"What is going on?" Victoria asked as she glared at the servants. "Where is she? We came here because you told us that everything inside had been in disarray, but where is the mess!?"
"Madam, there is no one in the house, and there is no mess."
"What do you mean there is no mess?" Dorothy asked. "The servant earlier "
"Young miss, I am telling the truth. Everything inside is very clean. I don't understand why that man said that there was a mess inside. I believe he should be punished." Grace, Victoria's maid, saide.
"But I really saw it earlier! Everything was a mess! Even the other "
"Enough!" Martin spoke. "Let us not waste our time here. Find her!"
"Your Blessedness! Your Blessedness!" A servant bowed towards Martin. "Miss Rosalind just showed up."
"What did you just say?" Almost immediately Dorothy panicked. How was it possible? They did not receive any news that they failed to take Rosalind! She side-eyed Jeames who immediately left.
"Miss Rosalind just showed up with the representative of the North."
"What representative of the North? All three representatives were in attendance." Martin said as he started walking back towards the venue. He gritted his teeth. How dare Rosalind show this side of her in front of everyone? He always knew that the woman wanted attention but does she have to act like this?
Sadly, he could no longer do anything to her as she is going to become the future Duchess of the North. Doing something to her while she lives in this place would be akin to declaring war on the North. In fact, Martin had been secretly keeping a close eye on her because he did not want anyone to harm her.
While her safety is not really a priority, he could not just deliberately ignore her and make the North take advantage of the already tense situation. After all, the Duke left without reaching an agreement with the Emperor.
He cannot let that schemer just win.
They rushed towards the garden and immediately saw Rosalind calmly talking to a middle-aged balding man with a large tattoo on his neck. His shaved head was instant proof that he was from the North. A barbarian.
"Your Blessedness " the man bowed when he spotted him coming their way. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am the Representative of the Three Northern Kingdom Alliance, Barnard Lytton."
"Lytton? Are you a descendant of the Great General Lytton from the North?" Martin frowned. The great General was respected during the war. They are servants of the Rothley Family A very loyal subordinate of Duke Lucas and his family.
"Yes, your Blessedness. It is an honor to meet you. I did not expect that his Blessedness would know about my humble ancestor."
Humble? Martin could not help but snort inwardly. The Lytton Family is very well known not just in the North but in the south as well. They are feared because of how resilient and courageous they are.
They were feared not just because of their strong body, but also because of their courage and loyalty to Duke Lucas and his family. But why would someone from a famous military family join them?
Martin's gaze landed on Rosalind who was smiling gently.
"I hope I did not get the Young Duchess in trouble by dragging her away!" Barnard chuckled. "I did not expect the young duchess to be able to talk to someone like me. Isn't that right, Henrye! Oi, Henrye!"
"Aye General!" A man answered, surprising Martin as he did not sense the man's presence. He did not even notice him standing next to Rosalind and the General.
"Ah let me introduce my Lieutenant. Henrye Bohan! Henrye What are you doing? Bow down to his Blessedness!"
"Aye General!" Just as General Barnard said, Henye bowed.
"Bohan Family?" Martin uttered. "Aren't they "
"Ah The Bohan Family of the North is the same Bohan family who was trained to become assassins since they were younger, but please pay him no heed. He is harmless."
Harmless?
The Bohan Family are known killers and murderers because of their assassination skills!
Why would a general and an assassin come to an event like this?
"Ah... You must be wondering why we came! Henrye, go ahead and give his Blessedness our gift!"
"Aye, sir!" Henrye uttered, he then got a box from his black suit and handed it to Martin.
"The Pearl of the North! The Alliance wanted to give this as a gift to the Lux Family after the marriage of the Young Duchess Rosalind to our Young Duke Lucas Rothley! We hope that his Blessedness and his family will continue to protect the continent."
With that, Barnard bowed together with Henrye.
"So So you took Rosalind and that was the reason why she was late?"
"Young miss, please mind your words. I thought the ladies of the Empire were careful with their words? Ah I guess I was expecting too much."
"General Barnard, please mind your words, that is my daughter."
"Ah the one who did not receive the blessing, eh? I always wonder why the one who was believed to be the best failed to receive the blessing. I guess " the General snorted. "I now understand why the Goddess would not bless someone like that."
"General!"
"Your Blessedness with all due respect, I came to pay my respect to the young duchess. We will be escorting her carriage until she reaches the north. And yet, your daughter easily used the words 'took her away'. Do you want everyone here to think that I am a barbarian that would touch a newly married maiden?"
Martin blinked. He was speechless.
He did not expect the barbarian to be so eloquent with words. While this was the first time that they met, he had heard of the man's name before and from the information that he had gathered, Barnard was an uneducated Barbarian who knew nothing but the way of the sword!
How could someone like him throw an insult like this?