Rose opened her eyes as the sun shone brightly. The sound of the leaves in the wind brought the fresh air that had not been smelled in the shady forest for a long time to enter her sense of smell. Lifting the girl's gloomy mood since falling off the horse.
"Already up?" Steven's voice disturbed the fairy's happiness.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Rose answered Steven politely as usual.
"Eat. There's one more thing we have to do before we head back to the palace." the king handed her some apples that he picked.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Rose said slowly.
Rose took a bite of a red apple that looked small compared to the apple she usually ate. Unlike its pitiful appearance, the apple had a refreshingly sweet taste. Made her eat some red apples to meet the needs of her stomach.
"Here." Steven said without the slightest intonation.
"Ah!" Rose was surprised when the king of the dragon race carried her bridal style.
"Noisy!"
"We'd take more time if we had to rely on those little feet of yours." Steven said bored.
The man immediately jumped as soon as his black wings appeared. Carrying the fairy in his arms. Didn't want to give the girl any more explanation.
Rose wrapped her arms around the man's neck tightly. She closed her lips tightly so as not to disturb the king. Worried that if the Dragon Race ruler found herself too intrusive, he would throw herself down hard.
She was confused by the king's behavior. At other times, he will act indifferently as if he has no heart. But other times the man would help her humbly.
If the man didn't help while she was trapped in an infinite illusion, there was a chance that she would never wake up. The ruler of the dragon race must also have done something so that all of her wounds suddenly healed.
But the cold stare she saw as she fell from the horse made her hesitate. Perhaps, she would observe the man for a while before deciding whether to trust him or not.
"What place is this?" Rose asked after the two landed on the ground.
"This is the second place you have to purify at this time." Steven answered the girl's question.
Rose stared at the black soil, the vines with black leaves, and the strangely textured rocks that were also black.
Not wanting to upset the king again, Rose immediately helped the whole place to regain their vitality through her sweet voice.
Usually she would bring some devices that could channel her energy, but the man didn't make her prepare so now she could only use her vocal cords.
"Ah..!" Rose was surprised to find the original sight so stunning. It's just, some terrible things seen surrounding her.
The strange rock she stepped on was actually a person's hip bone. Rose moved backwards to avoid the bone but the entire ground was like a burial ground. Bones strewn everywhere.
"Don't run." Steven was very cold.
"I'll be gone for a bit. Wait for me here." the man didn't want to take the weak creature anywhere he went.
Rose had no other choice even though she didn't want to be left alone in that scary place. She hoped that the man would return soon.
Unfortunately, fate was not on her side. Drops of water fell visible from the overcast clouds in the sky. Rose tried to find a big tree to take shelter from the rain that was getting heavier.
The beautiful princess of the fairy race finally found a large tree not long after exploring the surrounding area.
Behind the tree there is a hidden lake. Covered by higher ground around it and towering tree branches.
Maybe because of the purification that the girl did. The lake water looks clear. There are colorful flowers all around.
Rose tried to pick one of the little flowers after the rain stopped. Trying to reduce the boredom of waiting for the king to return, she finally decided to arrange flower crowns near the lake.
In the silence, suddenly a vine came out of the lake and tied the girl's ankles. The tendril pulled Rose to fall into the lake water which looked harmless.
"Ah..!"
Rose tried to pull her leg with all her might. But the plant only grew stronger as it dragged along. The girl engaged in a tug of war for a few moments before she almost ran out of breath.
"Is it finally like this."
"I will die this way."
"No. My father and young brother are still waiting for me."
"I want to live."
"Someone help me."
Rose saw a dazzling light from the slash of the sword. Cut off the vines that bound her ankles. A hand pulled her up firmly.
"Hah.." Rose inhaled as much air as she could after getting out of the water.
"Didn't I tell you not to hang around." Steven spoke loudly to Rose.
"If you want to die so badly, I'll grant it right now." the man snapped at the girl who had just escaped death.
"Sorry."
"Sorry."
"I, sob.. I'm sorry." Rose couldn't help but feel sad in her heart.
She is not a crybaby. She wasn't a tough person either. She is just a weak creature trying to survive. Try your best not to be a burden to anyone.
But can she not be afraid? Is she not allowed to accept the slightest conscience from the man. She had just survived a life-threatening event. She just asked for a little time to calm herself who was still too shocked. Only that.
"Sob.."
"Sorry.."
"Forgive me.."
Rose was still sobbing after she stopped crying a moment ago. After calming down, she felt ashamed that the king was only watching as she cried loudly.
"Feeling better?" Steven walked over to the beautiful fairy who was sitting on the dirty ground.
"Sorry to make you have to see such a shameful thing, Your Majesty." Rose didn't dare look at the man.
"No problem. Thanks to that, I was able to see your true face."
"Rosalia.." Steven kissed the birthmark under the fairy's eye.
Rose looked at the man in fear. She had been so immersed in the previous frenzy that she had forgotten that the magic powder would be erased as soon as it touched the water.
"I'm really sorry Your Majesty. It's not what you think." Rose spoke with trembling lips.
"Then tell me the reason. If I'm not satisfied with your explanation, don't blame me for being rude." Steven spoke slowly.
The man caressed the fairy's beautiful face gently. Not distracting him from the pretty birthmark under the girl's eyes. Rose probably didn't know that her pitiful appearance had halved the dragon race lord's anger.
There is a fact that is widely known in any hemisphere. A man, always weak to the tears of a beautiful girl.