He calmly withdrew his hand from her body.As soon as the strength supporting her weight vanished, Rosetta fell onto the bed.At that moment, maids waiting outside flooded into the room like a receding tide.

“Hurry and get ready. I’ll be waiting outside.”

She gritted her teeth, watching Nick’s retreating figure as he leisurely left the room.Someday, someday you’ll regret the day you kept me alive. Without fail.

Rosetta, stripped of her fighting spirit, passively accepted the maids’ ministrations.More accurately, she let them do whatever they wanted with her body.Nick was determined to drag her before Duke Baratelli, and to the world, she was still known as Cardier’s wife.She might have resisted to the end in front of Nick, but she couldn’t afford to look foolish before Cardier’s enemy.

A large wooden tub was filled with water.Piles of fragrant oils and flower petals were poured over it.The maids scrubbed her entire body with sponges, lathering soap to strip away ingrained dirt.Once her body was clean, they provided a corset, a dress emphasizing her chest, and ruby-encrusted accessories.

The maids laced her waist so tightly it felt like they might snap it.She thought Valdemore’s maids had the strongest arms in the world, but these were even worse fiends.After being fully dressed, she could barely walk, let alone breathe properly.Rosetta could hardly shake the suspicion that the maids had deliberately sapped her strength.Regardless, Nick seemed thoroughly pleased with her appearance.

“Very beautiful, Rose.”

Nick kissed her trembling fingers, smiling broadly with rage.Looking at his smug face made nonexistent anger boil up.Of course. From head to toe, she was drenched in his tasteless preferences.Rosetta sneered with all her might.

“Such remarkably refined taste.”

“The banquet table is set on the deck. They say the weather will be clear tonight.”

“Why bother dragging me along? Do you expect me to cooperate with you?”

“As if.”

Nick laughed as if amused, grabbing her arm and pulling her along.Her body staggered at his slightest force, making her grind her teeth.

“If you don’t spit on the banquet table, I’ll be grateful. You don’t have to do anything, Rosetta.The Duke isn’t calling you to ask grand questions.”

“Am I some kind of decoration?”

Nick lifted the corner of his thin lips in a smile.

“Exactly. So it’s better if you don’t open your mouth. Which means…”

He pulled a small glass bottle from his pocket.It contained a dark green liquid that looked ominous and dreadful at a glance.He uncorked it and handed it to her. A foul stench wafted out.

“Drink.”

Rosetta took the bottle from his hand.Asking what it was would be pointless. Resistance was equally futile.Even if he handed her poison, she had no choice, and if she refused, he’d obviously threaten Daisy’s safety.Curse it, she felt ashamed of her past resolve never to touch a liquid he gave her again.Rosetta downed the bottle’s contents in one gulp.

The moment the viscous liquid touched her tongue, nausea surged.It wasn’t the taste or smell but the texture that felt alien.It wasn’t a common drug, but it seemed like a potent sedative circulated in Tilsen.She wiped her lips with the back of her hand and threw the empty bottle to the floor.

“Satisfied?”

Rosetta bared her teeth like a wary beast.The sticky sensation lingered as the liquid slid down her throat and esophagus, utterly revolting.Soon, chills coursed through her body, and she began trembling.It felt as cold as being plunged into the icy sea, her limbs heavy.As she staggered, Nick caught and steadied her.

“Careful now. I’ll hold you up.”

“You… wretched cur…”

“Shh, Rose. Relax, and it’ll be easier. Think of it as dreaming for a bit.”

She didn’t want to believe him, but he was right.Her mind grew foggy, as if she were drunk.It felt like someone had stirred her brain into a mess.Her consciousness flickered, fading and flaring like a flame.

When she closed and opened her eyes, she was on the deck.The next moment, she was seated at a long banquet table.Embroidered lace tablecloths, gold plates and cutlery, candles, and even a band were present.While the band played slow music that felt like a funeral march, Nick fidgeted restlessly the entire time.Even in her dazed state, that was amusing.

“Ah, Nicholas.”

When he couldn’t hold back and pulled out his pocket watch, a murmur arose, and a man accompanied by a retinue of attendants climbed onto the deck.Nick bowed gracefully.

“Your Grace, Duke Baratelli. Right on time.”

“Time is something gold can’t buy, after all.”

He grabbed Nick’s shoulder, raising his bowed frame.His petty face, short stature, balding head, and hooked nose made him seem more like a sailor than a noble.He didn’t look like a commander leading a war.In contrast, Nick, that lowborn man, almost seemed like a crown prince.Rubbing his hands, the Duke greeted Rosetta.

“Madame Montrosa. Your reputation precedes you. Truly, you are exceptionally beautiful.”

“Hng…”

Rosetta tried to twitch a finger. Or maybe sneer.But her body was powerless, her limbs moving like a puppet with cut strings, refusing to obey.Even the situation felt like a hallucination.The Duke’s face kept distorting, growing and shrinking at random.She felt Nick roughly pull her up. The Duke intervened.

“Oh, oh… She seems unwell. Let her be.”

“I gave her Antalas. She’s too rebellious. Didn’t you want to see her yourself?”

“Well, yes, but in this state, we can’t even converse.”

Duke Baratelli twisted his mustache, frowning in displeasure.Rosetta slipped from Nick’s grasp, collapsing back into the chair.Pointing at the table, Nick responded to the Duke.

“This is better for our conversation. She won’t remember anything when the drug wears off.Please, sit. I’ve prepared a banquet with your favorite dishes.”

At Nick’s gesture, the Duke lost interest in her and took the head of the long table.Servants filed in, carrying silver trays with fragrant food.The Duke, uncovering the dishes, rubbed his hands and grinned.

“Cod liver, eh?”

“You like it, don’t you? I put in some effort.”

“For a lowborn, you’re quick-witted. That’s why I like you.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

What followed were pointless, sociable exchanges.Rosetta struggled to stay alert.There was a chance she might overhear strategies or information useful for the war.But the harder she fought to stay conscious, the sleepier and more muddled her mind became.As her heavy eyelids fluttered, a shift in the conversation’s tone snapped her awake.

“…then it’s settled.”

“…don’t you think?”

As Nick spoke, Duke Baratelli shrugged confidently.

“Anyway… the war… is just a pretext.”

War. That word struck her ears.Rosetta tried moving her fingers to stay alert.She couldn’t explain it, but it felt like being trapped in sleep paralysis.With great effort, she managed to scrape the floor with her nails.

The rough scratch tore her skin, drawing pain and blood.Then everything came into sharp focus.The banquet had ended at some point, the table now laden with desserts.Nick spoke again.

“So, when will the last transport ship’s crew be filled?”

“We’ve secured enough for three ships.But finding the last ten thousand is tough.Criminals, debtors, orphans, and street vagrants are already tapped out.”

“Esperanda’s the same. No helping it.We can’t afford to be picky now, even if it causes trouble.”

A brief silence.

“Tilsen’s demand is singular. Hand over control of the eastern seas and trade routes.”

“His Highness, the Crown Prince, has faithfully upheld the contract thus far.”

“There’s still the young admiral. The navy’s rallying around him.”

“The Sea Witch will side with us anyway.If we eliminate the Imperial Princess and Sub-Admiral Montrosa in one stroke, you’ll be able to make even greater demands.”