Chapter 61: Her Fault
Rosalind threw the doors open with force, and at once the guards were on standby, their faces tightening as they crossed their swords in front of her. She shot them a sharp glare before swiftly slipping past them and making her way toward the stone stairs.
"Stop her at once!" one of the guards shouted, pointing after her as she moved.
"My lady!" the servant running after her called out, only to see Rosalind already hurrying up the stairs without slowing down.
She nearly stumbled but steadied herself as she climbed higher, her breath quickening with each step.
The guards stationed at the top moved to block her path, but she did not stop. "Out of my way, I’m here to see the king," she said firmly, her brows drawn together in urgency.
There was a brief hesitation before one of them stepped aside, allowing her through.
Rosalind gathered her dress slightly to move faster, her steps quick and unsteady as the sound of grunts and clashing swords reached her ears.
Rowan, she thought, her chest tightening at the sound. She wanted to believe he was fine, but that hope felt distant and almost foolish, because no one who entered the pit ever came out untouched.
Alaric sat comfortably in his seat, a glass of wine in his hand as he lazily swirled it, his attention fixed on the scene below. Rowan was in the pit, fighting six men on his own, and despite the clear disadvantage, it was an impressive sight. His body was already marked with blood, yet he continued to move, striking back with precision as the men closed in on him from all sides.
Alaric’s gaze shifted briefly when he caught a flash of purple approaching from the side, and his head tilted slightly in surprise. Rosalind?
Rosalind came to a stop near him, taking a moment to steady herself as her chest rose and fell rapidly from the run. When she lifted her gaze to meet his, the smirk that curved on his lips made her fists tighten instantly.
"If it isn’t my disobedient little Rose," he mused, his voice smooth, almost sweet in a way that did not match the situation at all.
"Come closer," he added, beckoning her forward.
Rosalind did not hesitate as she stepped closer, but the moment another strained grunt reached her ears, her attention snapped toward the pit. The sight before her made her breath hitch sharply as a gasp escaped her lips.
Rowan had been stripped down to only his trousers, his body covered in cuts and streaked with blood as he fought against the men surrounding him. They attacked from every direction, their swords flashing in the light as they moved in on him. The sharp sound of steel clashing rang out repeatedly, each strike making her stomach twist tighter.
She tore her gaze away and turned back to Alaric, who was watching everything with calm interest, as though it were nothing more than entertainment.
"Stop this at once," she said, the words leaving her before she could stop herself, her voice edged with anger as she forgot, even if only for a moment, who she was speaking to.
"Oh?" Alaric’s eyes glinted with amusement as he glanced at her. "I’m merely disciplining my disobedient servant," he replied lazily.
"You’re not disciplining him, you’re trying to kill him," Rosalind shot back immediately.
One of his brows lifted slightly at her response. "And why shouldn’t I?" he asked, his tone calm, almost curious.
Rosalind faltered for a brief second, caught off guard, but he did not give her time to respond.
"This is your doing, Rosalind," he continued, his voice turning colder. "You brought this upon him. Sneaking around in the night... did you truly think I wouldn’t find out?"
Her face drained of color as the realization settled in. So he had known. That was why Rowan was here, taking the punishment that should have been hers.
"Did you also seduce him into helping you?" Alaric added, his tone laced with mockery.
Rosalind shot him a glare at once, the accusation making her chest tighten, but she said nothing.
"You snuck out before, and Rowan failed to report it," he went on, swirling the wine in his glass again. "Fortunately, one of my servants noticed something was off, and after a proper investigation, I found that Rowan had been assisting you... making things easier for you."
His gaze hardened slightly as he continued.
"And that was not all. You went further, sneaking into the left wing and checking the back exit, hoping to find a way to escape from me." Alaric spoke with certainty, laying everything out in a way that left no room for denial.
Rosalind’s thoughts racing as she realized how much he already knew.
"If there is anyone to blame here, it is you," Alaric said, his voice dropping slightly at the end. "And you should be grateful that I am not punishing you the way I intend to."
Rosalind turned back toward the pit, not even realizing when she had stepped forward until her hands gripped the railing tightly.
If only she had listened to Rowan, this would not have happened.
Below, one of the men struck at his legs, forcing him off balance. Rowan staggered slightly but quickly regained his footing, pushing himself forward again despite the clear strain in his movements. He was in pain, that much was obvious, and it made her chest tighten painfully because she knew it was all because of her.
Rosalind swallowed hard, her grip tightening around the railing as guilt settled heavily within her. They were not close, not in the way others might be, but he had saved her life. He had protected her when she needed it most, standing by his duty without hesitation, even when she had made things more difficult for him.
And this was how she had repaid him.
She saw it clearly now. All those nights she had moved freely, thinking she had been careful, thinking she had not been seen... he had been the one making it possible. If not for him, she would have been caught long ago and dragged straight to Alaric.