[2] The Vicious Wife

The late Grand Duke

The two-story house was as welcoming as on the outside. From the old fashioned parquet flooring to the photographs of Lily and her husband on the walls, everything about the cabin screamed, warmth, love and cozy.

It had a huge living room that can easily accommodate everyone, with warm Persian carpets and a fireplace made of stone.

"This place is..." Lisa roamed her eyes at the house. "It's beautiful." Then her eyes halted at one of the photos on the stone wall. It was a picture of Roseanne with her grandmother, Lily. "This was taken in the mansion?"

"Yes. It was." Roseanne nodded, her eyes dimmed. Memories of her grandmother came rushing through her like an unstoppable flood. The photo was taken in one of their Christmas together. Roseanne did not know that her grandmother had this photo framed and displayed in this house. "This was not here when we visited." She added.

"Aw..." Lisa hugged Roseanne. "Grandma Lily is such a sweet woman."

"She is." Roseanne smiled. "I am really sleepy. You guys have breakfast ahead of us."

"Are you sure?" Kim Taehyung asked. "Maybe you can eat first before sleeping?"

"Yes, I have not slept throughout the flight," Roseanne answered. "There are a total of four rooms in this cabin. The last room was a little smaller. But it should be enough to accommodate everyone. Kim Taehyung and Han Jisung can share a room. If they like it... or..." she titled her head towards Lia. "Jisung can share with Lia."

Lia immediately lowered her head. A tinge of red crept into her face. Roseanne and everyone else chuckled at her reaction before Roseanne and Park Jimin left to rest.

...

It was already two in the afternoon when Roseanne woke up. This time, however, she avoided having extracurricular activities with her husband as she was starving. She went downstairs to find everyone playing scrabble. Even Park Jimin joined them.

"Where did you get the board?" Roseanne does not remember having a scrabble board in the cabin, nor anyone brought a board with them. She sat next to Park Jimin as she ate some of Jeon Jungkook's pizza.

"Oh... our neighbors came!" It was Jeon Jungkook. His enthusiasm surprised Roseanne. "Turns out. We are neighbors with the royal family of Luxembourg. They spent their holidays in this place."

"You know them?"

"Of course! My father participated in most of the Duchess' business." He lifted his chin and smiled at Roseanne. His eyes turned crescents, but it was not enough the sparked of pride in it.

"Really," Roseanne said as she eyed Park Jimin. "They recognized you?"

"Oh yeah. One of their guards came here and gave us board games. They also invited us to dinner tonight."

"Did they?" Roseanne's lips lifted into a smile. "I was not expecting that."

"Oh... They are cool people."

"I see." Roseanne nodded and continued eating her pizza. "They invited everyone? Including me?"

"Yes, they did." Lisa said. "I even thought it was weird. They are Royalties. Aren't they afraid that we are some assassins sent to kill them?"

"It was because they trust my father." Jeon Jungkook reasoned out. "And I am also acquainted with their children. Leandro and Mikaela... they still have two more kids, but I did not have the chance to meet them."

"Wow! You are really familiar with them." Kim Taehyung said as he laid the tiles on the board. "Annoy. Double letter here..." he eyed Secretary Han who was writing the score.

"How could you put such simple words?" Jungkook chimed in. A smug smile on his face.

"What do you mean by that?" Kim Taehyung frown. "That's a double letter."

"Letter, not word. Plus, you open a triple word spot for Jimin."

"You- Do you want a fight with me?"

"Ha! I think you are still Jimin's minion! Trying to open a good spot for him!" Jungkook ignored Kim Taehyung's words.

"Hey! I am not! And don't call me dumb!"

"I didn't!"

"You just did! Don't deny it! Do you want to fight?"

While Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook started another friendly argument, Roseanne silently ate her food.

"Are we going?" she heard Park Jimin asked.

"Why not?"

He lifted an eyebrow. "Do you think they—"

"I do. It was intentional." She answered as she turned her attention to his tiles. "Our turn."

"Oh... Here... Alkalize." Park Jimin laid the tiles, gaining both Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook's attention.

"See? I told you! I am right... you are making him win!" Jungkook widened his eyes at Taehyung.

"I am not!"

"This is not fair. I think—"

"Boys..." Roseanne said. "Stop fighting. It's Lisa's turn."

Both Jungkook and Taehyung pursed their lips at the same time.

"So? Are we all going for dinner later?" Kim Taehyung changed the topic.

"Yes. We are." Roseanne said as she finished her pizza. She rose from her seat to get another slice.

"Oh... and it's a formal dinner." Jungkook said.

"These people are always like this. They eat in really long tables. Just like what Roseanne has in the mansion. Sometimes, longer. It's pretty boring." Jungkook shrugged.

"All right." Park Jimin said. He stood up and followed Roseanne. "Are you sure about this?" he said in a low voice.

"Yes. I am. They know this house belongs to my grandfather. Maybe they just wanted to meet me in person."

"Did they try to contact your grandfather before?" he asked. Park Jimin cannot afford to have more enemies at this time so he wanted to make sure that they are not walking in another trap.

"Yeah... his brother did. The late Grand Duke. I didn't know if they ever saw each other again. Grandma told me, they remain friends."

"And — Do you think — Do you think they are capable of something evil?" It was a silly question. Park Jimin knew this. He just wanted Roseanne to give him something... anything that he could use to gauge if these people pose a threat to his wife.

"Of course!" Roseanne gave her a wry smile. "Stop worrying. I don't intend to get close to them. But I would not miss the opportunity to meet them either.