"I'd like to join your boat, Duchess!"
"Heh?!" Roselia unintentionally smirked.
The air went silent soon after. They never added a single word to what they initially said.
"Then let's take a seat first," she offered them with a smile.
They look slightly unsetted as they walked and took a seat. The entire time they're sitting, they were just silent as Roselia brewed some tea. She poured them a cup and as soon as its done, she offered them to it with a gentle yet threatening smile. They were nervous as the teacup kept on shaking when they've gripped it with force. As if she put poison on it.
[ So now, let's hear their reason. ]
"So ... What do you mean by what you've said earlier, Lady Palladine?" As she took a seat on the couch comfortably, she took a sip on the tea she brewed.
Priscilla breathed heavily as she placed down her cup and started talking.
"It's exactly what I've said, Duchess. I'd like to be under your care," with a strong resolve in her tone, she looked at Roselia directly in the eye.
[ I still can't get used in drinking tea. ]
"What do you know?" pretending to enjoy tea, she closed her eyes and smelled the tea as she confronted.
"It's been a month since we've discovered something shady happening within the mansion," Priscilla never fazed but instead calmly responded to her question.
Alice also placed her cup down and spoke flusteredly. "Yes, Duchess. We're not threatening you but we're earnestly wanting to join you. We beg you Duchess, please let us join you!" she lowered her head abruptly as she humbly begged.
"We humby ask this favor, Duchess!" Priscilla also lowered her head.
Roselia inhaled very deeply and let out a heavy sigh. She thought they're here to start a nerve fight with her but instead they want to join her boat. She was hesitant to trust them. For her, it's a matter of time for you to be stabbed in the back by someone. That's the reason why she's finding it hard to trust someone.
[ I really don't want to trust them but ... ]
"You know that I already claimed my neutrality, right? If you joined me, you'll end up having a lot of enemies. Matter worse, you'll end up stabbing your family in the back. Are you really sure about this?" Roselia slightly scared them a bit.
"We know, Duchess! That's why ... we beg you for this, Duchess!" Alice desperately pleaded with her head bowed down. Her tears began dropping inside her teacup.
[ Ah ... This is too depressing to watch. ]
Roselia can't help but sigh depressingly. The mood turned gloomy with the cold silence. She don't want to be soft. From her previous world she already convinced herself to be strong. As she got whipped by her father everyday, she started living in hell. She endured for a very long time and after freeing herself from her father's reign, that memory made her kill people with the same gaze as his father. People whom were hideous and evil but pleaded mercy as they faced death. She can't help but grin in contentment. But what she saw from the two of them was different. It's not her father's gaze but instead hers. The way she looked when she pleaded for help as she got beaten up by her father. The two approached her with such faces.
"Is there a reason for all of this?" Roselia's lips straightened and asked. She hid her hands on the side of her dress and fidgeted the dress with her fingers. She can't help but feel restless.
Alice didn't speak and kept being emotional. Instead, Priscilla spoke on her behalf. Priscilla swallowed before speaking in a very serious tone.
"Well, about that Duchess ... Our family wanted to get rid of us."
"What do you mean by that?" Roselia slightly leaned forward and curiously asked.
*** ( Changes in POV ) ***
After getting a two day vacation, both Alice and Priscilla went back to their respective estates. Their sudden visit to their estate was unannounced as they didn't want to bother their family for such trivial thing. After arriving to the Palladine's estate, with an exciting smile on Priscilla's face; she skipped her step as she headed towards the living room.
"What are we doing about those two, Viscount Palladine?"
"Shouldn't we just get rid of them? We let them work in that estate so that we can have a powerful backer anyways."
Priscilla stood by the wall before the living room and listened after overhearing their parent's conversation.
"Don't worry Baronet Armenia. I'll start planning their weddings so you don't have to worry a thing. Finding an old man to marry and letting them be their concubine should be enough for their worth."
"As expected of the Viscount! I'll count on this one, Viscount Palladine."
[ Why is father talking like that? Am I really just a disposable tool? ]
As Priscilla kept on listening, she can't helped but make a horrid expression. She shook in fear as she flopped down on the floor. With her back in the wall, she covered her ears with both hands in anxiousness. She can't dare to listen anymore of their talk. As she stood up and planning to leave the estate before getting found out, she abruptly stopped as she overheard something important.
"Well, we did offer those two to the duke for some protection. But now that the duke is gone, who will protect us now during the trade?"
"Don't worry about a thing, Baronet Armenia. Let's just proceed as what we've always do. No one knew about this aside from Duke Faques. We should still continue but instead in Fregida Street, let's pick a street with less crowd and less people."
"Then how about the Helmer street in Red District? If it's around 22:00 then there's less crowd in there. Also it's a one way route so changing courage will be easy."
"Then, let's proceed with that one. From now on, just as always, every 15th of every month, the secret trade will now happen in Helmer Street at 22:00."
Right after hearing those highly classified information. Priscilla ran with all her might back in the Faques estate and began pestering Grace to have an audience with the duchess.
[ I don't want this! I don't want to be a mistress of an old man! I need to talk to the duchess. If I beg the duchess, I might be spared from that marriage! ]
*** ( Changes in POV ) ***
"And that's what had happened, Duchess. That's why please ... let us join you, Duchess!" Priscilla clasped her hands, lowered her head and begged desperately.
Roselia ended up being lost in her thoughts as she pondered deeply.
[ What in the world is going on between these two families? Aren't they on the first prince's faction? This war is getting out of hand and confusing. It's too disoriented. What is the first prince's faction planning? Are the Palladine and Armenia planning to changed side? What's with this secret trade?! ]
Roselia's brain malfunctioned as too much unanswered questions suddenly popped up out of nowhere. As she felt a sudden obligation to help, she ended up accepting them as she can't refuse after that desperate pleading. She reached out her hand and placed it onto Priscilla's hand to comfort her even just a little bit.
The only memories she had with her is when the day she was just reincarnated in this world. She doesn't have any idea about everything yet she's the first one to unleashed the inner demon inside of Roselia. She doesn't held any grudges at her. She only gave what others gave me. Happiness, pain, sadness; it doesn't matter. The one who endured all of the hardships were the previous owner after all.
"If you join me, you'll start from the bottom. Even if you disagree, you need to respect and nicely treat someone who is higher in ranking than yours. Commoners or nobles, it doesn't matter. You approached me for you to survive so I guess there's no problem complying, right?"
They raised their heads and said in unison, "We understand, Duchess!"
A knock on the door broke the current mood.
"It's me Grace, Duchess. Can I enter?"
"Yes, you may ..." Roselia looked at the door as she yelled.
Grace opened the door and shut it close immediately. Without further ado, she immediately walked towards my direction and as she stopped, she maintained a salute for a while before delivering what she came for.
"Is there any problem, Grace?"
"Target "Viper" is heading towards the Faques mansion. What should we do, General?"
"Let Sergeant First Class Merlin handle this matter. Inform him about the Viper's arrival." Roselia calmly instructed.
"Understood, General. Well then, I'll take my leave," Grace left and the room went silent.
Roselia pondered in her thoughts again leaving the two ladies in confusion.
[ Why is the Viper suddenly visiting us? Isn't it a bit too early? ]
As she snapped out of her thoughts, she immediately smiled as she looked straight to the two ladies. "So? What are your decision?"
With a serious expression, Priscilla responded determinedly, "Just like what we came her for, Duchess. We badly wants to join your ranks!"
Roselia stood up and sincerely brushed a smile at them. "Well then ... In work, please address me as General. I'll let Grace brief you two about everything you needs to know so I sincerely welcome you again in our organization."
"Thank you, Duchess!" the both of them sincerely bowed down in being recognized.
[ Now then ... I think I need to welcome and entertain an annoying guest. ]
Roselia walked towards the door. Before she opened it, she turned her head back and asked casually, "There's no problem if we did something to your families right?"
"Yes, Duchess. We don't want to have any connection to that disgusting family so you can freely dispose of them as you like. You can also use us at your disposal." Priscilla raised her head and pleaded her loyalty with her determined words.
As she opened the door, Ian was waiting for me.
"General, Target "Viper" is waiting for you in the living room," Ian bowed down as soon as the door opened.
She immediately walked fast as she headed straight towards the living room. The two ladies and Ian followed in her back.
"What in the world is he doing here?" Roselia unintentionally said her thoughts.
"It's probably because of " that" General," Ian heard her and naturally responded.
"But ...aren't they showing theirselves a bit way to early?" Roselia clicked her tongue in frustration.
As they've reached in front of the living room's large door, they stopped for a while before opening it. Roselia inhaled deeply as she tried to calm herself. During this time, Priscilla brushed off a question.
"Uhmm, who is this Viper, Sir. Ian?"
"Hmmm ... Viper is ..." the large door opened. "Marquess Eluard Henrichus." Ian continued.
As soon as the door opened, Roselia bowed down as a greeting. This is her first time seeing the Viper so she can't afford to be rude.
"Greetings, Duchess. Sorry for the informal visit." a manly, gentle voice pleasantly entered her ears.
"What did you come here for, Marquess Henric--"
Roselia eased her body and lifted up her head. Her expression instantly changed upon seeing him in person. It was totally an unexpected face that made her froze in her standing.
"Are you okay, Duchess? You look pale?" the Marquess looked at her worriedly.
"Ah! It's nothing Marquess. Let's take a seat," Roselia snapped out and tried to calm herself down as they took a seat.
[ I got taken aback. I totally didn't expect this. ]
"So, what does the Marquess needs for this informal visit?" Roselia instantly brought out right after taking a seat.
"Isn't it a bit rude to say it like that, Duchess?" the Marquess just smiled together with his eyes.
[ I won't get fooled twice. ]
"Aren't you here to make me join the first prince's faction, Marquess?" Roselia fought back as she smiled back at him.
As they began exchanging cold smiles, the tension in the air began to feel more heavier.
"Woah! Looks like were on the same page, Duchess. So, how about it?" he leaned forward with still his smile intact.
"What should we do, Marquess? After I saw your face, I instantly changed my mind," Roselia didn't backed out. She also leaned forward still wearing a smile on her face.
"Looks like my visit was a nuisance to you, Duchess," the Marquess stood and sighed awkwardly.
Roselia remain seated and looked up at him as she tried ridiculing her.
"Woah! How did you know it, Marquess?"
"Then, I'll take my leave now. Let's see each other sometimes, Duchess," the Marquess turned around and hurriedly left the estate.
As soon as he left, Roselia's face turnes horrid as she slammed the table with her hands.
"What's wrong, Duchess?" Ian dashed and asked in concern.
"His face ..." Roselia stuttered with her head facing down. Her hair covered her entire face so there's no way to see what she's currently expressing.
"He's handsome just like what the rumors said," Ian blurted out nonsense that made her infuriated in anger.
"Handsome, you say? Haha ... Hahaha ..." Roselia giggled exhilaratingly. "That bitch's face ... is what I loathe the most," she stood up as she mumbled.
Ian looked at her perplexedly, "Pardon?"
"Sergeant First Class Merlin ..." as she stood up, Roselia fixed her hair and the seriousness in her face made Ian stood straight in anxiousness. He can feel what she was feeling right now. She's totally infuriating in bad mood.
"Yes, General!"
"Gather every dirt you can find on Marquess Henrichus. I'll give you at least three months," Roselia commanded as she took heavy steps towards the door.
As she walked herself back to her room, she gritted her teeth and clenched her fist in extreme anger.
"I'll erase your existence in this world!" she mumbled in anger.
[ Kang Tae Seong!! ]