"Is there a need to talk in private?" Lucas asked.
"Your Grace," Dorothy chid in. "May I know where that person is?"
"That person?" Lucas asked.
"The one that accompanied you the other night. The one wearing a black cloak."
"Are you perhaps looking for ?" A crystal-clear voice resonated from within the carriage then the carriage door creaked open and a cloaked figure walked out.
"That's her," Dorothy said. "I will never mistake her "
"Are you certain?" Martin asked, frowning. Clearly, that was a woman's voice. Would a woman have the capability to take his father? He expected to see a man beneath that cloak.
"Yes, Father. Her figure is unmistakable; I will always recognize it."
"Your Blessedness" Lucas said. "Would you be so kind as to tell what is going on? As you can see I am in a hurry."
"We have so questions to ask. Would you accompany us back to the palace?" Martin asked. This ti, he was already looking at Rosalind.
"And if I say no?"
The woman's cold voice ca as a surprise. Martin expected the woman to show so respect to him, after all, he was soone who received the Blessing.
The Duke had been disrespecting him, but that was simply because of his abilities.
"Let take that back: you must accompany us back to the palace. We have so important questions that need an answer."
This ti, the woman said nothing. Instead, she slowly removed the cloak from her head, revealing a rather familiar face.
A breathtaking sight.
Even Martin could not help but be utterly speechless when he saw the father's face.
"You"
"It is nice to finally et you in person, Your Blessedness. I am Rosie. Rosie Rothley. The Duchess of the Rothley Estate." She gave them a cordial smile.
She had long hair, in a shade of dark gray almost black but not quite. It cascaded around her like a silken waterfall, framing her small heart-shaped face.
Her deep brown eyes seed to shift and change into a srizing gray hue, holding a mysterious allure that easily drew one in.
Her complexion was porcelain-like, a delicate pallor that seed to give her an otherworldly aura.
When she revealed herself, everyone present was left in awe. However, this did not last too long as the sight imdiately sent a wave of commotion through the gathered crowd. Gasps of amazent escaped from parted lips as whispers filled the atmosphere.
"Who is she?" many asked.
"I heard she is the Duchess? The Duchess of Rothley Estate?"
"She is the Duke's wife!"
"I did not know he is married!"
"How could soone with that face exist?"
Hearing the murmurs and hushed whispers made Rosalind smile. "Your Blessedness?" she said. Out of nowhere, she felt Lucas's hand on her waist as he pulled her towards him as if guarding her, hiding her from everyone's eyes.
That made her smile brighter.
She lifted her gaze and looked at him. She had been wearing different skin masks to hide her appearance for far too long. She had seed to forget that she now had a different face, a face that was not originally hers.
She smiled.
"You I did not know that the Rothley Estate had a duchess?" Martin stamred.
"Our wedding is yet to happen in the North," Lucas said. "However, we already exchanged our vows a long ti ago."
"Is sothing the matter?" Rosalind asked. "I heard that you wanted to bring along back to the palace. However, I do not see any reason for to go back. Moreover, our wedding has yet to happen in the North. I do not think I have the right to enter the palace without the permission of the Emperor. After all, I am no one."
"Dorothy"
"Father, I was certain," Dorothy said ekly.
"Ah and who might this be?" Rosalind turned her attention to Dorothy.
"My daughter. Dorothy Lux."
"I have heard rumors about you. Aster is lucky to have soone who received the Will of the Goddess" Rosalind said. "It is nice to et you."
"I" For so reason, Dorothy could not seem to look at Rosalind. To be honest, Rosalind quite liked it.
"I think there is a misunderstanding. I believe you are not the person that my daughter saw that night."
"Ah is this about His Blessedness? I heard he was missing?" Naturally, Rosalind intentionally increased the volu of her voice enough for a few people to hear. "Were you able to find him? I seriously hope that he is fine."
"Thank you for your concern," Martin said. He looked at the Duke before he frowned. The woman before him looked so much like Rosalind, his late daughter. However, upon closer inspection, so differences were too difficult to ignore.
While they had a resemblance, nothing about the woman's movents and tone reminded him of Rosalind's ek tone and ignorant way of speaking. Moreover, their hair looked different, as well as so parts of their faces. It seed that this woman was a bit taller than Rosalind too.
However, this woman was nad Rosie and that clearly bothered Martin.
Was it just a coincidence? Or was the Duke intentionally trying to remind him of his late daughter's passing?
Martin's mood worsened.
Now that he thought about it, he already forgot so details about the accident that took Rosalind's life. To be honest, he did not care that much about her death. Naturally, seeing soone who resembled her and had the sa na made him recall his own daughter.
He did not like that.
"Since it's like this then I believe it is already ti for us to depart. The North is waiting for our arrival." Rosalind lifted her gaze and smiled at Lucas. "Shall we?"
"Of course." Lucas smiled in return. "Your Blessedness" He nodded at Martin. "Thank you for seeing us off. May destiny bring us together in the future."
'I hope not,' Martin thought inwardly as he smiled and nodded. He sensed that the next ti they t, the circumstances might be different, and they could be on opposite sides.
With the Duke's departure from the Empire, the chance to ask him about Federico had slipped away.
Reviews
All reviews (0)