In the Cullen Kingdom, there are eight ranks of nobility under the King.
Duke, Marquess, Earl, Count, Viscount, Baron, Baronet, and Knights.
The first three ranks, Duke, Marquess, and Earl, are based on their ancestry, and their aristocrat bloodline. They call themselves a true blue bloodline.
The next three ranks Count, Viscount, and Baron are a gift the King gives to his subjects. Many for a high talent displayed to use on behalf of the Kingdom, and others to show gratitude.
The next rank, Baronet, is only for monetary purposes.
The last rank, Knights, is for the ones who protect the Castle and the Royal Family.
And the man in front of her belongs to the first house of the third rank Earl.
The man who taught her, not only magic, but he was with her since she was 2 years old. And he knows many secrets about her, but thanks to her witty personality, he doesn't know about her real talent in magic and her dreams.
"To welcome the Honorable Luis Baldwin, to this princess's presence, it's a weird occasion." With a slight smile on her lips, Rosella spoke. But the smile did not reach her eyes.
Luis Baldwin's face sank. He understood her meaning, and he did not have a choice. When he sees her indifferent smile, his eyes showed his complicated emotions.
Rosella could understand the meaning behind his eyes.
"Everyone had a choice, but we're humans. Everyone had desires, but some of them had a strong sense of the conqueror. You choose, if you win, all the rich and everything else is yours, everything will be worthy, even if you betray your closes ones. If you fail there is no turning back, there is no forgiveness, only penalty."
Rosella did not want to make him change his choice. She felt his determination, she understood his heart.
He's greedy. He fell in love with the First Princess, Valentina Cullen. If he can become her husband, he will die with happiness. He had sent his proposal to the King, and he'll only agree when Princess Valentina does.
The first princess is a 24-year-old unmarried lady. She is a calm and collected woman, her demeanor made her the perfect and most sought-after lady in the Kingdom. They say she is the most beautiful and charming woman.
However, not many knew her scheming and insidious inside, which made her the perfect villain.
Princess Valentina gave him a choice, either he becomes her husband and cuts ties with Rosella, or he stays at Rosella's side and forgets about asking for her hand in marriage.
She can gamble this because, from the Dukes, Marquess, and Earl, neither of them has asked her hand in marriage. The King did not want to be the first to ask. But only the Honorable Luis Baldwin wished and presented the proposal.
Princess Valentina is a woman who pays attention to the spouse's bloodline. Even if a Count came to ask her hand in marriage, she will dismiss him.
Luis Baldwin chooses the former. Leaving Rosella's years of affection between teacher and student in oblivion.
Rosella spoke carefree, but her heart is bleeding, he has been one of the persons she could rely on, but now…
"Third Princess, I apologize for coming without previous notice. But I've something to discuss with you."
Luis Baldwin did not bother to give excuses nor tell her the real reason behind his betrayal.
Rosella's fingertips trembled slightly, but her face was still the same.
For her, the most hurtful words are 'Third Princess'. All her closes aides call her Princess, and the rest who are not closer to her and her enemies call her Third Princess.
"Oh, then… You've to wait for me to take my seat." Answered Rosella nonchalantly.
She strode elegantly towards the wooden seat in front of her desk.
The study room is warm and, in every corner, there is a white translucent jade illuminating a white light in the room. The shelves on each side of the desk and the white carpet on the floor made the room feel comfortable and warmer than a normal chamber.
Maybe it's because she likes to stay in the study room, or if her safe haven was the same study room.
"Yes, forgive this subject for the lack of disrespect."
He wanted to laugh and cry, but in fact, the expression on his face didn't change at all. Even if he left her side, he had to show her respect. She is the blessed one.
Even if she is the blessed one, he chooses the woman he fell in love with.
Rosella would never have thought, that her First Royal Sister's bed will be more comfortable for her teacher than be her most trusted man.
She knows better than anyone, who Princess Valentina is in reality…
A scheming and vicious woman. She had reached the point where she can even use her body to make transactions.
Rosella had seen many men coming out of her chambers in the middle of the night. But she never told anyone.
"It's good to know your place. A subject, before you called me Third Princess, or even before you came here. You were my teacher, but from the moment you choose her bed, you decided your future."
"Third Princess Rosella, please be careful of your words. Behave yourself!" Luis Baldwin admonishes her.
"In the past, you were my tutor, my teacher. But now… What identity do you've to admonish me? Know your place!" Rosella's tone of voice was heavy.
Her cold voice resounded in the room, and an imperious magical aura come out of her body. The atmosphere was so heavy that it made Luis Baldwin have difficulties in breathing.
His knees felt weak, it made him kneel. His face turned pale, void of a drop of blood.
Using magic to form a red protective barrier around him, he took a deep breath, and half-kneeling, he spoke.
"I'm a disgrace, your highness. Please forgive this subject who did not know his place. You can punish me."
Seeing him like this, Rosella closed her eyes and felt pain in her heart.
"You can use fire magic to create a barrier. You've improved. But this kind of improvement is not good. Too hastily, you used an incredulous and low way to raise the magical particles inside your body. I'm utterly disappointed." Rosella shakes her head.
!!!
Her words shocked Luis Baldwin. His fingertips tremble, his back shudder, his face paled even more than before, his lips tremble, and sweat run from his forehead to his jawline.
'How does she know that!?' Luis Baldwin screams in his heart.