Damned by Him

Rosaline woke slowly, her consciousness returning beneath the warmth of the blankets as pale morning light slipped through the narrow opening between the heavy curtains and stretched quietly across the unfamiliar room, and for several moments she remained where she was, her eyes still closed while she listened to the distant sounds of servants moving through the residence and the occasional murmur of voices travelling faintly from somewhere beyond the corridor.

Then she shifted.

Her hand moved instinctively across the bed and she felt nothing and Rosaline’s eyes snapped open.

The space beside her was empty.

She stared at it for a moment, her brows slowly drawing together as she pushed herself upright and looked around the chamber, but Xandros was nowhere to be seen, and the first thing she noticed was how strangely quiet the room felt without him.

For some reason, that realization bothered her.

She immediately frowned at herself.

Why should it bother me?

Rosaline pushed the blankets away and climbed down from the bed, deciding that she had no intention of standing there wondering where her husband had gone when there were more important things for her to do, although the thought barely lasted before her eyes travelled toward the table near the window.

Her things had already been arranged.

A fresh dress had been carefully placed over the chair, while the smaller items she had brought for the journey had been organized neatly beside it, and Rosaline stood there for a moment with mild surprise on her face because she was almost certain she had not arranged any of it before falling asleep.

A servant must have entered earlier.

Or perhaps—

She stopped herself as there was no reason to assume Xandros had done anything.

Rosaline walked toward the table and began preparing herself for the day, washing and dressing before eventually standing before the mirror with her silver-white hair falling freely down her back, and it was then that she found herself staring at her reflection with an unusual curiosity.

Her hair had grown.

She knew that, of course, but she had never truly paid attention to just how long it had become.

Rosaline gathered the thick strands into both hands and slowly lifted them behind her head.

Then she paused.

Her eyes widened slightly.

"Wait."

She adjusted her grip.

The hair remained gathered within her hands.

Rosaline tilted her head.

Could she actually—

A small smile appeared on her face.

She tried again, gathering all of her hair and pulling it backward before tying it securely, and after several attempts and a few moments of adjusting the loose strands around her face, she finally stepped back.

Her hair was packed into a ponytail.

Rosaline stared at herself and then she turned her head slightly, the ponytail moved over her shoulder.

A delighted expression immediately appeared on her face.

"I can actually do this."

It was a small discovery, perhaps even a ridiculous one, but Rosaline could not stop herself from lifting the ponytail again and examining its length before letting it fall behind her back, because there had been a time when her hair had not been long enough for her to arrange it this way, and somehow, seeing herself differently in the mirror made her feel strangely pleased.

She smiled before reaching for the dress waiting on the chair.

It was simple enough for travelling but elegant enough to suit the residence of the Warden, and once she had finished dressing, Rosaline gave herself one final look in the mirror before leaving the room.

The corridors were already alive with activity.

Servants moved quietly from one room to another, guards stood stationed near different entrances, and the scent of breakfast drifted through the air strongly enough that Rosaline soon found herself following it toward the dining room they had used the previous evening.

Before she entered, however, she heard voices.

Xandros.

And Alistair.

Rosaline slowed slightly.

The two men were standing near one of the tall windows at the far end of the dining room, speaking in low voices while Xandros stood with his hands behind his back and Alistair listened with the careful attention of someone who was still afraid of saying the wrong thing.

Rosaline watched them briefly before walking inside.

Xandros noticed her first.

His eyes immediately travelled toward her.

Then he paused.

Rosaline stopped.

"What?"

Alistair turned too.

His gaze moved over her before returning politely away.

Xandros, however, continued looking.

Rosaline narrowed her eyes.

"Why are you staring?"

A faint expression appeared in his eyes.

"I’m not staring."

Rosaline folded her arms.

"You are."

Xandros’ gaze travelled briefly toward her ponytail.

"I was wondering what happened."

Rosaline immediately touched her hair.

"What do you mean, what happened?"

"You look different."

She stared at him.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No."

The answer came quickly.

Almost too quickly.

Rosaline’s cheeks warmed slightly, although she refused to let him see that.

"I packed my hair."

"I can see that."

"I discovered I could."

Xandros raised a brow.

"You discovered you could pack your hair?"

Rosaline gave him an offended look.

"Yes."

For several seconds, Xandros simply looked at her before a faint smile touched his lips.

"It suits you."

Rosaline immediately became quiet. Right there Alistair saw an opening and turned towards Rosaline, "Good morning, Your Grace."

"Good morning, sir." She returned casually before turning away and faced the table. "Breakfast is getting cold."

Behind her, Xandros’ smile deepened.

Not long afterward, Seth and Christophine joined them, but Rosaline immediately noticed something unusual about the two of them because neither had arrived with their usual argument already prepared.

Seth simply took his seat.

Christophine sat beside him.

And for several moments, neither said anything.

Rosaline slowly looked between them.

That was strange.

Very strange.

Xandros noticed it too.

Breakfast was served, and the others began eating while Alistair attempted to make polite conversation, but even as he spoke, Rosaline could not stop watching Christophine, whose attention seemed fixed upon her food without truly seeing it, while Seth appeared equally distracted.

Eventually, Xandros placed his cup down.

"What happened?"

Both of them looked up.

Christophine blinked.

"What?"

"You two are quiet."

Seth immediately leaned back.

"We can be quiet."

"No," Xandros replied calmly. "You can’t."

Rosaline pressed her lips together to hide a smile.

Christophine glanced toward Seth.

Seth glanced back.

Rosaline noticed the exchange.

"What happened last night?"

Christophine immediately looked at her.

"Nothing." The answer came too quickly making Rosaline’s brows lift.

Seth reached for his cup.

"Nothing happened." He repeated.

Xandros’ gaze moved between them.

Neither explanation seemed convincing but then Christophine continued eating while Seth drank from his cup.

Rosaline looked at Xandros.

Xandros looked back.

Neither said anything, but both clearly understood that something was being hidden.

Still, Xandros did not press the matter.

If Christophine had discovered something worth knowing, she would eventually speak.

And if she didn’t—

He would find out another way.

Breakfast continued, though the strange quietness surrounding Seth and Christophine remained present throughout the meal, and when they had finally finished, Xandros rose from his seat.

Alistair immediately stood too.

"Your Grace?"

Xandros glanced briefly toward Rosaline before turning back to the Warden.

"Walk with me."

Alistair’s expression changed slightly.

"Of course."

The two men moved away from the table and toward the quieter end of the room, and although Rosaline remained seated, she watched them carefully as Xandros stopped near the window and turned toward the Warden.

Alistair waited.

Xandros’ expression became serious.

"We’ve spent enough time resting."

The Warden straightened.

"Yes, Your Grace."

"It is time we dealt with the reason we came here."

Alistair’s face became noticeably more cautious.

Rosaline watched from where she sat and Xandros lowered his voice, "I want the merchants gathered."

For a moment, Alistair simply stared at him.

"The merchants?"

"All of them."

The Warden’s expression slowly changed and Rosaline could see the surprise on his face even from across the room.

Xandros continued.

"Those who trade within the Western District, those who regularly travel through its borders, and anyone who has recently dealt with goods coming through the western routes."

Alistair swallowed.

"Your Grace... may I ask why?"

Xandros’ eyes settled on him.

"You may."

Alistair waited.

Xandros’ expression did not change.

"But I will not answer."

The Warden immediately lowered his head and Rosaline watched the colour leave his face.

"Gather them," Xandros said again, his voice calm but carrying an authority that made the command impossible to misunderstand. "I want them ready."

Alistair slowly lifted his gaze.

And this time, the nervousness in his eyes was impossible to hide.

"All of them?"

Xandros gave a single nod.

"Every merchant."

The dining room seemed to grow quieter.

And although Rosaline still did not know exactly what Xandros had come to the Western District to investigate, she could already feel that whatever was about to begin would change the peaceful atmosphere of the residence completely.

Because the Duke of Dagon had finally stopped waiting and the investigation had begun.

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