4 years ago.....
In the great hall at the Helios Palace, Parents and their children, All of nobility, were divided into two spaces in the great hall. The adults mingled with one another and the children did with their own. Fifteen year old Rosette is seen sitting alone on a couch by the end of the room. She observes the other kids as they conversed enthusiastically with one another. She was envious of that and wished she had that kind of courage.
Unexpectedly, sixteen year old Alexander sits down a few spaces beside her, sighing exhaustedly. He clicked his tongue in annoyance as a huge frown dominated his face. Rosette becomes surprised by his sudden appearance and frightened because she was aware of his identity. She glances at Alexander who didn't pay her any attention and kept complaining to himself.
"These fake old geezers, it's very obvious that they're trying to link me to their families. No freaking way am I going to marry their daughters, Daphne is the only one for me!"-He mutters to himself angrily.
"Ahhh-ah, if it weren't for them I would be spending time with my cute little sister right now. Daphne, I miss you, so much" Alexander expresses his impatience to reunite with Daphne with a soft and longing expression.
Alexander was known for his cold smile and his dead eyes, this was why Rosette was astonished when she caught his gentle expression briefly. Alexander notices Rosette staring and asked her with a charming smile.
"Hello, Might I inquire your name?".
Rosette's mouth gapes open when he sees a completely different side of him. "H-Hello, my name is Rosette, Rosette Sharton".
"Hi Rosette, my name is Alexander Hugo Skytria. Why are you here and not with your friends?".
Translation:
"Hello Lady Rosette. You must already know who I am but to play oblivious I'll introduce myself. Why aren't you leaving already?".
Rosette failed to understand the words underneath his captivating smile.
"I...have no friends. I was hoping to create some but I'm not having much luck" Rosette responded looking gloomy.
"Is that so?. That's too bad".
Translation:
"I don't care so scram!".
"What about you Ale...Your highness?".
"I'm trying to hide from some certain people and you can call me by my name if you want".
Translation:
"Why are you asking if you already know?, and why aren't you leaving?".
Rosette fidgets a bit as she tries to calm her nerves. She has never spoken to another close her age before. It was a new sensation. "Ehm....A-Al....ex".
"Hah?, That's an odd way of saying my name. A-Al-ex?. What the hell?, say it properly!".
Rosette felt like sinking into the ground, she thought he was making fun of her and she felt embarrassed.
"Come on, say it properly" Alexander observed her very closely.
Rosette takes a deep breath and utters calmly "Alexander..... Alex".
"That's good" Alexander smirked.
She blushes a bit, a little proud of herself. She felt happy to be complimented by someone other than her parents. But...
"But be warned_" Alexander utters coldly. She flinches when he sees his usual unfeeling facial expression. "I permitted you to call me by my name not nickname. The only one allowed to call me Alex is my darling sister, do you understand, Lady Rosette?". Alexander's mask was off for a brief moment.
Rosette sat in silence, entirely swallowed by fear.
"Alexander!, there you are!" A young boy runs over in their direction.
"Damien, Why are you looking for me?".
The boy panting slightly was Alexander's closest friend and the son of the Duke of Edensburg, Damien Walter Utier. "You are so heartless, Why did you leave me there?".
"You are the perfect substitute for dealing with those kind of situations" Alexander replies, without any hint of guilt in his eyes.
"Next time I won't help you. You suck at being a friend".
"Stop complaining, You're duty as a friend is to obey and serve me".
Damien had a disdainful look on his face. Alexander often forced him to commit to certain things he hated so he wasn't surprised by Alexander's comment. At that moment, he regretted ever approaching him in the past. "It makes me wonder how an angel was charmed by the devil's incarnate, I feel sorry for your sister. It's like a moth dancing around a flame ".
"An adorable moth"
"A gullible moth you mean" Damien was quick to disagree.
Alexander raises an eyebrow as he folds his arms "And yet you have fallen for the moth too haven't you?"
"Indeed. I'm glad she is your 'sister' ".
Rosette who watched the two of them from where she sat, felt strange. At first glance one would think that they were friends until they see how they treated each other. One saw the other as a dog and the other, A means to an end.
"It's very weird how they are referring the princess as a moth" Rosette thought.
"Who is this?" Damien points at Rosette.
"This is Lady Rosette Sharton, She is someone who shall be useful to me in future".
"Oi Oi, How can you regard someone as an object in front of them?" Damien reprimands Alexander.
Alexander glances at her and smiles. He grabs Rosette by the shoulder and pulls her towards him. Rosette was flustered by the sudden physical contact with Alexander. "W-W-What are you doing?!".
"Hey Rosette, how do you feel about becoming someone's playmate?".
"Eh?" Rosette stares at Alexander blankly.
Two days later, Alexander payed a visit to the Sharton estate after notifying them of his arrival beforehand. Viscount Sharton and his wife were elated. They showered Rosette with compliments when they received Alexander's letter. Rosette was so happy when she heard of Alexander's visit that she kept bragging to her maids.
When Alexander arrived, Rosette and her family were dressed to the nines, waiting to welcome him. They didn't know that he was not alone. Riding the carriage with him was Daphne. She was dressed cutely in purple.
Rosette eyes widens when she saw angelic little Daphne coming down from the carriage with Alexander smiling softly by her side. She felt defeated. She possibly couldn't hope to win against someone so beautiful.
"Your highness, this is?...." Asked Viscount Sharton.
"This is my little sister, Daphne. I brought her today because I hoped we could spend time together with Rosette".
"O-Of course, Our Rose would be delighted, right Rose?" Viscount Sharton asked his daughter, assuming she would be fine with Daphne's company. But Rosette did not look pleased at all. She had already bragged to everyone about how she was the reason why Alexander was visiting the mansion. It made her look bad.
"Why can't it only be Alexander?" Rosette mutters.
Daphne gaped at her blankly. "Is that so?. I told my brother that it would have been better if he had come alone".
"I'm sorry for my daughter's rudeness Princess. I'll scold her later" Viscountess Sharton apologies.
"It's quite alright. I'll be disappointed too. I guess I will be taking my leave now". Rosette face brighten up when Daphne told them about her immediate departure.
"Now I can spend time with Alex" Rosette glances at Alexander shyly. She shivers tremendously when she saw Alexander's sinister gaze. Daphne spotted it and sighed. She then tugs Alexander's right sleeve and asked him to stop scaring Rosette. Alexander's oozing ill intent vanishes instantly and he holds Daphne's left hand, apologizing afterwards.
"It looks like 'We' would be leaving now. Apparently we have imposed on your family, and for that I am sorry" Alexander bows his head to Viscount Sharton and his wife. They panicked and begged him to raise his head and he did.
"B-But I thought Alexander was visiting?" Rosette questioned meekly.
"It's unreasonable to expect me to stay after shunning my sister like that, Don't you think so Lady Sharton?" Alexander decision to break away from Rosette was made clear to the Viscount. He sighed and wished Alexander and Daphne a safe journey back. Rosette was not happy about it and blamed Daphne for influencing him and ruining her chance to become closer to Alexander. The Viscount and his wife rebuked her immediately after that.
Rosette sent Alexander countless letters of apologies but Alexander disposed them. He wanted a heartfelt apology not a half-assed one. Rosette had no choice but to pay Alexander a visit. The guards at the Phoenix Palace told her about Alexander current whereabouts, At the Amelia mansion.
Rosette grits her teeth and grips her dress tightly, "Once again, She's trying to get in my way" She thought.
She set the course for Amelia mansion, she was very determined to patch things up with Alexander. When she arrived, she lied to the guards about her reason for visit so that they would allow her entry. She gets out of the carriage and wandered about the mansion without a guide. She hears voices and followed it. It led her to Daphne's room. The door was wide open but she peeked inside to see what was happening. She witnessed Alexander hugging Daphne and Kissing her afterwards. Shocked, she runs away and reunites with her maid and coachman.
* * * * * * *
"Prince Alexander gave me an order, I was just following it" Rosette came to her defense.
"But you are my maid and as a maid you are only allowed to address him by his title" Daphne said coldly.
"I was just.....It was a mistake".
"Indeed, A habitual mistake" Daphne sighs and continues "Rosette, I am aware of your feelings for my brother but I do not understand why you dislike me so?".
Rosette glances at Alexander. She saw that he not listening to their conversation seeing he was humming cheerfully as he played with Daphne's hair. She grits her teeth in frustration and raises her voice at Daphne.
"BECAUSE!!....Your highness is always with Alexander, even though I tried so hard to be by his side, it is easy for you".
Rosette now had Alexander full attention and Daphne seemed confused.
"We are siblings Rosette, Why are_?...Rosette interjects "But I saw you two!!!. I saw Alexander kiss you that day. And the way you look at him and the way he treats you, that's not normal!!".
"Rosette" Daphne said.
Rosette looks up at Daphne and flinches when she met her threatening gaze. Unexpectedly, Alexander began laughing hysterically.
"W-Why are you laughing?" Questioned Rosette.
"The same reason why my sister is glaring at you. I laugh because she frowns, Do you rather have me break your neck instead?"
Rosette clenches her hands, Frightened by Alexander's words.
"How can you laugh right now?" Daphne asked curiously and irked.
"Well she isn't lying so why are you annoyed?, or have you actually forgotten?".
"Of course not, I hated history class ever since".
"Is that all?" Alexander asked, secretly wishing to hear what he had expected her to say.
Daphne leans forward and rests her chin on her right hand. She was clearly avoiding Alexander. "I cannot really recall that time, you left the palace shortly after that".
"Is that so?...."
Rosette detected a glint in his eyes and swallows her saliva. He grinned and turned to Rosette, "Rosette, watch closely. I want you to describe what exactly you saw that day".
In a blink of an eye, Alexander pulls Daphne backwards and she fell on him. "What are y_" Before Daphne could comprehend what was happening, Alexander took her lips with a single gasp.