Chapter 47 Bud

Isla
I DON'T KNOW why Lyza brought me here. She refuses to say a word to me about anything. I know the events of yesterday has taken a toll on her. She stands by the bank of the river and does nothing.
I don't mention the hunger pangs that plagues me or the fact that I'm suffering from an insufferable headache, I don't want to bother her.
She barged into my room this morning as she usually does and whisked me away before I could go to the dining room for breakfast.
Spinning on her heels to look at me, she grins. "What is going on with you and my brother?"
I'm startled. What an awkward question to start the day with. "Er... Nothing. We haven't spoken much since. But he—"
She giggles, "but he what?"
"Sends me a bouquet every two days," I rap.
She giggles again. "That's sweet. Can't wait for the wedding."
I don't say anything. I don't know how to reply to that. I know Lyza won't be marrying Lud anymore and I'm happy for her.
Brisk footsteps makes us turn simultaneously. Rosa's buxom form nears closer. "I see you two are having a good time here meanwhile your brother is getting himself worked up inside." She places the basket she is holding on the ground, "he ordered me to get some breakfast to you. Apparently he thought you were sad and weepy. Depressed even."
I raise my brows. That doesn't sound like Kyan at all. Maybe a little.
Lyza scoffs, "He acts like such an old man." She turns away dismissively and stares out at the river.
"He'll be coming here to speak to you," Rosa tells Lyza.
Lysia's reply is accompanied a low growl. "I'm going to stay with my father." She makes to walk away.
"Lyza—" I want to go with her. She doesn't seem okay to me. Something strange is going on.
"Isla," she gives me a condensing smile, "be a darling and stay here so my brother won't meet an empty orchard." She sashays away in a way only she can manage.
"Lud was beheaded this morning," Rosa says gravely as soon as Lyza is out of earshot. She shakes her head pitifully.
"But why would Lud want to kill the King?"
"He wants the crown. They all do," she sighs deeply.
"They?" I don't think Namir would do such a thing.
"Sires of the Royal Court. They are all greedy bastards." Hearing Rosa say something profane surprises me.
"But even if Lud succeeded, then Kyan would—" I try reasoning it out
"Kyan would have been next. Why do you think he wants to marry Lyza? He doesn't love her, he is just evil and greedy." I nod, it makes perfect sense.
My stomach growls. Rosa shoots me a comical look. "You shouldn't be starving yourself. Eat something," she gestures to the basket. "I packed bread, honey cakes and some hibiscus tea."
The sound of all the food has made me more aware of the extreme churning of my stomach and I mentally salivated.
"The Prince will be here anytime," she says, "I have to go."
"Wait!" The word just sails out. She halts and gives me a wary look. I don't know how to go about asking her what I want to but I have to try.
My eyes notice a small rose bud in the midst of thorny rose bushes. The lilac bud seems to stand out amongst the rest. I stare at it, I don't know why but it seems earlier than looking Rosa in the face while saying what I'm about to.
"I want to escape, Rosa. I need to find my sister and get back home." The voice is not mine; it's raspy, hoarse, high-pitched. It's foreign to my ears.
Rosa shuffles uncomfortably. I see her look over her shoulders nervously, "what are you asking me, Isla?"
I scratch an itch behind my left knee with my right toes, my gaze steadily on the bud. "I am asking you for help."
She shakes her head vehemently, "I can't help you, I'm sorry," she snaps. Her tone is dismissive and stern. It makes me flinch, Rosa has never been harsh to me but I don't blame her, I'm asking her to betray the King and Queen.
"Okay." A gentle breeze tugs at the bud and it sways lightly teetering on the ground. "Can you tell me a way then? I promise this will be between you and I."
She closed her eyes for a moment and I bite my lip waiting for her reply. She won't help me, she's too loyal to do so. I'll just have to accept my fate then. The only problem is that I can't.
I can't accept married life to Kyan, not that I don't want to be royalty. In fact, I don't mind it at all. But if I had met Kyan in different circumstances, a different lifetime then things would have been better. I would have fallen for him and maybe him for me and we would have built a life together.
A single tear rolls out of Rosa's closed eye. I turn my eyes away and focus on the bud again. I can't bear the thought of being responsible for Rosa's tear.
The breeze becomes stronger and the bud bends to one side almost touching the ground.
How I wish it will bloom. I'm sure it will be the prettiest of the lot.
And the bud snaps erect again, only that it's not a bud again but a beautiful rose. The breeze dies abruptly. Goosebumps rise from the skin of my arms and a shiver runs down my spine. I can't believe what just happened, am I seeing things?
I gulp. "Rosa?" I want to ask if she sees the rose too. If it has bloomed.
"I'll help you," she says all of a sudden. "I mean... I can't help you but... I can tell you a way out of here."
Happiness in form of swirling sparks erupt inside me, my fingertips tingle and I have an urge to summon waves in the river or a cool breeze. "You will?" I choke out
She nods, "yes." She pauses to look over her shoulders again. Kyan is going on one of his hikes again. I overheard him talking to his mother about it. He is leaving tonight and coming back a day before the wedding."
I allow myself a moment to process everything. And giving up to the tumbling emotions inside me, I pull Rosa into a hug. She gasps and hugs me back almost smoldering me. When she steps back, she cups my face in her hands lovingly just like a mother would. "I wouldn't want my daughter to be trapped in a marriage. Isla, you are like a daughter to me."
She doesn't let the warm tears drop, she wipes them away with a small smile. "I will miss you so much dear."
"I'll miss you too." I reply.
A gruff voice interjects unpleasantly. "Why are you going to miss her?"