The Crown and The Rose
Chapter 30: Guilt

Chapter 30: Guilt

The Rose

"My lord, you really wish to stay at the finishing point?" Phillip asks for the third time in the hour.

"I have said twice before and will say again now, Phillip." I narrow my eyes as I look down at him, "I will observe the festival from here."

Pillip’s stoic expression falters under my gaze, "My apologies, my Lord."

I avert my gaze from him and scan the area once more. Another two hours to go before the first-day ends. Many of the students have managed to come past the upside-down surface and among them, Edward and Erick are the very first people who have gotten past the dark lake. Now I am waiting for Lush. I am wondering what has become of the young prince. Seraphina is not here as well.

"My Lord, do you think the crown prince will be able to break through this dark lake?" Phillip’s eyebrows are knitted and worry is traceable in his every muscle. "The magic is too dense on the lake water. And he is a Light magic wielder. He will be burned to a crisp if he even touches the water, let alone swimming in it."

I cast a brief glance at Phillip’s way and then say coldly, "He can. He just needs the right tools and the mindset to do it. If he can’t do it then he isn’t worth my time."

"This is a very cruel thing to say, my Lord..." Phillip murmurs.

However I pretend to not hear him, "Did you say something, Phillip?"

"N-No, my Lord." Phillip shakes his head helplessly.

Phillip has grown attached to my little prince and his servant. His human traits are showing after all. Humans are cruel but they are kind-hearted as well. Nothing like a demon. Cold blood runs in our veins, we do not not what kindness is. I raised Phillip to be that way. But seems like I cannot eradicate his human blood after all.

But it is fine I figured. Because his resistance will stop me from making blood-curdling decisions.

I take in the whole venue once again. The sun is setting and the sky is clearing up again, getting ready to show the dazzling moon and stars that dominate the night sky. Suddenly there is a splashing sound on the lake again, I turn my attention to the dark lake and spot a familiar figure.

Seraphina is swimming towards the shore, she is looking exhausted and burned out. She throws a flower at the shore before she climbs onto it herself. The crowd quiets down as they spot their former president, and a few whispers rise among them.

Seraphina spots me, standing a great distance away from the crowd of students and teachers. She limps in my direction holding his one arm, however, the fire in her eyes is still blazing relentlessly.

"I have returned, brother Vermilion," Seraphina says as she stands before me, all drenched, water dripping from her dark hair and clothes.

"You have done a good job." I recite the words as though I am complimenting the weather. I don’t even look at her as I say those words, my eyes remain fixed on the lake’s black surface.

I do not have any interest in any old play toys that I have been playing with for ages. I want a new one. And the festival will determine whether the new toy is Lush or not.

And I spot small ripples forming on the smooth surface of the dark lake. I instinctively move Seraphina aside and march to the shore, trying to see a glimpse of silver hair on the surface. And I spot it. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding in.

Lush is slowly swimming toward the shore, his movements sluggish yet steady. He throws two flowers to the shore and then continues to swim toward it.

"Get him out of the water!" One of the flowers screams, horrified, as if it wants nothing more than to run and jump into the lake and fish Lush out of there. "He will die!"

Lush leaps onto the shore, his soaked silver disheveled hair sticks to his face, and his wet clothes cling to his body but they are intact. However, his body is disbelievingly discolored. The burns on his skin are deep and very unpleasant to the eyes. The burns are worsening as time passes.

Lush pants heavily and I hear students approaching the shore. I hold out my hand, motioning them to stop. I cannot let them Lush’s burn. They will know that he is a human and a light wilder over that.

I bend down and slowly pull Lush into my arms, enveloping him in them, he is too small for not to fit in there. "You did it, my prince." A smile tugs at the corner of my lips for the first time in a century.

"I did it, my Lord." Lush smiles and then loses consciousness. His half face is burned, making a mark on his extraordinary beauty.

I climb back to my feet as I hold Lush close to my chest, to my heart, and turn around. I walk to Phillip with huge steps, "Prepare my sleeping chamber and call Edward. We need to tend to Lush urgently."

Phillip’s eyes dart between me and Lush and acknowledges my orders with two jerky nods and rushes away to fulfill his orders. However, Seraphina who is standing beside him, refuses to back down.

"My Lord, why are you carrying a lowly human like him?" She starts to limp hurriedly to match my big strides, "Why do you care for him so dearly, my Lord?"

I stall at her question and turn to her, my eyes narrowing into slits making Seraphina shiver, "He is my servant and a precious tool. I cannot lose him just like this."

Seraphina’s pupils shrink and she lowers her head, her limbs trembling as hate and despise start to bubble within her, "Understood, my Lord."

I don’t respond to her and continue to hold Lush in my arms as I move toward the privet chamber especially for me at the end of the field. I enter the chamber and push aside the cotton curtains that surround the bed. I lay Lush on the bed gently.

Every part of his body is badly burned and just a little movement is making his face go blood red in agony. Something disturbing and unnerving starts to stir inside my chest as I drink in Lush’s unconscious form. Remorse.

I feel guilty for pushing Lush inside the horrifying field which is extra hard for him. But I don’t let the little guilt consume my mind. I know what I did. And I will still do the same thing no matter what. Lush is a blade I need to sharpen to wield.

I lean in and brush a wet strand of silver hair out of Lush’s face, my finger hesitating a little.

"My Lord, I have brought Edward with me." Phillip’s urgent voice comes from the other side of the curtain.

"Good," I mutter, retreat, and step out of the shade of the curtain.

I eye Edward from top to bottom and nod at him, inclining him to go to Lush and heal him.

Edward bows, "Thank you so much, my Lord." And then hurriedly enter the curtains, Phillip follows him in.

I watch them go to tend to Lush and scoff under my breath.

How ironic it is, isn’t it Lush? I am the one who hurts you every time and Edward is the one who heals you every time.