Rosie's Games
Chapter 551 551: The Martyr

"I do not intend to ruin you," Rosalind, or the goddess inside her, smiled at Federico as she turned away from him. Earlier, Federico had agreed to talk to her in private and had even personally eliminated the demons who had summoned him into this continent. "So... I am giving you a choice," the goddess added.

Federico only stared at her side profile without responding. After a while, he, too, looked at where Rosalind was gazing. It was a vast snowy expanse, a white blanket of endless snow. There was no recognizable life in the chilly space that Rosalind was staring at.

"You can either leave this place, or I will kill you, making sure that your soul is damaged before I send you back to where you came from. As a demon—an archduke—you should be aware of what happens to demons who receive injuries to their soul. They become prey for other demons seeking power."

"That is not much of an offer..."

"That is the only offer you will get," Rosalind said.

"Your confidence astounds me," Federico snorted. "Are you not someone who resembles me? A lost soul occupying a new body?"

Rosalind pursed her lips. "I am giving you time to decide."

"And what if I do not intend to choose any of the options?" Federico uttered.

"Then I will destroy you," Rosalind finally looked at Federico. "Make sure that you will not be able to return to where you came from."

Again, Federico snorted. "You seem confident that the fragment of your soul can defeat me," the Archduke uttered.

"I am confident that I can suppress you now," Rosalind said coldly. In fact, the Lord might be as powerful as her now. However, she had ways to obtain more power. Moreover, the current state of the Archduke inside Federico's body was not stable. It would be easier for the goddess to defeat him now.

Rosalind knew this was why the Archduke agreed to talk to her. She knew that the Lord himself was not confident of winning against her. After all, she was considered a very unpredictable variable—something the Archduke never expected.

"It seems that the rumors were right," Federico smirked. "The human who bore the blood of the past demon Emperor was indeed very arrogant."

"The past?" Rosalind frowned.

"Ah... Being confined in this place made you unaware," Federico nodded. "The first Emperor died. With his eldest son missing, he had to choose a new heir. Someone that he personally created. Still, the one that he chose once again vanished.

So... he chose another one of the Princes."

Rosalind frowned. She did not know why the demon was telling her these things and could not verify if the demon was telling the truth. However, the fact that the previous Emperor had already died immediately made her think about how long it had been since her life ended. This seemed to worsen her current mood.

"With the—"

This time, the goddess did not let the demon finish his words. The goddess's anger surged as she lunged at the Archduke, her black dagger gleaming with malevolent energy. Her attack was swift and precise, but the demon was faster. He effortlessly sidestepped her strike, leaving Rosalind off balance.

The Archduke's laughter echoed in the confined space, his voice dripping with mockery. "My... what temper..."

Rosalind who was undeterred by her failed attempt, swung the dagger once more, aiming for the Archduke's heart. But he was quicker than she had anticipated. He twisted away from her attack, leaving her grasping at empty air.

With a graceful flourish, the Archduke materialized behind her, his chilling presence sending shivers down Rosalind's spine. He taunted her, "Where is the demon emperor now?"

Rosalind's eyes blazed with frustration. She didn't have time for games. Her divine power surged through her, and she whirled around, attempting a sweeping arc with her dagger. This time, her strike connected, slicing through the Archduke's arm. A hiss of pain escaped his lips as dark, viscous blood oozed from the wound.

But Rosalind's victory was short-lived. As she staggered back, triumphant, she felt an intense surge of nausea. Black liquid spewed from her mouth, pooling on the ground beneath her. The Archduke took advantage of her momentary weakness and retreated, a sinister grin on his face.

Then he simply vanished into thin air.

Rosalind tried to regain her composure, but the vile substance continued to flow from her, leaving her weakened and vulnerable. She bit her lips, anger apparent in her eyes. Who would have thought that his body would not be able to withstand the brunt of her divine abilities!?

"Rosalind..." Surprisingly, Lucas appeared before her, holding her firmly in his arms. However, the fact that he called her by this body's original name immediately irritated her. Still, she was too weak to even say a word.

"What—" Lucas frowned as he surveyed the area. Seeing that the Archduke was nowhere to be seen, he frowned before the two of them vanished into thin air.

The next thing she knew, they were already inside a room that looked like a study. One look and she knew they were no longer inside the continent.

"Stay—" Lucas let her sit down on a nearby couch as he rummaged for some medicine in the drawer on his table. Then he handed her a vial of black liquid.

"Demonic liquid..." the goddess uttered as flashes of memories appeared in her mind. Since she abruptly took over this body, she was not able to gain Rosalind's complete memories. All she could see were small fragments of Rosalind's past.

Seeing the black liquid, she immediately saw how Lucas had been letting Rosalind absorb the liquid.

"You are letting the body absorb demonic liquid?" she asked, frowning. She could remember how he had refused to let her original body absorb any demonic liquid, yet he let this woman absorb so much demonic liquid? Why?

"Take it..." Lucas said.

This time, the goddess nodded and took the liquid without saying another word.

As if on cue, the nausea that she had felt earlier vanished, and a light feeling wrapped around her body. However, instead of feeling better, this only made her more confused.

The goddess could remember what she felt when she first absorbed the liquid, and it was not as refreshing as this. In fact, it was the exact opposite. She felt heavy and suffocated. It was painful, something that she would never forget.

"You owe me an explanation."

"Isn't it entertaining how you are able to speak just like her?" Lucas asked, ignoring her words. "In just a few hours of occupying her body?"

"Benjamin..." the goddess got up after a few minutes of silence. "Why is the curse not working?" she asked. She cursed him. The moment she came back, he would have perished.

Slowly, Lucas turned and stared at her. Then he tilted his head and looked at her from her face to her toe, scrutinizing her as if she were some sort of object.

"You did not prepare this body for me, did you?" the goddess continued. Her first guess was that Lucas let Rosalind take the liquid to prepare Rosalind's body as the goddess's vessel. However, that should not make any sense. After all, once the goddess returns, Lucas will surely perish.

"What do you think?" Lucas asked, his gaze cold, chilly.

"You— You were trying to weaken my influence on her." The goddess said as realization struck her like a bolt of lightning. "You are trying to kill me..." she murmured, her gaze turning complicated.

"It seems that your emotions are back," Lucas uttered.

"You—"

"Did you expect me to wait for you to kill me, my dearest sister?"

"You told me you love me," she murmured.

"Only a foolish one would wait for their death."

"You told me you cared."

"Only a foolish one would die for an unrequited love," he responded. "Unfortunately, I am not like Belisarius, who would watch you get close to other men, and support you with all his heart while you let him wait on the sidelines. I am no martyr."

"You—" the goddess's lips trembled. "What are you talking about?"

"Are you not interested to know what he did when you left?" Lucas snorted. "Are you interested in hearing the story of two friends who once stood next to each other?"

"Belisarius..." the goddess murmured. She could not seem to recall anything special about him aside from the fact that he was a dear friend. Someone who always helped her, someone who supported her, someone who stood behind her.

"He trained humans to guard your tomb..." Lucas said. "He never knew I killed you. He knew there was a possibility that you would never return yet he... he never stopped waiting for you. He lived in the barrier, not being able to show himself to everyone else. He chose that so he would be there once you came back." Lucas smirked.

"Sadly, I am no Belisarius."

"Belisarius never—"

"I know you are weak," Lucas uttered. "I believe there is no need for us to say those unspoken words that were left unspoken all those years ago. Leave Rosalind's body, and I will spare your soul. You can live in the barriers with Belisarius. Find peace with the fact that the Demon Emperor died ages ago."

....

A/N: Hello, sorry for the delay in the chapters. I am moving houses so... I don't know, it's a bit hectic.

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