Rosie's Games

Chapter 42: The Seven Families

"His Blessedness Martin Lux and His Blessedness Federico Lux!"

When everyone heard Martin's name, they immediately bowed, even the Emperor was forced to get off his throne and gave a shallow bow towards a Blessed one.

These days, the royal protocol wasn't as strict as in the past. If this was in the past, the ones who didn't give the Blessed ones a low bow should be punished. Their status was just different from the Royals.

All of the Blessed ones fought against the Dark Lord who threatened to eradicate everyone who did not worship him. Because of this, the seven Blessed families were always regarded as heroes.

The Lux for the Light.

The Quarris for the Rock.

The Blaize for the Fire.

The Hydran for the Water.

The Fluer for the Air.

The Thun for the Thunder.

And Gliss for the Ice.

The seven families soon became the most important families on the continent. In fact, all of the seven empires became empires because of these seven families.

One might wonder, if the seven families were worshiped and treated as heroes, why did they choose to follow someone? They could become Kings and Emperors and rule lands! Why would they choose to follow another leader?

Actually, there were no rules that prohibited them from becoming leaders, kings or emperors, but in the past, all of the Blessed ones were asked to fight on the battleground, leaving someone else to manage their lands.

Soon, the seven families agreed to stay out of politics and just stay in their own families to avoid complications.

Again, these were nothing but ancient rules, something that could change at any time. After a few more minutes of introductions and praising the Emperor, the ones who were going to join the hunt were called to accept the Blessings of his Blessedness Federico Lux.

Rosalind could feel everyone's gaze towards her as she joined the others, and she was certain that this wasn't just because of her clothes. It was because of her partner, Lawrence Goosebourne.

The man didn't even look at her when she stood next to him. His head was held high, his gaze straight towards his father. Not even a word of greeting or a nod when she curtsied and greeted him. He just simply didn't acknowledge her presence.

She forced herself not to laugh at the young prince's antics.

Prince Lawrence wasn't exactly the brightest, if he was, he would have at least pretended to be kind to someone he didn't know.

"Let the hunting games! Begin!" Federico finished his Blessings. "May the Goddess guide you and provide you a bountiful harvest!"

Everyone cheered and clapped their hands. Even Rosalind pretended that she had just heard the greatest words that she had ever heard in her lifetime. She then eyed the other people who were invited to join the hunt.

This event was now strictly based on invitations and only the Emperor chose everyone's partner.

"Will you stop embarrassing me!?"

"Huh?" she thought she heard the Prince speak. She looked at him and met his infuriated gaze.

"I know you wanted to embarrass me by dressing in clothes suitable for men!"

"I" Speechless, she blinked. Did the man think that she was doing this to embarrass him?

"You succeeded! You finally got my attention! But I am warning you! Stop doing things that will further ruin my name!"

"What?" she frowned.

"And yet you started staring at other men? Have you no decency or shame?"

"What?"

However, her questions were only met with a harrumph as the Prince turned away and started walking towards his horse.

"What are you waiting for!?" a man suddenly asked. "Follow his Highness to the tent!"

"Oh" Of course, Rosalind acted dense. In front of these many people, she couldn't just show her fangs and antagonize everyone. However one could not tell what was going to happen behind the scenes.

She followed the man towards the Prince's personal tent. Each of the hunters got to have their personal tent where they could keep their weapons and horses and a place for them to rest after the hunt.

Since men and women could not stay in the same tent, everyone was given their own tent but the women's tents were considerably smaller and didn't have a place to keep the horses.

"Where is your horse?" Prince Lawrence asked.

"Horse?" Rosalind lifted an eyebrow. "I thought I am going to ride the same horse as his Highness?" Rosalind heard the servants chuckle. She could feel the mockery in their gazes.

"You were not informed about horses?"

"No I" Rosalind lowered her gaze. "Perhaps"

"Your Highness, the Duke of the North is outside the tent."

"What?" Prince Lawrence rushed outside. "Your Grace," he smiled, his gaze immediately landing on the horse that the Duke was holding. Then he looked at the Duke, confusion apparent in his eyes.

"Your Grace, did you perhaps make a mistake? This is my tent," Prince Lawrence said.

"No," The Duke answered. "It has come to my attention that the Lux Family failed to provide Miss Rosalind Lux with her own horse, despite knowing the rules beforehand."

"Ah?"

"I see that the young prince is not intending to provide any horse to the young miss either."

"Your Grace"

"Did I make a mistake?" Duke Lucas asked.

"Your Grace, I think you misunderstood the rules of the hunt. You are not allowed to interact with the others once the hunting starts. I don't think this is appropriate."

As if on cue, Princess Isabel also arrived, her maids in tow.

"So, the Prince wanted to give his horse to the young lady?"

"Ah?"

"Since you did not want me to give the young lady a horse, are you going to give her yours?"

"What? I did did not mean that."

"Your Grace " Princess Isabel chimed in. "Perhaps it is best if we talk inside Prince Lawrence's tent? The others are staring to stare," she smiled at everyone, hoping to ease the tension.

"There is no need. I only came here to provide a horse for Miss Lux."

"As I said interacting with your opponent is"

"Opponent," the Duke smiled before looking at Rosalind. "Did the rules perhaps say something about interacting with your prospective spouse?"