The Rose That Blooms In North
Chapter 25: La Maison de Reve
Xavier sent all his troops to Montreux, including Anna. After a very fancy lunch at the Palace, Anna immediately went to look for Leon. But when Anna came to the inn where they had been staying, there was only a former building that had been completely burned and destroyed.
“It happened about a few days ago. He said the Crown Prince ordered to demolish unused buildings and pay no taxes. Mr. Forbis had not paid taxes for a long time since there were not many people staying at his inn. And he's gone nowhere.” Obviously one of the workers at the tavern where they used to eat.
The man said that it was the Crown Prince who ordered to destroy the building. But Anna had been on Xavier's side for almost every moment. And Xavier never ordered anything regarding the destruction of the building. Xavier even seemed too busy to notice which buildings to demolish. So Anna did not believe the man's words at all. It's not that Anna wants to defend Xavier. But because Anna knows the truth.
Anna finally walked aimlessly around the market. Every now and then he stops at the gun sale to see if Leon or Louis is there. But when they do not find their whereabouts, Anna leaves immediately. At the last gun shop, Anna saw something that caught her attention. A bow of arrows. Anna immediately remembered those Shadow Killers. But instead of being afraid when she saw the arrow, Anna wanted to learn it. Swords are great for close combat. But there were times, like that night, when he wanted to stop the shadow-killers trying to escape, a bow and arrow were needed when the opponent was at a great distance.
Anna looked back at the bow carefully. From her designs adorned with rose carvings, Anna knew that the bow was from Schiereiland. Or at least the maker must have come from Schiereiland. It's also possible that they got it from the armory at his palace, stole it and sold it. Anna did not know for sure the origin, but Anna felt very interested in the bow.
“Is Miss interested in this bow? This is a rare item. Miss will not find the same item anywhere.” The seller said as if he could read Anna's mind.
“How much is it?” ask Anna.
“20.000 gold. But since this beautiful Miss is my first customer for today, I will give you a discount so 15,000 gold. How?”
Anna had already received a gift from the Palace for her trip to Montreux for 50,000 gold. But the money had to be saved because he would not know what he was going to face in the future. Not to mention if they later managed to save Mom and her sister. They would definitely need a lot of money to survive.
“Sorry, I'm not so—“
“I will pay for it.” Say someone behind Anna. The person was wearing a headscarf and mask so it would be very difficult to see his face. But Anna doesn't even need to look at her face to know who's talking. The man immediately gave 15,000 gold to the gun seller.
“Thank you, Sir. This please bow and arrow.” Said the seller while handing the bow and the container full of arrows to the man.
The person immediately stepped away from the store without saying a word. Anna hurriedly followed him from behind.
“I didn't know you had that kind of money.” Anna said after being quite far away from the shop.
“We can even afford a small cottage. Just a bow and arrow for 15,000 gold is not a difficult thing to buy.” Said Leon lightly.
“Good mask. Should I wear a mask too?”
“That's a good idea, Your Majesty. But for now it is still not needed.”
Anna and Leon walked far enough out of the market to the edge of town. From the outskirts of the city, they boarded the horse that Leon left in one of the houses of the citizens who received horse care services. The horse was a black warhorse given by Princess Eugene. Leon called it Onyx.
They rode even further through the countryside with very few inhabitants and the distance between houses was far apart. From the countryside, they rode even further into the forest filled with evergreen trees covered in thick snow. The more you enter the forest, the cooler the air. The sunlight could not penetrate the spruce trees. And they rode further and further into the depths of the forest until they could hear nothing but the chirping of birds and the footsteps of Onyx.
“Actually where are we going? Do we have to go this far?” Anna asked who had started to feel very tired from not having rested for the previous two days of travel.
Leon stopped his horse, then immediately got off. Onyx ducked, humbling his body as Anna was about to descend as if knowing Anna was a bit hard to get off the horse as tall as Onyx. But Leon helps Anna down so she doesn't have much trouble.
“We've arrived, Your Grace.” Said Leon.
In front of them at this moment, stood firmly a small hut made of brick and wood. Complete with a firewood cutting place next to the small cottage and a chimney that emits smoke sign the fireplace can be used well. In contrast to the small log cabin that Anna and Leon hid in the Schiereiland forest, around the hut, spruce trees grew with green leaves covered in thick snow. The small lights lit up brightly near the door even though it was still daytime because this forest was quite dark. Overall, the little hut looked bright and warm despite being in the middle of the dark snowy forest.
“This is indeed far from the luxury of Schiereiland Palace, but I hope Your Majesty can rest comfortably inside.” Said Leon.
Anna looked at Leon in disbelief.
“You bought this house?”
Leon nodded. He smiled with satisfaction at seeing Anna so astonished as he looked at their very simple little cottage. Anna almost shed tears from feeling overwhelmed. Because the cottage was the cottage of his dreams since childhood.
“You remember it?” Ask Anna.
"Of course, Your Majesty."
***
Ten years ago at Schiereiland Palace...
"Your Majesty, are you mad at me?" Ask Leon. He sat next to the long red-haired little girl covering the side of his face, appearing to be drawing something on paper.
Anna did not answer. He ignored the question and kept busy drawing.
It was spring in Schiereiland. The season in which all the flowers start blooming. A season where everyone should be happy to make it through the dark and gripping winter. But Anna's mood is not good. He just locked himself in his room all day and didn't want to talk to anyone. The King and Queen are desperate and ask Leon to talk to him before going to war.
Leon tried again, "I heard next week the representatives of the kingdoms in the North will come with the Crown Prince and some Princes. Does Your Majesty know that the kingdom has so many princes? And many of them are the same age as His Majesty. Your Majesty will soon make a new friend. It must be fun."
Anna was still silent, ignoring Leon. His head bowed seriously to his drawing paper.
"Your Majesty, please talk to me. I might not come back. I could have died there. So maybe this is our last meeting."
Anna stopped drawing. No matter how hard she tried to hold back the cries of the moment, a single tear fell onto the paper before her, blurring the color she had cast on her image.
"Then don't go." Said Anna, shriek. Her eyes were covered in tears that flowed down her reddish cheeks. "If Leon dies in war, who will protect me and accompany me?" Anna started crying even though she didn't want to. He actually wanted to look fine on the day of Leon's departure. But he can't control his emotions.
Leon hugged Anna. The ten-year-old little girl sobbed in his arms.
"I promise to return safely. So Your Majesty must also promise that it will be fine as long as I leave."
Leon took off his embrace and wiped Anna's tears with his handkerchief. Anna is five years younger than him. However, because of her title as a Royal Princess, Anna rarely shows her emotions in public, making her look more mature than her age. Usually he would smile all day and greet the people in the Palace cheerfully. Seeing Anna cry at that moment was a very rare thing for Leon. But then she realized that Anna was just a lonely little girl.
"Leon, marry me." Anna said as she looked at Leon seriously.
Leon who was very surprised to hear Anna's words was speechless.
"Scheiereiland's Law on the Royal Family chapter nine number two states that the husband of the King's daughter who does not have children is allowed not to participate in the war. I've considered it carefully." added Anna, still looking at Leon seriously. "I know you don't have real parents, and you don't have a last name. But I'm not gonna dispute that. Noble status I don't need it either. For a place to stay, since the married King's Princess had to live outside the Palace, we could look for a small cottage in the middle of a remote forest that was cheap. Look, I've drawn a sketch of our house later." Anna said while showing her drawing that was almost finished.
Leon receives the picture and notices every detail that Anna drew. Although she was only 10 years old, Anna already had quite amazing drawing skills as all the Royal Princesses in Schiereiland were required to have art skills. The masterpiece looked even more like a professional painting instead of a sketch from a ten-year-old. The picture shows a small hut made of red brick and wood. Around the small hut grew shady fir trees. The small cottage had a small door and two small windows that seemed to light up from within. There is a chimney from the hole comes out gray smoke that soars high up to the blue sky above it. Around the small hut there are a variety of wild grass and wildflowers of various colors and some small animals such as rabbits and small deer. Anna's little cottage looked like a warm and beautiful house though very simple.
The Little Princess continued, "For the living expenses, you don't have to fear living a short life because as the King's Daughter I will still get a monthly sum of money from the Kingdom of ten million gold even though I am married. That money will be enough for both of us. We can also sell firewood because we live in a forest full of trees. Look, I've written everything down. I didn't propose to you. I've considered everything well. So you don't have to go to the battlefield and—“
"Your Majesty..." Leon stopped his words.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't marry you Your Majesty."
Anna looked like she was going to cry again. “Why not?” Ask.
At that time Leon wanted to say that the reason he rejected Anna was because he was just a child without parents and had nothing but his sword skills that everyone recognized. While Anna is a Royal Princess who is accustomed to living in the Palace with all its luxuries. Anna is the daughter that Leon will serve for life. He had promised King Edward that he would always be by Anna's side as his sword and shield. And as the King's Daughter, Anna would later marry a noble or perhaps a Prince from another Kingdom for the sake of her Kingdom. It was the way of life of a King's Princess that Anna could not avoid.
"To get married, isn't love necessary?" Said Leon. Such an answer would be more easily accepted by ten-year-old Anna and love to read fairy tales about princesses and princes who fall in love with each other.
"You don't love me?"
"No." The answer.
"I'll try to make you fall in love with me."
"That's not what I mean..." Leon smiled soothingly, “I don't love Your Majesty as a woman. But I have great respect for Your Majesty as the person I gave my loyalty to forever.”
Anna only fell silent upon hearing the words from Leon. At the time, he didn't really think about rejection. He thought Leon would definitely accept his proposal straight away. At that moment, he thought everything would go smoothly. So, of course, Leon's rejection had surprised him.
“I may not seem like a beautiful woman now but I will soon grow up to be a very beautiful Princess. You'll be blown away when you see me when I grow up.” He said in a convincing voice.
Leon smile.
“I'll look forward to it, Your Majesty. But even now, Your Majesty is already very beautiful.”
“So you're still going? You rejected my proposal?”
“I promise to return as soon as possible to see His Majesty who grew up and became more beautiful.” Leon said as he gently stroked Anna's hair like he always did to the little girl. “Can I bring this picture to my good luck charm?” Ask Leon.
“Sure. And I have one more talisman. Get down on your knees, General Leon.”
Leon immediately obeyed Anna's orders and knelt before her so that their height was now the same. Anna walked up to him then dyed Leon's cheek shyly.
“Please promise to return safely as soon as possible. I'll wait for you.”
Leon smiled at Anna who blushed in embarrassment. “I promise, Your Highness.”
***
“That picture is already broken and lost on the battlefield. But I still remember it well. So when I saw this little cottage, I immediately remembered the picture you made when you were ten and decided to buy it.” Leon said as they were already inside the little hut.
Inside the small cottage there is only one room, one kitchen, one bathroom and one living room that is used for the dining room as well. When compared to Queen Irene's room at Trivone Castle, their little cottage was only half of the room. But the fireplace works so well that they don't get cold. And Louis had prepared enough food for the three of them on the dining table. Roasted venison, grilled fish and vegetable soup were the ingredients he bought at the market. All the food was not as luxurious as Anna's lunch at Nordhalbinsel Palace, but it tasted very good and warm.
“Oh, I'm very curious to see that picture.” Louis said while taking the still-warm soup for Anna.
“Your Majesty is one of the best painters in Schiereiland. The picture is very similar to this small cottage.” Said Leon.
“No. I'm not that good. But that was indeed true, the little cottage I drew back then was very similar to this little cottage. It's just that there's no heavy snow in my picture.” Said Anna.
It was late in the afternoon and the sun was almost setting. Since Anna had already been granted permission for a holiday, Anna decided to spend the night in their little cottage and set off back to the Palace tomorrow morning. After lunch—near afternoon—they told each other about what happened since the last time they separated in the Fiore forest while enjoying tea and snacks made by Louis. Among the three of them, only Louis can make delicious dishes, so Anna and Leon are not allowed to use the kitchen by Louis.
“So how can you get this much money to buy this cottage?” Anna asked while eating a snack made by Louis.
“We obey all your orders to sell some Bloody Berry and plant some of its seeds.” Said Leon.
“There is no way you can buy a cottage just by selling Bloody Berry.”
“True. We sell it to herbologists in different regions in Nordhalbinsel through intermediaries so that the money we can not be too much.”
“Then?” anna asked, impatient.
“Louis brings most of that money to the gambling establishment.”
“What?! You guys gambling?”
“Not me. Your Highness, you also know I'm not good at it. I could have been robbed at the gambling establishment.” Answer Leon.
“True. So Louis you—“
“I am quite an expert in gambling Your Majesty.” Louis said proudly.
“It's not something to be proud of!”
“Your Majesty, please listen to the explanation first.” Said Leon.
“Oh, are you defending him now?”
“Your Majesty, the gambling establishment is run by corrupt nobles, and they cheat to reap great profits from the people.” Louis said.
“Alright, continue.” Said Anna.
“In short, I managed to defeat the owner of the gambling establishment even though he cheated.”
“Louis is very smart. You'll be amazed if you see it directly.” Added Leon.
“What do you guys bet on?”
“I risked a sword belonging to General Leon and—“
“What?!” Anna looked at Leon sharply. "You're crazy?"
“They recognized the sword, of course." Reply Leon with calm.
"of course! That sword is a real legend!"
"They know even the King will be willing to buy my sword at a very high price.” Obviously Leon again.
"of course! It was a sword given directly by your teacher from Westeria. The sword that was once used by King Zuidlijk, the First King of Schiereiland. Holy hooch! How could you think of risking that sword? Then what is at stake by the Owner of the gambling establishment?"
“Si the owner of that gambling place, Count Barnes risked their gambling place.” Said Leon.
“So you guys managed to get that gambling place?”
Leon nodded happily. “True. But when Louis won they did not want to admit defeat. So I had to show up and—“
“General Leon incapacitated them all quickly, then handed them over to Mr. Duke for punishment for deceiving many.” Louis said excitedly.
“Mr Duke?”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you? I once said that I have some acquaintances in Nordhalbinsel right? One of them had applied for the Crown Prince's Personal Guards audition, which I had visited at the time to ask him to cancel his registration. He is the son of Duke Versoix. One of the Duchy is famous for its luxurious casino where the nobles gather throughout Nordhalbinsel. Even the Princes often go to the casino.”
"So he's Duke Versoix's son? Well, your network of friends is really vast." Anna said, amazed.
Leon smiled proudly. "Not really. But my network of friends is definitely wider than yours, Your Majesty."
"Then after handing them over to Master Duke, what happened to that gambling establishment?" Anna asks Louis, ignoring Leon who is trying to boast of his fame.
"We sold it to Mr. Duke. Actually we can just run the gambling place and get more profit. But General Leon says that means we're much worse than those con men." Louis said.
"What is the price of the gambling establishment?"
Neither Leon nor Louis answered Anna. They just glanced at each other, then Leon gestured to Louis. Louis took out a chest large enough that Anna was sure Louis himself could fit into it.
Louis opened the box. Inside the box was a lot of gold and gemstones. Although it did not meet the chest, but the amount was enough to be able to buy a large house in the city center.
"It's full. But we're giving half of it to the people who suffered heavy losses from the gambling establishment and to buy this cottage and other essentials." Said Leon.
"Th-this is a lot." Anna was flabbergasted as she looked at the contents of the chest. Even as the King's Daughter, she had never seen firsthand a chest full of gold and jewels. "It's only fitting that you can buy that bow. Though I think 15,000 gold is too expensive for the size of an old bow." Anna told Leon.
"Ah, right. I've been wanting to ask you why you suddenly want to buy an arrow, Your Majesty?" Ask Leon.
Anna finally told me everything. About what happened in Montreux after he split with Leon and Louis. Princess Eugene and Prince Jeffrey. Crown Prince Xavier's wedding to Eleanor Winterthur. It's about those shadow killers and how he could have died back then if Xavier hadn't saved him. Leon and Louis listened carefully and did not interrupt in the slightest.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I should have protected you by then." Said Leon.
"Don't say that, Leon. I was grateful that you weren't there. You could've died if you were hit by that poisoned arrow."
"But why was Crown Prince Xavier okay after being hit by that poisoned arrow? Didn't His Majesty himself say that no human should be immune to Siarine's poison?" Ask Louis.
Anna pondered the question well. Before this, he was too worried about Xavier's condition that he could not question the oddity. But now that Louis had asked him, he would not want to give it any thought. "I'm not sure either, Lou. There is something strange about Crown Prince Xavier. But I'm not sure what that is."
***