Blue Rose

A peaceful one month passed, Ruviena thought that she had woken up in the nightmare once more. The General- Her Husband left with a number of imperial soldiers to march west. There were rumors that a rebellion of vampires causing trouble. Mainly because they didn't like the idea of the marriage of a Vampire and a Vampire Hunter.

"Lady Ruviena, here's your morning tea. The bath has been prepared for you as well when you're done" Her personal maid, Lui Hollin was assigned to her before the general departed without notice. Lui was a timid and quiet maid who's a little shorter than Ruviena. She was also one of the few human maids.

Ruviena was secretly fond of her cool demeanor, yet was always considerate of her Mistress.

Today she was reading another volume of a Vampiric culture type of book, while Lui was watering the blue roses surrounding the pavilion. The landscape was breath taking and thought that the general appreciated such calm atmospheres. Blue roses where known to be a myth, but in this fortress- it was reality and they bloomed beautifully.

The General... hasn't spoken nor spared a glance at her ever since that night. Her wish had came true, and she could live in the luxurious fortress leisurely. Yet, she still felt like something was missing although she had decided to ignore what was lacking.

All those unnecessary feeling... She didn't need it. It wouldn't fill her stomach or make her immortal for Christ's sake

"Lui" She spoke, to keep her mind off troublesome things

"Yes Milady?" Lui approached her Mistress' side with a blank doll like expression that suited her full bangs - black stranded hair together with a lighter shade of brown eyes. Her marionette maid, she thought.

"I was wondering..." Ruviena thought of a topic after putting down her book

"Where are you from?" Lui didn't expect that after a month, her mistress tried to converse with her for the first time

"I'm from the North lands of Tallis, My lady" she replied monotonously

"I see, North land is ruled by a Human. How did you end up here all the way to the South?" Ruviena needed to keep her sanity by communicating. Yoran has been there by her side as well but seeing as he was the head butler so he wasn't purely assigned to her. Hence, an attempt to befriend her emotionless maid.

Lui's eyebrows twitched. With a keen observation Ruviena didn't fail to notice that reaction.

"I was... bought by My lady's husband from the slave house... where my... sister sold me"

Ruviena's hands became cold. The word 'sister' triggered her. How could her own sister sell her to a slave house?!

"I'm... sorry" Ruviena quietly replied

Lui mildly panicked hearing her mistress apologizing

"Oh no! Milady it is not your fault! Please... I'm glad that I was bought for a good Lady." Lui lowered her gaze and clutched her apron. Like a timid rabbit was what Ruviena saw in her.

Ruviena stood up and plucked a Blue rose. Removing the thorns then decorated Lui's hair, tucking it above her ear. Lui thought that her Mistress' eyes resembled the unique Blue Rose. She heard that she was a strong woman, but she is good, and beautiful. Much like the rose. A flower with thorns.

"M-Mistress?"

"As long as you serve me, I will make sure that you will be safe. No one will harm you anymore" Ruviena smiled. Lui lowered her head with a slight blush on her cheeks.

Yoran's voice startled Lui, "Milady, I am sorry for the late notice but the Master has arrived in Froxenheim about two hours ago. I was informed by our fellow servant that the master brought this with him and permitted me to give you a letter from a Lady Reilyn Vandarkstein"

Ruviena's eyes sparkled at the name of her twin sister. She quickly approached Yoran and held the slim letter

-

Dear sister, I hope you have been doing well. Well I assume you are, Your husband came to visit the Dracar household! What a bold man. He was dashing too, congratulations my beloved sister! He informed us that you where unable to write to us since Noire had been injured and unable to fly for the mean time.

I had thought you ignored all the letters I tried sending you through a messenger. I'm glad you haven't. Granny Dracar and Uncle have been treating me well. I do wish that you'd come visit us soon! I miss you so dearly.

Stay in good health until then

Love Reilyn.

-

Ruviena held in her tears, and cleared her throat.

"Thank you, Yoran"

Yoran bowed and took his leave.

'The General made a stop to the East before heading West just to ensure her family she was alive and well? The travel would earn him a few more days before reaching his destination! Why...?'

There it was, a slight warmth. Then Ruviena shook her head, brushing off the idea of the general being kind. She knew he partially did it to make sure the family wouldn't do anything as stupid as trying to rescue her if they found out she'd been under house arrest

How sly

"I will head back to my quarters soon, I would like to enjoy the fresh air some more. Lui please return these to the library. Then I will call you if needed"

"Yes Mistress" Lui bowed and headed inside the establishment.

Ruviena held the letter near her chest as she strolled deeper in the garden, admiring the Blue petals that bloomed under forever grey and cloudy skies.

"Eeek!" Ruviena tripped on the ground and landed on a strong sturdy physique that was in a loose white shirt that exposed his chest collar bone and black trousers. A sword was also attached to his waist

"What are you doing here?!" She landed on Xerion that was laying on the grass near the bushes of Blue Roses which was why she didn't see his corpse of a body.

His eyes was still shut and his nose scrunched like a child not wanting to wake up. He was napping?!

"So loud..." He grunted, Ruviena was stunned when his arms trapped her on top of him. Stupefied by her situation. She merely sighed.

It was the first time in a month that she had seen her husband. He had earned a slight growth of beard and mustache on his strong jaw. It wasn't thick, but it was visible and he still looked oh so handsome and manlier. His furrowed eyebrows with one side sporting a scar she gave him now became relaxed.

But why was the general asleep deep in the labyrinth of blue roses?! Putting those thoughts aside. Ruviena was awed by his vulnerable state. He was deep asleep, and she couldn't help her fingers touching his supple lips. Then touched his eyelashes

"They are quite long" She murmured

His sleeping face was contagious, as Ruviena felt drowsy as well, she thought it wouldn't hurt to take advantage of him again since by the time he wakes up, she won't be there as if nothing happened and they'll be back to treating each other coldly anyway.

'Just this once'

But what did Ruviena really yearn for from the general?

Ruviena laid her temple on his hard chest and closed her eyes. The couple's strands where of Dark and Light laid like a painting, a master piece on a bed of blue roses surrounding them.

Ruviena hadn't realized that she completely fell asleep.

The moonlight bathed on the sleeping couple. They had slept quite a long time and soon Ruviena's eyelashes fluttered open

...

"Hypocrite" A dark tone slithered in Ruviena's pale ear which got her eyes shot wide open. She was about to jump out of her 'cushion', unfortunately, He locked her in his tight embrace.

"L-Let go...!" She muttered, embarrassed that she had fallen asleep for the entire afternoon on top of her husband in name.

"Woman, you are confusing me. You tell me there will be nothing more to our marriage other than our titles. Yet here you are" Strong arms merely made Ruviena exhausted from fruitless effort to be away from him.

"I was...!" She still hadn't brought her face up to look at whatever expression he had on his face. She didn't want to

"Enough excuses!" Harsh rustling noises of leaves surrounded them.

Ruviena found herself now under The General's hold after he flipped them over.