In one of the lavish chambers in the southern castle, Rosewyn turned around, raising the shimmering stones flecked skirt in front of the mirror to have a better look. "Isn't it matching my eyes?" She asked the maids busy with selecting jewellery for her.
"No! Not anymore green…, get those golden earrings. Huh?! Yes, your highness, you are beautiful even with the rags…, no, no, not that!!"
She groaned with frustration as she wanted to hear a compliment about the dress his majesty gifted her, saying he didn't have any sense of colours. But it matched her perfectly. But she loved to hear the chuckling of maids and the clanging of the necklaces as she paid attention to the jewellery box on the mirror table.
It has been peaceful and lovely lately. Just as Rosewyn thought, a servant came in.
"Your Highness, Sir Xavier is waiting," He announced.
Her smile faded. She had no idea whether to be happy or sad about that matter. She merely could not figure herself out anymore. But in the next second, she forced a smile.
"Guide him to the guest room. I'll be there in a minute," She rushed to add some more powder to her face and continued smiling. After two knocks on the door, she entered.
"Sir Xavier"
The most talented knight of the second prince was staring at the roses in the drizzle, crossing his legs and forgetting the teacup in his hands.
"Rose," He turned his head. "I see that you are taking care of the garden,"
She ambled and perched across him, glancing at the sea of red roses. "… Gardener helped me a lot," She said.
"It is nice to see them," He placed the teacup on the table. Rose's heart had already started racing in fear. Yet her smile could hide that very well.
"What brings you here, Sir?" She asked politely.
His voice was always firm except for one precise topic. "I hope you didn't forget our last conversation, my lady,"
My lady?
More importantly…
She followed his glance to see a painting, the size of a middle-size portrait covered with a red fabric. It stood propping against that unmatching elegant background with dust and dirt.
She heaved a ragged breath and stuttered. "So… it is confirmed?"
"Yes"
Her heart sank.
"And that's her?"
"… Yes,"
The breeze blew from nowhere and lifted the fabric a bit as she saw the clear cursive writings at the corner of the portrait.
"To my Ray"
It said.
Rose's breath trembled along with the fingertips. The fabric covered the portrait entirely once again.
Her biggest trepidation.
The girl in his dreams. He has never touched her for real, never seen her for real. But he felt her for real. He didn't know if she was an illusion or a belief. She was only visible to the chosen people like Rose's late brother, Sir Xavier, and Prince Ezra.
What a wonderful existence.
Hearing stories from her brother at every breakfast, Rose thought.
"May I have a look?" She asked after collecting herself.
Sir Xavier nodded as she ambled there.
An icy frost ran through her spine. A soft sob escaped her lips as she shifted her gaze to the sea of red roses behind the portrait. She let the cloth fall and stumbled back.
What was she thinking when she took care of every petal of those roses with her delicate heart? What was she thinking when she saw his highness stare at those roses all the time? She felt as if her whole world crumbled upon her.
Seeing her reflection every day, she knew that the ethereal beauty of a commoner could exist. Unless the painter was not an utter liar, the muse might have done nothing, but just breathing would be enough for her to enchant someone, heal someone.
"It's her birthday today,"
Sir Xavier said, trying very hard to hide the tremble in his voice. Rose stared at him saying nothing.
So that is why…
She figured out the reason for his sorrow.
"She wanted a crossbow," Sir Xavier blabbered, hiding his sobs under his fake chuckling. "I… I placed the order myself on the day she asked for one," However, he swallowed it instantly and forced a smile with a deep breath.
"At least someone's body would be fine without any holes… haha" He laughed plainly.
She had no idea what to do.
Comfort him?
How?
She was not honest with herself anymore. She knew that they adored her just as they adored Rosewyn herself.
No...
More than her.
She was mysterious. The things Rose heard about her from her brother were the only source. No matter how much she begged, he never let Rose meet her. She did not even know how to meet her. The way they gathered was a mystery.
Like a dream.
"It's a shame that dreams are forgettable," Sir Xavier stated, staring at the portrait. "She was ours,"
"… on the other hand… it's a blessing," Rose spoke, looking at the portrait.
"…Yes"
The bitter taste in her mouth got sharper when he took time to reply. She wanted to change the subject. "His Highness is not informing the capital, Sir, I am worried, Will you be accompanying him?"
"No, I have a business in the west. Young Carmillion is burning everything. I think it's in their blood. But I will be attending the founding ceremony," Sir Xavier answered, quickly adapting to the question.
"Of course you must, I will be waiting for Sir Xavier,"
He stood up, shaking off his thighs, though nothing was there and sighed. "… So help me in this matter, dear Rose. We can't let the dead take over the living,"
"… Yes"
After the door closed, she plopped to the ground as she lost the strength in her legs. She finally knew what she was feeling. She was relieved. She was relieved over the death of the saviour of her brother and the person she admired the most.
She was disgusted by herself. She was not such a cruel person before as she was dying to see the girl in flesh and blood. Instead, she saw the girl only with colours on an old canvas. And it made her happy.
"I am sorry… I am so sorry…, You healed Levi..., when he was dying...,He loved you..., I loved you, and still, I am,... I am sorry," She sobbed.
That is how people get addicted to the warmth in this frozen world.
Rose concluded, lastly.