Rosaline remained seated on the edge of the bed long after Lily’s bright announcement had dissolved into laughter and footsteps and then silence.

Tomorrow.

The word sat heavily in her chest.

The full moon.

She finally understood what Lily had meant by becoming an adult...the old Everbloom custom, the quiet superstition whispered into every noble daughter’s ear from childhood. On the first full moon after marriage, a woman’s union was believed to become complete...not through ceremony, but through fate itself.

And suddenly, Rosaline’s face burned.

Her fingers flew instinctively to her lips.

That kiss.

That reckless, consuming kiss from the night before.

The memory returned in flashes...the heat of his mouth, the roughness of his hands, the way her own body had betrayed her by melting into him instead of pushing him away.

Her breath caught.

Then she groaned softly and dropped backward onto the pillows.

"This is a disaster."

The ceiling offered no comfort.

She pressed both palms over her face and lay there in mortified silence.

Rosaline remained standing near the window long after Lily’s announcement , her fingertips pressed lightly against the cool glass.

Outside, the Dagon morning had fully awakened....now entering the afternoon.

Sunlight spilled over black rooftops and silver spires, illuminating a city that still felt borrowed to her

The words should not have unsettled her as much as they did.

But they did.

Because now every thought seemed to return to him.

To his hands.

To his mouth.

To the rough edge in his breathing before he had abruptly stepped away from her.

Rosaline pressed both palms against her cheeks.

"No," she muttered firmly. "Enough."

She turned from the window just as Lily entered carrying a tray of fresh tea and warm biscuits.

The maid took one look at her flushed face and immediately narrowed her eyes.

"You are thinking about him again."

Rosaline gasped. "Lily!"

"What?" Lily asked innocently, setting the tray down. "Your face is pink. Your ears are pink. Even your neck is pink."

"It is warm in here."

Lily glanced dramatically toward the open window where cold wind flowed inside.

"My lady," she deadpanned, "we are practically freezing.....the wind is much."

Rosaline folded her arms and looked away.

Lily smiled and sat beside her.

Then her expression softened.

"Did he really kiss you like that?"

Rosaline hesitated.

When she finally answered, her voice was much quieter.

"Yes."

Lily’s eyes widened with inappropriate delight.

"And?"

Rosaline groaned and buried her face in both hands.

"And nothing! He kissed me, touched me, and then suddenly told me to go to sleep as though I were some unruly child."

Lily blinked.

"Oh."

"Yes. Oh."

"That is... confusing."

"Exactly."

Lily leaned back thoughtfully.

"Perhaps he was trying to behave."

Rosaline looked up.

"Behave?"

"Yes," Lily said matter-of-factly. "Men do that sometimes when they care too much."

Rosaline stared at her.

"That sounds ridiculous."

"Does it?"

Rosaline opened her mouth to argue....

...and froze.

Footsteps.

Heavy ones.

Outside.

Both women turned.

A shadow crossed beneath the door.

Rosaline instantly stood.

"It’s him."

Lily grinned.

"Oh good."

"It is not good." Rosaline returned immediately.

Before Lily could respond, Rosaline grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the opposite side of the room.

"What are you doing?" Lily whispered.

"Avoiding him."

"That is childish."

"It is survival."

A knock came.

"My lady?" Enoch’s voice.

Rosaline exhaled.

Not him.

"Enter."

The maid stepped inside and bowed.

"His Grace has returned from the palace just now."

Rosaline immediately stiffened.

"And?" she asked too quickly.

Enoch blinked.

"And he requested your presence downstairs for lunch."

Rosaline’s mouth flattened.

"Tell him I have already eaten."

Lily turned toward her sharply.

"You have not."

Rosaline glared.

Lily folded her arms.

Enoch looked between them nervously.

Rosaline straightened her shoulders.

"Fine," she muttered.

Then quietly to Lily...

"But I am avoiding eye contact."

Lily laughed.

"You are behaving like a guilty child."

"I am behaving like a woman with dignity."

"Mm."

Rosaline narrowed her eyes.

"I heard that."

*******

Downstairs, Xandros was seated alone.

He looked infuriatingly composed.

Dark coat.

Perfect posture.

Not a trace of last night visible on his face.

Rosaline hated that.

She entered the dining room and immediately turned her attention to literally anything except him.

The chandelier.

The fruit bowl.

The window.

The chair.

Finally, she sat.

Across from him.

Without looking at him.

"Good morning," Xandros said.

Rosaline reached for bread.

"Mm."

His brow lifted.

This again?

"That was not a greeting."

"It was acknowledgment."

Lily, standing behind Rosaline, quietly covered her mouth.

Xandros noticed.

His lips almost curved.

"Are you angry with me?"

Rosaline buttered bread aggressively.

"No."

"You are."

"I am not."

"You are refusing to look at me."

Rosaline finally looked up.

Only to glare.

"There. I looked."

Xandros leaned back.

"Much better."

She wanted to throw the cutlery at him.

Instead she stood.

"I suddenly remembered I have important duties."

He looked amused.

"What duties?"

Rosaline lifted her chin.

"I am going to cook."

The room went silent.

Lily blinked.

The butler blinked.

Even Xandros blinked.

"You," he said carefully, "are going to cook."

"Yes."

"For what purpose?"

Rosaline folded her arms.

"To contribute."

Xandros studied her.

Then nodded once.

"Very well."

That was not the response she wanted.

She wanted resistance.

An argument.

A reason to stay.

Instead he returned calmly to his tea.

Which annoyed her even more.

She turned and marched out.

Lily scrambled after her.

"My lady!"

"What?"

"You cannot cook."

Rosaline kept walking.

"I absolutely can."

"You once burned water."

"That happened once."

"It happened twice." Lily corrected her.

Rosaline stopped.

Turned.

Lowered her voice.

"I am not actually trying to cook."

Lily frowned.

"Then what are we doing?"

Rosaline smiled.

"We are making him nervous."

Lily stared.

Then slowly grinned.

"Oh."

"That’s right."

"Oh, I support this."

....

The kitchen staff did not support this.

At all.

The moment Rosaline entered, six maids froze.

A cook nearly dropped a ladle.

The head chef turned pale.

"Your Grace?"

Rosaline smiled brightly.

"I am here to help."

Nobody looked pleased.

Only Lily understood.

She stood behind Rosaline with both hands folded, trying not to laugh.

Rosaline pointed decisively.

"What are we making?"

"Roasted pheasant," the chef answered weakly.

"Excellent. I shall do the sauce."

The chef looked ready to faint.

"My lady..."

"No fear," Rosaline said confidently.

"There should be fear," Lily whispered.

Rosaline ignored her.

For ten minutes, chaos remained manageable.

She chopped herbs too aggressively.

Spilled flour.

Asked absurd questions.

"Why does this leaf smell angry?"

The kitchen staff stared.

Lily coughed into her sleeve.

Then Rosaline pointed dramatically.

"Oil!"

Lily nodded.

"I’ll fetch more."

She disappeared into the pantry.

Rosaline turned toward the stove.

The flame crackled beneath the pan.

She poured the oil awkwardly that it missed,

The moment it hit....

WHOOSH.

Fire erupted upward.

"AHHH!"

Someone screamed.

Then everyone screamed.

Rosaline stumbled backward.

A maid threw water.

The fire hissed violently.

Another servant dropped an entire tray.

Someone shouted, "Move!"

The kitchen descended into complete madness.

By the time the flames died...

everything was ruined.

Blackened walls.

Smoke, wet floors.

Burned herbs, most of all destroyed pride.

Rosaline coughed.

Her braid was half loose.

There was soot on her cheek.

And then....

silence.

She looked up.

Xandros stood in the doorway.

Still.

Terrifyingly still.

His gray eyes moved slowly over the wreckage.

Then landed on her.

Nobody moved.

He stepped inside.

Calmly.

Too calmly.

"Everyone," he said.

"Leave."

The staff fled.

Immediately.

Within seconds...

only Rosaline remained.

And Xandros.

The door shut behind them.

Rosaline suddenly wished it had not.

He approached slowly.

"What," he asked very quietly, "did you think you were doing?"

Rosaline swallowed.

"Cooking."

"You were setting my kitchen on fire."

"That was not intentional."

"You could have been burned."

"I was not."

"You could have been."

His voice rose slightly.

That startled her.

He never raised his voice.

Now his jaw was tight.

His hands were clenched.

"You walked into an unfamiliar kitchen," he continued, "handled open flame carelessly, and nearly injured yourself."

Rosaline’s own temper flared.

"I said I was sorry."

"This is not Everbloom."

That did it.

She went still.

The words struck harder than he meant them to.

She knew it instantly.

But too late.

Rosaline’s hands curled tightly at her sides.

Her chin trembled.

"I know," she whispered.

Her eyes filled with tears.

"I know this is not Everbloom."

His expression changed immediately.

But now she could not stop.

"I know I do not belong here yet," she continued, tears spilling freely. "I know I do not understand your rules or your city or your kitchens or your people."

Her voice cracked.

"I know all of that but I just...."

Xandros stepped forward.

"Rosaline..."

"But I am trying."

The tears came harder now.

"And I am tired of failing."

Before he could say another word...

she turned and ran.

Her skirts swept behind her.

The kitchen door flew open and slammed shut.

Xandros stood there.

Motionless.

The anger drained from his face.

Leaving only confusion.

At that exact moment, Lily returned from the far corridor carrying a jar.

She heard hurried footsteps.

Looked up....and saw Rosaline running.

Crying.

"My lady!"

But Rosaline did not stop.

Then Lily looked up.

And saw Xandros.

Standing alone in the kitchen doorway.

His expression unreadable.

Smoke still drifting behind him.

Lily froze.

Her eyes moved between the fleeing Rosaline...

and the duke.

"What," she whispered to herself, utterly confused,

"am I supposed to do now?"

*****

Rosaline did not stop running until the grand staircase blurred before her eyes.

By the time she reached the upper corridor, her lungs were burning and her tears had turned her vision into a watery haze. She pushed open the nearest balcony door and stumbled outside, breathing hard, gripping the cold stone railing as though it were the only thing keeping her upright.

Her chest hurt.

Not because Xandros had yelled.

But because he had been right.

And because she hated that he was right.

"This is not Everbloom," she whispered bitterly to herself, repeating his words as though saying them aloud would somehow lessen the sting.

The wind answered her by lifting strands of her white hair around her face.

She closed her eyes.

Then slowly sank to the floor.

...

Downstairs, Lily stared at the kitchen door after Rosaline disappeared.

Then at Xandros.

Then back at the ruined kitchen.

The Duke looked as if someone had physically struck him.

That alone startled her.

She had never seen him look anything other than controlled.

Now he stood there, jaw tight, gaze fixed on the door Rosaline had vanished through.

Lily sighed.

"Well," she muttered.

Then she turned to the trembling kitchen staff.

"Enough staring."

The maids immediately straightened.

"The duchess nearly burned the kitchen," one whispered.

"Yes," Lily replied dryly, "and yet somehow you all survived. Miraculous."

A few startled laughs escaped them.

Lily rolled up her sleeves.

"No one touches anything. I will clean it."

The head chef blinked. "But..."

"I said I will clean it."

There was something about Lily’s tone that made everyone obey.

Even Xandros gave her a brief look before turning away.

Interesting.

As he walked out of the kitchen, she called after him.

"Your Grace."

He paused.

Lily curtsied lightly.

"She didn’t mean to anger you."

His shoulders tightened.

Without turning, he answered quietly,

"I know."

Then he walked away.

Lily watched him leave, then looked back at the blackened stove.

"Roasted pheasant," she muttered. "What a disaster."

And yet, as she began wiping soot from the counters herself...refusing the help of the frightened maids...her lips curled into a small smile.

Her lady had certainly made an impression.

It took Lily nearly an hour to restore enough order to the kitchen for dinner preparations to resume.

By then, Rosaline still had not returned.

That worried her.

She left the kitchen and began searching.

The library....empty.

The music room, the garden....empty.

Finally....

the roof.

Lily climbed the final staircase and pushed open the rooftop door.

There she was.

Rosaline sat curled on a stone bench, knees drawn to her chest, humming softly to herself.

It was an old Everbloom lullaby.

One Lily had heard since childhood.

The sound of it immediately softened her.

She walked over quietly and sat beside her.

For a while, neither spoke.

They simply watched the sky.

Far below, carriage wheels rolled over the estate road.

Then Lily glanced downward.

She saw it.

Xandros.

He was entering his carriage.

Leaving.

Rosaline saw it too.

But she did not move.

She didn’t wave.

She simply watched him go.

And that worried Lily even more.

"You usually glare longer than that," Lily said carefully.

Rosaline let out a humorless laugh.

"I am too tired to glare."

Lily turned toward her.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Rosaline folded her arms tighter around herself.

"I have many things to say to him."

"Oh?"

"Yes."

"Such as?"

Rosaline frowned.

"That he is unreasonable."

Lily nodded.

"Fair."

"That he speaks as though he owns the air in every room."

"Also fair."

"That he assumes he knows what is best for me."

Lily tilted her head.

"That one is... partially fair."

Rosaline turned sharply.

"Lily."

"What?"

Rosaline narrowed her eyes.

"Whose side are you on?"

That made Lily laugh.

She reached out and gently patted Rosaline’s back.

"My lady, I am always on your side."

Rosaline’s shoulders loosened.

"I know."

"But..."

Rosaline groaned.

"There’s a but."

"There is."

Lily smiled gently.

"I truly don’t think he meant to hurt you."

Rosaline looked away.

Her voice became quieter.

"I know."

That surprised Lily.

Rosaline continued.

"He was frightened."

Now Lily raised an eyebrow.

"You noticed that?"

Rosaline nodded slowly.

"He was angry because he was frightened."

She stared at her own hands.

"And somehow that makes me feel worse."

Lily smiled softly.

Progress.

At least Rosaline was beginning to see what everyone else already did.

That the duke cared far more than he intended to.

Rosaline suddenly stood.

"I am tired."

Lily rose too.

"You should sleep."

"Yes."

Rosaline sighed.

"I don’t even know why I am this exhausted."

"Come. Let’s go."

Rosaline slept harder than she expected.

When she woke, the room was dim.

Late afternoon.

Strange.

She sat up slowly.

The mansion felt... wrong.

Too quiet.

She frowned.

Then noticed something else.

Xandros still wasn’t back.

That unsettled her more than it should have.

She got dressed quickly and stepped into the corridor.

A maid passed.

"Has the duke returned?"

"No, Your Grace."

Rosaline frowned.

Odd.

She moved toward the stairs...

...and froze.

Noise.

Loud.

Male voices.

Heavy boots.

Shouting.

Her pulse quickened.

She descended quickly.

The entrance hall was chaos.

Soldiers.

At least twenty.

Their black armor gleamed beneath the chandeliers.

Servants were being herded together like livestock.

Some were crying.

Others shaking.

At the center of it all stood a man in crimson military uniform.

Broad-shouldered.

Late forties.

Scar across one cheek.

Cold eyes.

General Cassian Veyr.

He turned as she entered.

And smiled.

Not kindly.

"Well," he said slowly.

"There she is."

Rosaline’s spine stiffened.

"What is happening?"

The butler stepped forward.

"My lady..."

"Silence," Cassian snapped.

The butler immediately fell quiet.

Cassian gestured toward a chair.

"Sit."

Rosaline did not move.

"I asked what is happening."

Cassian studied her.

Then answered plainly.

"The Duke has been wanted."

The room gasped.

Rosaline stared.

"No."

Cassian’s smile widened.

"Yes."

"He is accused," he continued almost casually, "of murdering His Majesty."

The world stopped.

Rosaline blinked once.

Twice.

"That is impossible."

Cassian shrugged.

"The Emperor is dead."

Her knees nearly buckled.

Killed?

By Xandros?

No.

Impossible.

She knew that instantly.

Whatever else he was....

he was not a traitor.

Cassian stepped closer.

"Until the investigation concludes, every member of this household is under arrest."

Chains were brought forward.

The maids began crying.

One fainted.

Lily pushed toward Rosaline protectively.

"You cannot chain the duchess."

Cassian looked at her lazily.

"I can chain anyone I like."

He turned back to Rosaline.

His eyes dragged over her face.

Then lower.

A slow smile formed.

"A pity."

Rosaline’s stomach turned.

"A woman this beautiful should not spend the night in a prison cell."

Lily stepped in front of her immediately.

"You disgusting..."

Cassian backhanded her.

Hard.

Lily hit the floor.

"Lily!"

Rosaline dropped beside her instantly.

Rage flooded her.

She turned upward.

"How dare you!"

Cassian crouched.

Too close.

"Come willingly," he murmured, "and perhaps your maid suffers less."

Rosaline clenched both fists.

Her nails dug into her palms.

She wanted to slap him.

To scream.

To fight.

But Lily was still on the floor.

Holding her cheek.

Shaking her head.

No.

Rosaline inhaled sharply.

Then stood.

"Do not touch her again."

Cassian smiled.

"There. Much better."

Chains snapped around Rosaline’s wrists.

Cold iron.

Heavy.

Humiliating.

Around her, the servants were chained too.

Even the butler.

Lily was dragged upright.

Rosaline immediately moved closer to her.

"It’s alright," she whispered.

Though it was clearly not.

They were marched outside.

Toward waiting prison wagons.

Rosaline turned once....

just once....

to look back at the mansion.

Its dark windows stared back.

Empty.

And for the first time since arriving in Dagon....

she prayed.

Not for herself.

For Xandros.

Because wherever he was....

he needed to come back.

Fast.

*************

The couple look for the royal ball will be in the comment section guysss.

XOXO.