"But Rose, remember that as long as he is with you no one can harm you, and also..." She pauses for a second and then..."But Rose, remember that as long as he is with you no one can harm you, and also..." She pauses for a second and then...
"He's the only person who will be there with you at the end of the world!"
"Huh?" My eyes widen.
"Yes! He is the only one who can lift your curse, Rosetta. That's why your father made him sign a contract with the devil...!"
For a second, I'm dumbfounded.
A contract with the devil??
My curse???
What?
What does this mean?
But before I can say another word, Selene says, " What is wrong with you Rose? Why are you getting so surprised as if you don't know anything about this? Don't you remember it from when your father was alive?"
Selene's face looks very confused.
Shit...of course I can't! I am not Rosetta! I'm literally a different person and that goddamn book didn't mention any of this!?
What the fuck is going on?
I thought that this was just a crazy ass BL novel for some degenerates like Lina, like what the hell is going on here?
The novel had almost no existence of Rosetta...All it was about was the detailed explicit scenes between Lorenzo and Arron.
"Rose?" I am brought back to reality by Selene's voice.
"Yeah?"
"I think you are not well...I understand that this incident with your husband and step brother has really taken a toll on you. You need rest!" Selene says getting up from her place.
"I...but..."
I try to ask her more about it but stop myself.
If I ask anymore then there's a high chance she will start doubting who I am as I really can't remember anything.
I am not sure why Rosetta's memories don't come to me. I mean I can remember a lot of things like where she kept her important documents or even what she had eaten a few days before death...
But when I try to dig in deeper it's all blank.
Sometimes, I remember few bits of her memories after hearing about it. Or even see them in my dreams...
But why can't I remember it all?
It's like something is blocking me from it...
"Okay I will leave you alone so that you can have some rest. Be sure to be there for lunch though!" Selene says.
"Wait Aunt Selene!" I call out her name.
"What is it Rose?"
"I...I need to visit your library once!"
"What?"
"Yeah there's something that I would like to read..."
Selene pauses for a moment...
"So you too..." She says.
"Yeah?"
"You too Rose???"
"Uh...?"
Selene's eyes brighten and her voice changes to that of an higher pitched one.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME *AHEM* YOU LIKE TO READ X BOOKS!??"
"What books??"
"X books, the books containing some very *Ahem* explicit scenes, distributed secretly among high class ladies. Infact I was reading that a few minutes before you interrupted..." She says.
Fuck. So basically it's like smuts for this era???
"THE PRINCE WAS ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE DONE- AND THAT TOO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MASQUERADE PARTY! EVEN THOUGH WE WERE AT A ROOM OUTSIDE THE MASQUERADE HALL, I COULDN'T STOP WORRYING THAT SOMEONE WOULD COME AND SEE US!! BUT ALL HE SAID WAS..."
"It's more exciting when you think someone might find you like this, right?"
"Afterall that's the reason why you didn't lock the door..."
"Kyaaahhhh!!!!" Aunt Selene blushes and covers her face.
My face turns grave.
I feel like I heard something that shouldn't have been heard.
Almost like I got reminded of a certain someone from my past life...
A fucking fujoshi.
"Well if you would like to I can get you a copy of the book when I visit the tea party next time. But for now you may just read it from my library." She says.
"Uh okay, thanks." I smile nervously and leave.
Wow...That old and upright lady Selene sure has a very weird side...
She really reminds me of her...
Lina...my best friend from my past life.
She was the top student in my class, was known for always being early and always neat and clean.
But who would have guessed that...
She was a fujoshi crazily obsessed with BL.
Then I remember what she told me once...
"Everyone is weird Erika, some show it and others just know how to hide it well"
And it is now that I have badly come to realise that things are really not what they seem.
Pushing the door to the library open, I walk inside.
I start searching through the books of history.
And after a long and tiring search of almost half an hour, I find it.
A book on the Contract with the devil.
According to the book it says...
"There were certain souls who had achieved their highest form in their past lives. Their power enticed the devil who would try to capture them before they reached a higher realm and eat them for their powers. But some of these souls managed to trick the devil and escape to the human realm again. There were reborn as certain individuals who are with divine beauty, strength and intelligence higher than normal humans.
But these individuals cannot live like normal people as they bear the curse of the devil.
And the devil comes in human forms as well...
He comes by daily in multiple humans to hunt these souls out. And when a divine soul in human form encounters a devil's incarnate, they meet their ends in their hands.
Most divine souls do not make it above the the age of 20 as they are killed by the devil's incarnate sooner or later and their souls are finally eaten by the devil.
However there is a way for these souls to survive in the human realm...
It is by the devil's contract.
The devil's contract can be signed by individuals with devil's power. If one of them swears to protect the divine soul from other devil's souls.
That individual's life can be saved.
So that means...
The soul of Rosetta Rowells is a divine soul who was cursed by the devil.
And her father was well aware of that...
Then Arron must be...!
I recall the back to the time when Rosetta met Arron for the first time.
Being involved in multiple crimes as the leader of the Dacoits of Seigrine...
And also the grave murder of one of the members of the Royal family...
Arron was in a tough spot.
Sooner or later the imperial knights would find it out...
Murdering the member of an imperial family means punishment by death of the individual and their immediate family.
It was only a matter of time till they found him.
"Yes, the royal family is looking for us after we murdered Sir Izack. And sooner or later we will get caught. That is the reason I need your help Milady" Arron says.
"Yeah??? And why should I help you?" Rosetta asks.
"It's best if you do...or else your men here..." Arron narrows his eyes.
The other man point the sword to one of my knight's neck.
"Stop!!! Fine what the hell do I have to do?" Rosetta screams.
"For now I would like to have a talk with your father" Arron smiles.
"What? And why??"
"Why else? It is because he is the only person who can protect me from the royal family now" He says.
And when he finally meets Rosetta's father...
He instantly recognises him.
Just as Rosetta was born, the priests had recognised her as a divine soul.
And they had also informed him about the end that awaits her.
"Is there no way to save my daughter!?" The Duke pleaded.
"There is a way...If you can make a devil's incarnate sign the contract to protect her for life. You will have to find one of them, Sir. Most of these unholy souls indulge in evil activities and are extremely powerful and charismatic. But those who are fooled by their charm, would soon meet their ends" The priest replied.
The Duke was sure that Arron was not a normal person. To confirm his suspicions he had consulted with the priest again.
"Your suspicions were right Sir! This is a golden opportunity! You need to make him sign the contract with the devil for your daughter's sake!" The old priest said.
And after that the Duke made Arron walk right into his trap.
"I will give you all sort of protection, wealth, status and even my daughter's hand in marriage! In turn you have to swear your loyalty towards my daughter and protect her for her entire life." The Duke says.
Arron gets surprised. He just wished for the Duke's protection but this is more than he could ever expect.
"I know you must be surprised but the truth is, your father and I have always been very dear friends and I always wished that our children would oneday grow up and tie the knot! Infact, I was I'm very delighted that you have come to me because I was soon planning to get you both married." The Duke smiles.
Now it was partially true as the Duke did plan on marrying Rosetta to his best friend's son and even fought with her when she disagreed, but that was also so that she could inherit the title and estate before Derek.
But of course Rosetta hated the idea of marriage especially with someone of lower status.
But if he had known about his crimes, the Duke would have never married his daughter off to such a dangerous man.
However beggars are no choosers!
To protect his daughter, the Duke had to make Arron stay with Rosetta 24/7.
"I will be more than delighted to accept your offer,Milord" Arron bows.
Wealth, status, title, estate...
All of that comes with the hand of a beautiful woman for marriage...
Who could have denied it?
Arron accepted it instantly.
"But then again you need to sign a secret contract as well, which you cannot disclose to anyone...But mind you, if you don't do that you will neither get protection from me and s
oon the imperial family will find you nor you will get any of this"
"What is that??"
"It's the devil's contract."