Catching Up
Back in the present the Shooting Stars are asked to come to the communications room again. This time it is the Queen that awaits them.
“I’m sure you have questions and I will gladly answer them but before I do, I would like to humbly apologize. What my husband did was wrong and has hurt both you and Rose deeply. This happened without my knowledge or consent but I will still take responsibility for my husband's actions.”
“Instead of giving us empty platitudes, why don’t you tell us where Rose is?” Sher Aka says.
“Right now she’s sleeping in my bed.”
“Then wake her up and bring her here, I need to know if she’s okay.”
“Unfortunately she is not ‘okay’. She is currently suffering from a severe illness of the heart, which is why I don’t believe it’s a good idea for you to see her right now.”
Rayla asks, “When you mean sickness of the heart do you mean it literally or figuratively.”
“Figuratively. She will have to stay here until she gets better.”
Sher Aka interrupts, “So you’re keeping her against her will?”
“Far from it. Rose can leave whenever she wants to but she needs some rest. I do not have her consent to share what troubles her so I will not share it but believe me it is best for her not to see any of you until she feels better.”
“Not even me?” Scarlet asks.
“No, not even you.”
Rayla adds, “I find it highly unlikely that Rose would want to stay away from us voluntarily. Do you have any proof of this?”
“I do not. As a show of goodwill I can invite you to our castle and I can facilitate you seeing Rose but I can not make it so she sees or hears you. I believe that would make her condition get worse.”
“You are aware that from our point of view this just sounds like a trap, right?”
“I was not. My apologies, I seem to have lost quite an amount of trust thanks to my husband. Whenever you wish to come here I will try to facilitate it. If you wish to wait, I will support the Duke and by extension you, so you may stay without trouble until she returns.”
“And when will that be, ‘your Highness’?” Sher Aka asks.
“I don’t know. As it stands now it might be anywhere between a few weeks and a few months.”
“This is ridiculous! There is no way Rose would stay away voluntarily for that long!”
“Whether you believe me or not, it is the truth. Rose is not held here against her own will.”
“Don’t tell me you brainwashed her into staying…”
“I did no such thing. Though I do admit that my husband’s folly might make it easier for her to stay due to the imprint.”
Scarlet interrupts, “Mama if you just tell us what the problem is they probably won’t be as suspicious.”
“I guess that is true…But since I don’t have her consent for the full story I’ll just say this. Currently…Rose is planning to commit suicide once she stops being an adventurer with all of you. She says that she hates living and that she’s so exhausted from life that she feels like she needs to constantly keep moving because the second she stops she’ll be too exhausted to continue. That’s why I’m trying to provide her some rest. Not to heal her damaged heart but to make it so she at least won’t have to die. If she talks to you or meets with you she will feel like she needs to get back moving again, which is why I don’t want her to see you until she feels ready.”
Hearing this the room goes silent. Rayla is completely pale in the face, Sher Aka looks like all her anger has left her body in an instant and Scarlet is currently bent over pulling at her hair in shock.
“So that’s why she was getting more reckless…” Rayla mutters.
“I can see that you all care for Rose and I know that she cares for you all as well. I will financially support you during the time she is away and I will also facilitate ways for you to see her from time to time but that is all I can do for you for now. Perhaps this might be a good time for you to rest up as-”
“Like hell I’m going to waste my time resting. I’m going to train.” Sher Aka protests.
“You’re right, let’s use this chance to get stronger.” Rayla adds.
The door behind them then opens and the King’s voice announces, “What a good timing. You seem all fired up so why not train with-”
Without hesitation Sher Aka runs at the King and kicks him between the legs.
“Good idea in principle but dragon testicles aren’t on the outsi-”
Going for the eyes next the king dodges her by stepping to the side, catching her arm and throwing her over his shoulder into the wall knocking her out.
“Sigh I respect the fighting spirit but you need to learn who to pick a fight with.” Picking her up from the ground the King turns his head to Scarlet, “Do you want to train with your papa too?”
“No…To be honest I’m pretty mad at you right now. I’ll go home and train with auntie Carmilla instead.”
“You do know she’s not as nice as me right?”
“Yeah…I also thought I knew you were a better dad than you seem to actually be…”
Taking on a sad facial expression for just a second the King quickly returns to his jolly personality and says, “I’ll just train the Elf then. See ya!”
As the King leaves, the Queen asks, “Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
“I think everything has already been said. Take care of our little Libella will you?”
“Of course…”
Rayla scoffs, “Your husband seems to be a fan of kidnapping people.”
“So it would seem…”
“Since you’re okay with sending us to Blaze I assume you’d let us use the portal gates to different places as well, right?”
“As long as you don’t use them for anything illegal, yes.”
“In that case, your Highness, I’ll take my leave as well. I need to inform John and go to the adventurers guild to find out where my teacher is now. And I’m sure you have some things to discuss with Scarlet as well.”
“Of course. Have a safe trip Duchess.”
“Excuse me? What are you talking about?”
“My husband and daughter promised you a noble title. I didn’t have the chance to tell you earlier so I will tell you now. From now on you are Duchess Rayla Zorra. I can not promise you any land right now but your title is real nonetheless. Please wear it with pride.”
“Alright…Thank you, your Highness.”
“It is the least I can do. Thank you for taking care of my child for so long. I have also been thinking of middle names for Rose, would you like to bestow one on her as well?”
“You’d ask for me to give her a name?”
“You are the closest person to her after all.”
“Hmm…”
Thinking for a few minutes Rayla sits back down and eventually says, “In that case, how about Heather? It is a beautiful pink shrub that grows around my tribe, I’m sure it would fit well with Rose.”
“Then Heather it is, thank you Duchess.”
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