Chapter 397: Authority


    "What brings you here?" she inquired, perching herself on the chair designated for the Duke. "Denys, have we received any correspondence from their Empires?" she inquired.


    "No, mydy," came the reply.


    Rosalind shifted her focus from Martin to Brinley, who was visibly restraining himself from hurling another insult her way.


    "Do we have a reason to dere our presence?" Martin queried.


    "I don''t recall granting the north to the Seven Families," Rosalind responded. "Denys, did that ur in the past?"


    "No, mydy," Denys confirmed.


    With a smile on her face, Rosalind redirected her attention towards them. "So... would you kindly enlighten me as to why representatives from the seven families arrived at the Rothley Estate without so much as a prior notice?"


    "How arrogant," Brinley sneered. "I''ve heard that the wedding hasn''t even taken ce, and yet you carry yourself with such importance. I wonder, what would befall you if I were to identally harm you right now?"


    "Seize him," Rosalindmanded. Without a moment''s hesitation, two figures materialized beside Denys and forcibly removed Brinley from his seat. "Kill him," Rosalind added coldly.


    To everyone''s astonishment, Denys unsheathed a dagger, his bloodlust evident.


    "Stop!" Martin intervened, positioning himself between Denys and his intended target. "What is happening here? What are you doing?"


    "Do you not realize that wee from a lineage of the blessed?!" Martin persisted.


    "Your blessedness means little in the north," Rosalind retorted. "In case it has eluded your notice, the north thrives without the reliance on the seven families."


    "You" Martin''s voice trembled with anger.


    "Release me this instant!" Brinley demanded.


    Rosalind turned her piercing gaze towards Brinley. "Have you considered the repercussions if I were to identally order the severing of your hand?"


    "The Sloryn Empire would" Brinley began to say.


    "Would they?" Rosalind interjected, her doubt evident.


    "Considering the Duke''s involvement in Federico''s disappearance, do you truly believe others would tolerate such disrespect?" Brinley responded.


    "I suppose we shall find out." Rosalind smiled.


    "You" Brinley started, his words trailing off.


    "Regrettably for you, you won''t live long enough to witness it, will you?" Rosalind responded. "Even individuals favored by destiny are not granted eternal life, especially when their heads are forcibly parted from their necks."


    "You You dare to kill the one who is blessed?" Brinley''s voice quivered.


    "Does it truly matter?" Rosalind retorted. "Is it not akin to ughtering mere livestock? Both are ultimately worthless."


    "That is sufficient disrespect for today," Martin asserted. "We did note here to engage in conflict."


    "Then why have you graced us with your presence?" Rosalind inquired.


    "Would you kindly instruct your men to release Brinley, who holds the esteemed title of ''blessed''?" Martin requested. "While you may believe that the significance of the blessed families holds a little weight in the north, we are still individuals worthy of respect. We have been bestowed with the blessings of the goddess herself."


    "Since he possesses such divine favor, shouldn''t it be effortless for him to free himself from the grasp of our men?" Rosalind challenged. She was well aware that Brinleycked the strength to aplish such a feat. Denys and Magda would easily subdue him, particrly if caught off guard. Furthermore, Brinley was notably feeble in terms of raw physical power.


    "I-" Brinley attempted to interject.


    "He is incapable of doing so, isn''t he?" Rosalind remarked with a smile. Then, with a wave of her hand, shemanded, "Release him." The two men dressed in ck vanished as if they had never been present.


    As everyone settled back into their seats, Rosalind inquired, "So, why have youe?" She purposefully disregarded the re in Brinley''s eyes.


    "We havee to offer assistance..." Dorothy spoke up. "This is all my fault. I was the one who convinced Father to apany me to the north. I just..."


    "Indeed," Rosalind interrupted.


    "What?"


    "You are to me for this," Rosalind asserted.


    "I-" Dorothy began.


    "Will you cease with the disrespect?" Martin frowned, his voice filled with admonition.


    Rosalind remained silent, her gaze fixed upon Dorothy. She harbored a suspicion that Dorothy was aware of her true identity, which could exin why she had brought their father to this ce.


    "After all these years, we have thrived without any interference from the Seven Families. So why would someone from the Seven Families choose toe here now?" Rosalind finally spoke, breaking the ufortable silence. She then shifted her attention to the speechless Martin. "Is it because you still believe that the Duke had a hand in what happened to your father?"


    "No, this has nothing to do with my grandfather," Dorothy responded firmly. "I came here intending to assist the wounded."


    "And yet you failed to make an appearance when Aster was under attack from the tide," Rosalind pointed out.


    "That was a different situation," Dorothy argued.


    "How so?" Rosalind inquired, her voice resolute. "If you had the audacity to abandon your own empire during times of hardship, what is to prevent you from doing the same to our Kingdom?"


    "I fell ill during the urrence of the tide. Upon recovering, I hurried to offer assistance," Dorothy exined.


    "No."


    "What?"


    "I mean, NO," Rosalind restated firmly. "The north doesn''t require the assistance of the seven families."


    "Who do you think you are to make such a statement?" Brinley questioned. "You''re merely someone the Duke picked up, not a native of the north. How dare you act like you know the North better than anyone else?"


    "I don''t im to know the north better than anyone else," Rosalind conceded. "But I have the right to refuse. Or is it that the seven families expect to have authority over the North? Can you not you ept that someone may decline your offer of help?"


    Brinley''s and Martin''s expressions turned sour.


    "Is it possible, then, to personally discuss this matter with the Duke?" Dorothy inquired.


    "No."


    "Why?"


    "If you didn''t hear me earlier, the Duke is not present in the estate," Rosalind replied, disying the medallion badge. "Whatever you wish to convey to the Duke, you can convey it to me."


    ...


    A/N: I made some changes to past chapter. IT IS NOT HUIG. IT IS DENYS. I am so sorry about that.