Rosie's Games

Chapter 121: Rosie Rothley 2

"What? No. Of course not— I just— " The captain, who was always good with women, started to stutter. "I just— " Even Raulio, who was standing not that far from them, could not help but feel like something inside the captain's brain had stopped working. "The permits that you have shown me, I still need a bit of time to verify them."

"Is that so?" Rosie's perfectly carved eyebrows furrowed, emphasizing the beautifully drawn tattoo in between her brows. Yet, this was not enough to stop the fact that she looked troubled, scared even. "Then…"

"Then why don't you and your company stay here for the night?"

"Captain… it is only noon," Rosie said.

"Ah? I — It is because checking the results would probably take a bit more time. I cannot just let you camp outside because of the increase of beasts that had been trying to attack us lately. My men and I will be here to protect you and your people. I can assure you that you will be safe next to us."

"Is that so?"

"Y— Yes and we have food and proper shelter. The Young Miss might not know this, but we got our rations from the Capital. It is not something common for merchants to get."

Raulio wanted to slap his own face in embarrassment. What was the captain talking about?

Rations?

Their rations did not come from the Capital!

The captain's words about the increase in the attacks lately were true, especially during the night.

This place used to be so peaceful because the Northern Kingdoms would always take care of the beasts, but now, there has been an increase in attacks. It was honestly very alarming as most of the soldiers at the posts were not actually that strong. Some of them were actually just villagers who agreed to stay here because of the food allowances and the decent pay.

Moreover, even their superiors like Captain Dryden were not that strong to begin with. Most of them were just nobles who knew nothing about the North and were here because their families sent them here after something that they did in the Capital.

"I have heard about the increase in attacks lately," the woman named Rosie said. "But can we truly stay in this place? I do not want to intrude and— "

"Anything for the Young Miss. My people and I will do our best to protect you."

Raulio blinked in embarrassment. He had to turn his head away to stop himself from kicking this young master who seemed to only want to embarrass himself and the rest of the soldiers even further.

"If that is the case then this young one would like to thank the Young Captain," Rosie curtsied and immediately instructed her people to take shelter inside the post.

Since most people working at this post actually live in the village nearby, the post was nearly empty. It was the perfect place for the captain's debauchery. Seeing the captain talk to the woman named Rosie happily, Raulio could not help but sigh inwardly.

This was not the first time that something like this happened. He could only feel bad for the women who would fall into the captain's trap.

"Hey… have you heard about Midnight Sky Merchants?" Raulio immediately asked one of the soldiers who had been working in this place for more than ten years.

"Ah, yes. Midnight Sky Merchants was obliterated on their way to another Empire. I believe it was near the Black Forest. This happened more than five years ago. Everyone in that group died except for their daughter who survived. I heard she was still having nightmares because of what happened. Poor lass. The death of her parents must have traumatized her."

"That is— "

"That is not the only tragic thing that happened. I heard that the woman had been a subject to many greedy men because of how she looked and her age. Moreover, her parents owed a few merchants some gold. Because of this, some merchants who are even older than her father have asked her hand in marriage."

"How cruel."

"However, the woman still survived," the soldier snorted. "No one knows how was she able to survive, but she was able to establish the merchant company again and is now thriving."

"She looks quite young."

The other soldier nodded.

"Are you really going to let her stay with the captain?" Raulio could not help but ask. The woman had been through a lot, and yet, they were just going to watch as their Young Master did something to her? This did not sit well with Raulio!

The man snorted. "What can we do about it? You and I are just normal people trying to make a living. Aiyo…. You should stop thinking about things like this. Let them do what they want."

Raulio could only sigh. He spotted the captain take the dame to his personal drawing room. He could not help but wonder if the man actually could feel no shame. He smelled of alcohol and women! How could he think of even harming a woman who had been through so much?

However, the older soldier was right.

They could not do anything about it. Moreover, Raulio was not stupid enough to sacrifice what he currently has for a woman that he barely knew. Just like most people here, Raulio had a family at home, a sick mother and a weak sister waiting for him to go home every day.

His righteousness would not benefit his family at all.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The loud scream of a woman interrupted his stupor. He and a few other soldiers immediately ran to where the sound came from.

"This— " josei

"Quickly, the Young Master is bleeding and the Young Miss has fainted. Call the physician!" one of the soldiers who arrived first yelled.

"What— What happened!?"

"An assassin! Someone tried to kill the captain but failed, only leaving a small cut. The Young Miss must have fainted when she saw the blood. Go quickly! Call someone and tell the other soldiers to find the culprit!"