Painted Roses

The Portrait of A Prince

"Joshua, what do you know of Luka's family?"

The evening after the ball at court, Rosalia sat in one of the parlours in Rose Castle, a book open in her lap as she looked out at the rose gardens. Luka was down there, talking with the gardeners, discussing the rose he held in his hands. She didn't know where Beldon was but she assumed he was probably in his office.

Joshua had recovered fully from his ordeal weeks before and had been more than happy to greet her as one of her personal servants when she'd arrived.

He was now preparing a tea for her, looking up as he removed the tea strainer from the cup.

"The master's family?" he copied, surprised, "Well I knew them in person, from before the curses. What is it you would want to know?"

"What happened to Luka's brothers?"

"Ah, I couldn't tell you, Miss."

Rosalia looked around at him and he straightened up, bringing her tea over, setting it on the table, turning the handle to her before fetching the plate of biscuits.

"Not because I would hide it from you, Miss, it's that we don't know."

"You have no idea?"

"Ideas? We know curses were involved. The Master's family was plagued by curses. As for the specifics..." He shrugged, "Who can say?" He looked at the plate he carried for a moment, pursing his lips. "One would hope they didn't suffer."

"Do you think them still alive?"

Joshua looked up in surprise, startled by the question. "I... I hadn't considered that they might be dead," he said, his eyes widening as the idea sank in. "With The Master still alive, and the princess..." his hands began to tremble. Rosalia made to rise when she saw his reaction and he quickly set the plate down. "I simply assumed they would be."

"I'm sorry," Rosalia said, getting to her feet and joining him, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you with such a question. It was careless of me."

Joshua shook his head then straightened and his smile returned. "My apologies, I forgot myself. Biscuit?" He held up the plate and Rosalia smiled slightly as she took one.

"Do you have paintings of the Luka and his siblings?"

"Oh yes, in the portrait gallery, have you not looked through it?"

"No, I don't think I have," Rosalia said, surprised by that realisation. She had never thought to, never taken an interest in the gallery.

"Ah, come, I'll show you the gallery, you can see the members of the family," Joshua said, setting the plate down again. Rosalia collected her tea - Joshua took it to hold for her as they walked and he led the way up through the castle until they reached the arching doors that led into the gallery.

It was a long, long, high ceilings room, with windows on the left hand wall - paintings interspersed between them. Paintings completely covered the right hand wall; from tiny miniatures on plinths and valentine cushions to towering portraits so tall they would be half-lost in shadows at the sundown.

They walked half way down the hall and Joshua stopped by a set of sensational portraits of varying sizes, all clearly done by the same artist.

"These are The Master's works," Joshua said proudly and Rosalia looked at him in shock.

"Luka's?" she copied. She had no idea he was such an artist.

"Indeed, though he does not show his talent off often. These were from before the days of the curses." He pointed at one particular portrait of four people, all clearly siblings. "And these are his brothers and sister."