Chapter 28: The Stone and the Diamond
Primal Fangs?
Until now, Rosalind couldn't believe her fortune. She wasn't aware that Lucilla was the heiress to the largest mercenary guild in the South.
In her past life, the Four Quarter Masters would suddenly dominate the market right after an attack that would happen to one of the four empires. A tragedy would appear, and the Quarter Masters would slowly carve out their name into the people's hearts, gaining a lot of other businesses in the process.
She couldn't help but wonder if this happened because of the Primal Fangs.
After giving Alma Pratt another treatment, the couple gave her a lot of gifts and things that she had never dreamed of. The reason she showed Pratt the things that she could do was because she knew that he and the other Masters could protect her identity.
She didn't expect them to be this generous!
Now that her business with the Pratts has officially started, she decided to try and visit Dorothy. She hadn't heard from her very own sister since the tea party. Even the details about the banquet were now handled by her mother.
Rosalind heard that Dorothy was currently ill. There were rumors that the Madam and Martin Lux were thinking of sending her somewhere to recuperate. Hearing this, Rosalind smiled.
Victoria would never send her daughter away.
These must be some rumors that Victoria created to make her daughter appear more pitiful.
"I apologize Young Miss, but the Young Lady has been crying since " Dorothy's head maid said. "Since it happened, the Young Lady couldn't help but pity herself."
"Is that so?" Rosalind sighed. "Then I "
"Rosalind, why are you here?"
Rosalind looked at Jeames. He was wearing a knight's uniform.
"I came here to visit my sister," Rosalind said calmly. She stared at the man that she married in her past life.
She had never once felt that something was amiss when it comes to his and Dorothy's relationship. Jeames didn't show any signs that he was unhappy. He was kind and playful; he was smart and very charming. He was always there to make Rosalind laugh.
But the loathing and disgust in Jeames's eyes just before Rosalind died was something she would never forget, though she couldn't help but wonder what made him hate her so much.
"Unfortunately, the Young Lady is not taking any visitors right now. She is not feeling well."
"Oh "
"Why don't we have some tea?" Jeames asked. "Let me take you to the drawing room." Jeames nodded at Dorothy's maid and gestured for her to leave them alone. Seeing their interaction, Rosalind wondered what kind of relationship Jeames had with Dorothy.
Dorothy just turned eighteen while Jeames should be nineteen. In the past, their relationship had always been like this and Rosalind thought it was normal. After all, they grew up together.
She followed Jeames into the drawing room adorned with pink roses and a beautiful white leather couch. If her guess was right, the leather came from the south. It should be a gift from one of the empires to Dorothy Lux when she turned fifteen.
"Your sister tried to end her life because the old patriarch wants her to marry the Duke as a tribute. The old man wants her to live in the North."
Rosalind gasped.
"Is that true?"
"Yes. The old man doesn't want to lose face. He had doted on the Young Lady since she was young, thinking that she would receive the Blessing and when she didn't, everything changed."
"But "
**THUD**
Rosalind gasped when Jeames suddenly knelt in front of her.
"I beg of you, Rose, please help Dorothy. Your sister loves you so much, so she didn't want to tell you anything, but I cannot let her suffer such injustice. It wasn't her fault that she wasn't chosen by the Goddess Herself. You must save her!"
Rosalind's lips twitched.
Now, she pretty much knew what happened in the past and why Jeames agree to marry her. It looked like Dorothy must have convinced him to marry her younger sister, as it was the only way to tie him into the family.
In her past life, Rosalind couldn't stop talking about Jeames when she arrived. She was very vocal about her admiration for the young man, but Dorothy said nothing. However, everything changed when she accidentally revealed her Blessing to Dorothy.
Since then, she started telling Rosalind to pursue Jeames. Then she created scenarios to make her look pitiful and bullied, making Jeames sympathize with her. Oh how soft.
Rosalind had been very soft.
How could she fall for such obvious lies? One might wonder if she was stupid or simply blind. The answer was rather simple.
Rosalind wanted love and affection.
And Dorothy was quick to give her those two things when she discovered Rosalind's Blessing. Almost immediately, Rosalind was blinded by the false promises and instant gratification of being loved by her sister.
Almost immediately, she fell right into their trap.
But not again.
Never again.
Rosalind's lips trembled as she tried to stop herself from crying. She blinked and said. "I will. I will do anything to save my sister. Even if that means marrying the Duke of the North."
A single tear fell on her right cheek.
"I will do everything I can to make her happy," she added as she thought of seeing their faces once they realized that the stone that they wanted to throw was the diamond that they were looking for.