"Gosh Rose! Have you seriously forgotten how he signed the contract with the devil!?"
And right at those words, memories flash back to me.
It was in the middle of the night...
In the outskirts of the empire, there lied the dense forests of Seigrine. One had to cross the forests in order to visit the neighbouring empire.
The forests of Seigrine were also infamous for dacoits...
From robbery to kidnapping women and children...
Their crimes became feared all over the empire.
Especially after the murder of a member of a royal family who also happened to be travelling through the forests.
And on my visit to the neighbouring kingdom for my father's urgent work...
That's where I met him...
In the middle of the night, as I rode the carriage accompanied by the knights.
I hear a loud noise above my head, as if someone had jumped over the roof of the carriage.
And soon screams resounded from outside of the carriage.
Sensing something wrong, I immediately unsheathed my sword and peeked out of the carriage.
Just then...
Two blue eyes met with mine.
Before they swiftly sliced off the carriage driver's neck.
The horses neighed out loud before the man killed them as well.
The carriage comes to a stop.
Taking the chance, the man broke the door open and entered the carriage.
He looked inside in search the woman he just saw but was unable to find her anywhere...
And thats when I striked from above.
The man tried to dodge but it was too late.
I sliced his back in one Swift stroke making the man fall down on his back.
Then getting on top of him, I pulled his head up by his long blonde hair.
"Who!? Who sent you!??" I screamed into his face.
But before he could say anything, a few other men came to the carriage.
"Let him go...We have all of your men with us!"
I look up to see the rogues with my knights, injured and tied up.
"Let him go unless you wish for the death of your men!" They threaten me by pointing their sword at my knight's neck.
"Please do not surrender before these bastards Milady! Forget about us and leave!" My knights cried.
But as a responsible master I couldn't bring myself to abandon my men...
Realising that I don't have any other I breathe out a curse...
And look down at the man below...
A smirk had taken up his lips, making my blood boil.
"Fuck!" I slammed his head back into the ground again.
Then getting up, I drop my weapon and raise my hands above as a sign of submission.
"As promised let my men go..." I say.
"Not so fast pretty lady...hey tie her up!" The man commands.
"Keep your word! Let us go!" I scream but to no avail as the men tie my hands up.
Then helping the blonde man get up from the ground, he says, "Are you alright Boss?"
"Yeah I'm fine" the blonde man replies.
"Boss, we have scored a big one this time!" The other man grins.
Then looking towards me the blonde man smirks, "Yeah I can see that".
Those blue eyes sends shivers down my spine...
"Who are you people!? Why are you doing this to us!?" I scream at them.
"We are the dacoits of Seigrine Miss and you have a very bad luck from here..."
My heart drops at that name.
The infamous dacoits that plagued the forests...
I was their next target?
"Boss, this one will fetch us more than a thousand gold!" The man licks his lips and says.
"That's right, but it's such a shame to sell a beauty like this..." The blonde man says still looking at me.
Disgusted, I look away from him.
"Why don't we have some fun with her before...?" The other man grins
His voice makes my skin crawl as I scream at him, "Don't think you can get away with this! You lowly dacoits are already being investigated by the royal family after the murder last month! It will soon be time for you to pay!"
"Ah...the royal family...Its true we messed up big time hahaha" the blonde man laughs.
Why the hell is he laughing!?
"I am the daughter of the Duke of Rowells, Rosetta Rowells! Don't think you can get away after messing with me!" I glare at them.
"So what!? You nobles are all the same to us! You don't care about us commoner's lives so why should we!?" The man screams.
But the blonde man falls silent.
With his eyes widened, he looks at me and says, "Did you just say the Duke of Rowells?"
"Yes, he is my father." I reply.
And just then the man's reaction changes completely.
"Let them go!" He orders.
"But boss!? How can we let a big catch like this go!?"
"I said let them go." The blonde man glares at the other.
It seems like he is feared by everyone here, since the man immediately unties me.
"Who are you?" I ask the blonde man.
"Forgive my ignorance, Milady. I am the son of Viscount McGarden, Arron McGarden. You may not know me, but our fathers are very old friends and I cannot thank your father enough for helping us out when times went tough"
I get surprised by his words.
"So you are also a nobleman? What are you doing with these dacoits? Do you realise what might happen if the royal family come to know about this??"
"Yes, the royal family is looking for us after we murdered Sir Izack. And sooner or later we will get caught. That is the reason I need your help Milady"
That's how we first met.
Arron.
"Rose? Are you alright?"
Aunt Selene's voice brings me back to the reality as I realise I had been in a daze.
So these were Rosetta's memories?
Arron...
Before our marriage...
What sort of shit were you even involved with!?
"Anyways Rose I think you don't seem well...We will speak later"
"No- I am fine! I was just..."
"It's okay I understand...But what I wanted to say is that, please don't misunderstand your father! Whatever he had done, he did it with your best intentions in mind!"
"What kind of good intention can be behind marrying me to a dangerous criminal!?"
"Rose..I know you are mad because of what he has done to you but then don't forget how many times he has saved you..." Selene says.
"What?"
"This marriage between you both...Its not real. In the eyes of society you both maybe husband and wife but..."
"But??But what aunt Selene!?" I ask desperate for answers.
"But you know that this not a marriage between a man and a woman! It's a contract you both signed with the devil!"
Those words make my heart drop.
"I mean that's how your father made him protect you, not once or twice but thrice! Rose...That man is your saviour. Don't forget that."
"Saviour...? Aunt Selene that man tried to kill me! He is my nemesis not my saviour!" I scream at her.
Selene sighs.
She realises that I am extremely mad at him, so much so that it has made me contemplate divorce...
Then looking at me straight into my eyes...
"But Rose, remember that as long as he is with you no one can harm you, and also..." She pauses for a second and then...
"He's the only person who will be there with you at the end of the world!"
"Huh?" My eyes widen.
"Yes! He is the only one who can lift your curse, Rosetta. That's why your father made him sign a contract with the devil...!"