The **Garden of Roses** was a place of unparalleled beauty, a sanctuary where time seemed to stand still.
Crimson roses bloomed in abundance, their velvety petals cascading from trellises and creeping vines that wove through the intricate iron framework above.
The air was thick with their intoxicating scent, a heady perfume that clung to the senses like a lover's whisper. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting golden beams upon the weathered stone floor, where fallen rose petals formed a mesmerizing carpet of red.
At the center of this dreamlike haven stood a round white table, its surface adorned with a porcelain bowl filled with freshly picked roses.
Two ornate chairs, their wrought iron frames curving elegantly, sat opposite each other. Beyond the arched columns, lush greenery stretched toward the horizon, bathed in a warm, golden glow.
The gentle rustle of leaves and the distant melody of birdsong completed the serene atmosphere, making this rose garden feel like a secret sanctuary hidden from the rest of the world.
Yet, the tranquility of the garden was shattered by the tension that hung heavy between its two occupants.
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Alancia sat gracefully on one of the chairs, her ethereal beauty harmonizing with the dreamlike surroundings.
Her silver hair cascaded down her back in soft, flowing waves, catching the golden sunlight like strands of moonlight woven into silk. Her pale skin glowed with an almost porcelain-like radiance, contrasting beautifully with the soft pink hues of her gown. Her pastel green eyes, shimmering like jade touched by morning dew, held an air of mystery—deep and endless as a forgotten dream.
But beneath her composed exterior, a storm raged.
She glanced at Ezekian, who sat across from her, his expression unreadable.
His golden eyes, usually so sharp and calculating, seemed distant, as if his thoughts were far away. The tea before him was growing cold, and the pastries remained untouched.
Alancia's fingers tightened around her teacup, her knuckles whitening as she fought to suppress the jealousy that gnawed at her insides.
*Why does he always look like that?* she thought bitterly. *Like he's somewhere else, with someone else.*
Her mind drifted to **Selentia**, her younger sister, yeah known to be her older but she knows the truth better.
The memory of Ezekian risking his life to protect Selentia yesterday, burned in her mind like a brand.
She had watched from the sidelines, her heart twisting in envy as Ezekian shielded Selentia with a ferocity that spoke of something deeper than duty. Something Alancia had never seen directed at her.
*Why her?* Alancia's thoughts were a whirlwind of resentment. *She's nothing special. Just a girl who happened to manifest the Crimson Aura. But me? I am born perfect, and yet...*
Her gaze flickered to Ezekian again, her pastel green eyes narrowing slightly.
She had always been the jewel of House Nyxveil, the one who turned heads and commanded attention.
But with Ezekian, it was different. No matter how sweetly she smiled, how elegantly she dressed, or how subtly she flirted, he remained distant. Polite, yes, but always distant.
And she knew why.
"Ezekian," she began, her voice soft but laced with an edge she couldn't quite hide. "Is there something on your mind?"
He blinked, as if pulled from a reverie, and turned his gaze to her. He didn't seem to hold particular any feelings for her.
The realization stung, and Alancia's smile faltered.
"Nothing of importance, My Lady," he replied, his tone polite but detached.
Alancia's jaw tightened. *MyLady.* Always so formal, so cold.
She hated it. She hated how he called Selentia by her name, with a warmth that was never directed at her. She hated how his eyes softened when he spoke of her, how his voice carried a tenderness that Alancia had never been able to elicit.
She leaned forward slightly, her hand reaching across the table to rest on his.
Her touch was gentle, but her grip was firm, as if she could anchor him to her through sheer will.
"We are engaged, Ezekian," she said, her voice sweet but with an undercurrent of steel. "You can share your worries with me."
For a moment, he didn't move. Then, slowly, he withdrew his hand from hers, his expression unreadable.
"If there's something you can help with, I will surely ask you," he said, his tone still polite but with a finality that made her blood boil.
Alancia's smile tightened, her pastel green eyes flashing with a hint of anger. She leaned back in her chair, her fingers drumming lightly on the armrest.
"Yesterday," she began, her voice colder now, "why did you risk your life to protect her?"
Ezekian's gaze sharpened, his golden eyes narrowing slightly.
"I couldn't just stand by and let someone come to harm when I had the power to prevent it," he replied, his voice calm,without a hint of defensiveness.
Alancia's lips curled into a bitter smile. "She can protect herself, Ezekian. Or have you forgotten that she wields the Crimson Aura?"
His expression darkened, a flicker of something dangerous passing through his eyes.
"And what does that have to do with anything?" he asked, his tone low and measured.
Alancia's patience snapped. "Why do you care so much about her?" she demanded, her voice rising slightly. "Why does everyone care so much about her? What is it about Selentia that makes you all so obsessed?"
Ezekian's jaw tightened, his golden eyes glinting with a cold light. "This isn't about Selentia," he said, though the way he said her name—soft, almost reverent—betrayed him.
Alancia's hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms. "Isn't it?" she shot back, her voice trembling with suppressed rage.
"You can't even say her name without that look in your eyes. That... that longing."
For a moment, there was silence. Then Ezekian leaned forward, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey.
His golden eyes bore into hers, and for the first time, Alancia saw the darkness that lurked beneath his polished exterior.
"Careful, Alancia," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "You're treading on thin ice."
She recoiled slightly, her pastel green eyes widening in shock. But then her anger flared again, hotter and fiercer than before.
"Or what?" she challenged, her voice shaking. "What will you do, Ezekian? Break off the engagement? Humiliate me in front of everyone?"
" Ain't I asking you to break off the engagement over 20 times in last 5 days?" Ezekian's eyes darken cold anger, " A political engagement arranged by Imperial Family can't be broken without the consent of two parties."
Alancia knew what Ezekian meant, ever since their engagement was announced Ezekian had been trying to pursue her to agree with his proposal.
But she was too obsessed with him to let him go.
" I won't break off this engagement at any cost. If you wanna kill me, kill me." Alancia thought her bold remark would melt Ezekian but she was wrong.
He smiled then, a cold, merciless smile that sent a shiver down her spine. "If that's what it takes," he said softly, his voice like a blade wrapped in silk, " I can surely try that."
Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "You wouldn't dare," she whispered, though her voice lacked conviction.
Ezekian leaned back in his chair, his expression calm once more, but his eyes remained dark and unyielding. "Try me," he said simply.
Ezekian's gaze on her was intense, void of any emotions. She clenched her fist tightly before standing up and stomping out of that place. Ezekian let out an annoyed groan as he facepalmed himself.
" Fuck! I have to come up with something to break off this engagement. Just why can't she understand? I can't even risk talking to Zaphery Nyxveil....."
Ezekian threw his head back, looking up at the clear blue sky with white clouds, he could only think of one thing.
"You were right, Selentia... I shouldn't have been a fool to get under your nerves. Just in what situation did you put me into?"
Ezekian was regretting. He was regretting not escorting Selentia that day and getting into such trouble.