Villains also get Second chance

"Good, and what did he reply?" I asked and she rolled her eyes.

"Was this even a question? Of course, he would say yes."

I felt at ease, knowing that he would be waiting for me there. But she continued,

"It was you who had cut every relation with him, he was always waiting for your call." She continued her lecture but I did not listen anymore. 

This was the guilt, that had hurt me more than getting married to Cassius. I did so wrong with Damien, yet he was always ready to help me, and like the greedy person that I was, I was taking his help every time the need arose. But I promised myself, if he would ever need any help, I would be the first person to forward my hand.

"Are you okay, there?" she asked and I furrowed my brows.

"You turned pale suddenly," so she noticed only now, I shook my head.

"I am fine, you tell me, how the search for your future husband is going on," I asked and she turned her face towards the window completely silent.

This was the secret way to give her tongue a chance to rest. But should I tell her that she was going to marry, younger brother of duke Carl, lord Edward and would be the sister in law of Meredith? It would be a love marriage as he would propose to her in front of everyone. No, she would think that I was crazy, imagining things. Just a few days more, I remember she would meet him at the annual sword-wielding competition, for which Killian was also preparing.

Oh my! How could I forget such an important detail?

"Rose"

"Yes Mari"

"Have you participated in the annual sword welding competition?" I asked and she shook her head.

"Why would I do so, I am already a serving knight," she asked and I closed my eyes.

That's all my mistake. In my past life, no one had given the chance to Roselia to serve them, since she was a woman. And our empire still could not digest that a woman was a knight. Not to forget there was always a difference in their strength.

I did not ask her to serve me, because I did not want her to see my pathetic state as I mostly ran around Cassius like a bee buzzing around honey. I did not want my friends and family to know that to maintain my fake pride. So even when I saw her struggling, I never helped her by offering her to serve me or someone in the palace. I wanted to keep her further away from there.

So she had to take part in the annual knight's sword wielding competition. There she fought bravely and won second place. She earned the post of serving in the archduke palace, and as a woman, she was assigned to me.

That was the first time Richard met Roselia, he was the one who won the first prize. Though he was already working for his majesty.

He was a very reputed man but he was not good at socialising, that was the reason he mostly did not attend the parties or attended them as a knight.

Now if she would not participate, how would they even meet, I just wanted to change my destiny, not hers. Richard loved her enough to save her when she was going to be beheaded with me. I did not want her to be deprived of the love of her life.

"Rose, you are going to participate in the annual sword wielding contest." she looked at me like I was having Insanity seizures.

"And why on the earth would I do so?" she asked, raising a brow and I bit my lip. 'To get yourself a husband!' I wanted to scream though.

"Because I want you to do that," I ordered and she snorted.

"Rose"

"Mari, what kind of stubbornness is that?" she asked, sighing.

"Did you not hear yesterday, they think that you got your post because you are my friend. Don't you want to prove to them you are worth it?'' I tried to induce her but she just laughed.

"They are family Mari, they were just teasing me" she let the matter go in laughter.

"But maids also talk about that?" I said and she eyed me suspiciously.

"I don't believe you, Kate, Penny, Norma, Lina, Daisy, they all have become my good friends," she replied and I glared.

"Don't you have any work to do, that you are doing friendship with maids?" I yelled and she looked bewildered at me.

"What shall I do to get busy, you tell me. Ask the mercenaries to ambush you. So that I can protect you intrepidly," she asked and my eyes gleamed.

"Why not, maybe it would work in bringing his attention," I replied and she shook her head.

"And here I thought, you are a strong woman. Who would have thought that you are ready to get attacked just to get your husband's attention" she replied shaking her head and my eyes squinted at her

'Who the hell was talking about Cassius here! I am trying to save your marriage, you fool.'

"Listen…"

"Your highness, we have arrived," said the attendant cutting our conversation.

We both glared at the guard at the same time and he flinched and bowed further, then we both sighed together.

'It's alright, I can finish the topic while returning,' with that thought I nodded and walked out followed by her.

"We will have tea in the tea house, you and guards can have refreshments too," I instructed Lina, giving her a pouch of silver coins and she nodded.

I eyed Roselia to lead the way and she pointed to a further tea house. I nodded and walked with her. Thank goodness I had not brought other knights with me and now the servants were far away too. I didn't want anyone to know about our meeting here.

I walked inside the private room booked in my name. He was already sitting there.

"Dami"

"Mari, why did you call me so urgently"