The Rose Of The South
Bonus Chapter: The Queen of Dragons

The first week was the hardest.

I'm not really sure what's going on around me during the week after mom's death.

Xavier returned to his kingdom and I returned to Eze, to my palace. Alexis greeted me there. I miss him so much. I feel so grateful to be able to see him back in good health and safe without lacking anything. But our mother died. So I can't pretend to be happy and okay. Alexis is sad too, I know that, but he can handle it better. He was firm and arranged the funeral ceremony even though there were no bodies to be buried. Alexis built the mother's tomb next to the father's. It was the first time I saw our father's grave. Xavier actually took care of our father's funeral at the time according to Schiereiland's custom for the royal family's funeral.

We then returned to our Palace in Schere and Alexis was crowned King. I watched it, of course, but I wasn't really there at the time. My heart, my mind and my soul returned to the forest beside Earithear's body. Next to my mother's body. In Xavier's arms.

Everyone knows I feel very sad and broken, and they try to comfort me. Trying to get me to talk. I listened, but it was hard to get involved in any conversation. I thought if I started to open my mouth to talk, I would spill it all out. Everything I feel. Deaths are happening all around me and those I have killed. I can't tell anyone for now. And then everyone gets very busy to bring the government back to stability. And I got busy with my own thoughts and nightmares.

I've killed a lot of people. The shadow of a corpse lying in my forest of rose thorns never disappeared from my mind.

I'm not really silenced. I'm talking, really. I still talk to Xavier on our channel—actually he's the one who talks, I can only respond to him occasionally. Though I knew he was busy with his state affairs, the threat of attack from the Orient, as well as those around him who wanted Eleanor and her family to be put to death. He must be mourning his father's death. But Xavier kept trying to get me to talk so that I wasn't really alone and was plunged deeper into grief. He wanted to keep his promise to my mother, to Earithear, without leaving the kingdom and its people.

"What breakfast did you have this morning? Is the cheese soup menu still there?"

"Does Constanza still hate me? Oh, whoa... Now she's Grand Duchess Smirnoff, right?"

"Alexis doesn't seem to like me. I should how? What food does she like?"

"Elias came back from Orient briefly to accompany me at the meeting this morning. He brought you some souvenirs too. You want me to deliver it?"

"Leon is still asleep. Breath regular. He was probably chatting with my mom somewhere. Elle is still busy with her books to find out where she is at the moment and how to bring her back. We can only wait patiently for him. If you're ready, let's go see him. You know, Leon is strong. He won't lose. This is just one of the wars he'll win."

Xavier kept reporting Leon's condition to me at every turn. Before I even asked him, he already told me first. The slightest change he would report to me. Leon suddenly smiled in his sleep, Leon moved his finger, all the details he reported.

And at night, even late at night, he kept talking to me. He knows I can't sleep. Somehow he always knew.

Can't sleep anymore? Me either. Now that I've taken my father's place, I know how difficult this position really is. How hard my father tried to be a good King even though he could not be a good person for everyone. I know you hate him, I know you can never forgive him, but I miss my father. After all, he is my father.

Actually, I no longer consider King Vlad an enemy. He's still a killer. He remains guilty. And the part of me that is vindictive still cannot forgive him. But now he's just Xavier's dead father. Just like me, Xavier has lost his father. She must have felt sad, but she tried not to show it. Just like Alexis, he has to look strong for his people.

Is it risky if you fly here? I finally asked after a long silence. Looks like it was my first question sentence after all this time I just answered the questions.

He didn't answer me for a long time until I thought he was asleep, but then he finally answered. From her voice, I knew she was crying.

No. gabe. Can anyway?

Come here whenever you want.

He only comes at night, when the dark night sky can make it not too flashy. When many people are asleep. When those who are still awake are probably drunk and think they are just hallucinating seeing a dragon flying over the sky. He's flying really fast. I am grateful that he came.

We usually talk until morning. Or playing chess. Or read a book. Anything that can take our minds off our sorrows and nightmares. Sometimes, when the day was very heavy and we wanted to sleep but could not sleep, we just lay on my bed and told each of us our childhoods. Maybe because of the warmth of his body, maybe because I feel safe and comfortable, maybe because I don't feel alone, maybe because this is what we used to do in the past life, maybe because I did want it my— let him hug me and we both slept soundly without nightmares for the first time in a long time.

And sometimes, when I feel claustrophobic, when I feel like shouting, when the shadow of the corpses of those I killed haunts me, Xavier takes me flying through the night sky. It makes me feel free and breathe.

"You must be able to forgive yourself before you expect others to forgive you. They died fighting for whatever they were fighting for. Some would even consider them dead as heroes. You are both fighters, but one of them has to die for the fight. You don't know how grateful I am that you're not the one who died." He told me as we flew over Schiereiland. Those words opened my eyes and healed my heart.

The second week, I was able to get out of my room. Even though I still avoid talking to anyone.

The books in the library of the Palace were my friends for a long time. The library is arguably my favorite place after the rose garden. So I took the time to go there. I could see a happy twinkle in Alexis' eyes when I finally got out of my room. But he looks very busy, and I don't want to bother him. So I went there alone.

As I set foot back into the library of the Palace, I thought of Leon. We used to go to the library together. And I suddenly thought of his book which he said was hidden in the library. Proiskhozhdeniya Drakonov. The History of the Descending Dragons. I did not need the book anymore because of the dragon eyes I had, but I was curious about the contents.

I remembered Leon's lead. Recalling the place where he had placed the key, where he had placed his coffin and managed to find it.

The book is so old, I would believe if anyone told me it was hundreds of years old. The writing uses ancient language. The language that Xavier and I used a thousand years ago. But that's not what surprised me.

When I opened the book, something fell to the floor. My heart almost fell out, I think I ruined Leon's historic book. I thought there was a page torn because the one that fell was a piece of paper. But the paper was not as old as Leon's book paper. The paper is still pretty new. I opened it and read it.

It was my father's handwriting. His will.

In the letter it was written that he gave Schiereiland to me. Not for Alexis. Except me. I am the rightful heir to the throne of Schiereiland.

But how can it be? And why is this here?

Leon knows. From the beginning he knew. Is that why he saved me the night of the attack? He should have put the safety of the King and his heir in the event of an attack. He was supposed to secure Alexis, but he instead secured me from the pursuit of the Nordhalbinsel warriors. Because I am the heir to the throne of Schiereiland.

"Your Majesty, with all due respect, you must put your own safety first. Because my priority right now is to make sure you stay alive and safe."

Leon's words ring in my ear. At that time I insisted on going to Nordhalbinsel. Leon. Now I know he's against me because I'm the heir to the throne who needs to stay safe and secure. But I was still very sad at the time. I'm shattered. So she couldn't just tell me that I was Crown Princess Schiereiland.

He wanted me to find this book not to find the Dragon. He wants me to find the father's will that he kept. She wanted me to know that I was Crown Princess Schiereiland. He knew that even if he told me, I wouldn't accept that fact. I will deny it desperately and say that Alexis is much more deserving of the crown. He memorized my nature.

I have to hide this letter. No. gabe. I have to destroy it. No one should know or they will doubt my brother's leadership. Alexis is struggling to be a good King for Schiereiland. And I will support her as her brother.

The King's will is usually made twofold. So where's the copy? Who's keeping it?

"Oh, I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I didn't know that you were here." That voice surprised me so much. I hurriedly picked up the letter.

Luna. The young witch Alexis likes. The future Queen Schiereiland.

He thinks I don't know. I didn't know at first. But the longer, the greater my suspicion. I've heard all the stories about him from Alexis. I just kept quiet and listened at the time. I really want to be happy that she found someone very valuable to her. That the man had helped her. That she's in love. I want to be happy for him. But I can't because I seem to know who that person is.

How strange, such a huge magic power was possessed by a 17-year-old girl who was not a descendant of a Grimoire and was just like a Palace maid. That story alone is very strange. Eleanor was not that extraordinary when she was the daughter of the Lilithier Grimoire.

Maybe I would never have suspected if Prince Ludwig had never told me. The story of the daughter of Clera whose family was slaughtered, her kingdom snatched away and her love betrayed. The princess who spent her teenage years as a Palace Maid and was consumed by the seduction of a Prince. The princess who later becomes the greatest witch in a kingdom filled with witches.

I smile as kindly as possible even though my heart is hammering and my feet can't wait to run away from it. "I'm done. Please if you want to read quietly."

"What are you hiding in your dress pocket, Your Majesty?"

"I think it's my business."

"You're not Queen yet. You're a nobody. And I am the princess of this kingdom." I confirmed my position.

But the girl smiled. I goosebumps seeing Xavier's stepmother smile on the young man's face. "Give it to me." His voice is like a whisper.

And I obey him. My hands move by themselves. I can't control my body. Control magic. The black magic used by Eleanor when she was controlling Prince Ludwig. How uncomfortable it feels. I felt like a puppet and this young girl in front of me was the mastermind. I handed him my father's will.

He read it for a while, then the paper burned so that the ashes were not left.

"Selena!" I shouted before his young face. He used transformation magic to disguise himself, of course. Selena's face was always young, but the face she used to seduce my sister was much younger. He looks like a teenage boy. Skinny and shorter. His snow-white hair was now as black as charcoal. But he kept his purple eyes.

Selena smiled at me. "It's good to see you again, Princess Anastasia."

The transformation magic should be gone when the person is called by his or her real name. Of course she did not return to her original figure because Selena was not her real name.

"I must say, how unhappy I am to meet you again, Princess Laluna of Clera."

Smile faded. Now I smile when I see the transformation magic is gone. Now in front of me, is the strongest magician in Nordhalbinsel. Stepmom Xavier. The exiled empress.

"You're a lot more fun when you're not talking, Princess Anastasia. You can screw up my whole plan if you let it go. So stay quiet!"

Suddenly my throat felt very painful as it was being burned from the inside, my tongue was sore as if it was being cut violently. I wanted to scream, but no sound came out. I lost my voice.

Selena went back to being Luna, then left me sitting on the cold floor of the library. I was still trying to scream, but no sound came out. Before long, his servants came and took me to my room.

But I'm not really mute. I still have a way to talk.

Anna! What was that? What the hell happened to you? You why? He spoke first as soon as I opened our channel, he sounded very panicked. He felt the pain I felt. I shouldn't have worried him, there were already too many problems he was facing in his own kingdom. But I have to tell him this.

Selena is here. In palace. She disguised herself as Luna, she approached my sister to become Queen Schiereiland. He bewitched me so I lost my voice.

Xavier didn't answer right away so I knew what he was thinking. I hurriedly added,

Don't come here.

Wh why? I have to go there now. Selena's dangerous. I don't know what he's gonna do to you again. I'm going to fly there right now.

No. gabe. Don't come in here. He doesn't know about us, about this channel. Let him think he has succeeded. Let her think that I can't talk and she has gotten rid of me. I wouldn't be considered a threat if I was helpless. And he wouldn't be wary of me if I wasn't a threat to him.

So that's what we've been doing all along. I pretend I can't talk at all. After that, Xavier 'cured me' the night and I got my voice back. That night we devised a plan to confront Selena and secure Alexis, and I tried to ignore my heart beating from that short kiss. I can't focus. Gosh darn. We kissed. In the evening. In my room. And there's only the two of us.

I can't be like this. I need to focus. Selena is in my palace, Alexis is in danger, Orient is going to attack Xavier's kingdom, Leon is still unconscious and has not returned, it is not the time we are dissolved in our feelings. But, for the Goddess! I can't focus if he keeps looking at me like that.

"Your eyes.beautiful." He said suddenly in the middle of our conversation about how to cancel Alexis' marriage to Luna. "Now it's red. Maybe you can try summoning the Twin Dragons? We don't know how they are yet." Add it directly before my face is as red as my eyes.

So I tried it. Last time I had trouble calling Earithear. But back then in the woods, it felt like we were really connected. Maybe it's Xavier. Maybe because of our relationship. I still don't know either.

Aerinear, Aquinier, can you hear me? My toot.

Can you hear us? Xavier asked.

Then I heard a vague voice. Like the sound of breath. It was as if someone, far away, was gasping in surprise at our call.

We hear you, Your Majesty and His Majesty. It was a girl's voice. He must be much younger than me. And I just realized that he doesn't use Orient language. It turned out that during this time Xavier and I had not used our language while speaking on our channel either. There is no language. There are no limits.

Then who said next in the voice of a teenage boy, I thought he was the Water Dragon because of his calm disposition. His words made me realize how much I missed them all along.

We've been looking for you guys for a long time.

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

I've been doing my role for weeks. Running our plans without ever being seen talking to anyone. I heard the voices of the servants gossiping at my doorstep. They talk about me again. The Empty Shell Princess said. Lah good. That means my acting is pretty convincing.

The door opened, a waiter brought me a plate of multicolored macarons. He immediately closed the door. New valet. The waiter was tall slender with reddish-brown hair that rolled neatly. He smiled when he saw me. The friendly face I know.

"Diana!" I immediately approached her, hugged her. We're not too familiar, indeed. We even met once during my visit to Bloody Rose. But I'm glad to see the face I know in this palace. I was looking forward to his arrival. "So Constanza's got a message from me?"

"King Xavier has informed Grand Duchess Smirnoff. He asked me to disguise myself as your servant, Your Majesty."

"Please don't be so formal. My purpose in asking you here is not to be my servant." I said. I let her sit down to enjoy the macaron with me. And I told her everything I needed to tell her. About the reason why I needed his help and about my plan.

It's not without reason that I invited Diana to the palace. Diana is not a noble, but she comes from a family of business people. Vinogradoffs. His grandfather was a winemaker and owner of acres of vineyards who later teamed up with Alberto Smirnoff to make Carina, a very famous wine in Schiereiland and has been sold in several countries. His mother, Lady Vinogradoff, was a language teacher at the Palace because she could master many languages in the world. Diana's intelligence declined so that she could speak multiple languages and had worked as a translator for the capital's tourists.

Then I thought of Riz, Diana's husband, Leon's best friend. Eleanor once mentioned her real name. Arizona Navarre. The name sounds familiar to me. He came from one of the most powerful clans in Westeria. The Navarrese clan of Westeria. The owner of the Amethyst eye. There are several clans in Westeria that have jeweled eyes and they have unique talents that cannot be explained by their origin. Riz's talent is incredible. And I need their help.

The few days I spent in the library studying the history of the extended family in different countries finally led me to a way out of the problems that Xavier and I faced.

"So, what can I do for you, Your Majesty?" Ask Diana.

"Do you and Riz speak Orient?"

"I can, but Riz is still not good when I have taught him."

"No problem." I said directly. I looked at Diana solemnly, "What do you think if Carina is sold in the Orient? Do you want a winery in the Orient?" My toot. Diana looked very surprised, her brown eyes seemed to widen to the point of almost popping out. No one can turn down an offer to open a business in the Orient. "I need a Diana Vinogradoff and an Arizona Navarro in the Orient to help my spies there."

- The End

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