The Rose That Blooms In North
Epilogue

Nights in Nordhalbinsel are always dark and cold beyond nights anywhere in the world. Even in a place filled with crystal light and equipped with the best quality wood heating in the King's resting room, the night was always as dark and cold as any other night. It was even darker and colder than any other night for the King.

That night, for the first time in hundreds of years, it rained very hard and very suddenly. Nordhalbinsel, the Ice Country located far in the northern region, a cold and dry place whose land is always covered with eternal snow, rain has never fallen for hundreds of years on that land. It was as if the sudden arrival of rain signified a change. Things that should never happen, will eventually happen.

Even though that night the main palace was very crowded because there was a welcoming party for the return of the Crown Prince from his duties in Montreux. But the ailing King could not attend the feast. King Vlad was sitting in his dugout, accompanied by five concubines, four ladies and seven bodyguards. The room was so spacious that even though there were dozens of people in it, it still felt empty.

Lately the King's health condition has been declining. He was no longer able to attend the meeting in the Palace, to stand alone he had to be helped by some people. Sometimes she has hallucinations and has trouble recognizing the faces of her concubines. Sometimes he was suddenly enraged and the next second he cried as if the world was collapsing before him. Only those closest to him knew about his health. Even so, the walls and roof of the Palace seemed to have ears and a mouth. Rumors fuse together facts and spread like a disease. In the palace, the position of King is the highest position in power as well as the most dangerous position where many people want it to fall. One had to become extremely strong and ruthless in order to survive in that position.

"Irene..." Call the King in awe. His voice sounded powerless. "Close come here."

The concubine he appointed, came forward and knelt before him, looking pitying on the King as well as fear and destruction. The king was once the most radiant person in his eyes, but the light had now faded and was slowly dying.

"Baginda... I'm Eliza, Eighth concubine." The concubine said with a trembling voice, holding back the sobs.

"Eliza's? Where's Irene? I saw him standing there." The king pointed towards a large painting in front of him. Painting of Queen Irene. "He's still there, apparently. Looks so beautiful and cruel as always."

The King smiled weakly as he looked at the painting. Her tears flowed, blowing her longing for the figure in the painting. The figure in the painting, the woman, was as if looking at him with a cold gaze and a hollow smile. The woman was very beautiful with a red dress as color with the color of her lips. She wore the queen's crown on her head. His black hair contrasted with his snow-white skin. From the overall appearance that looks so dazzling, her emerald-colored eyes are what make her beauty even more look unreal. But that figure was real. The figure was once alive and smiling brightly, warming the heart of the King.

"Irene, my love, I miss you. Will I really never see you again?"

Suddenly the door of the room opened wide, revealing a young man who stepped in casually, leaving the mortally wounded guards behind him. His footsteps could be heard echoing throughout the room, approaching towards the King with two sword blades in his right and left hands. On each of the swords there is a carving of roses on the handle. The young man looked very tall for his age, his hair was honey blonde and his eyes were bright red. Those eyes looked at the King before him boldly as if he was going to challenge him to a duel.

The guards, who were surprised by his arrival, immediately prevented him from getting any closer to the king. They drew out swords, encircling them from all directions. The young man did not even glance at the King's bodyguards. He smiled mockingly as he saw the King before him looking extremely shocked at his arrival which was as sudden as the rain of the night.

The young man dropped his two swords on the floor, then lowered his head respectfully.

"I am facing His Majesty King Nordhalbinsel, the North Sun." Said the young man.

The king hinted at the guards to let the young man get close. The guards hesitated, but in the end they obeyed the King's orders.

"Why did prisoners of war come to see me?"

"Prisoner of war? I thought I was here as a guest of honor."

The King laughed.

"Who said such a ridiculous thing?"

The young man smiled cunningly. "Your Son. Crown Prince Xavier." Said The Youth. "But he has a point too. There was never a war between Nordhalbinsel and Schiereiland. His Majesty who suddenly came, killed our King and took over Schiereiland."

The King stared at the young man for quite a while. Some of his sons were around the same age as that young man, but none of them had ever looked at him so boldly. King smiled.

"His late King Schiereiland had a son who was quite clever and courageous. What do you want?"

"I want to talk only to His Majesty."

"You hear that? Right now, leave us both."

The chief of the guards knelt before the King. "Baginda, too dangerous-"

"Am I asking for your opinion? I don't want to repeat my orders twice."

"Baginda-"

"If he had indeed come to kill me, he would have done so since he entered this room. You saw for yourself how he defeated those dozens of outdoor guards. He should have been able to defeat all of you and kill me earlier. He dropped both of his swords. Quickly leave us."

"Okay, Sire."

Within seconds, everyone left the room. All, except the King and the Youth, Crown Prince Alexis.

Alexis clenched her hands, restraining herself from venting her emotions right then and there. "Give Schiereiland back." He said, firmly. It was not a request but a command he gave to the King before him.

"To whom? Schiereiland doesn't have a king if I let him go."

"Schiereiland still has me. Isn't that obvious? If the King dies, the eyes of the Crown Prince who will ascend the throne become King."

"But... Schiereiland had no Crown Prince, but rather a Crown Princess." The king took out something from behind the royal robe he was wearing. It was a letter. "I happened to find the letter that the late King Edward left in his room. On the birthday of his eldest daughter, Princess Anastasia, the late King had apparently prepared a very special gift. In this letter it is written that King Edward will give his throne to his Daughter, not to his Son."

"I already know that." Said Alexis. His tone remained calm without the slightest bit of fear. "But no one knew about the letter nor about the late King who suddenly changed his mind and replaced his successor. Everyone still thinks of me as the heir to the throne. After all, wasn't my brother declared dead that night? At least that's what people know and believe."

King silent. In a few minutes no one spoke between them. Making the sound of rain outside the palace sound louder and filled the silence between them.

"All right." The King finally said. "What can you offer me in return? Looks like you prepared something for me before coming to this place."

Alexis stepped closer to the King without feeling the slightest trepidation. He seems to have control over the life of the King.

"I know what His Majesty needs. The thing that got you to kill my Dad."

The King's eyes seemed to be watching Alexis' every move. Looking for the fears he might be hiding. But the King did not find that fear from him. The son of the dead King Schiereiland seemed to have no fear at all even in the presence of the man who had killed his father.

"Say. What'sthat?" Ask King.

Alexis smiled, "Dragon's heart." Said. "I knew His Majesty killed my Father because he thought my Father was the owner of the Dragon Heart. Did one of your witches say that they sensed the existence of the Dragon Heart in Schiereiland Palace? He's not entirely wrong. I know who has the Dragon Heart. One thing I must make clear, my father is not the owner of the Dragon Heart. The owner of the Dragon Heart is still alive."

King Vlad looked at Alexis with judgment. Crown Prince Schiereiland was very young but he looked very mature. He knows what he's doing. So King Vlad just kept quiet and listened to him.

"One Dragon Heart can revive a dead person. The Four Hearts of Dragons could make eternal life. I've read it. Tell me, how much do you need? I can get all four if you want." Said Alexis.

"How can you be so confident that you can get it? Even the greatest Witch in Nordhalbinsel doesn't know who owns the Dragon Heart."

"You see these eyes of mine?" Alexis said as he drew closer to the King, revealing his bright red eyes. Those eyes seemed to flash for a moment. "This is the Dragon Eye. Not all the descendants of the King have these eyes, even the late King does not have them, but I have them. Just like the one owned by Grand Queen Zhenra. Eyes that can know the existence of dragons. If Your Majesty wants it, I'll be Your Eye."

King laughs. His echoes of laughter filled the room, louder than the sound of rain outside. He did not expect that when he almost gave up, someone came to offer what he had been looking for.

"alright. Do what you want. If you succeed, you'll get what you want." King Said.

"But there is one condition that you must meet first. You must make sure my Mother stays safely awake inside the Queen's Palace until I return to bring the Dragon Heart to you. No one can hurt Queen Isabella."

"I'll take care of him." The King's Promise.

Alexis smiled with satisfaction. His negotiations with the King went as smoothly as he expected.

"One more thing. Right now I still don't know, but, if it turns out that one of your family members is the Dragon you are looking for, am I allowed to kill him as well to obtain the Dragon Heart?" Ask Alexis.

"Is one of my sons or one of my concubines a Dragon?"

"I still don't know. But what if it's really that?"

The king was silent for a moment before finally replying, "I gave my permission. Do whatever it takes to get that Dragon Heart, whoever it is."

Alexis knelt before the King. "I will carry out His command."

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

...-The End...