Quentin held Roses' limped body.
She was tiny for her age, obviously malnourished and sickly. His hands looked abnormally large against her petite frame. The antidote will soon be ready and she will be fully conscious.
Aside from being an assassin, Quentin is a master in Herbology. He could concoct the deadliest poison as easily as he could make antidotes for it. This is something that he did not reveal to the Duke of Wallace for fear that he might exploit him even more. He was marked for life as a murderer, but what the others don't see is that his family is indebted to the Duke, and the only way to repay him is to spend this life in servitude to him.
He laid her carefully to bed as he prepared the medicine. Ten drops would be enough for her, she collected the rest in a separate vial and gave the dosage to her through a pipette.
It took some time before her eyes could fully open, but when they did, it feels like a dagger pierced through his heart.
"You killed my mommy!" She said.
He couldn't stand looking at her devastated face as she tried to scamper away from him.
"It was the only way, Rose. She gladly took it to save you." Quentin gave her space to run off for a bit. This is a big castle after all, she needs to lick her wounds.
Midnight came still no sign of little Rose coming to the table for dinner. He made sure that all parts of the castle were secured before he even let her wake up so she would just be settled in any of the fifteen rooms of this enormous building.
"Rose." He found her curled in one of the beds with tear stains all over her face. She was so exhausted she never noticed him sitting on the bedside just watching her sleep uninterrupted.
Quentin woke up the next morning with a blade poking his chest. He smirked when he saw Rose all perky and poised to kill him. Her tiny fingers could barely wrap around the handle but Rose was sure to keep her hands steady while she gave him a hard stare.
"If you're really sure, do it!" He challenged her.
"I'll kill you!" She cried. She lifted the knife to stab him, but he caught her hand mid-air and easily disarms her.
"Little one. I know why you have so much hatred directed at me, but you were so wrong to even try to kill me. I saved you, I let you step away from imminent death, and yet, this is how you repay me."
"I want my mom! You can take me to her now. I don't want to live without her."
"Your mom sacrificed her life for nothing then. I should have saved her instead of you because you are an ungrateful piece of shit!" He yelled. He could not take her tears. The look of despair on her face affected him more than the thought that she could have killed him.
She killed her in a way because the spark of innocence in her eyes is no longer there. She has nothing but pure hatred towards him.
Why the hell did he allow himself to follow his every bidding?! How long will he have to stay with this monster child?!
A few days more and the Duke of Wallace will be over. He will decide where to bring her and by then he will be free from her.
On the second day, Rose still refused to touch her food. Her body is beginning to show signs of wearing out because she sleeps all day. He has to do something and fast!
"Rose" He said. he holds a bowl of warm soup and placed it carefully on the bedside table before sitting down. "Please honor your mom's death. She will not be happy when she sees you like this."
"I'm five, Quentin. I don't need honor. I want my mom."
"Your mom wants you to live. That is why she sent you with me, remember?"
She sobbed quietly, this time without tears, she was so dehydrated that her lips bled through the cracks when she cried.
"Please live. Melanie will be happier when you eat."
"You think so?" She asked. For the first time, she welcomed him in her arms. She buried her tiny face in his chest and allowed her all the time she needed to cuddle.
After the long silence, he offered her a bowl of warm soup. "Your dad will be here soon. He will take care of you, I promise."
"You think you will be alright to stay here in this room alone?" He asked her after he helped her clean up before going to bed.
"Mom always tells me a story before I go to sleep." She said in a little voice.
"Okay, I'll do it."
"I'm gonna tell you a story about a scary Red dragon called Pirena"
"But... But, my mom always tells me about princesses and castles."
"Alright then, listen closely because I will tell you a story about a beautiful princess called Rose."
"Am I in the story?"
"Yes, dear. You are not only the princess, but the heroine in our story."
He sighed in relief when finally, Rose closed her eyes and drifted to dreamland. He was cleaning up when a familiar figure came out from the shadows.
"Malcolm?"
"Yes, friend. I've been here quite a while, but I do not wish to interrupt your animated talk with the Duke's bastard."
"What brings you here?"
"I'm afraid it's official. I'm here to do the Duchess' bidding."