Rosie's Games

491  For the Greater Good

Rosalind remained silent, refraining from speaking further. In truth, she understood Fraunces's point and rather liked it. The contrast between her former life and her current one was quite entertaining. At the same time, she felt a deep sense of gratitude for her rebirth.

Out of the blue, Fraunces inquired, "So, when is the official wedding?"

Rosalind responded with a quizzical expression, "What do you mean?"

"As a woman, should you not care if he does not arrange a wedding?" Fraunces persisted.

Rosalind blinked, fixing her gaze on Fraunces for a few moments. She knew that Fraunces had already married, but the celebrations were missed due to their location in the Howling Mountains. Rosalind had yet to meet Fraunces's spouse.

She immediately wondered why Fraunces would suddenly bring up the wedding.

Puzzled at her gaze, Fraunces questioned, "Did I say something wrong?"

"It is nothing," Rosalind replied with a smile.

"So, there will not be a wedding? No chance to don a beautiful dress and walk down the aisle?" Fraunces probed.

"Would you believe me if I said I once desired such a wedding?" Rosalind retorted. In her previous life, Jeames and her had experienced a wedding of that nature. Jeames had gone above and beyond to fulfill her wishes.

In the end...

Rosalind swallowed.

The memory of her demise sent a shiver down her spine. Decades of marriage, only for it to unravel in the end. It had all been a facade. Everything has been a lie.

"And?" Fraunces prompted.

"What is the point of all that extravagance?" Rosalind asked as she lifted an eyebrow.

"What do you mean? What extravagance?" Fraunces seemed skeptical. "This is your wedding day, after all."

"In the end, does the wedding itself truly matter?" Rosalind pondered.

"What are you saying?"

"Nothing," Rosalind shrugged. Ultimately, marriage transcended the wedding ceremony. It was not about the lavish dress or the grand festivities. Nor did the opinions of guests hold much weight. Rather, it concerned the union of two individuals.

"People are talking…" Fraunces broached.

"Hm?" Rosalind wondered if Fraunces referred to gossip. Was she concerned about the rumors surrounding Rosalind's marriage?

"Many are mocking the legitimacy of your marriage," Fraunces explained. Observing Rosalind's reaction, Fraunces cleared her throat. "Do not misunderstand. I do not care about others' opinions of you. It is about the estate and the Duke. I do not want you tarnishing his reputation."

Fraunces glanced away, her cheeks betraying a hint of blush.

Seeing this, Rosalind offered a gentle smile and also averted her gaze. "As long as it does not harm me," Rosalind replied. "What can mere rumors do?"

"Apart from insinuating that the Duke does not value his wife? Or that he wed you merely to decline marriage offers from other Kingdons?" Fraunces voiced her concerns. Since the Duke's pivotal role in saving Rakha Kingdom and Aster Empire, numerous families had sought alliances with him and the estate. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Marriage served as the easiest conduit to establish these connections.

With the introduction of teleportation portals on Wugari, visitors to the King and the Duke's estate had surged.

Although they masked their intentions as curiosity and goodwill, Fraunces was not deceived. She knew that these visitors were inquiring about the Duke's marital status.

Normally, this would not be an issue, as the Duke showed no interest in these suitors. However, the rumors regarding the current Duchess made it more complicated.

This naturally irked Fraunces and the women of the Four Great Pillars.Because of this, they had extended invitations to the new Duchess for gatherings.

However, Rosalind had declined all such invitations, fueling even more speculations about her relationship with the Duke. Though Fraunces did not particularly favor Rosalind, she would not stand for her being maligned.

"Did you know that the Princess of Rakha has set her sights on your husband?" Fraunces inquired. "If she manages to sway the Duke—"

"That will not happen," Rosalind interjected. "I appreciate your concern."

"And who said I am concerned?" Fraunces rolled her eyes. "I simply do not want anyone sullying the Duke's reputation. You are the Duchess now; prove that you are his wife and move beyond focusing solely on the estate. Engage with others socially."

Rosalind remained silent. For some reason, this felt like a maternal scolding.

"Regardless, you should discuss a grand wedding with the Duke. Do not allow other women to look down on the Duchess of the estate," Fraunces advised. The conversation then lapsed into contemplative silence for both women.

…

"Your grace, might I have a moment to speak?" Princess Isadora approached Lucas, her gaze sweeping across the few individuals nearby. She smiled.

"Your Highness, do you require something?" Lucas inquired.

"I wished for a private conversation," the Princess admitted. "I hope the Duke will not mind."

"Indeed, I do mind, Your Highness," Lucas's straightforward response stunned those eavesdropping on their exchange. "If you seek to discuss matters of business, I suggest you coordinate with Denys to arrange a meeting. As for personal matters, I am afraid I cannot oblige. Being a married man, I would not want our interaction misconstrued, leading to any harm befalling my wife."

Isadora stared at him, taken aback. She had believed that conversing with the Duke in front of other guests would be simpler. She had attempted to schedule an appointment with him, but he always seemed busy with excuses like beast hunting. She was aware that these were falsehoods, excuses to evade a meeting.

Thus, she came here, hoping to engage in a genuine conversation. She never anticipated such a direct and public rebuttal from him. How could he humiliate a her, a Princess before everyone else?

"Is there anything else, Your Highness?" Lucas asked calmly. Disinterest was apparent in his eyes.

"I— Your Grace, I apologize. I did not mean to create misunderstandings or harm your image as a husband. However… the matter I wish to discuss is of grave importance. Please…" Despite her usual arrogance, Isadora chose to lower herself for the sake of the continent.

She suppressed her pride and faced potential embarrassment for the greater good of this continent.