"Oh, no. I just " Rosalind lowered her head. "I had a glimpsed of him once."
"Oh? A glimpse? I heard no one has ever seen his face. Was he good-looking?"
"Good looking? I heard he was scary with a long beard and a large scar on his face," someone chimed in.
"I heard he always wears a mask in public and that might be because of his hideous appearance."
"Have you heard about his cruelty in the North?"
"There were rumors that even the King would bow down to him. It was even said that he was the one running the kingdom behind the scenes."
"The Northerners are barbarians. They love killing people and bathing in their enemy's blood."
"I think you shouldn't talk about the Duke like that," Dorothy joined the conversation. "Despite everything, he is the one protecting us from the horrors of the North. We are safe here because of the Duke's strength."
"These are mere rumors, Young Lady," Marie said.
"Still, talking about someone in their absence isn't a very desirable trait," Dorothy insisted.
Hearing this, Rosalind couldn't help but smile inwardly. Naturally, Dorothy didn't want Rosalind to hear about these rumors. She didn't want her sister to know the truth about the Duke.
"I think talking about the Duke like that is disrespectful," Rosalind uttered meekly. "Older sister is right. He is fighting for everyone in the North, sacrificing his people for us to be safe. Talking behind his back is discourteous."
The table turned silent. She knew all of them had different things in their mind but she didn't care. All she wanted was to create more rumors until the Lux Family had no choice but to give her to the Duke.
"Speaking of the Duke, I heard there will be a hunting ceremony very soon," Dorothy said, completely changing the topic. "Usually, they only invite the unmarried eldest daughter of each family, but If you want, I can ask father to make an exception."
"Young Lady, you are too kind," Marie said. "Butt wouldn't that only add fuel to the rumor, right?"
"Rumor?" Rosalind blinked. "What rumor?"
"Well "
"There is no rumor like that," Dorothy said. "You must have heard the wrong thing, Marie. Perhaps you are not feeling well. You should go and see the family healer."
Marie is actually one of their distant cousins, she should be around seventeen years old as well. She was one of the members of the Lux Family who was summoned this time around. While she wasn't as popular as Dorothy, she was still beautiful and many bachelors had offered to marry her.
However, her mother, Madam Nella Lux, was hopeful that she was going to receive the Blessing of the light. Obviously, this hope became an expectation after Dorothy failed to receive the Blessing.
Because of this, Marie had been trying to assert some dominance since she arrived. Her antics wouldn't work on Dorothy, so she immediately turned her attention to Rosalind.
"I am not ill, Lady Dorothy," Marie said.
"Yes, you are."
Marie narrowed her beautiful eyes.
"Young Lady, I don't think you understand. I am not ill. Perhaps it is the Young Lady who is not feeling well?" Marie said, her voice a little higher than usual. Her tone surprised the other people at the table. This should be the first time that someone blatantly showed their arrogance in front of Dorothy after she failed to receive the Blessing.
How could someone speak to Dorothy like that?
"I believe this is enough," Jeames suddenly chimed in.
"And who are you?" Marie uttered. "I believe you are someone that doesn't belong at this table. How dare someone like you intervene?"
"I believe everyone would agree that Lady Marie is not feeling well. Guards " Jeames suddenly said. "Bring Lady Marie to her quarters."
"You dare!? You are not a member of the Lux Family!"
"As Lady Dorothy's official guard, I have the right to command all the guards to escort someone I deem as harmful to the Lady."
"Harmful to the Lady? If you have forgotten, then let me remind you. Lady Dorothy did not receive the Blessing." Marie's face turned red as she looked at every other person at the table. "Everyone knows that one of the people at this table here is going to receive it, but that is not the Lady. Are you certain you are willing to take the risk and treat one of the people here as trash?"
"This how could you say something like that to Lady Dorothy, Marie? You should apologize!" someone said.
"Did I say something wrong?" Marie said. "You can drag me out of this gathering now, but I assure you I will never forgive this blunder! You must pray and you pray to the Goddess very well that I don't end up with the Blessing or" She narrowed at everyone else. "All of you will suffer!"
Seeing everyone's expression change, Marie snorted.
"There is no need to escort me out." Marie narrowed at Jeames. "I will remember this."
With that, she marched out of the gathering, her head held high, a smug smile appeared on her lips.
"Sister " Rosalind said, her eyes already tearing up. She had to pinch her palm to stop herself from smiling at Marie's words. It seems that she had chosen the best person to distract Dorothy. "It's my fault," Rosalind said. "I apologize."
"No." Dorothy used a napkin and dabbed it on her lips. "Marie is right. I don't think I have the right to act like this in front of everyone. I do not have the Blessing and " she swallowed hard. "I am still expecting everyone to join the welcome banquet. For now, let us go back to our quarters and rest. Jeames please escort Rosalind back to "
"No," Rosalind said. Her expression changed when she realized that she said that out loud. "I mean it's my elder sister who isn't feeling well. Jeames, please escort sister to her room. I will be fine on my own."
"Are you certain?" Jeames asked. Obviously, the man was worried about her beloved.
"Yes," Rosalind smiled. "My sister needs you, Jeames. Please take care of her." The two of them deserve each other, she thought inwardly. It would be best that they stick together in this lifetime.
..
Chap 26-79 still editing. 80 Up is already edited. I found the editor when I was writing chapter 80 :)