Rosaria felt trapped by Count Aaron's unwavering response. The Eklostead family, who were the subject of numerous rumors. The gossip about Rosaria was nothing compared to the gossip about the Eklosteads.
There were many bad rumors about the Eklostead family, and it was said that even though the Duke of Eklostead was now a duke, his ancestors were of low social standing. Furthermore, for someone with the title of Duke, his public appearances were extremely limited. The gossips couldn't leave such a duke alone. Some claimed that the duke had devil's blood; others claimed that he enjoyed killing every day and couldn't get rid of the stench of blood. He is also said to have had a thirst for killing noble families who spoke ill of him and executing them along with their families. Many people feared the young Duke and kept their lives on the line.
The current Duke of Eklostead, in particular, had already fought several times on the battlefield, where his appearance, a killer drenched in blood, was enough to frighten even his own side; it was a measure of how frightening it would be to face him as an enemy. Marrying into such a family was asking for Rosaria's death.
"I'm not going to marry him!" exclaimed Rosaria.
"Can't you? Do you believe you have any options?" Lord Aaron's veins popped out when he asked. "Do you believe there will be anything left for you if you reject this marriage? Do you want to be sold somewhere where you can't afford expensive medicine?"
"No. No, it's only..." Rosaria's voice trailed off.
Rosaria wanted to say that there was still time, so another proposal could come, but she could only bite her lips in front of the angry Lord.
"What happens next? Are you going to ruin your father's House name? "demanded a count
"No... I'm getting married," Rosaria said.
She had only one option because there was only one marriage proposal in front of her. Marriage was ultimately a means to an end for her. She was saddened by the harsh reality of her options: being trapped in her bedroom or being killed, screaming, at the end of a sword.
When he saw her depressed expression after she had failed to resist the proposal, the Lord cleared his throat. "Very good. If you marry the duke, the late Duke and Viscountess Mellakou's prestige, as well as the family of Mellakou, will be restored."
The Lord was unconcerned about her well-being. Rosaria sighed as she looked at her uncle, who was preoccupied with his family.
The half-forced marriage proceedings flew by, and the hastily planned wedding day arrived. Rosaria attended her final banquet as a single woman a week before the wedding.
Normally, she would have declined the invitation due to her health, but this time was different. She was purposefully sent to the party as the duke's fiancée in order to boost the family's prestige.
No one approached Rosaria, as expected; even those who were curious about the news of her marriage to the tyrant duke preferred to join their acquaintances, and as the banquet progressed, people were busy laughing and talking.
"Huh," Rosaria sighed, alone among the sociable people. From birth to marriage, everything was happening without her being able to express her own desires. At this rate, it was obvious that the same pattern would repeat itself. She didn't even have the right to choose her life-altering event, marriage.
Rosaria sighed again. The glittering banqueting hall was choking her, so rather than stay there, Rosaria turned and found a relatively secluded terrace. The open space was a little chilly, but it let her catch her breath. When she leaned against the railing, the frigid air rose from the marble floor.
Rosaria 's body trembled lightly. After tonight, she would be busy preparing for the wedding again. She was sick and tired of thinking about the wedding gifts piled up in her room.
'I wish I had one thing I could decide,' Rosaria thought.
It was then that a heavy overcoat covered her shoulders, keeping the wind out. When Rosaria looked up, startled by the sudden warmth, she saw a same man she met when she was drunk before was standing there.
"You're shivering alone here," the man said, after seeing Rosaria 's surprised look. Rosaria blushed at his strange behavior; normally, people would just pretend that they hadn't noticed anything wrong.
"It's you"
"Yes it's me , how do you do my lady, Today's a celebration of your marriage, aren't you going to dance?" questioned the man
"Other people are busy dancing, and you're hanging around a place like this. You're unique," said Rosaria .
"I'm not particularly interested in banquets," he replied.
At his words, Rosaria burst into inadvertent laughter. She had thought that she was the only one who preferred being alone on a dark terrace to being in a gorgeous banqueting hall. However, someone with the same feelings appeared suddenly. With that alone, Rosaria could briefly forget how boring it was here.
Maybe that's why. She didn't know what happened in her brain. Maybe the music behind them excited her, or perhaps the rebellion that she had never shown to her father finally came out. Rosaria turned to the man in front of her and asked something she never thought she would say.
"Would you like to sleep with me?"
"What . . .?" The man's eyes widened with surprise at her sudden question. "Did you drink too much?"
"I didn't even take a sip of alcohol," said Rosaria , shaking her head. As someone who often got sick even when she ate only the best things, drinking was forbidden. Her face was slightly flushed from the cold, but she was fine.
"Do you know what your words mean?" asked the man.
"I know," Rosaria replied.
She could feel her frozen fingertips from being outside in the cold, her body was in better condition than usual. Her innocent eyes gazed at him.
"Don't you like my offer?" Rosaria asked.
"Ha! are you trying to seduce me the night before you marry" said the man, and clicked his tongue. The casual tone of her voice puzzled him, and his confused glance swept over Rosaria .
"Do you know who I am?" he asked.
"You're at this banquet, so your status is obvious," said Rosaria .
"Did you just say it thoughtlessly because you don't know anyone?" the man asked. It was clear to him that she didn't know what she was saying. He laughed and held her waist. His eyes were clearly mocking Rosaria . "You don't regret what you said, do you?"
"Of course not," replied Rosaria .
The moment she spoke, her dry lips felt his warm breath. He sealed her soft lips with his, then skilfully teased her with his tongue. His tongue moved actively in her mouth, taking her breath away. Every time his tongue roughly swept her mouth, she made a small, painful sound.
His lips, that had briefly matched hers, moved away. When he saw her smudged lipstick, mixed with saliva, he laughed.
"How do you feel about it now?" the man asked.
His heart moved as he looked at her small, heaving shoulders. The good feelings from when they kissed lingered in his mind, but he wasn't the type to get emotional. He wouldn't be fooled by such tricks. He waited for her panting to calm down.
"Yes, it's still okay," said Rosaria .
"What?"
He was embarrassed by the unexpected response. He'd obviously assumed she was an ignorant lady who had grown up in a greenhouse. Her innocent eyes made her look like a virgin, so he assumed the kiss would be enough to scare her. He smirked. He was at a loss for what to do.
"Let us pause. I'm not sure what you're thinking, but it's best not to reveal yourself "The man stated.
There was nothing more to consider. The man turned around without hiding the displeasure in his face. As he moved away, he felt a weak tug on the hem of his clothes. When he turned, he saw a determined-looking woman. He didn't understand what she was thinking, but she seemed a little more desperate than she had before.
"It's not like that. I am thinking straight," said Rosaria , and sighed lightly. Her delicate fingers trembled, "I'm getting married next week."
The words made him raise his eyebrows, as if asking what she meant.
"It's a marriage that my uncle decided unilaterally. I've never even seen the face of my husband," said Rosaria . Most nobles have arranged marriages, but very few marry without seeing their marriage partner first.
"I am an unlucky woman, annuled in first marriage and now marrying a person who would feed on my blood soon. " she said as smiles and tears flow down from her makeup.
Her sorrowful expression moved him to pity. He had cut off his desire after a short kiss, but in fact, after a brief taste, his passion for her was on the rise.
'I've never done this before,' she said.
He turned and looked at her. He hadn't meant to continue, but her words had changed his mind. She wasn't bad for a short fling. He leaned against the railing with a face full of interest.