4 Chapter 04: Talk

Night has fallen and the stars shined up above, Rose hurried home where her father was waiting for her.

She just came from the palace discussing with the Queen herself for her journey to Serene, moments later the manor were visible from where she is, her heart pounding fast as she slowed her horse down.

How would she explain all this to her father? She knows that he is an understanding man but she's afraid and worried that her father may march down to the Imperial Palace and beg for the Queen to get another doctor for the Crown Prince. She wants this, she wants to travel the world, she wants to discover something new and being treated as a high almighty doctor here makes her feel uncomfortable, she wants to face challenges.

She stopped right in front of the manor's gates, heaving a worried breath, she looked down to her hands and see that it was shaking, no worries, father will understand, right?

She went inside the manor that was lit up with lanterns hanging in the trees, flowers that were scattered along the feilds of grass, the sound of graveled path as she made her way to the main house, servants were seen in front of the main house along with the guards waiting for her arrival.

She jumped off the sadle and handed her horse to one of the servants.

"Good evening, Miss Rose."

"Aya! Are you feeling well now? You should rest more! And I told you, call me Rose, have you forgotten it? It must be the fever! Let's go to father, now." Rose's worried voice made the guards chuckle as she was throwing the said girl, Aya, a bunch of questions. Aya on the other hand just giggled at Rose's reaction, reaching for her shoulders she calmed her Miss down.

"I'm fine," she said as she waited for Rose to calm down, she gave Aya a smile and grabbed her hands to hold, "you and I know that if something terrible happens to you, your man will come after me." Rose said in a jokingly manner.

"Oh shush!" Aya said smiling at Rose, "your father is waiting for you, you must go and talk to him, he looks very upset."

Rose's happy smile turned to a grim one, her father knows, those bloody rumors.

Taking off her coat, she walked up the stairs and went ahead the dining room where her father is patiently waiting, sitting still with the now cold food in the table. Her steps were heard by the silent father, he didn't turn his head to greet her.

She winced silently, she did not expect that her father would give her this kind of greeting, a cold one to be exact. She pulled the chair where she usually seats and slowly sat there. Once her bum touched the chair, her father took a spoonful of food and placed it to her plate.

This action made her eyes go wide, then a small smile creeped up to her face. Her father sighed, placing his hand down the table. Rose grabbed his hand and squeezed it.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that to you," her father said breaking the silence between him and his daughter, he returned the smile his daughter gave him and places his hand above hers, "look, I know you crave for adventure but are you certain about your decision?"

Rose looked down, is she really certain about this? It will only be a few months and she will be back home again but she can't also leave his father here alone too, she can't imagine him being alone and sad.

"You are just like your mother, always craving for adventure and kept on attracting danger. She never takes no for an answer, a perfect balance, a barbaric and a noble woman."

"Father,"

"And she died with honor, saving his majesty's life." Tears were visible, running down from his eyes, he stared at his daughter's face with so much love, she looks so much like her mother that it reminds him of her and all the memories they had in the past. "Rose, promise me."

Rose hummed telling him to go on, witnessing her father crying in front of her makes her heart ache.

"Stay alive, for me and for your mother."

"I promise," Rose said giving him a dashing smile, and in return, her father returned the same smile to her, "I will be back once I cure the Crown Prince, safe and alive."

"Now enough drama and let us eat."

The pair shared a laugh and ate the cold food, they talked and reminiscing all the memories they had in the past.

-----

"Rose, why are you still up? It's late." Aya asked as she noticed Rose beside her window looking outside and is in deep thoughts.

"Rose?"

"Aya," Rose's voice held seriousness, eyes still gazing outside the window, "take care of dad for me."

Aya smiled bitterly, so the rumors she heard around were true, she's really going to Serene. Saving a prince from a neighboring kingdom would bring honor to her family and her own kingdom, but the unknown dangers that the other kingdom holds makes Aya feel worry and fear for her dear Miss.

"Please, Aya."

"Is my sister going to accompany you?" She asked.

Rose sighed, she must bring Nurse Ara with her to assist and for her to become a doctor in the future. Aya asking about this made her heart ache once again, she doesn't want the sisters to be apart from each other but Ara wishes to accompany Rose for knowledge and also adventure.

"Yes, she is. She wishes to accompany me on my journey."

"For knowledge, isn't it? She yearns for adventure too," Aya said sadly, a thought of her sister drifting off, leaving her behind and forget her makes her heart break. "Both of you have similarities yet so different."

"Aya–"

"It's alright, Rose. I understand and I cannot keep her forever, it's her life not mine, if she makes decisions that will make her happy, I will always support it."

Rose smiled at Aya's statement, she really loves her sister so much that she's willing to let her go. They have a wonderful bond that will be remain unbroken.