Chapter five

Two days passed, before Lord Wolfgang Maler came knocking on Princess Cassiopeia's door.

They greeted each other.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you, Your Highness."

His aide's job was not only to help him, but also to monitor him. He had spent the first day holed up in his bedroom, and in the second he decided to explore a bit. His parents never asked about him, and he did not visit them.

"You aren't. I'm just doing some paperwork. Take a seat."

He awkwardly sat down in front of her desk.

"Do tell me, have you rested well?" She stamped the royal sigil on two documents before lifting her eyes to meet his.

"I have, Your Highness."

"I'm glad. You look refreshed."

She scribbled her signature on another document, before piling some papers together and shoving them to her left.

"I have the feeling that you have something to tell me, Lord Maler. Were your chambers to your liking?"

"Yes, they were perfect."

"I'm glad."

"If you are not too busy, Your Highness, would you like to take a stroll with me? Perhaps to see the Rose garden?"

He was eager to see them. It seemed he really liked flowers, how cute.

She put down the fountain pen she was using and got up.

"I would love to."

She had picked up the habit of wearing pants, and that day was no exception.

He seemed bewildered at the sight.

"I will change quickly. Please wait for me outside."

He did so, and she called for two maids.

The corset was a bit tight, and her breasts almost popped out.

"I look quite vulgar in such attire. Please do not tighten my corset so."

After she loosened it, the dress for much more nicely.

The blue evening dress contrasted with her hair, yet matched her blue eyes perfectly.

She had always been insecure of her eyes. She wanted them to be green like her mother's. Everyone had always told her that blue eyes do not fit red hair.

She sighed, grabbing a white shawl that matched her pearl necklace and earrings, as well as the white lace details in her dress and the white silk gloves she was wearing.

She let the maids braid her hair, and she was ready to go.

"I hope you did not wait too long, my Lord."

"I did not. The dress fits you perfect, Your Highness."

She smiled, "thank you". She found it uncomfortable, but she did not say anything about it.

They spent the evening strolling through the garden. He loved roses in every colour, and she did not mind watching him.

She understood why her grandfather walked her grandmother there often.

A pretty boy surrounded by flower surely did lift her mood.

"They bloom all year round. Every season of a different colour."

He was mesmerised, "how is that possible?"

"My grandfather's body is buried here. When one of us dies, us bearers of the gift, I mean, there will always be blooming flowers around the grave. It was his last wish, to keep this place alive for her forever."

"Sounds romantic."

"Perhaps. This garden is where their love bloomed, yet as a curse it is also where it was confined."

She kneeled down and plucked a rose.

It regrew the instant she plucked the other one, but the one she held in her hand crumbled to pieces.

"She was sacrificed for the Empire. He did not save her. Perhaps his position demanded it from him, I don't know."

"An Emperor should put the Empire before his lover." He stated.

"I would burn this Empire down, if even to warm you up."

He blushed, speechless.

She burst out laughing, "you should see your face."

"That was very unexpected, Your Highness."

"It was a good line, wasn't it?"

"We have met twice, so quite hard to believe."

"Should I use it the next time we see each other then?"

He chuckled, his cheeks pink. "Is it that silver tongue of yours that got you the throne?"

"No, it was murder."

She stared at him, and a tense silence fell between them. Nothing could be heard, not even the birds chirping.

She burst out laughing again, "you should really see your face."

He relaxed his shoulders and finally exhaled, "that almost got me. You should not jest about such things, Your Highness."

She kept laughing. If only he knew.

"I think we should head back, Lord Maler." She sighed.

He paused, staring at an orange butterfly that sat on a flower not too far away.

"If it pleases you, Lord Wolfgang is enough."

She smiled, "It pleases me, Lord Wolfgang."

He offered her his arm, which she gladly took.

"If you wish to visit the garden again, give this to the guards."

She took off the brooch from her shawl and places it on his hand.

"Tell them that I gave it to you as a sign of permission. If they deny your entrance, just come to me."

He smiled. Not a faint one, nor a chuckle, but a smile so beautiful even beauty itself would stop to see it. "Thank you."

He took the brooch and fastened it on his chest, then, he took off the one he was wearing.

"It may not match your dress as much as the one you gifted me, but it is too cold for you to go around without the shawl."

He stopped before her, and carefully took the two ends.

"With your permission..."

She nodded, and he fastened it above her chest. His brooch was a gold frame that surrounded a big emerald.

"Thank you", she smiled.

She passed her fingers over it, and her ears turned a pinkish colour.