“Prince Michael Leon and Princess Sarah Elma have arrived!”
The doorman’s voice echoed through the hall. A conversation that swelled to the ceiling came to an abrupt end. Everyone locked their lips tightly and turned their eyes toward the door.
There a nineteen-year-old girl stood. In the tops of the silk dresses with the tops off the shoulder and the cropped skirt parts, Princess Sarah looked adorable.
Especially with her dark hair so simple. Her bangs were left loose as well. No extravagant hair accessories, except a small tiara, as a symbol of her royal family.
“Good evening everybody,“ greet Princess Sarah with a smile. The chubby cheeks that had always been reddish pinched when the corners of her lips curved.
“Your majesty,” all nobles reply. Simultaneously bow or bend the knee. Saluting deeply.
It wasn’t just the Princess who came. A tall boy in a black suit and a princely coat accompany her next door. The young man is the third prince and the older brother of Princess Sarah, Prince Michael.
Rosetta looks at the Prince and the Princess carefully. Those who were instantly addressed with such respect mingled peacefully among the nobility. In the order of the heir to the throne so that the two of them would not be so formal in public.
“Let’s greet the Prince and Princess first,” whispered Lucas, who before he bowed and put his lips close to Rosetta’s ears.
The red-haired girl froze in shock before nodding stiffly like iron. At last, the two of them remained standing, waiting for Michael and Sarah.
“Good night, Your Majesty,” all together bowed down to Lucas and Rosetta.
“Lucas! Wassup?“ Prince Michael developed a pleasing smile and without the pleasantries of shaking Lucas’s hand.
“As you can see, I am always well,” Lucas responded politely.
Prince Michael raised an eyebrow, then laughed and glanced at Rosetta.
“Lady Rosetta. I’m glad to see you. By the way, is every day your fiance is this cold? “ asked prince Michael in a joke.
Rosetta smiled sweetly and nodded. “As his friend, you must know that it is unchangeable.”
With Princess Sarah, Rosetta passes once or twice. Back in the academy, they were in the same class. Even so, because of the distance differences in residence, they were not so close. While with Prince Michael, Rosetta also met quite often.
“Of the many noblemen at Aelton, why did you pick this young man, Lady?“ Prince Michael asked again. Doesn’t waste his sense of humor even in public.
Rosetta smiles meaningfully, as she throws a soft gaze at Lucas. “Of course because I love him.”
“Wow. When intoxicated by love, the world looks like a bed of red roses!“ Princess Sarah commented, banging Rosetta’s arm and open a white fan in her hand.
Suddenly a Count came to interrupt the conversation between that two young men. At first, he greeted the pleasantries but squeezed into men’s business and chatter so that Rosetta was forced to withdraw from the circle. But Princess Sarah felt uncomfortable too, also joined in.
“Here you go,” Rosetta said as she handed the Princess a glass of champagne.
“Thank you, Lady Rosetta,” replied Princess Sarah. Accept the glass and take a slow sip. She squeaks as she feels the fluid go into her throat.
Now, the two women stood at the edge of the hall. Pulled away from a crowd of nobles who were still chatting to each other. There are still a few moments before the second dance. Then they still have a long way to go.
“Are you in a good mood?” Princess Sarah suddenly chirps. She had noticed Rosetta staring at Lucas in the distance.
“Of course. Nothing would make me happier than to be with a loved one, would it?“ Rosetta replied. This time, a slight smile. The energy of the story and the friendly energy that came out when around Lucas was vaporized.
“That’s right. Anyway, let’s have some tea sometime. I could invite some of the other girls,” said Princess Sarah, ”During the time at the palace, I was quite bored and lonely.”
“Lonely?“ Rosetta frowned. “Aren’t there was ....”
Her voice was choking down the edge of her throat, almost falling away. The words hang because Rosetta remembered that thing was taboo to discuss with Princess Sarah and the other Princes.
“What’s wrong?“ asked Princess Sarah. A faint smile was printed on her lips, but Rosetta wasn’t very good.
For now, how could Rosetta bring up all this fuss about the princess’s step-sister when it was such a common secret that Queen’s children and the Mistress were at war with each other?
Rosetta restored her words. “Are there any other Princes you can join in tea? Or the Queen too.”
“Unfortunately they’re all too busy.” Princess Sarah answered as though she had known what Rosetta would have said earlier.
After that, some noble girls became aware of the whereabouts of Rosetta and Princess Sarah so that they resumed some gossip. But since this time the members of the kingdom are present, it can’t be said lightly.
“The forward debutante party is going to be very crowded,” commented Lady Bethany, chuckling behind the fan.
“Right,” said the other girls.
“Oh, besides the sisters of Lady Rosetta, will she not come too?” whispered one of the ladies. Suddenly everyone turned to the girl.
“Who are you talking about?“ asked Princess Sarah
“Oops!” Lady Charlotte covered her mouth with a fan. Got the wrong idea for offending that taboo thing. Immediately it became a bit awkward because all the girls were silent.
“Oh. Do you mean it’s Sophia?” asked Princess Sarah in a calm tone. The girl of the same age as Rosetta well hid a hatred of that name behind a sweet smile.
Vaguely Lady Charlotte nodded. The girls looked furious at one another, afraid of how the Princess would react.
“By the way, which boutique recommendations do my sisters have to visit?“ asked Rosetta. Like a professional, deflecting the taboo topic with something else.
All the girls snatched up the subject like a fish taking the bait. Rosetta smiled relieved and spread the fan.
The expected moment is upon them. The Duke Riverdale came to deliver a speech to end the Duke’s birthday party.
Lucas grabbed Rosetta’s hand as the red-haired girl pulled into the wagon. Still, Rosetta moved her feet to meet Princess Sarah and Prince Michael's approach.
“Thank you for that, Rosetta,” said Princess Sarah, “I’ll invite you to the palace as soon as I can.”
Although amazed, Rosetta thanked her and bowed when the King’s two children passed. Instead, she looked at Lucas.
“What did you do, Rosetta?” said Lucas.
Rosetta blinked, then smiled a bit.
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
Rosetta writhing on the bed. Feeling a warm breeze from the summer sun coming through the bedroom window. The curtains of that expensive fabric had already been opened. Become a natural wake-up call.Still writhing and growling for a while, Rosetta gets ready to sit down. Her half-closed eyes flicked, and then she saw the daily scene in his room.“Is My Lady awake? I’ve asked Anna to prepare breakfast. Would you like to take a shower right after?“ asked a series waiter named Flora. The girl with freckles on her cheek was already standing next to the bed.“Yes,” replied Rosetta.Then, two other servants, Karen and Silvia stepped out of the bathroom and stood at the front of the bed. They’re bowing.“The hot water will soon be filled. What fragrance you need today?” asked Karen.“Lavender, roses, and vanilla have been quite popular lately,” Silvia adds.“Just the roses.“ Rosetta answered. Her eyes roll
Rosetta stands in a dim hallway that relies solely on the light of the full moon as a light. She turned to the left and found no one there. Normally Flora or her knights took part, but this time she doesn’t know where they went.This place is strange. The walls were tanned and some of the paint was peeling. Paintings of unknown persons are displayed. Strangely, the eyes of the figure in the painting seemed to observe Rosetta from top to bottom.Hurry Rosetta step away. That woman’s step was heavy, so she looked down.“What?“ Rosetta muttered. She quickly searches for a window nearby and notices her reflection.A black linen dress with a frown on her shoulders and waist. The corset she used this time didn’t choke too much, but Rosetta felt claustrophobic. This strange atmosphere that she felt in the place is what caused it.“Necklace?”Rosetta touched her neck. Sensed a simple necklace with only one red pendant.
“I was very worried about you, Rosetta,” says Lucas. Now stand beside the bed where Rosetta sat on.Half an hour ago, the Marquess Grasswall castle was in a frenzy. Because after three days of sleep and a high fever, Rosetta did wake up. The doctor who called for just sighed relief, saying that Rosetta was as healthy as ever.Then, ten minutes earlier, Lucas came. Visiting Marquess’s home with hard breath to visit his fiance. So now they’re both in the room.“You needn’t bother coming,” Rosetta retorted. She wanted to turn the clock back to sleep, but when she saw someone who loved her, she pulled the plug.Lucas sat on the edge of the bed. He looks in a dark-haired girl who now looked whiter than paper. Not a time or two Rosetta has ever woken up from the dead like this.“You had another nightmare?”As a childhood friend who spent a lot of time together, Lucas also learned that Rosetta had an unknown disease. B
A single-inch step in a pair of heels made a sharp sound as Rosetta made her way down the stone staircase on the castle’s front porch. It was now eleven in the morning and she neglected the duties that were piling up in the workroom.“Good morning, Lady Rosetta!”The sound of a joyful call came from a young man standing next to the chariot, opening the door. The young man was wearing a black uniform with a white vest over his broad breasts and broad shoulders. A dark brown coat dangled from the side of his left shoulder.“Good morning, Alden,” greet Rosetta with a smile to her guardian knights at the ready. She paused and stood in front of the knight.“Your energy never runs out,” adds Rosetta.Her eye beads noticed a dark blue hair sticking out against gravity on his head. Insensible, Rosetta wiped Alden’s hair. Fixing every strand for a little bit.“La–Lady, what are you doing?” shrieked Alden freaking. The bl
“The young master is in his room. This way please.“The man in his mid-thirty guided Rosetta, Flora, and Alden in. Her rest of the unit is waiting outside.“Thanks, Rowson,” replied Rosetta, raising a nice smile.They passed through the long halls of the front castle building. Turning and heading east where Lucas’s workroom is.Rosetta threw a stare in the backyard of a building visible from the window. From here she can see a flower garden and a moment where remembered as her kiss and dance with Lucas.The feeling of shame but joy is pumping inside the inside of Rosetta’s chest. Unconsciously smiling stupidly alone. Good thing nobody’s watching.The door to Lucas’s workroom was made of mahogany, towering before Rosetta. Rowson knocks three times before entering. After saying a few words, Rowson let Rosetta in. This time without Flora and Alden.“Good morning, My Lord,” said Rosetta curtsey.Lu
Two weeks later, Rosetta and Lucas were in the Capital of Aelton, named Evening, with half of Duke Riverdale territory but the most densely populated region in the entire kingdom.Got two days left before the party, Rosetta uses it to meet fellow Ladies. Gossiping about things, even exchanging information.Though the girls smiled and laughed at each other, they secretly competed strictly to show who would be the center of the party.Tonight, the debutante party is being held in the palace hall. Dozens of nobles from all over the Kingdom were present, simultaneously ending the social season and welcoming the fall.Rosetta spent two hours in the bathroom. The water has a floral scent and red rose petals sprinkled with a great fragrance.“Lady, tonight I risk my life to make you the most beautiful girl in the whole kingdom!” Flora says, eager to comb the red hair of Rosetta that reaching her waist.“I prefer to be
“Lord Lucas Jean Carleton and Lady Rosetta Jane Halstead have arrived!”The sound of the bodyguards announcing the arrival echoed throughout the Aelton palace hall. The nobles sprawled out on the floor quickly looked at the door.Rosetta elegantly walks next to Lucas as she descends three steps below the entrance. Her brown eyes flashed, noticing the shocked expressions of those in attendance who saw her and her lover's appearance.“Wow, they’re amazing.”“As if destined as lovers.”“Look how romantic Lord Lucas has taken Lady Rosetta in his hand.”The whispers of praise rang out every Rosetta and Lucas through the royal crowd. Rosetta’s confident smile grows. Without glancing to her side, she made her way to the end of the hall where the King and Queen were located.“Salute to the sun and moon of Aelton,” greet Rosetta and Lucas simultaneously.Lucas bowed forty-five degrees, Rosetta fle
Princess Sonya is heading down the stairs very carefully. The faint knock from the shoe she was wearing was heard, but far less than the rotten whispers heaving up to the ceiling of the hall.It’s Rosetta who wants a big laugh right now. However, she is holding it because her position is not too far from royal majesty, which would certainly reflect her image.Just look. Now Princess Sonya walks to the throne. All the nobles laughed as her footsteps seemed unsure of themselves. The girl’s shoulders were half bowed and her gaze looked down at the red carpet beneath her feet.“Look at her.”“Doesn’t anyone tell you how to wear a dress properly?”“Who would design clothes like that.”“That girl looks ridiculous.”Other promptings reached Rosetta’s ear, giving rise to the disparate smile on the girl’s lips. It is not wrong for the nobility to gossip so openly because Princess Sonya’s appearance this eveni