The Rose Of The South
Chapter 10: Arc and Des Flaches

Anna woke up the next day to smell a mouth-watering scent. Grilled deer. She could not remember exactly when she had fallen asleep last night, but she remembered feeling pain in her legs and falling asleep. The pain did not lessen this morning, but he was getting used to it.

Being friendly with pain is not that bad.

Anna lay staring at the inside of their tent as she prepared herself to go back pretending to be okay, pretending her legs didn't hurt, pretending her heart didn't hurt every time she saw Leon, or even pretend he does not remember the past that overturns his heart every time he sees Xavier. But then came a familiar voice from outside the tent.

"Your Majesty, are you awake?"

That's Leon's voice. Anna wanted to get up and come out to greet him, but the pain in her leg made it difficult for all of that.

"It." Answer Anna.

"Can I come in?"

"Come in, Leon."

Leon opened the curtain of the tent and brought in the freezing morning air from outside. "Good morning, Your Majesty. Breakfast this morning is—“

"Burning deer." Anna replied directly, while trying to sit down. Leon immediately approached her to help her sit down without moving her injured leg. "I can smell it. You made it? It can't be, right?"

Leon laughed, making Anna's heart almost jump out. "You underestimated my abilities, Your Majesty. Louis taught me how to do it before he left early this morning." Leon sat down next to Anna and examined her wound. "How are you doing this morning?"

"It's much better."

"You know, I can tell if you're lying. I'll ask Xavier."

Anna sighed. He just remembered that Xavier could also feel his pain and would tell Leon if he was lying. Anna thought about starting to make a secret deal with Xavier so that the man would not tell anyone what he was feeling. But Anna herself doubted Xavier would agree to it.

"I'm getting used to the pain. I think it'll be a lot better after we eat." Said Anna.

Leon smiled at her. "Come, we'll have breakfast."

Outside the tent, Queen Isabella and Xavier were preparing burnt venison to eat together.

"I just found out Her Majesty can shoot that well." Xavier.

"All the women in my family are good archers. Good thing you guys have this bow. So I can wear it. For the next time, let me hunt."

"I asked Leon to buy me that bow. But I'm not good at archery myself."

"You're the worst archer, my daughter." Queen Isabella has revealed the facts. "Leon, do you remember what happened when he started learning archery for the first time?"

"Mother, don't start again—“

"His Highness the Princess almost killed the delegation from the Orient who was visiting the Palace." Leon.

Xavier looked surprised. "How can you?"

"He passed within my range of sight as I was trying to aim at the apple. It's not my fault."

Leon nodded while holding back a smile, "Of course. What was wrong was a wind that suddenly blew or an arrow that did not obey His Majesty's orders. Of course, Her Highness the Princess was not wrong of anything. That arrow should be put to death for defying His Majesty's will."

"I think I'd better use it." Anna said at last, annoyed that Leon and his mother were still mocking him about his mistake at the time. But at the same time, he felt happy to recall the memories of their peaceful life at Schiereiland Palace.

"Why did you ask Leon to buy it if you couldn't use it yourself?" Ask Queen Isabella.

Anna recalled why she wanted the bow so badly back then. It's because Anna failed to protect Xavier from the shadow killers. At that moment he felt very guilty. He thought Xavier might have died because the arrows that the shadow killers fired contained poison. But it turns out that Xavier has a healing ability that is so extraordinary that only a small scar remains. Even that scar is now gone. The thought of Xavier's healing abilities and the loss of scars on Xavier's body suddenly made Anna aware of something.

"Your Majesty?" Leon revives Anna from her daydream. "You're daydreaming again."

"Yes? Oh, the bow... L'm... I think it's good that I can shoot, too. But now that we have the best archers in all of Schiereiland, it would be better if you used them, right?"

"I'm not that good."

"But the mother once told me that Mother had won an interstate archery contest when she was a teenager. Mother made the defending champion from Orient lose her pride."

"really? Mother never told me." said Leon.

They kept talking about Queen Isabella's amazing archery skills. But Anna continued to observe Xavier from afar. Something Xavier hasn't told him. About how the wounds on his body suddenly disappeared. About how she healed Anna earlier when she almost died from the stab wound. If Xavier could heal Anna who was near death earlier, perhaps he could also heal Anna's injured leg, that was how Anna thought. But somehow Xavier didn't mention his ability to heal or the way he healed. If Xavier could indeed cure him, then Louis did not have to bother looking for a cure. They should be able to continue on to Schiereiland today if Xavier is willing to heal him. But there may be a reason why Xavier did not offer help to heal Anna even though Anna herself did not understand why.

So after that filling breakfast, Anna asked Xavier to help her walk into the tent. Xavier reluctantly complies with Anna's request.

"May I ask you something?" Anna asked as they reached the tent.

Xavier nodded as he tried to guess what Anna wanted to ask. Since then she knew Anna was watching him during breakfast time as if there was something she wanted to talk about. Now Xavier wishes he could read Anna's mind.

"Why didn't you cure me?" Ask Anna directly.

"I'm sorry? Whatchu mean?"

"You healed me that time near the Scheine River when we first met. You also managed to heal me somehow after we fell off that cliff. Isn't it as the Great Fire Dragon that you have the ability to heal? The wounds on your body have all gone, right? If you don't want to tell me how, that's okay. Just heal my wounds."

"You want me to heal your wounds?"

Anna nodded.

"You sure?"

"of course. The sooner this wound heals, the sooner we can go to Schiereiland and find Alexis. And you can also return to your kingdom soon." And back to Eleanor. But Anna didn't say it. Somehow it bothers him.

"I can't change my form here. This place is too close to the residential area. There will be people watching."

"I don't think you were in the form of a dragon the last time you healed me."

"true."

"What else is the problem?"

Xavier sighed. "That last thing I did was because you were dying, Anna. I can't look at you like that so I have no other choice. I should have asked you for permission first. I'm sorry I'm being disrespectful to you."

"What are you really doing? Why do you need permission?"

"That's it. Forgetit. We better wait for Louis to come with the cure."

"Xavier's." Anna held Xavier who was about to leave the tent. "If Louis returns this afternoon with the cure, it will still take days before my wounds are completely healed. But you can heal him in an instant, right? Whatever it is, even if you can't tell me, it's okay, I give you permission. Please heal my wounds now."

"alright... You asked for it, I just did what you asked."

"Yes. So what am I supposed to do? Should I sit or lie down?"

"No. Don't lie. Too dangerous for my heart health. You just sit still like this."

"Close your eyes."

"All right." Anna closed her eyes.

Xavier's approaching. His heart was about to jump out of his body. The last time he kissed Anna was to save Anna who was about to die and that he did because there was no other choice. Because if he didn't, Anna would really die. And this time, for some hundred more years he would have to wait for the girl and himself to be reborn if Anna died back then.

But now it's different. It was indeed a painful wound, Xavier knew it, but it was not fatal. They should be able to wait for Louis to bring him the medicine. Waiting for the wound to heal even though it takes longer. This time there is another option. But Anna didn't want that other option. And that's probably because Anna doesn't yet know what way Xavier used to heal her. But whatever it was, Anna herself had already given her permission.

Xavier slowly touched Anna's face, gently stroking her red cheeks, something she always wanted to do every time she saw the girl. All this time he had managed to hold himself back from touching her even though the urge was getting stronger by the day. The bond between the two is becoming more real. But Xavier doesn't know if Anna feels the same way. Although Anna had already told him that she remembered the same memories as him, recalling their time together a thousand years ago, but that did not mean Anna felt the same feelings. Xavier felt this was unfair because it seemed like only he had trouble handling those feelings.

Xavier argued with his own inner voice. This is not the right thing. Anna doesn't know, so she let you kiss her.

But Anna wants her wound healed. It's for Anna too.

At least be honest with him. Tell him first that you're gonna kiss him.

But Anna says she allows whatever I do as long as she can be cured.

You're a married man now and could you kiss another woman? You're the same as your father.

But it was just a wedding on paper. Eleanor won't even bother him.

You're being selfish now. Stop yourself. Anna is not yours.

She was mine. I used to belong to her.

Not anymore.

Xavier's breath was restrained as he allowed himself to stare at Anna from such a close distance. Now no longer, Xavier reminded himself as he stared at Anna's face that was being closed waiting. Staring at her long, long eyelashes. Staring at her tempting red lips. Now we're nothing to each other. His heart is beating unbecoming. Stop the. He was worried that it would be difficult to hold himself back for so on if he kissed Anna right now. Stop over. Now she wants to have Anna when she knows she only wants Leon. I'd go crazy this way. Although he was really tempted to do so, Xavier did not want to be the jerk that took this opportunity to satisfy his own desires. He is no longer mine as he once was. All of this is just a memory from the past. Untie her.

Xavier removed his hand from Anna's face and retreated a few steps away from Anna. "You can open your eyes now." Xavier.

Anna opened her eyes. "It's over?"

Xavier turned his face away, avoiding Anna's gaze as much as possible. Feeling guilty for almost thinking of taking a chance on Anna's ignorance. "Not yet."

"Yet? What do you mean you didn't make it?"

Xavier laughed awkwardly. "I haven't done anything yet, Anna."

"Why? Is there anything you need?"

"Not that." Xavier. He dared to look at Anna. "I have to tell you something. Something I should have told you from the start."

Anna silently listened. Xavier sighed. At that time Xavier hoped that someone, anyone, Queen Isabella or Leon would step into the tent or call them out, cutting off their conversation so that Xavier would not have to tell Anna anything. But after thinking back, Anna does deserve to know about this.

"I kissed you. That's what I did to cure you. Healed us. Actually twice. The first time in—“

"The glass house." Anna said directly.

"You remember?"

This time it was Anna who turned her face away who was blushing in shame. "I'm just pretending I don't remember. Actually, I didn't remember at first. Prince Ludwig said the Crown Princess erased my memory and she gave it back. So. I remember. I remember everything."

But Anna was not angry. Xavier has confessed to stealing Anna's kiss, but Anna is neither angry nor offended.

"Oh..." Xavier doesn't know what to say.

"Yes..."

For a while, they were silent a thousand languages which made the situation between the two even more awkward.

"I think I should get out now. Leon might need help with the firewood scraps." Xavier said at last.

Anna nodded, "Alright."

...****************...

That afternoon Louis returned safely. With a news he heard from the market. But without medication.

"I'm sorry, Your Honor. I've searched all over that market, I also asked the locals, but the medicinal plants I'm looking for don't exist." Louis said.

"It's okay Louis. I should be the one apologizing for bothering you."

"But I got some interesting news."

"What news, son?" Ask Queen Isabella.

"Crown Princess Eleanor has been officially crowned Queen of Nordhalbinsel for a while until King Nordhalbinsel recovers or until her son is born and mature enough to preside."

"Thank God... Looks like Elias did a good job." Xavier smiled with relief.

"There's more, Your Honor. The Queen's first edict after her coronation was an order of exile to Empress Selena."

"really? That's very nice. At least I can be quite calm because Selena won't be in Nordhalbinsel for a while as long as Elle becomes Queen. I didn't think he was working so fast."

"Then can't you ask the new Queen Nordhalbinsel to release Schiereiland?" Ask Leon.

"It looks like it's going to be difficult. Especially since Crown Prince Alexis has not been found. After all many Nordhalbinsel nobles were assigned to control the territory in Schiereiland. Almost all of the territory in Schiereiland today is controlled by them on the orders of the King. If Elle releases Schiereiland when she has just been crowned, even more so her current status is only a temporary Queen, the nobles would probably become his enemies and petition him to abdicate and turn to Louis' supporters." Xavier. "Elle's position is still not safe."

"If Alexis had been found, would that have changed everything? Aren't you also still not able to let go of Schiereiland just like that?" Ask Anna.

Leon added, "No problem. If you can't let go, we'll take it. If it's war you want."

"I don't want a war between Nordhalbinsel and Schiereiland. I'll try to make sure that doesn't have to happen. I'll return Schiereiland as soon as this is over. Please believe me."

"Hopefully the Crown Prince's words are correct because it would be much better if we could get back Schiereiland without war." Queen Isabella said. "Let's think about war and political problems after Alexis was found. Now, we have a problem right in plain sight. There's no cure for Anastasia." The Queen quickly turned to Louis, "It wasn't your fault, son. You don't have to be sad. We just need to think of an alternative exit."

"The alternative is, we can continue the journey. Because me and my feet are fine. Really." Anna said, as soon as she could tell that she was lying.

"You can come with me." Leon said, along with Xavier who said, "Come with me."

Queen Isabella held back her laughter and glanced at her daughter. "You want to go with my mother, my daughter?"

"Actually, I've rented a horse carriage." Louis said. "I think it would be better if Her Highness the Princess would just ride on the horse carriage during the healing period. While I was at the market, I saw a horse carriage rental. And it turns out I know the owner as well as the coachman. He was an old friend of my father whose wife was a Nordhalbinsel resident. I asked him to come here tomorrow morning. I hope no one objected because I took the decision without asking for approval first."

Queen Isabella smiled with satisfaction. "That's great, son. It was the perfect alternative exit. Very clever. Thank you, Louis."

...****************...