Chapter 57: Two Can Play That Game.

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Two Can Play That Game.

Chapter 57: Two Can Play That Game.

’There’s no reason to be scared. If she really wanted to kill me, I wouldn’t have the chance to resist. The fact that I’m still alive means she won’t...’ Osborne said to himself, the edge of his lips curling up even more.

"What? Did I strike a nerve?"

’If I show even the least bit of fear, she’ll believe intimidation works and won’t ever stop using them.’

’I can’t let her think that. I need her to give me more leeway going forward, even if that means taking such a gamble right now.’

The original Osborne’s survival despite his atrocities proves Roseline has historically tolerated an enormous amount from him, and Osborne wants to benefit from that same restraint.

While death might not be an option, he doubted she would cripple him. After all, if word got out that she was with a cripple, her image would suffer.

Even if she ordered for him to be whipped again, he couldn’t care any less. Compared to what he had experienced, such things didn’t even bother him.

As for letting him go and finding a replacement, honestly, if that were to happen, he would thank the heavens for as long as he lived.

Of course, doing that would look like she was admitting she couldn’t control someone like him. For such news to spread would only be detrimental to her.

No matter what she did, he wouldn’t be the one to suffer a loss.

Sure, there was his family, but he doubted someone as prideful as her would stoop to such a dishonourable level.

"COUGH! COUGH!" Osborne began finding it difficult to breathe when her hand tightened around his neck, the veins on his head and neck becoming even more visible.

’This is getting dangerous, but if I give in now, she’ll never take me seriously next time.’ Osborne thought to himself.

’I can’t let that happen.’

"Are you going to kill me, my love?" Even as the grip around his throat tightened, there was no fear in his eyes whatsoever, something that irked her inwardly more than he knew.

"Go on, do it! I dare you!" He said, his eyes filled with ridicule and hatred.

Trying to limit his growth would be the same as admitting she was indeed afraid of him.

Another thing she would rather die than do.

Unlike her two wretched younger sisters, Osborne finally realised that when it came to leeway, this dangerous woman actually gave him the most amongst everyone within this household.

Roseline, completely annoyed, tossed Osborne.

His figure flew through the air before slamming hard against the wall, the force knocking the air out of his lungs.

Rather than screaming in pain, he laughed lightly while still staring at her ice-cold gaze.

"Guinevere!" Roseline shouted.

"Yes, my lady?" Guinevere entered the room and bowed towards Roseline.

"Have them lock this fool in the dungeon again!" Roseline said before looking at Osborne.

"And you can forget about ever leaving this place!"

"Oh my, I’m so scared..." Osborne laughed. "I didn’t know you loved me this much."

"You still have the nerve to keep on–!"

"My lady, please calm yourself. This is unlike you." Guinevere quickly spoke up before things progressed even more.

"Tsk!" Roseline clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction. "Just get him out of my sight!"

Guinevere followed her master’s command. She supported Osborne before taking him away.

---

The next day...

"You’ve really outdone yourself this time, my lord." Silvester entered Osborne’s cell along with two familiar guards, Gilhound being one of them.

"Young master, was it really worth it to agitate her ladyship to such a degree?" Gilhound said as he released Osborne’s restraints.

Osborne said nothing to Gilhound, instead looking at Silvester.

"I take it you convinced her to let us leave in the end."

Silvester’s expression turned helpless. "Did you really do all that because you knew I’d intervene in the end?"

"Of course not. I only believed she’d be more inclined to listen to a long-time friend than me."

"You make it sound like she hates you." Silvester shook his head lightly.

"Doesn’t she already?" Osborne let out a quiet laugh.

"You’ll be coming with us as well."

"W-What? But why me?!" Gilhound blurted out in confusion.

"I can’t travel without my aura instructor, now can I."

’Also, I’d rather not give her a reason to take back her word again.’ Osborne said to himself.

"What are you laughing at?" Gilhound glared at his friend, who found his current situation comical.

"Nothing." The other knight struggled to say.

After bidding Osborne and Silvester goodbye, the knight left.

Leaving the three of them to exit the dungeon together.

---

"My lord, I’m here!" Julie met up with the three of them at the front of the mansion.

Osborne noticed Silvester’s stare and said, "She’s my magic instructor."

"You really don’t plan on slacking off, do you?"

"Something like that." Osborne let out a quiet laugh.

A coach suddenly rode on over.

Osborne raised a brow. He hadn’t called for one. He planned on having them venture out on their own two feet. Regarding travel expenses, he intentionally brought enough money for public transport.

Since he aimed to get stronger during this journey, he didn’t want to rely on luxury.

"Her ladyship arranged for it," a voice said from behind him.

Osborne turned around to see Guinevere, looking respectful and dignified as ever.

"Then take it back. We don’t need it," he said.

"I’m afraid I can’t do that, my lord." Guinevere offered an apologetic bow.

"Why not?" Osborne asked.

"Well, the thing is..." Silvester began.

He explained to him that while Roseline eventually agreed to let him venture outside, she made some adjustments to his journey.

"Her ladyship asked that I give you this." Guinevere said before handing Osborne a piece of parchment.

"What is this?" He took the list and began looking it over.

"In it contains the names of noble territories within the Marché, along with the issues currently plaguing them. As nobles beneath her ladyship, they’ve set aside some problems for you to solve on your own in accordance with your expedition."

"Her ladyship also made preparations to inform them of your arrival beforehand. The coachman is well versed and will assure a proper trip during your travels–" Osborne crumpled the paper tightly before Guinevere could finish, his eyes burning with anger.

’Damn that woman!’

’Is this some kind of joke?!’

’I expected her to be petty, but to this extent?’

What was the difference between all this and blatantly announcing to all the noble households beneath her that he was nothing but a child?

Informing them of his arrival beforehand? More like telling them to take good care of him—the baby she saw him as.

"I didn’t ask for any of this! Tell her ladyship that while I’m honoured, I’m afraid I’ll have to refuse."

"Then I’m afraid I can’t let you leave, my lord." Guinevere said, a helpless look on her face.

Osborne’s expression creased up a bit. He glanced at Silvester, but the man shook his head, as if even he was unable to do a thing about the matter.

Osborne secretly gnashed his teeth. Right now, he felt the urge to barge into that woman’s study and ask why she would stoop to such shameful levels.

But being as smart as he was, he knew doing that might cause him to play into her hand.

If he did that, she would not only have valid reason to stop him from leaving, but also one to make sure she could punish him without Silvester being able to intervene.

Nevertheless, he believed even if he did, she wouldn’t call it off.

No, for someone who chose to resort to such means to deal with him, he no doubt believed she would want nothing more than to let him suffer under this level of embarrassment, since her normal means of controlling him were proving to have no effect.

"Young master, where are you going?" Gilhound asked as Osborne began storming off, back into the mansion.

"To have a talk with her ladyship..." Osborne said without turning back.

Hearing his reply, Gilhound’s features fell, while Guinevere and Silvester looked even more helpless.

---

"And what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be off on your journey by now?" Roseline said without lifting her focus from her book.

Osborne walked into her study, closing the door behind him.

Roseline frowned when he didn’t stop there, instead walking all the way to her desk.

Only then did she put down her book to look at him. Though her expression was anything but pleased.

"Is there something you have to say?"

"No... I simply came to thank you." Osborne said, a smirk emerging on his face.

"Thank me?" Roseline frowned.

"Thanks to you, our journey will be less dangerous than it would have been before."

"I expected you to be mad after my shameless display in our bedroom. I didn’t know you had already forgiven me and went so far just to keep me safe." Osborne feigned a touched look.

Roseline’s eyelids twitched ever so slightly.