Rosie's Games

Chapter 246: The Fighting Duchess

"I would not know that," Magda answered as she stared at Fraunces's carriage. "But Count Lytton and General Lytton have their own affairs. The Count chose to focus on management and does not participate in anything that involves holding a sword. I heard that the Count was devastated when Dame Fraunces decided to pursue the Duke. That was a stupid stupid decision. Why pursue someone you cannot have?"

Rosalind nodded. As much as she wanted to know more, she knew that it would be none of her business to involve herself with the Count's family. Moreover, she still had to see the King and Queen.

"Alright, we should start," Rosalind said. Not long after, Miss Monoroe arrived with black and red dresses that she could wear. Then they started 'preparing' her. Once again, she was subjected to the torturous pain of waxing every inch of her body to having her hair pulled so tight that it hurt her head. Everything had to be perfect something that she was starting to hate.

Rosalind walked out of the room in her long sleeved, high-collared, black ball gown with layers of tulle. It was long, heavy, and uncomfortable, yet she could not help but love it. How could something be so uncomfortable yet beautiful at the same time?

In her past life, she wore dresses like this during events and special occasions, but she never had a dress as simple yet beautiful as this one.

She asked Miss Monoroe about the extravagance of the dress and she only had one thing to say. Duchess.

As the First Duchess, she was meant to showcase the luxury of the Rothley. Was she supposed to walk around with pitiful-looking clothes inside the palace? That would be an insult to the Duke, her husband.

In the end, she could only sigh and let them put her grayish hair into a very nice-looking updo with silver decorations that she had never seen before. Looking at the mirror, Rosalind could not help but pity her past self. She never had this luxury back then.

As a baron's wife, she could not exactly do as she pleased as she did not want to embarrass her husband and sister.

"The Duke asked me to give this to you," Miss Monoroe smiled at her as she handed her a velvet box. She opened it expecting to see a beautiful necklace, but what she saw was a circular earring with two enormous diamonds.

"This"

"It was made for the Duchess of Rothley." Miss Monoroe removed one of the earrings and handed it to her. "It was made for you."

"Thank you."

"Now, smile. You look very beautiful today. I am certain that once the King and Queen see you, they would never wonder why the Duke chose to marry you instead of the countless women who came before you."

Rosalind nodded as she put the earrings on. Now that she had thought about it, the dress had a high neckline. Wearing a necklace would not look too good for this type of dress.

Riding a black carriage adorned with silver and golden parts, Rosalind left the tower with Magda, Milith, and Miss Monoroe. Of course, the large crest of the Rothley Family was on the carriage's door.

"This is the Duchess's carriage," Magda said. "It was made for the Duchess."

"Only mine?"

"Yes. There are a few things that they made for the Duchess of Rothley. It was His Grace who personally told them to do so. Some of it including the interior of your room in the tower, was based on his designs."

"Oh," Rosalind looked out of the window. She did not know if these people were only telling her this to make the Duke seem better in her eyes. Why would Lucas personally design her room? Why would he ask them to make things for her? Was it just because she had the Blessing of both the light and the dark?

Was it just because these people pitied her? Did they think she would soon die just like the others?

Rosalind shook the thoughts out of her head. What was she thinking? In the past, she was never the type to think things. After being betrayed, she tended to think too much about everything.

It was not a very good experience.

She glanced at Magda who was wearing a simple black outfit just like what Butler Lance Walford wore when they met in the tower. It was a typical butler's outfit, and it looked comfortable. In the North, women were actually allowed to wear trousers and pants especially the ones who were fighting on the walls.

She wondered if she could have clothing like that, too.

"Is there something wrong?" Miss Monoroe asked.

"Am I allowed to wear something like that?" Rosalind asked in return.

"Of course. If you want, I could make one suited for the Duchess of"

"I want something like that, the exact same thing."

"But"

"I will be fighting on the walls." Rosalind casually declared.

"Pardon me?" Miss Monoroe asked. She looked surprised. Even Magda, who sat next to Miss Monoroe, looked surprised as well. "How could the Duchess join the fight in the walls?" Magda asked.

"Is there a reason for me not to join the fight against those beasts?" Rosalind retorted.

"I thought this would be a one-time thing," Magda replied.

"A one-time thing?" Rosalind snorted. "I do not have any idea what you are talking about. However, I can assure you of one thing; I am not going to sit in a tower waiting for him to come back." She was not some love-sick woman in her teenage years. Moreover, waiting inside that place would be boring to say the least!

"A Duchess should not join the"

"Miss Monoroe, people are dying at the gates. Is there any reason for me not to help them out?" Rosalind asked. When it comes to discussions like this, she knew a very good way to shut people up and that was to talk about the people who were dying every single day.

Just as she expected, Miss Monoroe said nothing in response. However, as if on cue, they heard the coachman announce that they had reached the palace. Since carriages were not allowed inside the palace gates, all of them must walk in uncomfortable clothing.

Rosalind could only glance at Magda's simple clothes as envy flashed in her eyes.