The Rose Of The South
Chapter 19: Le Dragon Jumeau

In Northern Waters, Ocean Tygriss, Nordhalbinsel Aquatic Region...

It's almost morning. A reddish dawn glow dotted the sky that tended to be overcast in the northern region. But almost everyone was still asleep, stoned by the overnight drinking party held by Prince Yi for their celebration managed to get permission to enter the waters of Nordhalbinsel. Yesterday, Queen Eleanor gave an answer to a letter sent by Prince Yi allowing Prince Yi to visit the Palace to congratulate her on her coronation as the new Queen. All the crew members were happily partying with the Prince.

But not all. Two underage teenagers who still can't drink alcohol don't celebrate. After all, the Prince did not want his two secret weapons to be drunk with alcohol. So now only those who have been awakened while others are still asleep, including the Emperor's beloved Second Prince.

The north wind blew, freezing their skin. The two teenagers were sitting next to each other on the lip of the ship, gazing into a land that looked made of ice and snow not far in front of them. Even the mornings in that place seemed too dark. Far from the bright light of the sun in the Orient Empire, where they were born by their respective mortal parents in the current life.

"Shuu, do you feel anything?" The girl's voice echoed in her head, blowing like the wind. The girl squeezed her thick fur coat adorned with dragon embroidery on its surface. His small body seemed to be drowning in that fur coat. As he exhaled, the wind came flying the sails on their ship.

Shuu turned his head towards the girl, "No. It's freaky. Until a few weeks ago I was sure to feel the presence of our King's power from the north." His voice was soft and clear like water. The fur coat he was wearing was blue and painted with ocean waves. The waves roared under his feet in rhythm with each heartbeat.

"me too. Sometimes I dream of the Queen. I wonder if they have met or not. Can they know each other in this life. Or better yet, maybe they're married now. What if they already have cute kids like our adorable little Zuidlijk and Nordlijk? Ah, I'm getting more and more eager to meet them soon." The girl smiled, her cheeks reddish.

"If they're really married, maybe that's not a good thing, Kaze. You forgot what the Goddess of Heaven said? Did you forget our King's oath to the Goddess? They might as well be dead by now."

"Cannot be!” Those words echoed, making the wind blow even louder and bringing forth lightning in the dark morning sky. "If our Queen dies, our King dies too. And if our King dies, then all of us, the dragons will surely perish." With teary eyes, he added, "If they die that fast, then the King's sacrifice will be in vain."

"I also hope that our trip to the North will not be free. We're almost there. But I'm actually not willing to invade the kingdom where our King and Queen might be at this moment."

Kaze looked glum, "I don't want to either. We just need to pretend to attack without hurting anyone. A kind of show off the power of the Twin Dragons before their army. Our king will appear to stop us if he is really there. So we can meet him." The sparkle in his eyes was like the stars in a gray night sky.

"I knew. And when our King shows up, it's impossible that Yi's army will dare to attack. They worship the Dragon as if they were worshipping a God. There was no way they would dare to fight the Great Fire Dragon, right?"

Kaze nodded, "Right. What about our sister?"

"She's always good at hiding herself, so I'm not surprised that I can't feel her presence. He may have locked himself up in a hidden cave again."

Kaze leaned her head on Shuu's shoulder, "I want us to quickly gather again like we used to, Shuu. I'm tired of pretending to obey a False Emperor. He wasn't even the original descendant of the Emperor before."

"Don't be loud! The prince can hear you."

Kaze rolled her gray eyeballs, "We don't even move lips, stupid! We're telepathic. How could he hear."

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

When Anna awakens, Leon is nowhere to be.

"General Leon says I can't tell anyone where he's going." Xavier replied as Anna asked him.

Xavier was prepared if Anna would blame him, scold him or possibly behead him but Anna was silent. After hearing that answer, he did not say anything more. Xavier could feel the immense sadness of Anna, she felt a pain and her heart was like being torn apart by invisible claws, but the girl shed no tears at all. It was much more tormenting him. Leon was right about Anna who would make him suffer. Anna simply turned away, returned to her tent and tidied up her belongings to prepare to continue the journey in her unsettling silence.

Queen Isabella was concerned about the departure of her adopted son, but the Queen knew that Leon had always done everything for a good reason. Queen Isabella believes her departure this time was not due to bad things. So the Queen decided to keep their original plan in place and continue on their way to Duchy Francis.

Louis who had begun to be proficient in riding, riding Onyx—kuda Leon which is a gift from Queen Eugene. The four of them rode through the forests and residential areas while hiding their faces under the hoods of their robes.

Anna remained silent during the trip. He didn't say a word. As they paused for a moment to eat, Anna did not even bother to glance at her food and went with her arrow bow to practice. As they chatted, Anna was more often silent with blank stares as if she was not there. When Xavier tries to get her to talk about Leon's departure, Anna avoids him as much as possible.

Anna already knows. That's why he just kept quiet. Anna knew Xavier wouldn't tell her, but Anna already knew that Leon was going back to Nordhalbinsel Palace. He was silent not out of anger at Xavier. He is silent out of anger at himself who has failed to convince Leon not to leave.

Anna recalled their conversation shortly after Anna managed to shoot the red apple back then...

"Leon, we need to talk." Indict Anna. He takes Leon to a place far away from the others to have a four-eyed talk.

"What's up, Your Majesty?"

"I've known from Xavier. I know everything. Don't go." Knowing that his words sounded like orders, he added, "Please..."

"Your Majesty—“

"Please." Anna said again. Eyes glazed. "I'm fine when my— tries to be okay when you reject my proposal because you promise to always be by my side. You promised." Anna held back her tears. She won't cry anymore. But his eyes hurt.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I gotta go. I intend to leave once you get to Schiereiland safely. Duke Francis's residence must be safe from the Northmen. Nicholas Francis and his bodyguards can look after you while in Schiereiland. I'm sure you'll be okay."

"It's not about me. I might be fine, but you—it could be just a trap. You could have died. You've never faced magic."

"You're underestimating death too much!" Anna raised her tone, annoyed that Leon seemed relaxed while she worried about him.

"Listen, Your Majesty. I take this as an opportunity. We never know what Xavier and the Winterthur Twins are up to. But if I go to Nordhalbinsel Palace, I can watch over Queen Nordhalbinsel and the Wolf up close. I can tell first if they intend to hurt you or if they plan to attack Schiereiland. I can also tell if their new Queen is going to tear apart our country. One thing's for sure, Xavier won't hurt you. He might have ignited a war, destroyed a country, or something worse but he won't be able to hurt you. You were the queen."

Anna wondered since when Leon had realized that. As she recalled, Anna had never told anyone other than Xavier that she was the Great Queen of Zhera. But Leon knew it. Queen Isabella and Louis knew. Could it be since in the cave, since he said he knew the cave? Or maybe it was because he could suddenly shoot? Probably long before that. Anna so thinks that maybe Leon rejected her for that reason. But then Anna thinks again that whatever she did, whoever she was in the past, Leon will still reject her proposal. Because she's the Princess of Schiereiland, because she's the daughter of the King who respects her too much.

"Now not." Said Anna. "I'm not the Queen. I'm not the Queen to anyone."

"alright. I understand, but you have to trust me. I'll go to Nordhalbinsel, and help Xavier while watching the Winterthur Twins. If this works, Selena can be defeated. Schiereiland can be free."

"That's a crazy idea. How do I know you're gonna be okay?"

"We'll find a way. And I'll be fine as long as you're okay, Your Majesty."

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

They arrived at Duchy Francis after a full day of riding. It was very late and they were all very tired. But the streets were bustling with white roses everywhere, lanterns lit up along the streets and some people were still busy decorating the city as if there was going to be a big celebration or a festival. Anna remembered what day she had forgotten. But nothing he remembers. And the garnish of white roses in Schiereiland has only one meaning.

Weddings.

"Sorry, can you repeat Louis? I think I heard it wrong." Anna asked after a long time she was reluctant to speak since Leon's departure. At that moment they all gathered in one of the rooms in the inn. The inn was no better than their previous inn. But at least there is a mattress to lie down rather than having to lie in the tent again even though their bodies are sore.

Louis had just returned from his duties, figuring out what was going on in town while buying dinner.

"Duke Francis married his lover. Rume's... Rumels... Sorry, I forgot the name of the bride, Your Majesty."

"Rumelle Isadora Rochelle's. Youngest daughter Baron Rochelle." Said Anna. Recalling the figure of the reddish-brown girl who was the reason for her engagement to Nicholas Francis was canceled.

"Nick's married?" Xavier looked even more surprised.

Queen Isabella looked puzzled after hearing Xavier mention Duke Francis with just 'Nick'. So Anna explained to her mother, "They're close friends. I guess."

"Morrow's wedding?" Queen Isabella asked Louis. The Queen glanced at her daughter many times, making sure that Anna was fine after hearing the shocking news. Moreover, lately his daughter seemed to have no spirit of life.

Louis nodded. "But they already inaugurated the wedding this morning." His gaze was fixed on Anna as if he was sorry. Not only Queen Isabella and Louis, now Xavier also did the same.

"Why are you? I'm just surprised."

"of course. You're his ex-fiance." Xavier said, sounding concerned.

"It's not because of that." Anna sighed. He turned to Xavier, "If you return to Nordhalbinsel after a long time, prepare to go to your palace then you see the Palace is already festively decorated and you get the news that Queen Eleanor is getting married tomorrow, how you feeling?"

"Elle? Married married?" Xavier laughs. Then his laughter turned a little nervous. Not because of who is married or with whom, but because of the discourse of marriage itself. Moreover, if the marriage in question is held at the place to be addressed. "Shocked. Sure oes. All right, I get your point. Regardless of the subject, it was indeed shocking news."

"Strong as that."

"Alright, despite all that, we have a problem." Said Queen Isabella. But even when they said they had a problem, the Queen seemed calm, relieved. A glimmer of hope re-fulfilled her as Anna had already started actively taking part in their conversation. He continued, "If Duke Francis were to celebrate the wedding tomorrow, it would mean that his residence would be very crowded. It'll be hard to see him."

"Too risky. Everyone will recognize you." Said Anna.

"But tomorrow is a special feast for the citizens of Duchy Francis. The feast with the nobles was already held this afternoon." Louis said. "Maybe tomorrow will be safer."

"It won't be safe for mom. Almost everyone recognized their Queen's face."

"But they don't recognize your face. You're the princess who never left the palace. Not many common folk know the face of the Princess of Schiereiland." Xavier.

"true." Said Anna. Then he saw Xavier looking at the empty air half-dreaming, unblinking for a long time. He's making a plan. "What are you planning, Xavier?"

Xavier finally blinked, noticing all of them still waiting for him telling his plan. Xavier looked at Anna. "You need a new dress. We both have to go to your ex-fiance's wedding tomorrow."

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