Chapter 29

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It's over. Rose is leaving.

Or that's what I thought.

I tried coming up with hundreds of plans to make her stay. I vowed to myself that I'll help her in any way I could and I thought my own words backstabbed me at the day of the celebration.

I was gaping when Lily entered. She was practically glowing. Anyone would fall in love with her at first sight.

'Are you jealous?' My inner demon asked me.

'No, because I trust Lewis and myself' I retorted back.

Even all the nobles were gawking. The Eskater duchy all hugged her and made quite a heart-touching scene. Rose took advantage of the situation and left without any noble seeing.

I pointed toward a small, rugged exit for her to escape. She sent me a heart sign from her fingers.

Actually, a crafty part of my brain had thought of a plan the day before. I was going to get Rose back, by any means necessary.

I even went as far as to thinking of kidnapping her but then again, Rose was smart enough to wriggle through my plans.

But, my whole ordeal of ideas crashed when Rose winked with a smirk while pointing a rugged finger towards Lily. I was so shocked that I stood still as a statue.

Lily was a faker. I knew it!

Everyone's eyes were so focused on Lily that I didn't notice Alvin staring at the door like he lost his most precious teddy bear. And mind you, he has five of them stacked under his bed.

Come to think of it, it was after Rose coming into beat his butt that he was able to get a decent sleep.

He quickly noticed and started to stampede towards me. Before the shenanigan, I saw Alvin and Rose dancing together and I could swear that they were perfect together. Well, reckless too.

"Carlisa, what the hell is happening here?" He whispered to me in an urgent tone. I shook my head at this hopeless puppy.

I did as Rose instructed me to do. I took out the letter Rose prepared for Alvin from my inner pocket and handed it over.

The letter had a gold border on it and was addressed as Archduke. Rose really knew how to hit the nail on the head. He looked even more stupefied.

I looked at the scene right in the middle of the ball where Lily had appeared. I noticed that Count Vien had a dubious smile on his face.

I could already imagine my 'mastermind' of a best friend bringing him down on his knees.

>

Rose left the ceremony without a word. I knew she smiled at me but I had a nagging feeling that something was wrong.

Count Vien had brought the lost daughter of the duchy, Lady Lily Eskater, to Lewis's birthday ceremony.

Everyone was shocked. Nobody expected Lady Lily to appear out of nowhere. No offence, but I haven't ever had any glance at her let alone a conversation.

When I saw the whole family, excluding Rose, hug Lily, I focused my gaze on Rose.

I couldn't shake off the feeling that something bad was about to happen.

She gave me a small smile, almost as if she was forcing it and took the stairs to the exit.

My legs stumbled towards her, unconsciously. I looked around the ceremony to see all the invitees gasping.

I noticed Carlisa at a corner and stomped towards her. I knew she knew something.

She handed me a gold-bordered letter and stared at the ground. It was addressed as Archduke. Who was this from?

I opened it hastily to which Carlisa smacked my arm hard.

"Don't open it now. Open it after the ceremony." She seethed at me. The whole atmosphere was bright. The long-lost lady of the Eskater duchy finally arrived.

I called my guard, Lex, who attended the ceremony with me, after I left the ballroom.

"Did you see Rose?" I asked him but he shook his head. A younger knight stood guard near the gates and heard our discussion.

"Sir, Lady Rose just left back to the duchy. She had said that she was feeling tired and I'm going to inform the duchy's coachman at the moment."

"Oh, I see," I replied to the knight and he speeded through us to where the carriages were parked. I wonder what happened. She wasn't tired. She danced with me, just fine.

Wait...If the duchy's coach is still here, how did she get home?

My curiosity was at its limit and I smacked my face to stay in control and sent my Lex to inform my brother that I would be leaving for a while. He obeyed and left in search of Lewis.

I ran up to my old bedroom and took out the letter. The gold borders represented a noble for sure. I opened it and it was dedicated to Alvin. Rose had sent me this.

Dear Alvin,

Do you remember the first time we dueled and I broke your sword in two? And how I was acting high and mighty afterward the whole way home?

At first, I was intimidated by you. To put it simply you were annoying! But I have to admit that you became a good friend to me.

If you received this letter, it means that I have already left the empire. It might most likely be temporary. I have something to fix relating to my attribute. I can't promise, but I will be back.

Please don't start a rampage and clear out each town and city for my sake. It would be pointless. After all, I did beat the great Archduke in a sword to sword duel. Sorry, I can't help but tease you. Please forgive me if I have ever offended you.

I have put some jewels that I experimented on. You'll understand once you check one of them. I want to be of help to all of you and for that I need authority and when I come back (if I do) I might even be more powerful than you!

I'm kidding!

Anyway, like I've said, enjoy your life. After a few weeks, I'm sure letters will be flooding on your desk after you turn 16. Here's an early birthday wish,

Happy birthday!

Please stay safe for me and protect the empire. As an Archduke, it's your duty  but I wanted to try nagging at you. I'm sorry for leaving so soon. Take care.

Rose.

Why did Rose have to leave? Was someone trying to kill her? Why does my chest hurt? Most of all, why am I crying?

Rose was careful enough to not mention a single thing about where she was leaving. She's right. She is smarter than me.

I couldn't even guess that something was wrong since her awful mood the last time she visited my castle. I should have pushed her for a more clear answer. When did I get so dull?

I took out the red jewel and inspected it. I could feel her energy infused with it. And that sweet scent. I brought the jewel up to my face and kissed it. A strumming realization swept through me.

No. No way! I'm in love with her. I'm in love with Rose Eskater!

A knock on my door distracted me. Carlisa entered the room. She gasped as she saw my state. I stood up, embarrassed.

"What does it say?" Carlisa asked me. I stood silent.

"Rose said she has to leave for some time. Ahh, why didn't she talk with me? At first, I thought Lady Lily had something on her but it seems..."

"It's not just because of Lily. She has a problem with her spirit guardian. And relax, your girl is coming back. Hopefully." Carlisa shrugged. How is she so calm?

"I'm going to find her! I don't care about the consequences. You have to help me, Carlisa." I pestered.

"I don't think that's what she wants us to do... Anyway, she'll---"

"But, you want to find her too, right? We can't live without her! I can't! Not just because she beats me to a pulp in our duels or because she helped me with my insomnia. I want to stay by her side. She's important to me!" I handed her the note and jewel in my envelope after my outburst. She took it blankly.

"Will you calm down and listen without blabbering, you lovesick fool?" She scolded me again.

"Go on." I asked after my ears blushed a vibrant red.

"Infuse your magic with the crystal. You'll find out." She told me in a solemn voice. I did as she told me. I entered my fire energy through the jewel.

Usually, any object will crumble to my heat but the jewel stood still with no change. There was only one attribute that could counteract all the other elements.

"She's a dark user!" I said as I realized.

"Yes and she said she had some problems with her spirit thingy. I'm sure she wanted you to know it too. Listen, I'll be trying to contact her." Carlisa voyaged to me.

"I envy your peace. I'm here freaking out and you're there, acting like nothing's wrong." I sobbed out.

"Anyway, there will be some more problems in the future. I have a bad feeling. Rose must have been scared about her dark attribute too. I mean, how can someone be still when a devil descendant is near you."

"No, no. Carlisa, my grandfather, was a dark user. I remember that he helped me once when I was small and my energy was unstable. He was the emperor! Why can't Rose stay?"

"Answer this! Will the duchy accept a dark user? Will Duke Leo even take a look at her if he knew an orphan he adopted was a dark user? People will criticize the duchy for having such an occurrence---" I interrupted.

"But---"

"Shut up for a second! Rose was an adopted commoner. Commoners don't receive such attributes. That is what the public knows. She wanted to avoid that trouble that would fall on the duchy, so she left as a countermeasure. I have a feeling that when she comes back, things will turn upside down. You know better than I do that she isn't a person to come empty handed." She stated facts.

I smacked my head on the wall after it finally hit me. I presented my thoughts to Carlisa in a hurry.

"But, if she was a commoner, how did she get the dark attribute?"

>

My baby girl was finally here. I was crying and so was all my family. This day couldn't get any better. Lily had grown up into such a beautiful lady.

Her figure and hair glowed brightly. The light attribute she had must have affected her health for the better.

I wanted to hand over the whole world to her at this moment itself.

I wanted to quickly introduce our Rose to Lily. She would be ecstatic. I turned my head to where Rose had been near the windowsill but there was nobody there.

I glanced around to see where she was but she was nowhere to be found. An anxious feeling twisted in my stomach.

"Did anyone see Rose?"

Hi everyone,

So, our little Alvin finally understood that he has a crush on our Rose. What do you think? And, the major point, how will the family react when they find out that Rose left the duchy (Temporarily) ???

Leave your thoughts in the comments and feel free to give a vote. Happy reading!