Chapter 15.5: Special.
Narrator's POV
When Kein left Rose was left with Vincent who admires the cute pink rose basket Kein gave to him.
Rose sighed as she sat down on one of the chairs of the store, "Unbelievable! I can't believe she had baskets for other people. I thought it was just me! Kein... you... you... ugh!"
"But your highness, don't you think that's just another admirable quality about Kein? She's considerate and even thinks of others. She even gave me... an adorable one." (Vincent) replied as he browsed the shelves of lipstick.
"I-I know but... I'm just a little disappointed and sad that she wasn't only thinking of me. D-Does that make sense?" (Rose) wondered nervously as her mind ran like it's on fire.
"Agh! And in the future she'll become a womanizer! Can you believe that?!" (Rose)
"If I'm being honest, your highness, since she's a talented artist I can imagine a lot of people will be pining for someone like her." (Vincent) answered honestly as Rose grit her teeth in jealousy.
"T-This is rather problematic. I-I knew she was charming but my heart is literally beating so fast whenever I think of her. I-Is this normal for a crush? I-It is... right?" (Rose) holds her chest for a moment before looking at Vincent worriedly.
"What if this turns into something more and I can't run away from it? Vincent, what will I do? I..."
Vincent stops his browsing and immediately kneels down to meet the princess' eyes cast down. "Your highness, you are still quite young for you to be thinking something about love. How about you wait for a bit before thinking about it some more. After all, Kein from the looks of it has no interest in romance at all. Both of you are not ready for feelings like these."
Rose nods as she looks away for a moment, "Feelings are confusing." f(r)eewebnovel.com
"I have never felt that way to anyone your highness, but if its something my father taught me. There is a time for everything and meaning, there will be a time for love as long as you are patient." (Vincent)
Rose smiles in relief, thankful that her friend was there for her, "Thank you, Vincent. Your father is still being wise huh?"
"Why, my father is one of the wisest people I've ever met. I'm quite lucky I've been born in a stable noble house." (Vincent)
"So if Duke Wolford ever found out about your feminine hobbies do you think... he would ever accept?" (Rose) asks...
Vincent thinks for a moment before she sighs, "That. I do not know. He may be my father but he's also a member of the highest monarchy. If his son is seen wearing something like a dress or using lipstick. I'm afraid his good name will be tainted in shame because of his son who wears things that are... meant for girls."
"If it helps Vincent. I think you would look good in a dress." (Rose) smiles as she stands up from her chair and grabs Vincent by his arm. "Ooo how about this one dress? I am so sure this will look so good on you!"
Vincent embarrassingly nods, not used to the acceptance. "I-If you say so maybe... I could try it on?"
"Trust me I have a thing for fashion and I'm really envious of your good figure right now."
Indeed Vincent really had a nice figure. "T-Thank you, your highness. Ah actually I was meant to ask this but Kein gave you two baskets didn't she?"
"Yeah, a cat one which I will keep and a teddy bear one that was supposed to be for my sister." (Rose)
"So which sister will you give it to? Princess Catherine or Princess Cecilia?" (Vincent)
"Obviously not my elder sister because I fear that... never mind I'm not that close to her so I'll just give this to Catherine and I'm sure she will love it."
Rose holds her basket a little closer to her heart as the two of them decide to browse the store some more before going home.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
At the palace Rose successfully managed to sneak in her window as if on cue her younger sister, the third light princess. Catherine von Goldheart is sitting on her bed waiting for her. Her face full of worry she signed, 'Where have you been? You almost got caught and I had to run and cover for you!'
The third princess is unable to speak so that's why she signs. All the royal family knows how to sign in order to communicate with their youngest one, 'Mother is... looking for you...'
Rose looks sadly at the basket Kein gave her, remembering the tarot reading from the high priest grandma chio. "I see. Let me get changed into proper clothing and then I will visit mother. Can you give me a moment Catherine?"
Catherine nods and signs, 'Of course sister.'
Rose hastily wore her noble dress engraved with the royal seal of the lion. It had a red finish with golden flowers of roses and her tiara. "I will never like these tiaras. Always itchy on the head..." she muttered as she left her room.
Posture straight, chin up, and smile like the world outside is alright. "A real princess must always smile and look elegant wherever she goes."
Is what she was taught all over time in the palace but she has never once heard, "Be a princess that even without the crown in your head you will always be their princess in the eyes of your royal subjects."
It was a belief she made for herself ever since stepping out of the castle and into the city of commoners where conditions of her people were never taught inside the palace. They had always believed that their country was flourishing but no one told her that there were people starving, homeless on the streets, and moving to another place perhaps to start a new life.
She smiles even under the thought of it.
It angers her but she has to smile.
It saddens her that she can't do much about it but she has to smile.
"A princess must not show weakness to others. They will not cry in public, imagine the scandals that will do!"
Rose grits her head at the memory but there were a lot of staff, maids, butlers, and knights. If she releases her anger now she will never hear the end of it from her father, the king and the golden child of the family. Her eldest twin sister.
"Rosarie. I see you're punctual as always."
Speaking of the devil. Rose smiles politely at her sister and curtsies gracefully holding her dress and kneeling a little, "Ah, eldest sister Cecilia. It's a nice afternoon isn't it?"
Rose implied leaving her sister nodding somehow she's quite cheerful today isn't she? "Yes it is. I suppose since it's a nice day I'll let you off with a warning of how your curtsy needs some work."
"You seem awfully distracted, elder sister. I wonder what could be the reason you seem so happy today?" (Rose) suspiciously interrogated her sister.
Princess Cecilia looks at her hand before blushing away remembering the memory of her holding hands with the traveling artist. "I-Its none of your concern. Let us go before father and mother miss us too dearly."
"As you say. Elder. Sister." (Rose)
The two of them settled their differences and visited their mother who was lying weakly on her bed as the king worriedly prances around the room. Catherine was on the side of the bed holding her mother's hand. She was crying but no words came out.
She wanted to say a lot of things to her mother but she couldn't.
It was difficult for her.
"Catherine..." (Rose) went to her side immediately and wiped her tears for her. "Mother will be alright. We'll bring the best mages, healers, and priests for her." She told her sister to comfort her.
"Rosarie, you must not let her have... high hopes that much. You have to... be ready... in case-" (Cecilia) bites her lip as if trying to be strong in front of her sisters. She's the eldest one of them so she must set a good example.
Rose looks down, she clenches her fist. She knew there was a chance her mother, the queen of the country, would die but she was stubborn and wanted to rebel to her sister, "She will be fine. Sooner or later we'll see mother walking again, smiling again, she will be alright!"
Cecilia sighs at her younger twin, "It's... nice to be optimistic but I'm just telling you to be ready."
Rose grits her teeth, "Ready my foot! Mom will be alright! What's the point of being rich with all this gold if we can't have our mother healthy and well!"
"R-Rosarie..." (Cecilia) reaches for her sister but she backs away slowly. She must set an example.
To be... strong. "I'm sure father will bring the best of the best. We'll have to support our mother... while we can still hold her in our arms."
The queen was sleeping soundly, her breathing was weak but nothing.
The reason why Rose didn't overact was her card from the high priest grandma chio.
The card, keeper of souls.
One where one of your loved ones will soon die in the future.
She knew her mother didn't have much time left.
Rosarie was left feeling in pain. She already knew her mother would be gone in a matter of few years, left clinging to her life.
Rose denied that and hoped something, anything or someone will save the Queen.
Author here! Thank you all for the people who voted! I love you guys! Literally I would marry you! In any case I just wanted to tell you that your support helps this book update more.
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[The Demon Lord is a Cat now?!] I have been wanting to make this for a while now so please get hyped!
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