Chapter – 19
The knight swallowed hard, his throat dry.
Ah. If I speak, I’m dead.
For some reason, he felt as if Rosanne had just threatened him with death.
“Th-there… there isn’t any…”
He barely managed to mumble a reply.
Please… save me.
Those words were implied in what he said.
“Is that so?”
Rosanne smiled and released her hand from the hilt of her sword. The oppressive force she had been exerting vanished, and the knight dropped to his knees.
“Hah! What are you doing, Captain!”
“Captain!”
Voices of surprised knights calling out reached them from behind. But she paid them no mind.
The knight, trembling, lifted his eyes to look at Rosanne.
She was smiling.
It was an overwhelming presence.
“I—I was wrong, Miss!”
The knight lay flat on the ground.
Rosanne casually brushed her palms, dismissing him with a flick.
“Captain! What’s going on? What happened?”
The other knights became agitated, unsure of what was happening.
But the fallen knight didn’t explain; he just buried his head and shivered.
“Everyone, everyone, quickly, properly greet the lady!”
The knights froze.
“What?”
“Greet the lady…? What do you mean, Captain?”
The others, still trying to understand, asked in confusion.
“If you don’t want to die, quickly greet her properly!”
In the world of knights, strength and rank were everything. The one at the top—the so-called “Captain”—had now bowed, so the others had no choice.
Although they didn’t understand, they followed their captain’s order, kneeling one by one before Rosanne.
That should make them understand.
In truth, Rosanne had no intention of actually dismissing the knights. If someone truly wanted to quit after today, she wouldn’t stop them, of course.
After today, those who wished to remain would work diligently, while the prideful would leave. That was enough. That was all she needed.
“Let’s go.”
Rosanne turned without another word.
The maid, who still didn’t fully understand the situation, hesitated but quickly followed.
“But Miss, the butler and the duke haven’t arrived yet… they might not fire anyone since they don’t know what happened.”
“It’s fine.”
“Huh? Then why did you—”
The maid tilted her head, still baffled.
Rosanne stopped walking. The maid also went silent as she stopped.
“What’s your name?”
Rosanne asked, looking at the maid.
The same maid who had received three jewels earlier.
“Ri… River.”
“Right, River.”
Rosanne removed her earring and handed it to River. The maid reflexively opened her palm and received it.
“I hope what just happened doesn’t get out.”
If Rosanne had to enforce power over the knights, the maid could be handled easily with just a jewel.
“Yes, yes!”
River clasped the earring tightly with both hands and nodded.
Instead of relying on trust or personal bonds, Rosanne preferred relationships with clear, visible boundaries.
No one would betray her without a reason, and she had never built a true relationship with anyone before.
“That’s why I think this is solid.”
“Miss, when you return, let’s take the carriage!”
The maid’s eyes shone as she prepared to serve Rosanne sincerely.
Then who should I send for the duel? Myself, as expected?
Rosanne nodded.
Rumors spread like wildfire.
“They say the princess of Railaten’s knight will duel Potlen’s lady’s guard?”
“Potlen’s lady’s guard? That must be Sir Mark.”
“Right. He even gave up the chance to become the captain of the ‘Golden Knights’ just to serve as her guard.”
“Who else in the empire could even hope to beat Sir Mark?”
“Do we know who will represent the Railaten side?”
“They haven’t decided yet.”
“Well… the outcome is obvious then.”
“Her defeat seems inevitable. Even bets are being placed on it! And no one’s betting on the lady winning.”
Everyone laughed at Rosanne, assuming Sir Mark would easily win.
“Miss…!”
The news eventually reached Rosanne herself.
“Everyone’s mocking that I’ll obviously lose. Some are even betting on it! Not a single person thinks I can win…”
But Rosanne remained calm. River, fuming, pounded her chest as she approached Rosanne.
“Miss! You should immediately hire mercenaries! If we act now, we could still get someone! The duel is scheduled, so—!”
“Mercenaries?”
“Yes! If you pay well, even famous mercenaries might accept!”
“You want me to pay those shameless rascals?”
“…Huh?”
Rosanne’s face twisted in rare anger.
When she had tried hiring mercenaries in the past to handle matters quickly, they had taken the money and run.
She still carried a grudge.
“I’d rather give you more than pay mercenaries.”
At least this maid would do the job properly once paid.
“…!! Miss!”
River, misunderstanding Rosanne’s intent, was moved to tears.
“You were planning to give me so much money!”
“Also, River… what if I lose?”
“…Huh?”
“Do I really have to win to feel good? Is losing so bad?”
Rosanne leaned back in her rocking chair, lightly swinging her feet. The breeze made the chair sway gently.
“It’s not a life-or-death war; it’s just a duel. Losing doesn’t kill anyone.”
If it were a true battle for survival, she wouldn’t have cared, of course.
Rosanne’s eyes were cold as she gazed at the sky. River, oblivious, frowned, confused.
“Miss… but if you lose, your honor will be tarnished!”
“So what if it is?”
“But that’s…!!”
“That’s?”
“That…!”
“…”
River’s words trailed off.
“Don’t cling too much to winning or losing. Life has losses and moments when you must retreat. You don’t always have to fight. It’s okay.”
Rosanne murmured casually, stifling a yawn in her rocking chair. River just stared, dumbfounded.
She had served many noble households before, but had never encountered one like this.
A noble telling her not to worry about winning or losing? For most, honor was as vital as life itself.
“By the way…”
While River was lost in thought, Rosanne suddenly stood from the rocking chair.
“I’m curious about that bet.”
“…Huh?”
“I want to join the betting too. Is the prize big? Has it closed yet?”
“….”
“Where is it taking place? How do I participate?”
“Miss, are you joking?”
“Joking? Haven’t you seen me send a huge bill to the duke and cause a fight last time? He was furious that I sold his belongings without permission. So I thought, if I have money, I could at least prepare for myself.”
Later, when the binding magic is broken and the leash is gone, she could leave the mansion and maybe even buy a small house.
Rosanne imagined her future.
“So, where’s this bet? I’m sure the prize is huge. Who’s hosting it?”
“Miss…!”
River sighed heavily.
In the end, she had no choice but to answer Rosanne’s relentless questioning.
“Hahaha! Hahaha!”
“I’ll join this bet too! I’ll bet a million gold that Potlen’s lady wins. Victory is certain, so let’s raise the stakes!”
“Hey, if everyone bets on Potlen, how can the bet even exist?”
“But you can’t bet on losing just to try to win. Hahaha!”
Laughter echoed under the lavish chandelier.
“Potlen’s lady should come bet too.”
“Hmm… shall I?”
Brina, attending the ball, set down her champagne glass and smiled.
“In support of Sir Mark, I’ll bet ten million gold on Potlen’s lady winning.”
“Wow.”
The prize suddenly ballooned, exciting everyone. Ten million gold was enough for commoners to buy a house in the capital and live comfortably for a year.
“Potlen’s lady is really bold.”
“No wonder they call her ‘The Milky Way of the Sky’.”
“If Sir Mark wins, the Potlen family will defeat the Railaten family, elevating their prestige.”
Everyone praised Brina, and she bowed slightly with a shy smile.
“Congratulations in advance, Potlen’s lady.”
Zicelia, the host of the ball and the bet, smiled widely.
She had wanted to humiliate Rosanne, who had broken off their marriage engagement, and her plan had worked perfectly.
Just then—
Bang!
A loud noise came from beyond the closed doors of the ballroom.
