Rosie's Games

A Few Weeks Later

When the Seven Families suddenly lost their abilities, they never thought that it had anything to do with Lucas. Instead, they believed it was connected to the goddess.

The goddess had bestowed their abilities upon them, and it was only right for her to take them away upon her return.

Many rallied behind their Empire and immediately sent questions to the North. They dispatched letters and representatives to Wugari and the Rothley Estate, yet none received any answers.

The Rothley Estate remained closed, and the four pillar families remained tight-lipped.

For a while, everyone was on edge, wondering if the goddess would somehow return their blessings.

Even the Emperors and the leaders were tempted to personally visit the North to learn more about what had happened. Everyone was eager for information, but their curious gazes and questions received only one response: silence.

Soon enough, rumors spread throughout the continent that the Rothley Estate was now empty. This news immediately fueled panic.

If the Rothley Estate was vacated, then who would defend them from the beasts?

What would happen to the humans?

Again, this created even more panic and fear, but their questions received no answers from the Wugari Empire.

Instead, the Wugari Kingdom suddenly appointed a new Duke: Duke Denys Rothley.

The man himself was a mystery, and no one seemed to know much about him except that he used to work for Lucas.

Many wondered if he was the Duke's brother, but again, they did not receive any confirmation or answers to their letters. Then the King of Wugari announced that Denys had become the new Head of the Rothley Family, and he, along with the four great pillars, would guard the north from the beasts

Once again, there was no mention of Duke Lucas and his wife. This made a few people suspicious. Many wondered if this was some sort of scheme by Lucas himself. Was he planning to take over the continent?

This rumor garnered a lot of attention.

The people, the humans, were relieved, knowing that the Duke was strong and reliable.

Naturally, this news made the Seven Families nervous. Without their blessings, they felt practically powerless against the Duke and the four great pillars.

For years, they had relied on their blessings, and living without them left a void inside them. Still, many of them expected their blessings to return, including Martin Lux

Since the day he lost his blessing, he never left his room. He sat in the same chair, staring into nothing. The one left to tend to him was naturally his wife, Victoria.

In just a few days, Martin became a mere shell of his former self. He refused to speak or do anything else as he waited and waited for his blessing to return.

Hearing this from Denys' report, Rosalind arched an eyebrow. Now that she thought about it, this punishment was only just. She couldn't help but smile.

"Everything is going according to plan. We have created a sense of mystery. The Seven Empires have become very wary of us. Without the Seven Families' blessings, they are starting to fear the north," Denys said as he stood not too far away from Rosalind. "As for the school and other necessities... here is the current report."

Rosalind read the files and glanced out the window. "It seems that everything is going well. Any news about the sorcerers?" she asked.

"The first batch of sorcerers from the Black Forest should arrive in a few days. Everything has been prepared. They will immediately begin learning and teaching the younger generations."

Rosalind nodded. The one thing she was very thankful for was the memories she was able to access because of the goddess.

This enabled her to create books on sorcery and swordsmanship and develop ideas that could not only help the humans on this continent but also make them more powerful. Her plans were going to change everything, and she was excited to see everything come to fruition.

"Magda, Huig, Elias, and Valentin will also begin learning sorcery very soon, along with everyone else."

"Not everyone will be able to learn it," Rosalind said. She had secretly tested both Magda and Huig, and they could not learn sorcery. However, Elias and Valentin showed great talent for it. Naturally, she did not share this with anyone.

"The North will only become stronger..." Denys gazed at Rosalind's side profile.

"Hmm..." Rosalind nodded. After the initial stage of her plan, they would soon start accepting students from various Empires.

The North would soon become a haven for sorcerers. Naturally, this would raise questions and perhaps anger from the Seven Families. However, she was already prepared for such situations to happen.

"If there is nothing else..." Denys said.

"Please go on..." Rosalind smiled. Denys was now the new Duke, and because of this, he was responsible for many things that Rosalind could not handle. "Ah... I wish you luck." Rosalind smiled.

Denys was about to go to the Aster Empire to discuss the North's plan regarding the Sorcerers. She knew this would cause a few problems, but she trusted Denys.

"Thank you," Denys nodded and bowed before leaving the study.

"I do not recall hearing you say that you now wanted to involve yourself in the matters involving the humans," Rosalind smiled as she turned towards Belisarius. She arched an eyebrow. "Eavesdropping? Really?"

"I am not eavesdropping..." Belisarius frowned. "I was simply passing by."

"..."

"You intend to spread sorcery in the Continent?" Belisarius went directly to the point.

"Yes."

Belisarius pursed his lips and stared at her. "You are going to leave..."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Why not?"

He snorted. "Let me change the question..."

"Go on."

"He gave you a chance to live a happy life. Why not take it?"

Rosalind gave him a tight-lipped smile. "Because I do not want to," Rosalind said. Happy Life? What if her only happiness was being with him?

Belisarius narrowed his eyes. "What about the demons?" he asked. "The ones who were able to possess some humans?"

"Lucas took care of everything. At least, that's what I found out after trying to track them." Rosalind could now control the barrier. This means she could use its abilities and use it to sense the demons in this continent. "However, I have sent a few people to pursue them."

She was able to sense two demons, and Denys and Huig promptly took care of them. Aside from those two, Rosalind could no longer sense anything.

So, this is either because the demons hid themselves well, or they no longer exist in this place. Still, she was not planning to lower her guard and had instructed the rest to be more mindful of those demonic entities.

This is not the time to take things slow. This continent had already seen what demons could do. They had lost faith in the Seven Families. To Rosalind, this was the best time to make some changes.

"How about you?" Rosalind asked after a few seconds.

"What about me?"

"Are you planning to stay?" Rosalind asked.

"I do not know what you are talking about," Belisarius snorted, then disappeared into thin air.

Seeing this, Rosalind sighed and shook her head. Then she continued reading the documents that showed the updates after the appearance of the portals.

Just as she expected, the people were looking for Lucas, deeming him the hero who had fought the demons. However, what she found interesting was a few other news.

For instance, Mathies, the one who stabbed her, had disappeared. Mr. Pratt and the rest of the four Quartermasters had been looking for him.

Then, Lachlan decided to marry Josephine, the sorcerer. This caused a stir in Korusta, yet Lachlan showed no signs of backing down. Moreover, the report stated that the current leader of the group of sorcerers that would move from the Black Forest to the North was actually Josephine's estranged grandmother.

Rosalind tried to have people investigate this matter, but they could not find any information about this mysterious grandmother.

On Rakha, it seemed that Princess Isadora had finally lost her mind when her worst fears did not happen. Her father and brother chose to confine her somewhere far and secret.

The South had been thriving; however, just like everyone else, they were very curious about this new Duke and the Wugary Kingdom.

Everyone wanted to meet Duke Lucas, and some Empires and Kingdoms had already created some sort of statue or monument to commemorate what Lucas had done to save them.

Rosalind smiled. In the end, the fact that they did not know it was her who had closed the portals worked in her favor.

She let out a sigh before she closed the reports and began writing some books for the Rothley School of Sorcery that would be opened next year.

In the next few years, Rosalind was very hopeful to see humans master sorcery despite the limitations that the portals had set. She knew that humans were brilliant creatures who would soon adapt to everything thrown their way.

As for her?

This was not even a question

She was going to see him.

Rosalind was going to see him very soon.

....

Lucas had lost count of the days since he had left that world. When he left, he was certain that Rosalind would not come with him and somehow, he already learned to accept this.

After all, it was already her second life. Why would she spend it miserably with him?

However, the fact that she never came still created a heavy feeling inside his chest.

Still, he chose to wait.

He glanced at the blooming flowers nearby. This dimension was akin to a small world, yet the seasons were shorter, and the flowers would bloom forever.

Lucas sighed as he sat on the balcony, bathed in the warm, perpetual sunshine of this peculiar dimension. The air was filled with a sweet scent, a mix of fresh-cut grass and the delicate fragrance of the ever-blooming flowers nearby.

The vibrant petals painted a colorful mosaic in the garden, an array of pinks, purples, and yellows swaying in the gentle breeze.

Next to him, a stack of books rested, their covers adorned with strange symbols and characters that seemed to belong to another realm, another world. They were all about relics. Isn't it fascinating how people in different worlds knew about relics and their purpose?

The universe is indeed endless.

He took one book, opened it, and started reading its contents. This one should be from another Earth where Lycans existed with other Werecreatures. Not long after, he put the book down as he began brewing his tea. It was... a bitter tea. He liked bitter things and did not exactly appreciate anything sweet.

He was the opposite of Rosalind.

The bitterness of the tea always reminded him of Rosalind and her gentle smile. He remembered the way her lips would curl, her eyes sparkling with amusement, the very first time she had tried the tea. She hadn't liked it, not one bit. Yet, she never flinched. She faked it and bravely lied knowing he could end her life if he wanted to.

Lucas had always known that Rosalind didn't have a taste for bitterness. She preferred the sweetness of desserts. He, on the other hand, had developed a fondness for the acrid, the pungent, and the sharp. The bitter tea had become his comfort. Perhaps, people who lived long enough would be fond of it too.

Lucas stared at the garden, lost in thought, and then, like a whisper, Rosalind appeared in the middle of the garden. She was dressed in a pure white gown, standing amidst the eternal blooms.

He immediately thought she was just a figment of his imagination, a dream or a mirage. This was not the first time that he had dreamed about her, and he knew it would not be the last.

He chuckled softly, thinking that he needed to stop thinking about her, for it seemed he was starting to hallucinate. Was he perhaps losing his mind?

"Lucas?" Rosalind's voice seemed to cut through the peaceful environment. It was soft and gentle, but to Lucas, it sounded like thunder in his ears.

He immediately jolted up, his heart racing so fast that it was the only thing he could hear as he met her eyes.

There she stood, real and radiant. Her smile was the same, her eyes sparkled just as he remembered. Lucas blinked and rubbed his eyes, half expecting her to vanish, but she remained, her presence sending shivers down his spine.

He immediately vanished from the balcony and appeared in front of Rosalind. Tentatively, he called out her name, "Rosalind?"

She nodded and reached out her hand, and Lucas, unable to resist, took a step toward her. She was no illusion; she was here, in this endless universe.

Lucas closed the gap between them before he pulled her into his arms. Their arms wrapped around each other, holding on tightly as if afraid that this moment might slip away like a dream.

Tears welled up in Lucas's eyes as he buried his face in Rosalind's shoulder. She held him close, her fingers trembling as they brushed against his back. The world around them seemed to fade away.

"You came?" Lucas whispered, still uncertain if this was real.

"I did," Rosalind replied, her voice filled with love and warmth. Tears of happiness pooled in her eyes as she held him even tighter, never wanting to let go.

In that embrace, they found the missing piece of their hearts and the promise of a new beginning in this endless universe.

<THE END>

<SIDE STORIES WILL FOLLOW>

Dearest Readers,

First and foremost, I want to thank each and every one of you for reading this novel and making it this far! I know... it is very hard. Hahahaha. I am overwhelmed with emotions!

This year has been quite a journey for me, and writing has been my only refuge. I'm not exaggerating when I say that writing saved me, and I genuinely want to express my gratitude to all of you.

I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to WEBNOVEL for their unwavering support. This platform has truly transformed my life.

I'd like to give a special shout-out to Claire, my wonderful editor. You've been a pillar of support, and I owe you more than words can express. And how could I possibly forget the incredible staff at WEBNOVEL? Alice, my dearest Alice, you've been amazing. To Emma, Miu, Bella, and many more, thank you for the endless support. I love you all!

Please take a moment to explore my other novels as well:

1. "The Lycan's Sin" - This was the first novel where Lucas made a cameo appearance. It's a bit steamy and quite spicy, so brace yourselves for that. (Laughs)

2. "Eve's Gambit" - This novel has some ties to the one you're reading now. It's set on a different continent, and the male lead, Maximilian, has been mentioned in this novel a couple of times.

3. "This NPC Just Wants To Live a Good Life" - I wrote this one just for fun. It's a lighthearted story without any romance, featuring a male lead who reincarnates into a game-like world. He simply wants to live a normal life, run a bar, and grow some herbs, but, well, plot happens.

Don't forget to check out my social media profiles:

Instagram: @b.mitchylle

Discord: MitchyMitch#3750

Once again, I want to express my deepest gratitude for everything. I wish you all happiness and good health. Happy reading!

Love,

Mitch

P.S: SIDE STORIES WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. IT'S ABOUT THEIR LIFE AS A COUPLE AND WHAT HAPPENS THOUSANDS OF YEARS LATER!