Chapter 27

The Schulz mansion wasn't as large as the Lombardy's

Of course as a few days went by, I decided to explore since Gilliu and Mayron still wouldn't speak to me or play with me or even look at me.

The garden was large welcoming with rose and lavender bushes a small clear pond with fish in it caught my eye.

Crouching down I trailed my finger over the surface of the clear water watching the small ripples fade as the fish swam a little quicker, laughing lightly as one fish came up and touched my finger probably out of curiosity.

"Rossetti?" I turned a little shocked at the familiar voice

He had gotten a little taller his icy blue eyes meeting my Ruby red.

"Arthur?"

A huge grin split across his shocked one "long time no see!"

I stood up smiling back "yea what are you doing here?"

"Huh oh my dads good friends with Schulz family what about you what are you doing here?" He asked looking at me curiously "I am a Schulz and a Lombardy" I explained

Arthur looked at me with wide eyes "we'll then that's a good thing I come here often with my brothers to train with the sword"

"Really?" I said he hummed a response walking over to stand by my side and look at the fish "so you met Jack and Jess" he said crouching down to get a better look "Jack and Jess?" I joined him he nodded "yea I usually feed them when I'm done training since brother and father likes to talk with the adults after training"

"great then we can meet when ever you come since I have no one to play with here"

"Why are you here anyways I thought Lombardy's don't leave the mansion till there eleven?" He frowned my smile dropped a little "my eight birthday was a mess do you know that ceremony people do to see if they have magic or divine power"

He nodded "I heard what happened I wanted to come and visit but I doubt father would let me he doesn't know we met twice and that we played at your cousins birthday banquet." I nodded in understanding and muttered "yea well we came to the Schulz mansion to stay for a while mostly because of me though"

"We'll that's great!" Arthur stood up his gaze reflecting excitement, I looked up at him confused "how is that great!?"

"It means we can see each other more often I come here all the time and it's boring all by myself!" He exclaimed "what do you mean?" I looked at him confused

"There's no one my age at home and I don't really have any cousins or friends my brothers are always busy with the academy and work and sword and father as well so he lets me come to the Schulz mansion often to have fun and since the Cyrus duchess's children are around my age she lets me play with them when they come around to the Schulz mansion"

"You mean my cousins?" I asked he nodded "but they've gone on a holiday to the west and they won't be back in the capital for a while"

I looked at him thoughtfully "so do you come everyday?"

"nearly everyday" he frowned and grumbled "since my sword teacher also teaches in the Schulz mansion sometimes so when it's not because of my brother it's because of my lessons"

I looked at him thoughtfully "what family are you from?" I asked realising he never told me his frown instantly turning into a grin "we'll my fulled name is Arthur Cyrus Ashford"

I gaped at him fathers sister had married into the Cyrus family from the duke and became the duchess the

〜Cyrus family〜

well known swords masters after the fallen Brown the Cyrus duke has a younger brother who is the leader of the capital knights the swords of this empire and the Ashfords!? That meant his mother was the current head of the temple.

Lillithan Ashford Lumen!

"You joking" I gaped he laughed and shook his head "do you have divine magic?" I asked after a small silence he shook his head sitting beside me once again "I herd you have both though Divine power and magic... the news spread quickly" I nodded "yea I still can't do anything though apparently it'll put my life at risk until I can fully awaken my divine power then can I really start to do anything"

He smiled "we'll that's cool"

I found myself smiling back we talked a bit more before we had to go "well then let's meet again tomorrow" I said standing up and dusting my dress off

he nodded doing the same only dusting of his pants.

And so we did.

We met nearly everyday after that.

The days went by quickly.

Quicker than ever.

Gilliu and Mayron eventually spoke to me again.

But it was rare.

Father was always on business trips after that.

Mother always visiting home but she always found time for me and the twins.

I didn't mind.

Arthur once offered to teach me some sword basics.

It went horrible I fell into the pond Arthur teased me about it for weeks so when he got chased by a honey bee I never let him forget it.

We ended up from meeting in secret to playing freely around the mansion.

Father didn't like that and he sent me to the imperial place to meet the first Prince a few more times and even warned me to stay away from Arthur.

Let me tell you sometimes those meetings ended up in chaos.

Father once told me I shouldn't eat to much or I'll get fat and no one would like me.

When I told Arthur about it since we ended up telling each other everything he looked at me like what father had said was crazy.

We sometimes snuck out with the twins and our cousins one time we all got caught and we were all confined to our rooms for the rest of the day.

Days

To weeks

To months

To seasons

Three years passed

I smiled down at the memory of all of us getting caught and mothers stern scolding and her shock when she had found out from a bored Mayron that me, Gilliu and Mayron had snuck out once she instantly sent a letter to grandfather to fix the hole in the wall or Craney would be sneaking out next.

I wrote the last of the history homework we had been given down on the paper

"are you done yet?" Daphne sighed resting her head on the table dramatically "honestly I don't know how you focus so much I literally gave up on question three!"

I laughed lightly as Damien rolled his eyes in annoyance "it not that hard idiot your just dumb"

Daphne glared at her twin "well if your so smart tell me what happened one hundred thousand years ago after the empire was found and the emperor was established!"

"Easy the rebellion" Damien smirked Daphne looked down at her book "wow that actually correct thanks brother"

He glared at her realising he had been used. I laughed again "it's not funny!" He snapped "oh it really is" I grinned making him scowl in return.

"You both are so annoying" he grumbled standing up "you know you love us" Daphne called after his retreating form "in your dreams!" He exclaimed as he went.

Daphne looked back at her homework and sighed dramatically once again resting her head on the table "I don't plan on inheriting anything wake me up once my father realises that"

I rolled my eyes at her "come on Daphne seriously you promised we'd study together"

She shook her head "no I promised to come with you to the library if I knew we were studying I would have never agreed"

I decided to leave it at that once Daphne decided she didn't want to do something she wouldn't do it as the people said, as stubborn as a Donkey though that was more insulting so as stubborn as a horse maybe.

Finishing the last few questions i stood up looking down at a sleeping Daphne shaking her shoulder lightly "Daphne come on get up"

She looked up at me lazily sitting up straight and rubbing sleep from her eyes "coming coming you go ahead to the dining room I'll follow"

And so I did heading to my room to change. I've gotten taller these past few years but not as tall as Gilliu and Mayron or Damien at that he's taller than the whole lot, Daphne also seems to be taller than me just by a few inches though.

Letting the maid work the small red jewel shaped flower hair pins through my hair as she set them into two small buns leaving the rest free flowing.

"What jewels would you like to wear today?" My current maid Lucy asked I looked thoughtfully at my options "let's go with the Ruby earrings that Grandfather Alphonso gave me on my birthday" Lucy nodded and smiled softly.

Looking myself in the mirror the white and red dress matching my eyes thankfully every once in a while I like to pick out and decorate my own cloths since why not.

Waving to one of the guards as I went past who nodded a greeting in return.

The dining hall we peaceful Gilliu and Mayron sat next to father looking bored. I joined mother who was sitting on fathers other side "and you finally came" Gilliu muttered "I had to study" I pointed out.

"Ah Rossetti have you seen Daphne anywhere?" Aunt Haily asked looking a little worried.

"Ah she said to go ahead and that she'll join us soon" I smiled Damien chuckled knowing my clear lie.

She probably fell back asleep I thought and nearly sighed "you know we plan to go back to Lombardy soon" Father said with a smug grin as he sipped on his red wine.

"Already?" Auntie looked at him shocked "it's nearly Rossetti's Eleventh birthday, in a few months it will be anyway" Mother explained calmly.

"Yes and she is able to control her mana pretty well now and anyways I've taught her the basic magic lessons when her divine powers awake we can actually start working on spells" Uncle sighed tiredly he reminded me of Daphne in a way but Daphne cared a bit more on what people thought of her.

I smiled at that thought Uncle and Daphne were really alike seems like they have similar genes

"you know Rossetti it really is amazing such a lovely young lady like you can keep up with her studies and listens well if only someone could be more like that" Aunti glared at Daphne who had just joined us "oh I'm sorry I was studying in the library with her right Rossetti" Daphne looked at me with a tight smile.

I knew she had probably gone somewhere in that half an hour I left.

Cutting a piece of my steak I went along with it "yes she even helped Damien with his history what was the question?" I looked at Daphne pretending to be confused "which one?" She asked innocently as we ignored Damien's glare

"oh right what happened one hundred thousand years ago after the empire was found and the emperor was established" I nodded calmly remembering the question.

Daphne grinned but quickly caught herself last second coughing lightly and bringing her hand to her mouth to cover it "yes mother see I helped him with a few questions he even thanked me right Damien" Daphne looked at her twin brother.

Damien scowled at her but didn't say anything Daphne looked at me with a smile and I tried to avoid her gaze by eating a pice of my steak knowing if i did I'd probably laugh aloud and that wasn't very lady like was it.

"Speaking of Lombardy" Grandmother put down her cup of wine down looking at mother seriously"I herd a rumor at a small tea party with a few of the older ladies turns out Galahan Lombardy will be winning an award for his clothing business I plan to go."

"Yes my younger brother did tell me in his recent letters" mother took a bite out of her steak "I plan to go as well"

"Can we come!" Mayron exclaimed suddenly excited "Tia will be there we haven't seen Tia much in these three years only when we visit"

"I want to come to!" Gilliu nodded in agreement Mother sighed "if you both really insist"

I could practically see sparkles radiating off them lucky ducks I'm not eleven yet so I can't go.

Letting out a small sigh I stood up everyone looked up at me Mother a little confused since my plate still had food in it.

"I've finished eating so I'll be leaving first" I said calmly putting on a smile

"Ah Rossetti I'm leaving for a business trip soon I want to speak to you before I go meet me in my office later for tea" father smiled I bit my lower lip but nodded knowing it was probably something I wouldn't like.

Walking through the garden I sighed taking in the fresh scent of the flowers, The roses were just starting to bloom I always liked roses since it was in my name that thought brought a small smile to my face as I brushed my hand over the small red petals.

These past few years had gone by so quickly and I enjoyed every second but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss Lombardy.

I missed sister Larane we wrote to each other often and she visited a few times after she turned eleven.

I missed grandfather but according to the rumours it looks like I don't have to worry Tia has handled that.

I missed Craney and Acallilu of course they wrote to me often as well Acallilu usually wrote about how things were going with Belsach and Lombardy and how his mother asked him to go live with her for a while and I wrote back about everything happening here. Craney wrote his first letter a while back talking about how he learnt to write and he was writing his first letter to me.

I had kept each letter not wanting to throw it away they were tucked away safely in my drawer.

I was excited to see everyone soon at that, mother said we'd be going back in two months from now.

"Rossetti!" A masculine voice called over I turned around around a huge grin whisking across my face.

"Arthur!"

A/n

Finally reached the time skip (≧∀≦)

I've been looking forward to writing this chapter for so long (〃ω〃)

Thank you for all the votes and comments your all amazing reader I'll be back soon with the next chapter ･:*+.\(( °ω° ))/.:+