Between A Rose And Its Thorns (ON HOLD)

Secrets revealed

Lucinda's point of view

Really hard apparently!

I sigh and walk through the halls, I already searched the first and second floor, the fourth floor is forbidden according to his royal beastliness, which leaves the third floor.

After looking for what felt like hours, I find the study. With my sister snuggled in a chair with a book in her lap.

I sigh in relief and walk to her.

"Hello," I said, she immediately perks up, her gaze meeting mine.

She smiles. "Lucinda! Look what the beast gave me!" She waves her arm around the dusty room. "Well, more like borrowed." She shrugs.

"It looks... nice." I try not to scrunch up my nose, but, honestly, this place needs a serious clean. Doesn't the beast have servants for a reason? I sigh and walk to one of the tall shelves. "Many books," I smile at her.

She groans and carelessly drops the book that was in her hands. "None of good use, they all hold boring records. No characters, no plot line, no anything!" She pouts and crosses her arms.

"Records?" I bite my bottom lip. Isabelle nods. "About what?" I ask.

She shrugs. "Nothing really, mostly about expenses and such, some even had records on people- those weren't as boring as the others." She said, a frown covering it lips. "One book! Just one book with a story, characters, and a happy ending, that's all I ask for! Is that asking for too much?"

I chuckle, finally able to connect the dots.

Oh, poor beast, this is not what I meant by books!

"At least the beast was willing to let you read something." I said and pick up the discarded book on the floor.

She scowls and scrunched up her nose. "Well, if you see him, tell him, he can keep his dusty, boring books!" She stands and marches out of the room.

I sigh and shake my head.

Isabelle is an angel, but she has always had a need- no, more of a want for something more. I've never been able to satisfy her, even with what little we have, I try to make a smile on her face.

Perhaps, I have spoiled her too much.

I bite my lip at the thought. My eyes drift to the book within my hands. What kind of books would a beast store in a study? I squint my eyes as I tried to read the title. I blow on the book, quickly regretting it as dust flew into my nose.

I sneeze.

"Blessings." A voice says.

I scream and drop the book. Backing up as I watched the book be lifted up. The curtain fluttered slightly, moonlight coming through the window.

Jonah stood at the window, holding the book tightly to his chest. "I'm sorry, Lucinda! I didn't mean to frighten you!" He mumbles, guilt was in those small, silver eyes.

I take in a deep breath and smile kindly to him. "I accept your apology, Jonah. What were you doing?" I ask, he shrugs and walked to the chair Isabelle sat in before.

"I like coming here." He said with a grin as he hopped into the cushioned chair for one. A giant one, apparently. "I also like to read the records, especially the royal family's!"

I laugh and sit next to him. Plenty of room for both of us in the large chair. "Really? Well, why don't you show me some of your favorites?" I said and nod to the book in his lap, which-surprisingly- had no title.

His smile widens and he nods. I watch as he opens the book, multiple pictures of men and women dressed in fancy clothing filled the pages from top to bottom. Jonah points at a man with round glasses and a long beard.

"That's my great grandfather, he was the first of my family to work for the royal family." He said proudly.

"Your whole family worked for the royal family?" I asked.

He nods. "Mhm! My great grandfather served King Aaron," he said and turned the page, and pointed at a man dressed in gold and silver. "Then my grandfather served King Aaron's son, King George," he pointed to a man who had a long mustache but not as much gold in his outfit as his father's picture. "Then my father served- is serving as the master chef of the castle." He turned the page, then turned another page. He pointed at a younger version of Tulio.

I smile at the pictures.

They use to be normal once. Human. But... if they were human before, does that mean-

"And Mama says when I'm older, I'll serve master's first son. Although," a sad smile fell on his lips. "Poor master did not have a personal servant," he turned the page. "He was always alone, as long as I could remember."

My eyes widen as he points at a young man with long, light brown hair. Dressed in a black suit, gold designs lined the edges of the sleeves while medals decorated his right breast. He held a long sword at his side, the handle curved into a large rose.

A odd sight for a man's own personal weapon. But his eyes...

They looked so familiar. Bright blue eyes yet had darkness fill them, they were so... sad. They looked dead. As if the man in the picture was not there at all, just a body with no soul.

"Master was always alone." Jonah taps on the picture of the man with the ocean like eyes. "Both before and now."

"Now?" I mumble. "Jonah, do you mean... this," I lay my hand on the handsome man's picture. "Was the beast?"

He shook his head. "It still is. Master has always been kind to me, I think it's because I remind him of himself when..."

I space out as I stare at the picture. The... beast.

Human? He- the snarling animal I have been arguing with for most of my stay here- was a prince? A human prince?

I couldn't wrap my head around the idea, yet, according to Jonah, it's true. Looking down, I bite my bottom lip as I stared at the words under his picture.

Prince...

"Theodred?" I read out loud.

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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas~ Everywhere you gooooooo!

Hey guys! I can't believe Christmas is just right around the corner! But you know what that also means...

Finals! Oof.

Hopefully I can keep posting. 📖📝

Also, would you guys want me to make a Christmas special for a chapter? Some feed back would really help!

🎄🎁 Merry Christmas!!!🎁🎄