Royal Flower

Chapter Twenty One

Julian opened the wooden gate, eyeing the golden horse. He smiled as he knelt down and poured a bucket of water in the trough.

He gave the horse a small pat before turning around to exit the gate. He stopped in his tracks to see someone waiting by the gate.

"Violet," Julian greeted, his smile growing bigger. He came outside the gate and set the bucket down.

Violet returned the smile for a moment.

"Are you alright?" was all Violet asked.

"Me?" Julian pointed to himself.

"Who else?" Violet chuckled. "You took a poisonous arrow, Julian."

"Oh, that?" Julian laughed, as if it had been ages ago. "Yeah, I feel okay. Thanks for asking." He rubbed the side where he had been shot. "Your physician treated me well."

Violet nodded, turning her head to look at the horse inside. Her eyes seemed to daze off; deep in thought. Julian bit his lip. He had heard that Violet killed the woman who had shot him without even blinking an eye. He was grateful that that woman would never hurt anyone else again, but at the same time he was surprised. He would expect similar behavior from the late queen Amaryllis, but Violet? His Violet? When he looked at Violet's current state, he felt that this wasn't the best time to mention it.

"How's Acorn?" Violet finally gestured.

"How are you?" Julian asked worriedly. "Are you okay? I heard what happened with the Lady Marguerite and Princess Ivy... I can't imagine how you must feel right now."

Violet inhaled sharply. She had visited Saige's cottage this morning. Poor Saige was forced to leave Marguerite's corpse on the table while she tended to Ivy's knife wound. Violet had to leave when she saw the claw marks across Marguerite's throat that she felt so used to seeing. She just couldn't take it.

"Violet?" Julian prompted softly. "You can tell me. I'm here for you."

Violet stared into space, her bottom lip quivering. "My father... my mother... my two aunts..." she whispered. She then said, "They're all dead, Julian! I... the rest of the Red Phoenixes and Crow are still out there. Ivy is injured and Acacia is in trauma... I don't know if I can take this..." her voice cracked as she continued on. Julian winced from hearing Violet's troubles, but continued to listen. "Aster, Rose, and Lily have already signed the will. It's been less than three months and my parents and aunts are already dead! It's only a matter of time before they start targeting Aster! What if they succeed? Rose will become queen and I have to become second heir. Julian, I can't..."

Before she could continue on any further, she gasped when she felt Julian's arms wrap around her in a tight hug.

"Everything will be alright," Julian whispered into Violet's ear. "You're not alone. Aster is here for you. Your sisters are here for you. I'm here for you." He massaged Violet's back, his hands brushing against Violet's blonde waves. "Everything will work out."

Violet could only hold on tighter as she sobbed in Julian's arms.

--

Aster made his way down the hall, clenching his fists. He was going to the dungeons to meet Reese, the Red Phoenix leader. This was the leader of a group of people crazed with annihilating him and his family. They would do anything, apparently, even hiring an assassin to do their dirty work.

His thoughts were interrupted when an elderly voice called from down the hall. "Your Majesty?"

Aster glanced over his shoulder to see the castle librarian, Jeffrey. Aster raised his eyebrows. Jeffrey was one of the only Azalea advisers due to his knowledge and wisdom, but he was granted temporary leave from Basil due to a family emergency. When he left, Basil still had Flora, Amaryllis, and Marguerite to advise him, but now that all of them were dead, Jeffrey was obligated to return to help Aster.