Rosie's Games

"He dared threatened us!" Federico Lux's voice boomed inside the family hall— a place that someone like Rosalind could not just walk into. This place was only accessible to the 'important' members of the Lux Family.

And that meant everyone with white-blond hair and their wives. Someone like Rosalind, who was born with raven black hair, could not just walk inside without the permission of the family head. Not even when everyone was having a banquet.

Unlike the other members of the Lux Family, Rosalind would need an invitation to walk into this hall.

But today was an exception, Federico Lux dragged her inside the hall, fuming.

"Tell me!" the old man stood in front of her. She flinched in response. "When did he approach you!? When! Tell me when!?"

She paled, tears welled in her eyes.

"Don't you dare cry in front of me!"

"Grandfather I— "

"I am not your grandfather!"

"I—" her lower lip trembled. "I apologize," she lowered her head, hiding the blank expression in her eyes. In fact, the old man had never treated her as someone who was a part of the Lux Family.

"Tell me when you met him!" the old man demanded.

"I bumped into him after I left the banquet. I was just trying to get some air and he just—" she trembled as she apologize to the Duke inwardly. She was going to use his name and he would become the enemy of the Lux Family. She was directly creating more problems for the Duke.

"He chose her because she is dispensable," Martin Lux suddenly said. "We know about the tales of his brides. None of them have made it out alive. If we send Dorothy, he would find it hard to harm her simply because she was a Lux. But Rosalind— is not someone like Dorothy."

Rosalind gritted her teeth. 'Dispensable?'

She knew that they never cared about her, but to actually say those words in front of her?

"Father, I believe he intentionally did it to force the emperor into taking action," Martin said.

It was a show of power. The Duke wanted them to know that he could do whatever he wanted, even if he was in front of someone who received the Blessing of the Goddess.

But why?

Rosalind couldn't help but frown. At this point in time, the people didn't know that the Duke was more powerful than the ones who received the Blessings of the Goddess. Or… was that really the case?

Why did it look like they wanted to suppress the Duke? Was it possible that these people knew that the Duke could easily kill a Blessed one?

If so…

Then why did the Duke come here in the first place?

She feigned ignorance as she continued to listen.

"That man needs to be stopped!" Federico muttered.

"How? Without him, the North would crumble. As the empire nearest to the Northern Kingdoms, we are bound to fall with them," Martin pointed out. In response, Federico clicked his tongue.

"That marriage—" Martin asked.

"We shall give it to him," Federico said. "He isn't asking for someone who could have the Blessing. Instead, he is asking for someone he could easily kill."

Rosalind bit her lower lip. Perhaps the Duke was really confident about the marriage because he knew these people would think that way.

"Leave!" Federico ordered her. She didn't say another word, there was nothing else to say. She had never doubted her decision to leave this place, but instances like this only steeled her resolve.

She was going to leave this place!

She marched out of the room but was quickly stopped when someone suddenly pulled her arm. She gasped and looked at Grace, Victoria's personal maid. It's entertaining how even the maids did not show her any respect.

"The Madam wants to see you," Grace said. "Follow me."

Rosalind nodded without saying a word. She knew that Victoria would lash out at her, but she didn't care. She was willing to sacrifice a little bit just to get out of this pit of hell.

"Madam, the Young Miss is here— "

**PAK**

A loud, resounding slap echoed inside the room.

Rosalind staggered as she lifted her head and look at Victoria. 'That stung,' she thought.

"Leave us!" Victoria demanded.

Almost immediately, Grace left them.

"Mother—"

"You dare scheme against my daughter!?" Victoria hissed. She raised her hand, trying to slap Rosalind again, but this time, Rosalind grabbed the older woman's hand. "You—"

Victoria's eyes were bloodshot as she glared at Rosalind.

"That hurt—" Rosalind suddenly smiled. "Mother."

"Have you lost your mind!?" Victoria squealed in disbelief. "Let me go this instant!"

To Victoria's surprise, Rosalind only smiled.

"You— I knew something was wrong with you since the day you were born! Now you are finally showing your true colors!"

"Mother…"

"I am not your mother! Now let me go before I call the knights and make you spend a night in the Dungeons!"

Rosalind continued smiling. Then she pushed the woman down onto the carpeted floor.

"Ah!" Surprise flashed on Victoria's face. "You dare—"

"I have never thought of you as my mother," Rosalind stated. Then she touched her cheek. She could smell blood. She then glanced at the large ring on Victoria's finger. The woman intentionally wore a large ring to cut her face.

"Did you really think the Duke would be able to protect you!? Martin will never allow you to marry him."

"He won't," Rosalind said. She then used her light Blessing to heal her wound. When she removed her hand from her cheek, the cut was no longer there. Not even a scar was left in place. "But Federico did."

"You—" Victoria's eyes were so wide they were about to pop out of their sockets. Seeing her reaction, Rosalind laughed.

"And you— will let me marry the Duke or everyone will know that I have the Blessing of the light." Rosalind smiled. "What do you think will happen to you and your daughter once I become the new matriarch of this Goddess-forsaken family?"