"Maybe you are smart.. but that naïve little girl isn't." Lady Victoria commented. An elegant smile was plastered on her face as she looked at the king in the eye.
She had spent years trying to mould Lucas into what she wanted but the brat had always known what she wanted and in as much as she tried to smile while facing him, her mood was foul but she concealed it behind that gentle smile that could fool anyone.
Her words didn't affect Lucas who stood tall in front of his so - called - mother. Looking at her brought memories that he was not so fond of but he had learnt to curb his desires for a good comeback. "I'd have loved to chat with you Mother, but I have a kingdom to run. Enjoy your.. living moments." With that, he took her hand and lightly kissed it's back and walked away.
★★★★★. ★★★★★. ★★★★★
That noon, Rose who had been wiping the guestroom windows was walking back to the servants quarters when she bumped into someone. When she raised her eyes, she quickly took a step back, and then another one whereby she came to support herself with one of the pillars.
It had been years but she had not forgotten how she looked. Those dark brown locks were just the same as hers. That face had not aged even for a bit but the glimmer in those hazel brown eyes had long disappeared. After a long silence, she found a single word to say. "Mother."
It was a whisper that carried so many emotions. All these years she had wished that she could maybe see her once and now that she did, she did not know how to react. She would have thought that it was just her imagination, but with the way she bumped into her, she could tell it was real.
"Dear. I've got no much time left but I really need to talk to you. Alone. Meet me under the large oak tree behind the dark tower of the palace." With that, the woman disintegrated into nothingness. Her hand subconsciously touched the shoulder that her mother had just touched for the slightest second and she closed her eyes for a short while before opening them.
"Hey.." She heard someone say from behind whereby she whipped her head to face the person. "Brian. I didn't hear you coming." Her thoughts were such a mess in that she didn't notice his arrival.
"You do not look that good. Is everything alright?" Came Brian's question and Rose gave him a faint nod. Seeing her reminded her all the sorrows and turmoil that she underwent. She had been strong for all those years but she could feel that all those invisible walls she had built in her heart were tumbling down and a single drop of tear that she couldn't blink back slipped out of the corner of her left eye.
She did not realize how much she missed her until she saw her. "Are you alright?" Brian who was at least half a metre away from Rose took three steps towards her. "I am okay. I'm okay." She reaffirmed her words
"If you can't talk to me about what's bothering you, then you should speak to someone else. You are a nice girl, you do not deserve to suffer." Roselyne always had trust issues and upon seeing how Brian was understanding, her vulnerable spot was stabbed and all she wanted was to puor out her sorrows. She had always been the one to assure herself that everything would be alright and she hated to admit that Brian was right. She needed a shoulder to lean on.
"Thank you for your concern Brian. But I am fine." There was that forced smile on her face that did not quite reach her face. Tucking an unruly strand of hair behind her ear, she walked away and headed to the servant's quarters.
When she got into her room, she closed the door and as her usual habit, she leaned against it and sighed softly. Seeing her mother had triggered some unsettled feelings. She was young when her mother left her but that didn't mean that she had forgotten her mother loved and cared for her.
What was worrying her more was the feel of her mother's touch. It was as if she was so close to her yet so far. "What would she want from me?" She asked herself and the moment she did, she heard another voice. "You should have ignored her Rose."
She was now sure that if she stayed here for another week, she would end up dying because of a heart attack. "H.. How did you do that." Her question came out in a shaky tone. She had been alone in the room. She was sure about that, yet here he was. Sitting on the edge of her bed comfortably as if he was there for hours.