Rosie's Games

Chapter 191: The Duke's First Marriage

A/N: I made some clarifications in chapter 188 and chapter 190. There are 2 treatments with the Duke of Duance.

...

The Black Market.

In the past, Rosalind never thought of earning her own gold and building her own wealth.

She had a husband that was a Baron and her Empress sister supported her, giving her everything that she needed. She did not understand how good it felt to earn her own money using her own ability. To be fair though, Rosalind did not think of asking for payment in exchange for treatments in her past life.

This time, however, Rosalind found it addictive. The feeling of looking at all the gold coins that they paid her was simply satisfying, she could not get enough of it. After treating the Duke for the second time, Rosalind got the gold that she had been waiting for. josei

This immediately changed her mood. She could not help but hum as she walked out of the merchant's house and started walking along the streets. However, unlike the previous times she had visited the place, this time, the streets were undeniably quieter.

Many stores had closed and the number of people walking in the streets could be counted with her fingers. She knew this was because of the disease.

"I did not know that you had the means to sneak into this place."

Rosalind flinched when she heard the Duke's voice. He was walking beside her! How come she never noticed him at all?

She could only frown. Before she went out, she asked Mathies for a skin mask then she made sure to bend the light around her for extra protection. However, the Duke easily recognized her.

"The streets are dangerous this time around," he said.

"I am hungry."

"You could have told someone."

"I do not trust the maids around me," she answered. She felt his eyes on her so she turned her head towards him, meeting his gaze. "Do you?"

He smiled and suddenly reached out to tuck a loose strand of her hair. Instead of answering her question, he asked instead; "Shall I take you to a good eating spot?"

"You are too tall," she mumbled.

"Pardon me?"

"People are looking at us."

"And?"

"Well—" He was too attractive and she wanted to say it to him without inflating his already large ego. "Isn't it tiring walking around with a face like that?"

"Tiring?" he sounded confused. "Isn't that why I wear a mask?"

"Even with a mask, people are going to stare at you."

"I am used to it."

"…" Rosalind blinked. She did not know what to say.

"Let's go…"

Suddenly, he held her hand and rested it on his arm. "We should walk like this."

She wanted to pull her hand away, but he was too strong. "Why?" she asked.

"Naturally it is to let people know that we are together. I did not want them to think you are my servant."

"…" Again, she was speechless. Then she started wondering if she could stab him with her dagger. It would not kill him... right?

"Stop frowning, that face is rather unpleasant. It does not suit you."

"You—" He was talking about the current skin mask that she was using.

His soft laughter stopped her. Again, he was making fun of her, and enjoying her reaction. She took a deep breath and held his arm, trying to calm herself down.

"I am starving. Since you are taking me somewhere, you should pay," she said.

"As I should."

On the way, the Duke started to annoy her again. This time, she tried her best not to make any reactions but failed, miserably. In the end, she could only grit her teeth in irritation.

Many people told her that Duke was ruthless and bloodthirsty, however, no one told her about this side of him.

"Here we are," Lucas pointed at the decrepit entrance of a two-story wooden house. There was a large wood sign on the door.

Always fresh.

"What is this place?" She started wondering if he was actually planning to take her to a place haunted by ghosts. Was his plan to kill her by scaring her to death? "Do you think a few ghosts is enough to frighten me to death?" she mumbled, not knowing that she was already saying out loud the things that were on her mind.

"Phantoms?" he asked. "I do not kill women using ghosts."

"I heard it was more brutal than that."

This time, he did not answer and started walking toward the entrance.

Rosalind expected to see a coffin the moment they walked in, but she was surprised when the scene in front of her changed. The interior is actually different from the exterior! It was an illusion!

This could mean that the one who made it was a very powerful sorcerer!

Her gaze immediately turned alert.

"Ah! If it's not my favorite customer!" An older woman wearing a long red turtle neck gown appeared not far away from them. "Your Grace… it has been so long."

"Erina…" The Duke nodded. "Please take us to the special room."

"Oh?" the woman's eyes landed on her and for some reason, it immediately made her uncomfortable. It felt as if the woman was stripping her naked and she was found wanting. "Since this is the first time that the Duke has a special guest, everything will be on the house today." The woman's red lips quirked upwards into an enchanting smile. "Do you need me to prepare the room?"

"No need," the Duke said.

"Very well… please follow me."

Before they started walking, the Duke looked at Rosalind and said, "Never let go."

That was clearly a warning.

"What is this place?" she asked. The first floor was just a large room without anything in it, aside from the red lanterns that hung in each corner. Its light was not even enough to illuminate the entire floor.

"A special place…" the woman named Erina answered, she was not walking that far away from them. "For special people who are about to celebrate their union." The woman turned around, gave her a meaningful glance, and smiled. "Their first union."

"First union?" she could not help but ask. What does that suppose to mean?

"It means… my first marriage," the Duke answered as if he could read her mind. She met his blue eyes and for a moment, she thought she saw it turned red. However, she immediately dismissed it and concluded that it must be because of the light. Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat.

For some reason, she could… vaguely remember seeing those eyes before.