"A long, long time ago."

"Once upon a time."

Those are the words I remember clearly. Spoken by someone , somewhere , deep in the manor of the Valley of Thorns.

That's how all stories start. How it always ends with the hero, the prince, the princess - living happily ever after. I would again read and re-read the stories many times so that I can get a grasp of a sliver of hope for the fellow villains in the writings.

Sipping the hot tea from my own porcelain cup, I reminisce the tales of the past. How little Alice Liddle finds herself in the land I know as Wonderland, how the beautiful Belle fell in love with the Beast, how the Sleeping Beauty- Aurora, I believed- woke up from the death sleep.

The book that sat on my lap, I could only read so much. With a pair of eyes no longer being able to see or even blink, just glass eyes fitted to my sockets as time passes. The rest of my features are still, albeit- human with the mix of a dark fae's blood, courtesy of both Father and Mother.

Light from outside. The window was left open. Birds chirping; slight breeze passing through the curtains, and I smiled, looking at the budding roses of all colours, with sharp, black thorns and silver leaves. The silver diadem in a glass case, my glowing - blue butterflies flutter around my own self. The untouched sweets from my dessert stand, and my plate of petit fours.

The fireplace is lit ; the entire house- or room, really, had an atmosphere of a victorian era luxury apartment. I await for the usual door knocking by the young college student that had stumbled upon I a few months earlier. He had made it his habit to visit this humble home which belonged to a very much ancient being.

I finished my tea, and poured myself another cup, delicately, my fingers flipped the book's next page, where the prince had ordered for the knights to chase upon Cinderella. Smiling, although not being able to see ; the pages were clear to me- the Braille of each word allowed me to read without the need of my eyes.

Thok, Thok

The door knocked.

Thok, Thok

Again, the knocking.

Creak

Slowly; the door opens, and a familiar face arrived. Mint green eyes peeked inside.

"Um, Rosé, sir? Are you busy right now?"

I put the cup down. The book closed and arranged itself to the shelf behind me. I turned to the young man- still; I am clad in my Night Raven College uniform; with the Pomefiore ribbon tied around my sleeve.

"Why yes, Yuuto-kun," I smiled; little fangs peeking out.

"I'm busy preparing for our next jump!"