𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐒 𝐈 𝐗 𝐓 𝐄 𝐄 𝐍

𝐋𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐫

"I don't know how you find them so enjoyable." Briéa has her feet propped up on the edge of the metal brazier keeping them warm.

Earlier in the day, she and Reihan had barely sat down for breakfast when Gideon and Gemella insisted Reihan watch them play outside. Briéa had no interest in being left alone, didn't want to give Madame Silene any opportunities to snatch her away. So she grabbed a mug of coffee and a fluffy pastry still warm and followed Reihan. Briéa didn't miss the wary looks from the kids. She was still a stranger to them, a stranger who gave them stares just as wary in return. Obviously, she didn't bother them enough to tell her to stay away.

Her pastry and coffee are long gone by now. She leans her head against the back of her chair, feeling the heat of the fire in the brazier. Gideon and Gemella run around in the snow under a gray sky.

Reihan's spent the morning working through a book, only looking up when one of the two children yelled for her to look at whatever they were doing. If Briéa cared for reading she would've easily found something interesting to pluck from the stocked shelves of the château's library. Daskel was the only one who made reading enjoyable for her, now it borders on maddening.

Her fingers itch to spin her dagger, tucked beneath her coat. But Briéa can't even risk having anyone recognizing the Reaper's Shiv. Only Madame Silene and Reihan know her name isn't actually Florentina Azari.

Reihan sighs and spares a look over the top of her book. "Oh, please Briéa, they're darling." Briéa recognizes the amused looking in Reihan's eyes. She's trying not to laugh.

"Gemella sounds like the name of a plague."

Reihan breaks and keels over with laughter. "It's not her fault," she chokes out, eyes beginning to brim with tears.

"Not, but the gods obviously felt the need to curse her for a reason."

"Briéa!"

"Not like Gideon's any better!"

Reihan reaches around the brazier and smacks her with the book. Now Briéa breaks and the two laugh together.

"You would think if a parent loved their child they'd at least find a name better than Gemella, like horseshi-"

"Rei! Rei! Rei!"

Speak of the terror and it will appear.

Little Gemella Makorov comes bounding over, blonde curls bouncing around her shoulders. She clutches her little hand around Reihan's wrist and starts to tug. "Come on Reihan! You're going to play with us!" Briéa is admittedly impressed with the strength of the child, she almost gets Reihan out of her chair all by herself.

"Alright, alright, I'm coming." She starts to follow Gemella before whirling around. "Oh, wait, what about Florentina?"

The list of things the Crimson Reaper fears is short. But as Briéa feels the blood drain from her face she realizes one more thing will be added to the list.

Absolutely not.

Gemella saves her task of turning down two children as she unabashedly blurts, "She scares Gideon and I think she looks mean."

Briéa can't help but laugh at that and waves the two off.

"Don't worry little one, I didn't want to play with you either." The girl beams, excited to steal Reihan away. Briéa turns her eyes up to Reihan, "I wanted to get inside anyway. I'll find you later?"

Gemella doesn't give Reihan a chance to respond before dragging her off to the field where Gideon is waiting for them.

In the three days she's been at the château, Briéa has wandered into nearly every room. Piecing together all the corridors and rooms to make a map, one to tuck away for later use. But she didn't trust that Silene wasn't watching her closely to risk sneaking into the locked rooms. But this morning Silene and Karine both got in a carriage. Gods know where they are now but, it's enough time to peruse through some of those locked rooms.