The Rose Of The South
Chapter 6: The Nouvelles Choquantes

The Great Fire Dragon carried Anna flying away from the cliff. As she looked down, Anna could see a vast expanse of snow-covered trees. All the land in Nordhalbinsel was pure white snow, blending with white clouds under Anna's feet. And all the waters like the lake and its frozen waters form a stretch of ice that reflects the dazzling, almost blinding rays of the sun. Anna looked at the entire scene of Nordhalbinsel under her feet. That great kingdom, the Kingdom that had taken over his Kingdom, seemed small if he saw it from the sky. Nordhalbinsel looks like a small cotton that is white and shines in the reflection of sunlight.

The Great Fire Dragon carried him flying far upwards, to the top of an extremely high mountain. Because of the height of the mountain, the peak can not be seen because it is covered by clouds. They fly continuously high up past—avoid—a collection of clouds until finally the top of the mountain is visible. The Great Fire Dragon landed on the top of the mountain and lowered Anna.

Anna took a few steps back to look at the figure before her. The dragon was still the same as the last time Anna saw it. But this time there was not a single scar on his body. The dragon looked at Anna with its eyes as red as flames. For a while, no one moved or spoke. Until finally Anna decided to touch the Great Fire Dragon. His thick, scaly skin felt warm. Not burning, but warm. The cold Anna was on top of the highest mountain in Nordhalbinsel, approaching the Dragon to warm herself. But the Dragon snorted angrily letting out a warm puff of smoke. Anna could not help but smile because the Dragon, no matter how upset she was now, was actually able to make her body warmer.

“I would be very grateful if you would allow me to get closer to you. It's too cold up here. I can freeze to death.” Said Anna while shivering. His breath was blowing steam.

But the Dragon took a few steps back. As Anna approached him again, the Dragon retreated back a few steps. Anna finally gave up. Anna just stood silently staring at the Dragon from a considerable distance away.

"Then, let's talk to Xavier."

A very bright light shone around the Dragon. Shortly thereafter, the missing Dragon figure was replaced with Xavier.

“That was very dangerous! Why did you get that close?” Xavier. Breathing gasps. He was still shocked by Anna's actions. “My heart almost stopped beating earlier.”

"So I was right all along. You are the Great Fire Dragon." Anna said, still watching Xavier in amazement. "Your eyes..red." Xavier's eye color hasn't returned to Emerald, it's still as bright as fire. Just like Anna's memory.

Xavier closed his eyes, dodged Anna's gaze and tried to regulate his breathing as well as the rhythm of his heartbeat. It was a bit difficult because Anna was still staring at him. She blinked a few times after her breathing had regained order, her Emerald eyes returning even though her heart was still beating faster than usual. But Xavier is used to it.

"Then I..." Anna paused for a moment, unsure whether she should say it or not. It's a bit embarrassing if the assumption is wrong. But Anna was sure she wasn't wrong. He clearly remembered it. "I am the Great Queen of Zhera. Don't you?

“Since when did you start to know?" Ask Xavier. He turned his face away, avoiding Anna's gaze as much as possible.

"Know about what? That you are the Great Fire Dragon or that I am the Great Queen of Zhera?"

"Both."

"Lately I've always dreamed about them—about us in the past." Anna corrected it. "I also remember things that I should not be able to remember. Memories from a thousand years ago. That's very strange... But I know all those memories are mine. I can feel it."

"Feel what?"

This time it was Anna who turned her face red in embarrassment, "First, I loved you. I mean, the old me. A thousand years ago. Not now."

"So you remember it too... I thought I was the only one who remembered it." Conscious or not, Xavier smiled happily as he said so.

"Actually, I've been suspicious ever since I saw that scar on your body. But it looks like all those scars are now gone somehow."

"You lost it."

"Me?" Anna's pupils widened, "How is it?"

“Or maybe I lost it. Actually I don't know yet. But I'm starting to understand a little. The proof of that works also on your wound.”

“What do you mean?”

"Why is that so important? I still don't think you could jump like that when you could die."

"But I'm not dead. You caught me immediately."

"What if I don't do it? What if General Leon was right that I'd kill you like my father killed your father?"

"You're not like that. You're not gonna hurt me." Said Anna. Although Anna still can't trust Xavier completely, she does. Xavier may have planned something, something he didn't tell Anna, but killing Anna or injuring Anna wasn't part of his plan. That's what Anna believes. Because now he knows who he really is. If history is true, if her dreams and memories are true, they were both lovers a thousand years ago. Xavier wouldn't have hurt him.

Xavier said nothing. He was just trying to avoid Anna's gaze and as much as possible step away from her.

"really right? You're not gonna hurt me." Anna reconfirmed her assumption. But Xavier did not answer.

Xavier looked up at Anna. That look seemed to bring him back to a thousand years ago where they lived happily together as a couple of Kings and Queens. Lately, pieces of memories from a thousand years ago have always attacked him in unexpected moments. The memory of the past felt so vivid as if it had just happened yesterday. Xavier could no longer see Anna as his personal bodyguard or as the Princess of another Kingdom. Anna was the reason for coming down to earth and living life like a human being, and Anna was the reason to die and wait for their rebirth. Waiting to be reunited.

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

"You're not leaving me. Don't you?"

The Great Fire Dragon looked at the smiling Zhenra to cover up his worries before him. The woman always tried to look strong as if she could hold thousands of arrows for him. But he knew how fragile Zhera was. The woman could indeed lead the war, defeat the enemy army, and other amazing things she had witnessed. But Zhera looks devastated at the death of her former husband. And it made him very afraid to feel the loss of his loved ones.

Zhera was strong, but her heart was fragile and had once cracked.

"Where could I possibly leave you? I'd even have trouble breathing if you were away from me, Zhera."

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

"Where could I possibly hurt you?" Xavier. Saddled look. "I even feel tormented when you're in pain." But his voice was more like a whisper when he said that. So he was sure Anna who was standing far enough away from him could not hear him back then.

"What?"

"You're cold." Said directly.

"of course! We're on a snowy mountain top. Can't you pick a slightly warmer place to talk? Why should it be in—“

Xavier reached out his hand, holding the hand of Anna who had been trembling from the cold.

Anna was surprised, but let her. In the blink of an eye, Anna no longer felt cold. It was as if there was a fire nearby. "Warm." Said Anna. "How do you do it? Is this magic too?"

"No. I still don't fully understand." Xavier. His eyes could not escape Anna. "Sorry, I can only think of this place because other lower places are too risky. At least up here no one will be able to see us."

"Because no one can climb up here without freezing." Said Anna. "But thank you, Xavier. At least you won't let me freeze to death. I shouldn't have said this, but, please don't let go." Anna was embarrassed to say it. But he felt like he would freeze if Xavier let go of his hand. This is for the sake of survival, not because of their past.

Xavier smiled, "I won't let go." He observed Anna's two cheeks meet red. His heart was pounding when he saw it. He immediately turned his gaze to the pile of snow under his feet. "Anna, do you know where Alexis is?" Xavier asked, shifting the subject.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you?" Anna's forehead creased seriously this time. "Where are you hiding my sister?"

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

Seeing their arrival, Leon immediately approached Anna. Observe if there are any signs of him getting hurt while away with Xavier.

"Let's calm. I'm doing fine. Where is Louis?" Ask Anna.

"She was going into town to buy clothes, some groceries and find information." Said Leon. He turned his gaze to Anna's neck. There was no rose in there. "Have you found your necklace, Your Majesty?" Leon asked as he glanced suspiciously at Xavier who was standing behind Anna.

Anna reached into her pocket and took out a necklace with a rose pendant from there. "Me in my pocket."

"From the beginning the necklace was not lost. And I didn't do anything that would make you deserve to look at me like that. You need to stop suspecting me, General Leon. I'm not a criminal." Xavier.

"My daughter, you've come home apparently." Queen Isabella came out from inside the cottage, welcoming her daughter's arrival and hugging her as if they had been separated for a long time. "Thank God you've returned safely. It's almost dark. We better get inside."

They all obeyed the Queen's words and entered the cottage. Shortly after, before it was completely dark and the sun completely sunk, Louis returned home. The boy brought some commoner clothes for them to wear, a bag full of groceries and shocking news.

"Wait a minute, Louis. You said it too soon." Xavier said, cutting off the words of Louis who had just finished telling him whatever he had heard from the City. "So you're saying, the palace has announced that I'm dead without actually trying to find my body? I just disappeared for a week."

Louis nodded quickly.

"Then Crown Princess Eleanor was pregnant?"

Louis nodded back quickly.

"And the meeting of the appointment of the new Crown Prince Nordhalbinsel will be held in three days?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Louis Sahut.

"Well, this is really bad." Xavier. His forehead was furrowed, his eyebrows were clutched, a sign that he was thinking hard.

The four pairs of eyes in the room were only fixed on Xavier who seemed to be bearing a great burden of thought after hearing the news.

"Looks like you're gonna have to get back to save your throne, son." Queen Isabella spoke up first.

"Sorry to interrupt, Your Majesty. But we better not let him go before he tells us where he's hiding Crown Prince Alexis." Said Leon.

"I told you, I didn't hide it. Crown Prince Alexis is completely gone and I don't know where he is right now. But I won't just run away without helping you all find it. I promised anyway." Xavier said as he glanced at Anna who had been watching him since.

Actually Anna wanted to find out where her sister was. And even though Xavier already said that he didn't know, but Anna was sure there were a lot of things that Xavier hadn't told her. The man was obviously still hiding a lot of things from Anna. Anna herself had tried to demand all her explanations while on the mountain, but Xavier said he would explain it to them when they returned to the cottage. Anna never thought there was anything greater waiting for them upon their arrival at the cottage.

"Ludwig..." Anna mutters.

"What?" Ask Xavier.

"Your sister. Second Prince. The first son of Empress Selena. Prince Ludwig. Wouldn't he be the one who would soon ascend the throne as Crown Prince if you didn't immediately return to the Palace and prove that you're not dead?"

Xavier nodded. "really. He is the strongest candidate for the moment."

"The person who made me find my mother was Prince Ludwig."

"Could he have planned all this?" Ask Leon. "Prince Ludwig made the Princess free the Queen. That way Crown Prince Xavier is assigned to look for them. Then—“

"Attacking by the Black Mamba was also part of his plan." Anna continued. "From the beginning, Prince Ludwig knew it all. Could it be that he knows where Alexis is?" Anna asked to make sure to Xavier.

"Maybe not." Xavier. He sounds very sure.

"Whatchu mean? Now you're gonna defend your brother?" Ask Leon.

"Brother? That's right." Xavier laughed bitterly. "I just said that because I've known him since I was a kid. He does not want a throne. He just obeyed his mother's words. This must be Selena's plan. She would become Queen if her son ascended the throne as Crown Prince. And Selena's been eyeing the Queen for a long time."

"This can't be allowed to." Anna, who knew how crafty the Empress was, almost killed her and Xavier a few nights ago in Trivone.

"Then shouldn't His Highness the Crown Prince immediately return to the Palace?" Ask Louis.

"No. Not yet." Said Anna. "Xavier, you can't go back before you tell us all about what you've kept from us. That includes your assumptions about Alexis's whereabouts." This time the sentence was shown to Xavier.

"I know." Xavier said, sighing, still thinking of a way to settle his Kingdom affairs while helping Anna find Crown Prince Alexis.

All speechless. Their minds are full of a dizzying array of things. How to find Alexis. How to get back to Schiereiland. And how to get Schiereiland back.

Xavier thought of all that, just like the other four people. But at the same time, he also had to think about all the problems in his kingdom as a result of his departure. And Eleanor.

Xavier already knew about Eleanor's relationship with her mistress. But the news of Eleanor's pregnancy that everyone knew was completely unexpected. And if everyone knew about the real father of the baby conceived by the Crown Princess, the entire Winterthur family would be in danger.

Then Xavier suddenly remembered something. "May I call a friend?" Ask the four men Schiereiland in front of him. "I promise he can be trusted and won't tell us our location." Xavier finally said, this time asking permission on Queen Isabella and Anna. He does not want to ask Leon for permission because he knows it will be harder to gain Leon's trust than to get the approval of Queen Isabella and Anna.

"Silahka—“ The new Queen Isabella will give her permission, but Leon interrupts immediately.

"Who is this friend you mean? How can you be sure he won't betray?" Leon asked with suspicion.

"I dare to vouch for him with my life. He won't betray." Xavier said, really.

"All right, you can call him." Said Anna.

"Thank you." Xavier then took a few steps back, providing a place in front of him for his friend whom he was about to call, then whispered a small whisper so that the other person in the room might not be able to hear him. Xavier mentioned that name.

"Generic..."

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