The Villainess's Secret Bedroom Service
Chapter 94: The Only Power I Need

Chapter 94: The Only Power I Need

The instant Rosalie crossed the threshold of Damien’s grand mansion, she found herself greeted by Richard whose face bore the unmistakable marks of anxiety, contorting in a display of distress. He moved toward his lady with a sense of urgency, prepared to attack her with a deluge of pressing inquiries. Rosalie, however, swiftly interceded, forestalling his barrage with a subtle shake of her head.

"Richard, please send a messenger to the Holy Temple and ask for Altair. I’m afraid I am in urgent need of his assistance."

The butler initially hesitated, his fatigued gaze lingering upon the coat cradled in Lady Ashter’s arms. Eventually, he acceded, nodding his compliance and promptly setting in motion her directive. Simultaneously, Aurora, bearing a disquieted countenance, hastened toward Rosalie, and her curiosity, it seemed, surpassed even her lady’s prior command.

"My Lady! What has happened? We received word that you were returning with the knights—"

"Shh, Aurora, please, compose yourself."

Rosalie gently interjected, inclining her head ever so slightly while indicating the child nestled in her embrace.

"Could you kindly procure a fresh, soft blanket for my bedroom? Also, prepare a soothing, warm herbal tea. And if it is possible, gather some attire suitable for a young boy. Additionally, please request the chef to prepare a light yet nourishing meal, perhaps a vegetable soup. I am truly grateful for your assistance."

"Certainly, My Lady. Right away."

With a gracious nod and a heartfelt smile, Lady Ashter expressed her gratitude to her maid before ascending the grand staircase, heading directly for her personal quarters.

There, she was about to place the boy onto her bed when he tightened his embrace around her neck once again and finally spoke, his frightened voice verging with a whisper,

"Please, don’t leave me alone... Please."

Rosalie felt her heart fracture into innumerable shards, her very core knotted in response. As her eyes brimmed with unshed tears, she swallowed hard against the invisible lump lodged in her throat and tenderly nodded, her trembling hand finding solace in a gentle pat upon the boy’s head.

"Of course. I won’t leave you. I will stay right here with you, I promise."

Embracing the child still, Rosalie lowered herself onto the bed, her heartbeats echoing like an anxious drumroll. A brief moment later, Aurora entered the room, bearing the items her lady had requested. She deftly arranged them on the bedside table and then assisted Rosalie in removing the jacket from the boy’s tiny body. With great care, she enveloped them both in a generous, soft blanket and quietly settled beside Rosalie.

"My Lady, what could have possibly transpired?"

Lady Ashter hesitated briefly, her uncertainty fleeting as she caught the faint sound of a snore slipping from the boy’s lips. A gentle curve touched her lips, and she replied to her maid in hushed tones,

"His Grace and I stumbled upon yet another illegal gladiator arena. This young boy is its lone survivor."

Aurora, struck by a mix of shock and disapproval, muffled a gasp behind her hands, her expression reflecting the horror of such a revelation. However, before her emotions could unfurl any further, a soft knock graced the bedroom door, succeeded by the familiar, resonant voice of a man.

"Revered Altair has arrived. I shall entrust you to his care, My Lady."

As Aurora ushered the man into the room, Altair hastened toward Rosalie, his pale eyes widened at the sight of her disheveled state, a silent testament to his concern.

"Lady Rosalie, what has happened? Why did you summon me at such a late hour? Have you sustained any injuries?"

However, before Rosalie could respond to his anxious inquiries, Altair’s gaze fell upon the tiny figure cradled in her tender embrace, intensifying his curiosity.

"And who might this child be, if I may inquire? Is he the cause of your summons?"

With a nod infused with a plea of hope, Lady Ashter replied,

"Yes, Altair. Can you extend your assistance to him? I cannot ascertain the extent of his injuries, but I couldn’t let this matter go unattended, and you are the sole person in whom I have absolute trust."

Altair could not suppress a faint, almost enigmatic smile as he took a seat beside Rosalie on the bed.

"Of course, My Lady. Might it be possible for you to release the child so that I may attend to him?"

The lady merely shook her head, her denial implicit.

"He is presently asleep. I fear he may become frightened should I release him again."

"It is quite alright. Do you recall how you assisted me in mending my wounds within the carriage? We can replicate that process once more."

Without waiting for her response, the man delicately touched Rosalie’s hand and closed his eyes, a subtle thread of light immediately enveloping their palms, seeping into Lady Ashter’s skin. Recollecting the sensation, Rosalie also closed her eyes, yielding to Altair’s guidance, permitting his Holy Power to work its restorative magic through her own body.

Upon the conclusion of the treatment, the man tenderly patted the boy’s head and graced Lady Ashter with a warm smile.

"You may release him now. My power, particularly with children, is rather potent; he will not awaken for several hours, I assure you."

With a resolute nod, Rosalie heeded his suggestion, carefully placing the boy on the bed and gently adjusting the blanket around him. A protracted, somewhat weary exhale escaped her lips before she turned her attention back to Altair.

"Altair, thank you. I was consumed with worry for the child, nearly suffocated by it. Your assistance has allowed me to breathe freely once more."

Altair observed as Rosalie continued to attend to the young boy, his heart shrinking under the weight of his tumultuous, conflicting emotions.

’Rosalie... Your heart, despite the taint of the Demon’s influence, remains boundlessly compassionate. And now, contrary to my own ambitions and convictions, I find that love is the sole power I require from you.’

***

Damien entered his fiancée’s chamber with deliberate, noiseless steps. His sharp golden eyes paused upon Rosalie, who was dozing in a kneeling posture beside the bed, cradling the slumbering boy’s tiny hand.

The duke softly tapped Rosalie on the shoulder, rousing her from her reverie, and she offered him a somewhat befuddled and drowsy gaze with her sleepy eyes.

"Your Grace? How did it go? Is everything resolved now?"

"Later, Lady Rosalie. I will explain everything tomorrow. For now, you must rest too."

Once more, Lady Ashter shook her head and redirected her gaze to the peacefully sleeping child.

"I apologize, but I cannot leave him just yet. He may become frightened if he awakens and does not find me here."

Damien released a brief, contemplative sigh and carefully positioned a small plush sofa alongside the bed, extending the offer to sit on it to his fiancée.

"In that case, I shall remain here beside you, if it meets with your approval."

Rosalie, wearing a subtle yet contented smile, accepted the duke’s offer and settled onto the couch. Her body surrendered once more, yielding to the allure of the plush seating and the weight of her exhaustion.

As slumber’s embrace began to claim her, Damien felt Rosalie’s head nestling on his sturdy shoulder, the sensation sending fleeting shivers coursing through his frame. With a somewhat tender smile gracing his features, he gently enclosed Rosalie’s delicate hands within his own, savoring the silkiness of her porcelain skin. He then closed his eyes, allowing the beguiling fragrance of her floral essence to enshroud him in its thin veil.

’At times, I fear this nightmare may never cease, Lady Rosalie... Yet, you cannot fathom how thankful I am to have your presence by my side in these moments. I am ill-prepared for this, undeserving even. Still, I find myself yearning for more. For that... I beg your forgiveness, Lady Rosalie.’