Rose Petals & Musk

Chapter Three

To each flower is its own beauty
And to the eye of the beholder

Is its own view
To behold and be beheld
Is to be
A rose in the soil
Or one placed in a crystal vase
Made for viewing
But starved of life

I woke up the next morning and began practicing for my coronation. I received regular updates on Damien, he was still asleep. I planned on visiting him just before midday.

I practiced the walk and the motions. It is customary that each noble place a rose behind me as I walked to the statue, and I take a pause in my movement for each rose that is placed, to acknowledge the wealth of my support.

My maids informed me that the statue indeed had crumbled last night as I touched my finger to it and I had then quarantined the entire area and immediately sent for a replacement statue to be built so that no one would know the difference.

In Astria bad omens only had power as far as you believed in them.

I tried to remain calm, but I would catch my forehead sweating when I thought about it too hard.

No matter. It was only that the statue would be replaced before one would notice. With the coronation so nearby everything had to be perfect.

A maid entered through the chamber door, "Your highness, Prince Damien has woken up."

I looked at her surprised, and made sure to thank her for being so prudent.

"Sienna, Alia, dress me so that I may visit the Prince." My ladies in waiting obliged and began to prepare me.

I changed from my simple lavender gown into a darker navy dress. It had layers and was white underneath. Between my breasts it had the royal symbol of my family which was a blooming rose.

As we walked through the corridors I reflected on the significance of roses in our kingdom and in my family. It is said that the original King, of no relation to me and who died childless, slowly turned to stone as each petal of a rose granted to him of the man who cursed him fell.

The man who cursed him was unknown in the fable, but some say that he was the man who came to power after King Malik. My forefather, King Charles, was a bit of a fanatic and a friend of King Malik. He believed that King Malik would have to be immortalized, or the country would fail. He believed that only upon turning him to stone, would we, through his power, keep our power as a country.

As each future sovereign is born, we are given the first rose from the rosebush to bloom which is planted in our name. This is why the palace's rose garden is so grand. Beside each rosebush is a plaque with the name of the firstborn child of the current sovereign. The state of the rosebush speaks to the state of rule that the next King or Queen will have. My rose bush is quite healthy, although it is much thornier than the rest of them. My father always joked that it meant I will be fearsome to our enemies who would dare to underestimate me.

The rose is thought to be our connection to the first King and our promise to uphold what he created.

My family took on the crest after his death.

I had finally reached the room in which they were treating Damien. I was announced as I walked in, to greet Damien.

When I saw him he was sickly, with yellow jaundice under his eyes and a weariness to his face.

I came to his side and kneeled beside him, holding his hand in mine. "Are you well, Damien? I have been alerted that you have received the antidote to your poison."

I turned to the nurse, "Is the antidote working? If so, why is he so ill-looking?"

The nurse cleared her throat, nervously. "Your highness," she curtsied, "He will be well. He had lost a lot of blood and was heavily affected by the attack. It will a few days for him to recover, and after that his recovery speed would increase twofold and he will be well much quickly. The doctor has recommended that he take the medication that he prescribed and take things easy."

"I am well, Princess Asiyah." Damien broke out a rueful smile. "Although the pain may feel as if otherwise."

I squeezed his hand but stopped when I saw him wince. "I am glad to hear it, Damien. Lord Provein will be dealt with accordingly. You must not worry. He is very frightened to what will become of him."

"Asiyah, has my father heard of this?" Damien asked me.

"I know not. Although we have kept the matter secret he may still find out." I concluded.

"Then you must allow me to dictate a letter to—"

"His Majesty the King is arriving!" A voice called out from the corridor. A few seconds later my father walked in and I stood up from Damiens side to greet him.

"Hello daughter. Damien, are you well?" The King asked Damien.

"As well as well can be when ill." Damien joked.

"Now is not the time to joke, Damien!" I chastised him.

"Has my father found out, your Majesty?"

My father nodded grimly. "Lord Mieux, who as you know, is of origin to your father's kingdom. He had staff in the city at the time who saw what happened and reported it to him. I have heard that he then sent a messenger bird to your father, who responded that he will be coming within the next week to deal with this issue. I'm sorry that I have failed to protect you, Prince Damien. Be sure that justice will be given."

"It is times like this where I assume I would have done better to mingle with the nobles so that I am more known among them that perhaps I would be spared from some of their evil. But, surely, I am just more worried about Provein attacking servers and those deemed below him than what he will do to me."

"Such actions denote the true meaning of what it means to be noble. For nobility is honored, and how could one without honor be noble? It is a shame to my kingdom that I am being informed of this now, and you must know that I will not allow anyone to behave this way to anyone else, regardless of status."

Damien smiled at my father. "Thank you, your Majesty."

My father cleared his throat and smiled back. "Erm, yes. Of course. Anyways, I have to prepare for your father's arrival next week. It seems your mother will be coming as well. I will keep in touch. Until then, take care. And Asiyah, do not be late for your afternoon lessons."

With that he turned and left, without waiting for us to return the goodbye.

Once he was out of the room, I turned to Damien. "My dear Damien. Rest for a day or two and then I will have you moved back to your room where you will be more connected to the rest of us. I will be back to visit you as soon as possible. Until then... " I turned to Sienna, "Sienna. Bring Damien means to entertain himself while he is not resting. Gather a list of books from him that he would like to read while healing and report back to me when you are done. I must leave now for my lessons. Goodbye Damien, I will hear from you later." I bent down and kissed him lightly on the cheek. I then got up and began walking away, listening to a light "Goodbye and thank you" from Damien as I left the room.