FATE #3 *(A ROSE IN BLOOM)*

BURNING DESIRE*

GENERAL POV

She smiled at that.
“It’s okay. I had a wonderful time with you today, and I’m grateful for it. We should do this more often, you know… Matters concerning this empire are enormous, and I could really use many amazing moments like this—with you.”

He planted a kiss on her forehead and drew her into an embrace.
“I’d be overjoyed to—anytime you want. Just send for me, and I’ll come running to your side, all right?” he replied before releasing her.

They bade each other farewell and went their separate ways. She entered her chambers to find an entirely new décor; she thought she had gone the extra mile. Moving toward the washroom, she undressed and examined her right shoulder, gently denting the area as her fingers traced the skin.

Pearl wondered why she always felt that lingering sensation from his bite. She went on to take a shower, then sat on her bed, her thoughts drifting toward the future of Geater.

Lucious arrived at the Southern Province, took a shower as well, and retired to bed. His earlier deliberation returned to him—this time with a firm, unsettling wish that Pearl could be dispossessed by Zherra.

As he brooded, the glass windows suddenly slid open, followed by the screen, all on their own.

A rush of wind bolted into the room, and with it came the presence of another being. He wondered who it could be—Pearl immediately came to mind.

“Pearl… is that you?”

Jemilla manifested in a cloak. She pulled back the hood and smiled at him.
“It’s been a while, Lucious.”

He panicked, staggering back.
“Jemilla?” he finally found his voice.

She closed the windows and sat on his bed.

“I’ll be brief, Lucious. I’m here to undo what I did some time ago. The one who spoke to you earlier—it was me, not your brother. When the king returned, I learned of Zherra’s insidious actions. I placed her inside Pearl under a spell, and under no circumstance was she meant to take dominance. The fact that she can now means the spell is wearing off. If I don’t remove her soon, Pearl will die—and Zherra will take her place.”

She spoke while he stared at her, knowing her words were all too true.

He wanted to ask why she had done it in the first place, but he already knew the answer.

“You know it too, don’t you?” she said quietly. “Your silence gives you away. This isn’t for my gain this time, Lucious. At least this way, you get to have your Pearl back.”

“What do you want from me?” he asked, burying his face in his palms. “Of course I want that—but not if it’s going to hurt her. She’s beginning to accept that fate.”

Seeing his distress, she understood the urgency.
“I saw her feelings when you two were together. When she’s with you, she gives everything just to be Pearl again. Lucious, I’ll need your help. I’ll use you as bait to draw Zherra out. To fight me for you, she’ll have to fully surface—and that’s when I exorcise her.”

Her explanation made him wonder how many unseen eyes had been watching them all along. He finally understood why Pearl had felt observed.

“When do you plan to do this? Does the king know?” he asked.

In his heart, Lucious believed the king’s attraction to Pearl was rooted in Zherra—that once she was gone, the king’s interest would fade as well.

“Two days from now,” Jemilla said. “Tomorrow is the sword cutting. The following day marks exactly four years since I released Zherra. Knowing her, she’s planned something for Pearl on that day.”

He stared at her.
“I want to trust you—for the first time. I hope this is truly all there is. Why did you visit my brother?”

“My mission requires his involvement,” she replied, rising toward the window. “But what it entails is for me alone to know.” She paused. “Oh—and she found out you visited him. That’s why she came running to you… but she chose to trust you instead. I thought you should know.”

With that, she vanished into the night, leaving him deep in thought.

Lucious felt compelled to speak to Pearl the next time they met. As memories of their moments together flooded his mind, his longing only intensified.

---

The next morning after breakfast, everyone gathered to witness the empress cut the sword for the extension of Geater’s walls. She prepared with her affiliates and rode out. Lucious wondered how he would bring everything up.

After a few ceremonial words, they guided her to the site, where she took the first cut into the sand. After several hours—nearly three—they returned. With the formalities behind them, he studied her quietly.

“Do you think my brother returned the way he did only to save his life?” she asked, turning to him, open to the conversation.

“Are you having doubts?” she added.

“I visited him yesterday,” he said. “But I couldn’t speak much—he’s still my brother. I don’t condone his actions, but I didn’t know how to confront him. Why would he tell me the truth? I just feel there’s more to his return than simply saving his head.”

She felt relieved that he hadn’t hidden it from her, and a deeper trust settled between them.

“Let’s leave it to time for now,” she said softly. “Thank you for telling me. I might have misunderstood if I’d heard it elsewhere.”

A smirk tugged at his lips.
“It’s good to have you back. So much has happened, and you’ve handled it remarkably well. You’re a super girl.”

They smiled at each other, though his thoughts drifted back to Jemilla’s plan.

Pearl noticed the familiarity of his words—they echoed the king’s own. Just then, Thessa approached with news about Hollies.

“They moved to Unalia after the incident,” she said, “and he’ll be graduating from the university in computer science next weekend.”

Pearl’s face lit up.
“I’d be graduating too if I were still in school. That’s wonderful news. By tomorrow evening, bring me documents for a modern building and two of the latest cars in Unalia. I’ll sign them—it’s my graduation gift to him.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Thessa replied, smiling as she noticed their intertwined hands before walking away.

“Missing school?” Lucious teased, cupping Pearl’s face. “Your expression gives you away.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” Pearl laughed softly. “He’s done so well not to give up. I’d blame myself if he had.” She pulled him up. “Come on—let’s take a stroll.”

She swung their arms playfully as they walked side by side, like children. Lucious chuckled, letting the moment carry him away.