Rosie's Games
Chapter 531 531: Only When You Are Alone

Rosalind squinted at the soldiers who were moving the demon bodies left behind when the portal opened in the North. Unlike the other Empires, Wugari had weathered the attack fairly well.

They managed to hold off the demons until the Duke and Rosalind arrived. A few soldiers were injured, and only two had died in an unfortunate accident. Apart from this, the damage was minimal.

The Northern soldiers had been accustomed to fighting creatures, had remained composed, and swiftly managed the situation.

"You look exhausted," Lucas's voice echoed from behind.

"I thought you were occupied with the aftermath," she replied, turning to find him standing nearby. Her face lit up with a smile.

He frowned. "Do you feel anything?" he inquired.

"Feel anything?"

"After closing portals, many would faint, their limbs would grow weak and they would vomit blood, perhaps even die."

Rosalind shook her head, smiling.

A part of her knew that he was only exaggerating things

She was fatigued but not to the extent of holing up in her room while everyone in the North was busy or fainting and losing consciousness for days.

"I believe it has something to do with the liquid I absorbed," she said with a smile. "Is something troubling you?" She wondered if he still resented her for dragging him to the other Empires for help.

When she had revealed her plan, Lucas had appeared displeased, as if he had been coerced into aiding her. However, he said nothing and immediately used his abilities to take her to to Laimor and the other Empires.

"I do not want to see you exhausting yourself to keep others warm," he had said.

"I would not do something like that."

"You are starting to save people. You might rationalize it as having your own selfish reasons, but you are starting to wear yourself out for others."

In response, Rosalind smiled. She knew why he was so concern about this and she understood his point of view. However, what happened in the past would never happen again. "Shall we discuss something less depressing?" she suggested.

Lucas gazed at her face before he slowly nodded, and soon they were walking atop the walls that separated Wugari from the North. The aftermath of the battle mirrored those of previous encounters, but this was not the first time Rosalind had seen such a sight.

She surveyed the Northern lands that was covered in snow and black demon blood. "Will you attend the meeting with the seven families?" she asked.

"Yes," Lucas replied. "It is time for the seven families to confront the secrets they have been hiding."

"Do you think they will simply confess?"

"They have witnessed the portals and understood the danger. They only recently discovered they could use cursed weapons to fight demons, but they did not know how to directly close the portals. Right now, they know only the Duke can do it."

"But if you would prefer I did not go..." Lucas trailed off, looking at her.

Rosalind chuckled. The chaos had captured everyone's attention, it would be difficult to ignore it. Right now, everyone sees Lucas as the hero.

"How could the Hero miss something like this?" she asked.

However, knowing the seven families, Rosalind was certain they would do something unpredictable.

"The Seven Families have held power on this continent for centuries," Rosalind mused. "Do you think they will simply relinquish it?"

"Who cares if they do or do not?" Lucas replied. "Humans have a remarkable ability to adapt. They may perish, but new generations of humans will continue to emerge."

Rosalind chuckled once more. This man truly hated the humans. "So, were we able to confirm how the other Empires closed their portals?" she shifted the topic. She was talking about Korusta and Ena Thun's Empire Raston and a few other Empires who were able to closed the portals when it appeared.

"Yes," Lucas said. "They used some... relics that should not exist in this world. At least, that is what Belisarius said." He shrugged and gazed at the North, deep in thought. "Honestly, I do not think I care enough to inquire if that is true."

She nodded. "Why do you say that? Do not you care if the barrier breaks?"

"Would you hate me if I said no?"

"No."

"Then, I do not care about the humans," Lucas stated.

Rosalind peered in the direction he was staring. "In my past life, I was married, and I always saw my blessings as something to share with humans." She thought of her past life with Dorothy and Jeames. "I never sought fame or recognition. I only wanted to help."

"What did it get you?" he asked.

"Nothing," except pain and betrayal. In the end, she died at the hands of those she loved most. The irony stung.

She let out a sigh. "I am going to sever what ties me to my past life," Rosalind declared.

This time, he looked at her as if he could read her thoughts and nodded. A brief silence passed between them, and Rosalind appreciated that he did not ask more questions. The silence conveyed enough.

He would let her do what she needed to do, without interference or attempts to convince her that this new life was worth cherishing.

"I will be here," Lucas said.

"I know," she smiled, meeting his eyes. Then she looked at the soldiers diligently moving bodies and debris. One of them caught her attention. Some things still connected her to her past, and this individual was one of those links.

Tonight, she had decided to sever it.

"What do you think will happen if I absorb more of that liquid?" Rosalind blurted out suddenly. "Do you think it would force the goddess's soul into my body?" She turned toward him, and unsurprisingly, he was already watching her.

"No," Lucas responded. "You will become like me."

"Like you?" she snorted. He was clearly no longer human, nor was he a demon. She hesitated and blinked.

"Is that a bad thing?" she asked.

"Living forever?" he retorted.

"Yes."

"Only when you are alone," Lucas replied without batting an eyelid.

...

A/N: Author is undergoing a big change in life. Super busy and heartbroken right now. Thanks and have a good one.