of course, she was talking about her past life. In her past life, she had seen the temple located underground, but she was not allowed to visit it. In fact, not even Dorothy was able to visit the temple. She had long forgotten how it started, but the temple was no longer a place where people could worship the Goddess.

Right now, there were smaller temples all throughout the Empire that would cater to ordinary people. However, the one that the first King built was no longer accessible.

"I mean it would have been nice to be able to visit that temple because"

"Of your blessing?" he snorted.

She gently nodded in response.

"The temple is not just a place to worship the Goddess, it is a place to offer a sacrifice to the Goddess."

"A sacrifice?"

"The ancient people used to give sacrifices to the Goddess if they wanted a good harvest, or a child in the family, or a good husband or wife, a prosperous life and a healthy body, you name it. They believed that by sacrificing something, the Goddess would pity them and give them what they want."

"I have never read about this in the history books."

"There is simply no reason for them to include this in those books," the Duke said. "Why would they include the fact that the previous King had sacrificed virgins and many innocents every time that he wanted something? Wouldn't that change the history that they so wanted to keep?"

Rosalind's expression changed. Sacrifice? Innocent?

"You look surprised," he chuckled, his expression easing. "The reason why they decided to only make the temple accessible to a few people is of those bones inside the temple. They have not removed them as it would have been a great disrespect to the Goddess."

Rosalind clenched her teeth. Now that she had met a lot of people and interacted with them, her previous beliefs were slowly shifting, changing into something she did not recognize.

"And how did you know this? We cannot simply rely on rumors, right?" She faked a smile. She believed that it was the Goddess who gave her another chance to live, her faith was something personal.

"Rumors?" Again, he chuckled. "What if I told you that I was there when it happened?"

"Huh?" She blinked. Then she blinked again. What is he talking about?

Seeing her reaction, the Duke started laughing. "I was jesting. I was not there, but the North has many history books that had been banned by the Southern empires. Naturally, they decided to ban them because those books had something they didn't want the public to know."

"Something like the sacrifices?" she asked.

In response, he nodded. "And the fact that the Goddess would give you anything as long as you give her enough sacrifices."

"What?" That is absurd. Why would the Goddess be happy when they sacrifice innocent people?

Again, she recalled Mathies words about the cruelty of the Goddess.

Was that the truth?

"These practices, why did the Empire decide to stop them?" she asked.

"Stop them?" the Duke snorted. "Who said anything about those practices being a thing of the past?"

"Are you telling me that until now, the Empires are sending sacrifices to the Goddess? That even now, they are still killing innocents for the Goddess?"

"I knew you wouldn't believe it if I don't show you any proof." The Duke then showed her a ring.

"What is this?"

"You can come with me."

"Where?" she asked.

"To the temple."

"What?"

"Wear it" he took her hand and placed the ring on her pointer finger.

"This is from the black market. I thought they just developed teleportation. How come you have something like this? Moreover how did you have access to the temple? Only the Royal Family could visit that place."

"Visit?" he smiled. "Who told you that we are going to visit that place?"

"Huh?"

"We are not visiting it. We are robbing it."

"Uh. What?"