Rosie's Games

173  Lady Rosie

"Your Grace, everything has been taken cared of," Denys said, his head lowered. Behind him was the large bonfire with bodies buried beneath the flames.

"Prepare to depart." The Duke took a step back and lifted her again, this time placing her on the ground. Without saying a word, she hurried inside the carriage. She could not stand staying in front of him for a long time. She did not understand what just happened, but she did not want to dwell on it— at least not now.

She looked at the younger man in the corner of the carriage. He was sitting next to his father who was lying down on a makeshift bed that must be a part of the carriage.

As if sensing her gaze, the young man opened his eyes. Seeing her, he immediately fixed his posture.

"I— I did not mean to sleep."

She ignored him, instead, she examined the Count. Just as she expected, the Count had lost too much blood, however, he was going to survive. She had used her light and dark Blessings just to save him. The healing properties of the light Blessing were actually excellent when it came to cuts and wounds like that. Meanwhile, her dark Blessing was used to get rid of the dark curse.

"He is going to survive," she said. "But he needs sustenance." Even she cannot help someone who already used too much blood. All she could do was heal the internal wounds and stop the bleeding.

She could feel the man's gaze on her and just chose to ignore it. She had asked him to leave the carriage earlier so he did not see her methods.

"That was a cursed weapon, wasn't it?"

She looked at him and immediately spotted the confusion and maybe even suspicion in the way he looked at her.

"How?" he asked. "How did you save him?"

"Instead of saying thank you, you instead asked for my method. You, Sir, might be the son of a Count, but you lack manners."

"I— I did not mean it like that. I just.." He looked apprehensive. "I just thought that it was cursed. Perhaps I was wrong."

He was not wrong and they both knew it.

"It is enough that you know. You and your father owe his life to me."

"Thank you."

"I did not do it for free."

"I—"

"You and your father will be paying me for saving his life." It is good to be clear about this matter as early as possible to prevent confusion.

"O— Of course."

She gave him one last look before she left the carriage. However, just as she took a step outside, her gaze darkened. She stopped moving and composed herself. Thankfully, she did not lose consciousness this time.

"Let me ride with you," she heard the Duke's voice behind her. She was about to refuse with she felt like her world was about to start spinning. She squeeze her eyes shut and nodded before her consciousness left her.

She felt him lift her up and the next thing she knew, she was sitting on a horse with him behind her. His warmth seemed to give her comfort, both from the cold and her current state.

She did not even notice that she was leaning against his chest, like a weak damsel in distress that was just saved by her knight in shining armor.

"Rest," he murmured. "We will talk about our marriage when we reach the Duchy. For now, we have a few things to attend to."

"A few things?" she asked without opening her eyes. She thought they were traveling to Wugari however, it seemed that he had other plans.

"We will be staying in the Count's territory. I have sent someone to inform the King of our current situation. We will stay in the territory until it is safe for us to leave."

She said nothing. It seemed that she knew nothing about the things that were going on in the North.

Still, she thought this was a perfect time. After all, she needed a good, comfortable bed.

However, her thoughts were proven wrong… when they arrived in the Count's territory.

...

"You told them I am your woman?" she asked in disbelief. The Duke even told them to let her stay in the same room as him as she was his woman. Since the Duke had never once brought a woman in his travels before, everyone immediately believed him. Now, she was stuck with him. In one room.

She looked at Miu who was sleeping on the reddish carpet that was a product of the south. "There is only one bed in this room," she cried. The room was large— too large for two occupants. However, there was only one large bed that they could share. The couch in the living room that was a part of the room was clearly too small for Lucas's frame and too uncomfortable for her.

Instead of answering her, the Duke poured himself some wine and sat on the one-seater couch next to the fireplace. For a few seconds, the sound of firewood being burned filled the room.

"The ones who want to kill the Count have already seen you. There is no point in hiding your identity anymore. Once the Count wakes up, we are going to hold a banquet where you will be introduced to the high society of this kingdom as my fiance and the future duchess of the Wugari Kingdom."

"I—"

"Miss Monoroe is already on her way here. The Prince will be in attendance and other nobles will be invited."

This was something that she never expected. "What about my name?" she asked as she sat on the longer couch just across the fireplace.

'What about her face?' she wondered. Although she looked different now, she still had similarities with Rosalind. What if someone who saw her in the past would see her now? What if—

As if sensing her thoughts, Lucas smiled. "Is there really a need to worry about this when I am with you?"

"I—"

"In the past I was always there when you needed me, Lady Rosie." The way he pronounced her name somehow made her heart skip a beat. "Was I not?" he asked again.