Rosie's Games

Chapter 76: The Black Snake 2

The snake slowly slithered towards her, its black skin glittered against the yellowish lighting inside the room. Then it made its way into her tub, but just as it was about to make its move, a hand caught it.

Rosalind jolted up, her eyes wide.

"You—"

"I did not mean to intrude," the Duke said as he turned around, still holding the snake in his hand. "Call me once you are dressed."

Rosalind's jaw dropped to the floor, she was speechless. It didn't even register that she was actually naked. Embarrassment echoed inside her head causing her to turn red. She looked down and was thankful that the bubbles were at least covering her body parts.

That would have been embarrassing.

While she had been married in her past life, Jeames was not actually someone that loved to be intimate with her. They seldom slept together inside the same room and at that time, she completely understood that he was busy trying to run his business.

She bit her lower lip and quickly found her robe.

She thought that the man had already left.

Why was he here now?

Frowning, she walked out of the small bathroom and into her room. She found him in her bed, reading a book, dressed all in black as usual. The dead snake was not far away from him.

"I thought you left?" she asked. She did not want to talk about what happened earlier, yet she still wanted to approach the situation maturely.

"You have read my letter?"

"I did."

"I was just about to leave when I remembered something."

"What is it?"

"It seems that you have been visiting the black market?"

"I am not actually surprised that you know that."

"Are you going to involve yourself in healing those people?" he asked.

"I— What are you talking about?"

"There is a strange disease…"

"Oh…" Rosalind nodded. She thought the Duke was talking about the Duke of Duance and was scared that somehow Mr. Pratt told the man everything. She did not want to ask Mr. Pratt about his relationship with the Duke of the North as she did not want to sound too intrusive. "I am thinking about it."

The man stared at her for a few seconds. "Do not get involved in this matter."

"What?"

"Can your conscience take it?" he asked.

Rosalind met his blue eyes as she realized something. In the past, the disease would kill hundreds of thousands of people and would spark the start of the war. However, this was only the beginning of what was about to come. Now that she carefully thought about it, the North stayed safe from both the war and the disease.

At that time, she thought that this was because of their location and the fact that they have stronger bodies, but what if it was because the one who released the curse was from the North? Then… did they deliberately release it in the south to avoid suspicions?

But why would they do it?

"I should not have asked," he got up and walked towards the window. "If that is the case, you should take care of yourself. The disease… is quite dangerous for people born with weak bodies."

Rosalind blinked. Just as he was about to leave, she said. "I am not going to involve myself."

Her answer surprised him. He turned and frowned.

"Can you take it?"

"I only want to earn money," she said softly. "I do not have any business in saving people." In her last life, she gave her everything to a man, leaving nothing for herself. She served him, understood him, and treated him like her king, but in the end, he only used her for his benefit, breaking her heart and mind and even ending her life.

Now it was different.

She was not going to let anyone else use her, she was going to stand on her own and she would do that even if she was going to stand… alone.

"Money?"

She swallowed and composed herself.

"For when I leave the North."

"Leave the North?" he took a step toward her.

"Yes, Your Grace. Should I stay with you even after you find the love of your life? The marriage— the transaction that we have is going to end if you find someone or once I repay the favor that you gave me I—"

"I am not a big fan of divorce, Young Lady Lux," he stated.

"This is a mere transaction. I understand that men have their needs and I—"

"Do not utter such words again," he cut her off rudely. "The marriage will stay."

"What?"

He took another step closer. "You were the one who approached me, Miss Lux. You were the one who asked for my help."

"I—"

"The ceremony isn't even done and you are already talking about leaving the North. What rudeness."

"I— I did not mean it like that." josei

He narrowed his eyes. "Then tell me… what do you mean?"

"I— I just thought that the Duke is still young and one of these days, you will find someone that you fancy. I just wanted to establish boundaries, I would not tolerate another woman in my marriage and so, if the Duke happens to meet someone, then… our arrangement should be considered done."

The man took another step, further shortening the already small space between them. But she did not take a single step back.

Instead, she continued.

"The Duke has been very helpful and I am extremely grateful for that. But— but what would happen once we achieve our goals? This arrangement was something that we made because of the benefits that come along with it, but once we achieve that— I do not think that the Duke would want someone like me to stay with him forever. Was it wrong for me to assume that way?"

He snorted in response, then he laughed and shook his head. He stared at her and for a few seconds, she thought she saw a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Why don't we talk about this when we achieve… our goals?" he asked.

"I—"

"Ah… the snake was sent by someone who wanted to kill you. It is not an ordinary snake, but something made of malice and sorcery. Dark magic."

Almost immediately, she forgot the things that she wanted to talk about. Dark Magic? Did someone want to kill her using dark magic? Who? Who could it be?