I Thought It Was An Arranged Marriage - Chapter 30

At that moment, Rosaline felt an overwhelming jealousy towards her. This knight had fought alongside her husband with pride. They might have watched each other’s backs and crossed the line of death together. Rosaline envied that deeply. She felt small for not being able to use magic or wield a sword.

“Rosie, are you alright?”

“Yes. I think I’m just a bit tired.”

Lucas, noticing her darkened expression, hurriedly supported her. Rosaline blushed at his fussing over her just for looking unwell. Dylan, seeing this side of Lucas for the first time, looked shocked.

“Ahem. Luke, I’m really fine.”

“No, you need to rest.”

Despite her protests, Lucas insisted on leading her to a private lounge. Ignoring the conversation partner he had been speaking with, he acted unyieldingly, which, though improper, slightly lifted Rosaline’s mood.

She was grateful that he always put her first, no matter where they were. She silently blamed him for making her so dependent, but she couldn’t deny the satisfaction she felt.

“Shall we go back? You need to rest.”

“If we go back… can I really rest?”

“Hmm.”

Rosaline glared at Lucas, who couldn’t even lie to reassure her, then burst into laughter. No matter what he did, she couldn’t hate him. In fact, she was looking forward to being sweetly tormented by him again tonight. She would be disappointed if he just held her hand and slept because she looked tired.

I’ve really fallen for Lucas. Rosaline mocked herself but didn’t feel bad about it. She learned that being able to laugh openly and act spoiled was true happiness.

As she snuggled into Lucas’s arms, she felt her earlier anxiety melt away. But it was just a feeling.

That day, Rosaline felt uneasy all day. There were many reasons. It was a gloomy day without rain, and she hoped her delayed period meant something, only to find bloodstains on her underwear again.

She wanted to lock herself in her room and wallow in her gloom, but today was the day of a small banquet. It was a gathering to solidify Lucas’s status as a war hero by inviting military nobles who had actually fought alongside him.

Even a high priest, who was hard to meet outside the temple, was present, making it a gathering Rosaline couldn’t skip without a good reason. So she forced herself to attend, feeling tired and gloomy.

Despite this, Rosaline, who had been born into a prestigious noble family and had lived her life in high society through thorough education, didn’t show her fatigue outwardly. Her noble and elegant demeanor was the ideal image of a Grand Duchess that everyone at the banquet admired.

Only Lucas noticed her unease and wondered how to cheer her up. But knowing that openly showing concern in such a setting would hurt her pride, he quietly observed her expression. Naturally, he couldn’t focus on the conversation.

“Your Highness? Are you listening?”

“No.”

“Wow. You’re really something. How can you be so straightforward…”

“Do I need to listen to the same story every time?”

“Well, that’s true…”

Count Grey burst into laughter, and everyone else followed suit. Unlike them, who seemed to have experienced this situation several times and shared a sense of camaraderie, Rosaline smiled out of politeness. She didn’t really understand what was so funny, but everyone was laughing, so she laughed too. But it left her feeling uncomfortable, as if something was stuck in her chest.

Despite having been embarrassed once, the Count continued to chatter at Lucas as if nothing had happened. She was a spirit mage who had contracted with a high-ranking spirit. Lucas had discovered her, a fallen noble, and helped her receive her title. She wasn’t a striking beauty, but she was bold and confident, making her seem impressive. Yes, she was a woman.

There were notably many women in Lucas’s army. It wasn’t because Lucas particularly liked women and gathered them on purpose; rather, he selected competent individuals regardless of gender, resulting in many women in his ranks.

Although titles and positions had no gender restrictions, subtle discrimination persisted, which made Lucas’s army a dream for all female soldiers. Most of Rosaline’s bodyguards were also women for the same reason.

In noble society, where capable female knights were rare and male knights often ended up in romantic entanglements with their mistresses, the Bryant Grand Duchy boasted an all-female knight order.

Rosaline respected Lucas for this. She felt proud and honored to have such a fair and just man as her husband. But she disliked the current situation. It bothered her that there were four women in this small, elite gathering, that they shared an understanding she didn’t, and that she couldn’t actively join the conversation because of it.

Her pent-up negative emotions finally erupted in the dining room.

Although Rosaline wasn’t picky about food, she wasn’t particularly fond of seafood. She disliked fishy foods in general. But today’s main dishes were king crab and fish, prepared to highlight their natural flavors.

As soon as she entered the dining room, the fishy smell made her instinctively cover her nose and gag slightly. It was a rare mistake for Rosaline, who always maintained her composure.

“Ugh!”

“Rosie! Are you alright?!”

“Ah… I just felt a bit nauseous for a moment. I’m fine.”

“No, you don’t look well. Perhaps you should rest.”

It was the third time. The third time Lucas had suggested Rosaline leave. Rosaline knew. Lucas, who was highly attentive to her, had long noticed she wasn’t feeling well and was suggesting she rest out of concern. She understood this in her head.

But she felt hurt. Weren’t these his comrades who had fought alongside him, if not his friends? She wanted to show them kindness and be remembered favorably. Not understanding her feelings and repeatedly telling her to leave made her feel prickly.

‘What is he planning to do with so many women here after sending me away?’

If Count Grey and the other women present had heard her thoughts, they would have been horrified. The Grand Duke was fundamentally an inhuman existence. The rumors that he had transcended human limits and even surpassed humanity were not mere jokes.

The Grand Duke, who considered humans as parts and everything based on efficiency, recruited people based on their abilities and mental strength. This made him arguably the fairest person and led to the highest survival rates in his army.

The women respected and were loyal to their superior but had no desire to become romantically involved with him. Just imagining it gave them cold sweats. They admired Rosaline for being loved by such a fearsome figure and secretly hoped she would keep him under control for life.

If they knew about Rosaline’s jealousy, they would be more terrified than resentful. Their lord was someone who might find Rosaline’s jealousy adorable yet still eliminate them for making his wife uneasy.

“Your Highness, please don’t worry about us and take care of yourself first.”

“Indeed, health is paramount.”

Fortunately for them, Rosaline was a patient person. She suppressed her hurt feelings and tried to say she was really fine, but someone made a fuss. It was Viscount Fisher, who was known for his lack of tact and frivolous behavior despite his skills.