Chapter 25

𝕾𝖔𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖔 𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖓 𝖙𝖔: 𝕬𝖚𝖌𝖚𝖘𝖙 𝖇𝖞 𝕿𝖆𝖞𝖑𝖔𝖗 𝕾𝖜𝖎𝖋𝖙

***

"Vestia, are you certain that is what you wanted?" I can see the sincerity of my father while asking me that question. I smiled at him, giving him my sweetest while nodding in return.

"I'm sure father, besides, I know that even if the emperor set me for an engagement right now, there's still time for setting things right," I said.

I looked around and saw my mother smiling but tears were already streaming down her face. She must have been so pained from biting her lips that I could see the redness from it.

I chuckled and stood from my seat to where my mother was, then I brought my hands to her cheeks.

"Don't worry Mother, I always know what to do," I wiped the warm water from her face and smiled at her, as she gave me what I wanted, a nod and a hug.

I looked at Father and he only sighed as he put his teacup down. I can see from our table that Mother hasn't touched her food yet, and her hands were tightly gripping the hem of her dress.

I couldn't help but worry about her health and so I let go of our hug first.

"Mother, don't worry about me, all right? So be healthy and eat a lot more, just like father, he knew what I wanted to do in life," I could see how my mother's eyes widened for the first time since that day I managed to claim two of my friends from her gathering.

Thinking back then, I've also wondered how Cain and Celna were doing after coming to their country estate. We kept on sending each other letters, but I felt like there was something more, like what Henry was doing back then.

Shaking my head with some unnecessary thoughts, I heard mother chuckle.

"If that's what my precious daughter wanted then I don't have a choice, do I?" She continued to caress my hair but ended up messing it that I pouted

"But always remember that whatever you decide in life, you are never alone, you have us and the people you've managed to become friends with, so don't shoulder the burden alone, all right?" I could see my reflection shining in my mother's eyes.

So for the first time in my life, I felt like some needles in my chest disappeared.

"Thank you, Mother"

"So, there's no thanks for your Father?" I heard Father ask and I just chuckled. I smiled at him and thanked him but I didn't move away from my mother's warmth. That's when they playfully argued and ended up with a nostalgic kind of laughter reverberating the gentle scenery of the sun's rays around.

Everything seemed to be as it was, like what I had envisioned my future to be, only that there was one thing I never expected to happen.

"Doctor Brian, how's Claudius and Henry?" I asked. I looked at the room, our family's physician was writing something on the paper. He was so focused on it that when I asked, there was no corresponding response.

Not until I knocked on his door. Before gaining his attention, I shifted mine to look around. The room I provided him might be enough but it wasn't what most nobles do for their family physician.

Our household had an attic that wasn't used. The attic used to be covered with dust and cobwebs but Anna and I managed to clean. At first, she was hesitant but when I pursued her, she managed to only sigh while looking at her lady's hands.

Everything came to be fine, as Doctor Brian was staying in our household for two days and still, there weren't any signs of the two gaining consciousness since Doctor Briane was formulating a medicine from the blue rose.

As I looked at it, I couldn't help but feel guilty for what I was doing. First, because I remembered that night when Sir Francis saw the two of my friends wounded. That's where I dragged him to this plan of mine.

He's my father's knight, a captain of our household, the one who had taken his oath for our household, and yet, I was the one keeping him from fulfilling his oath. I made a promise to him and instead of backing away he gladly took my hands and swore for me.

Second, I made Anna collapse by seeing a scenery full of blood. I remembered that day when I also found her in that same situation that's why I didn't want her to be involved, and yet, she took my hands and looked straight into my soul, wanting me to share my worries with her.

Lastly, I kept this secret from my parents. I can't have them be involved in this matter, as I already have plans in mind, because I know that their hands were already full of my request of being an heir to this household.

Since going against the emperor's wishes might be considered treason, up until now, I barely spoke of the things I wanted, but when it comes to my parents, they would always ensure that I would get the things I dreamt of.

Even if it meant to have a bigger sacrifice which I wanted to avoid happening. In the past, they were like this, and I got blinded by the little sun of the empire's appearance that no one matters more than that formidable jewel.

But now, everything has changed. He wasn't the bigger image that I have, the frame that only contained one person already contained many that it would always expand every time.

".....and until then, they would be able to wake up. However..." My eyes went to where Doctor Brian was. He's currently looking at me and his hands were on his knees.

I wanted him to say again his words since I got busy with my thoughts earlier but right after blinking, he was already kneeling in front of me

"The blue rose was said to be a miracle plant but there's one thing that the blue rose couldn't solve," Doctor Brian continued kneeling with his hands clenching on either side of his lap.

I know he wasn't supposed to kneel in front of a young child but he was doing so and he was even biting his lips.

"An illness of losing one's memory..." I blinked a few times. I don't know where this conversation is heading perhaps because I didn't listen to what he said earlier.

I put both of my hands on his shoulders and looked at him. I could see his eyes, shining with warmth and sincerity but also full of curiosity.

"Doctor Brian, why can't the blue rose cure any forgotten memories?"

"Anna," I said pausing my words as I looked at how she combed my hair. I saw how she paused and smiled looking at my reflection in the mirror

"Yes, milady?"

"Do you believe in destiny?" I asked, I saw how she widened her eyes for a second as some of my hair strands fell to my shoulders.

"I apologize Milady..." she said and went to comb my hair again but I only chuckled.

"Did you perhaps meet your own destined person, Anna?" I asked again but I could see how she only sighed and shook her head.

"Milady, did you read this from books?" I chuckled when she looked at me with creasing eyebrows.

"No, just that, I heard this from a friend, that destiny brings people together. But it would also cost a great deal," I said. I looked at Anna as she shook her head.

I heard her sigh again. When I blinked, she bent down in front of him enveloping my hands in her warmth. She looked me in the eyes with the corners of her lips lifted.

I could see how her expression made me feel warmth but at the same time, curious.

"If Milady asked for," she paused but she didn't stop caressing my hands with warmth.

"Destiny brings people together, whether they would become your allies, adversaries, or people who would become one day important to you, but also it brings you some unexpected events to happen," She looked me in the eyes and patted my head.

"As for me, I already met the person I'm destined to and that's to protect the little shell of warmth," This was the first time, I looked at how Anna's eyes shone the brightest.

I couldn't ask her about that legend then, where Doctor Brian said those words about the blue rose.

"Do you perhaps know what Destiny meant, Milady?" Doctor Brian asked.

I couldn't answer, my mouth opened at that time but there were no words that came out. I heard Doctor Brian sigh and yet, he was still kneeling.

"The blue rose could heal any physical injuries or even revive the dead who died one minute before, Milady," he paused

"But as the rumors say that it could cure every illness, there was one flaw. It was to bring back any person's memories"

"Then what does destiny have to do with it, Doctor Brian?" I asked

"The Clamorian clan's only daughter went missing one day, when she opened her eyes, she was surrounded by blue roses, and a place she didn't know. But what intrigued her was a young man who had blue hair and blue eyes, who happened to save her... Thus, the man bestowed the Clamorian's right to use the blue rose in exchange for their daughter," I still don't get what Doctor Brian was saying until...

"The young man asked for their daughter's hands, but the people were hesitant since they don't know who he is. So they managed to steal the blue roses and also their daughter... the young man felt betrayed and as a final goodbye, he erased his memories from the young lady hoping one day, if they meet again, she will remember him without the blue roses..."

"Is that Destiny, Doctor Brian?"

"Yes, Milady, the blue rose works as a destiny as well, because if someone gave you a blue rose, you should cherish that person. Who knows that the one who gave you will be the one who would save you from unexpected fate..."

"Milady, you seemed vacant, are you all right?"

"Yes, Anna. Thank you for preparing my dress. I will now go to the imperial household. Oh and please tell Sir Francis and Doctor Brian about what I said earlier..."

I looked at Anna's smile as she nodded.

As the carriage went to the imperial household, I waved my hands to my parents and Anna as well as to others. But when I went back within, I could see how my hands started to shake.

"The blue rose could never cure any memory loss, because it's a condition set by the legend..."

***

"If you're going to dance, then do it right this time, Lady Vestia... I wouldn't take any consideration how you moved the date of our supposed lesson..." his hold that brought warmth to my body in the past was nothing as cold as ice now.

"I apologize for the inconvenience, Your Highness..."

I heard him sigh.

"Are you aware of the silver full moon, Lady Vestia?"