Rosie's Games

Chapter 265: Transactional Relationship

Rosalind paced inside her room as she rubbed her cheeks.

She ran away.

She knew he would try and kiss her so she ran away!

She panicked and ran away!

"How embarrassing!" Despite being here for a few minutes, her face was still hot. She knew she was still as red as a tomato. How could she run away like a coward?

He must have thought she was crazy or stupid.

"Stupid," she said. Right, he must have laughed and thought she was really stupid. After all, she was the one who asked him to marry her. What would happen if he decided to cancel the official wedding now?

"Should I just go back?" she mumbled. "I should go back, right?" That was the only thing that she could do!

"But what should I tell him?" That she had to run away and go to the bathroom? Should she use another reason?

Hold on, why was she acting like this? Why was she worrying so much about his opinions? About what he was going to say?

"It's because he could kill me anytime," she murmured. However, even Rosalind knew that those words were not true. By now, she knew that the Duke would not harm her. He had been saving her over and over again.

She bit her lower lip.

The thing was, she knew that he saved her because of her abilities, because of what she could do. This was just a part of their business transaction.

She cleared her throat and focused on herself and her past. She had no time to act like this around him. However, as someone who had been through a lot in the past, she was mature enough to know that she could not just bury her issues every single time. She needed to deal with it.

There was a reason why she was acting like this around him. She's afraid it might not be as simple as her appreciating his looks.

She let out a loud sigh. The thing was, her relationship with the Duke was purely transactional. He could protect her so she chose him. She could give him something that he needed so he chose her.

It was that simple.

There was a soft knock on the door, disturbing her thoughts. Rosalind frowned. She used teleportation to run away so she was not able to greet Milith and Magda. They should not have known that she was here unless…

"Who is it?"

"Magda…"

"Come in," Rosalind wiped the sweat on her forehead. The room was cold yet she was sweating. For some reason, she found herself in a really laughable state. How could she stress over something like that?

"His Grace sent some gifts…" Magda said.

"What?" Rosalind asked. She just arrived a couple of minutes ago.

"He must have sent them before you arrived," Magda knew about her ability so she did not ask her how she got inside the tower without using the front door.

"Oh… I…"

"Is something the matter?" Magda said.

"No."

"You don't look fine, you are sweating. Are you perhaps not feeling well?"

"You have no idea," Rosalind blurted out.

Magda gave her a complicated look. "You're blushing."

"Am I?" again, she used her sleeves to wipe her forehead.

"And you look nervous."

"I am not nervous."

Magda narrowed at her. However, instead of asking her more questions, Magda withdrew. "I will leave you be."

"Wait," Rosalind said.

"What is it?"

"I— I have a question." josei

"Go ahead."

"I am curious…" Rosalind thought about her past and her current state. "What does it feel like to … like someone?"

"Huh?" Magda lifted an eyebrow.

"I mean, you are a woman and I believe you must have liked someone." Rosalind was not stupid. There is no way that she would act like this if she did not have some sort of emotion towards that man.

Now all she needed to know is to analyze it. Does she like him? Or… this was simply because she found him pleasant to the eyes.

"Hmmmm… well if you enjoy someone's company, I believe that is like."

"So, If I enjoy your company that means I like you?" Rosalind gave her a suspicious look.

"Isn't that so?"

"Have you— I know this is a personal question but have you had a lover before?"

"Lover?" Magda scoffed. "Do I need one?"

"Well—"

"I have everything that I need Lady Rosie. I do not need another one by my side. Moreover, my job involves constant death and… killing. I would not want to hurt someone when I die."

Rosalind nodded. She did not expect this answer from Magda. "Thank you."

"You are welcome. Do you want to ask something else?"

"No."

"Then, I will take my leave. I will be sending the gifts with the maids in a while," she gave Rosalind a knowing look before leaving her room. "Oh…" Magda was already at the door before she stopped. "It is alright to like your husband."

"What?"

"The Rothley Estate has never had a Duchess… for centuries, but it is not because the Dukes do not like women. I believe it was simply because they never found someone that they like." Magda answered before she closed the door, leaving Rosalind more confused than ever.

Rosalind sat on the bed.

It was very easy for Magda to tell her about this since she did not know anything about their arrangement. If she had known, Magda would surely tell her that the Duke only did it because of her abilities. It was not because he liked her.

Rosalind lay down and stared at the ceiling then she started laughing.

What is like?

What is love?

After living for more than 50 years, Rosalind still could not answer that question.

How tragic.

Still, she was very much aware that the Duke was starting to affect her. She had suspicions that this was because of his actions of saving her from time to time. Slowly, she had gotten used to his presence.

'This is bad,' she thought.

Once again, she started chuckling.