Chapter 166

[Third Person's PoV] 

Rose was sprawled on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing with too many thoughts to focus on just one. The sound of a knock on her window broke through her reverie, making her sit up excitedly. "Cid!"

Turning towards the window, she saw Shadow leaning against the balcony, waiting for her. She quickly got dressed, threw on a robe over her silky white nightgown, and rushed out to meet him. 

She wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. Looking up at him expectantly, she asked, "What are you doing here?"

Shadow looked down at her and kissed her lips. "I came to show you something... something you might not like."

Confused, she let him pick her up in a princess carry. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he stepped up to the balcony railing.

"Prepare yourself," he said, before jumping, their silhouettes framed against the moon.

Shadow landed gracefully on another railing, setting her down and immediately preparing a silencing barrier around them.

"What are we doing in my mother's quarters?" Rose asked, her voice trembling. "What is it that I'm not going to like?"

Shadow pointed towards the window. "Prepare and take a look," he said, moving the curtains slightly.

Rose walked to the window, placing a hand on the glass to see better inside. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw her mother sitting on the bed with Perv Asshat, who was in a bathrobe.

"Hey Perv, isn't it time for our love to flourish?" Queen Oriana asked.

"Very soon. As soon as the wedding ceremony is over, Rose will be of no further use to me. It's all thanks to your help, honey," Perv said, holding a cup of wine.

Queen Oriana grinned sinisterly. "Don't mention it. It was all for my dear Perv. My husband was just too foolish. Sneaking those drugs into his food was too easy. He sure was a nice toy to play with," she chuckled.

Rose's face paled, her expression turning to one of horror as she began to tremble.

"He would have been a much greater help if Rose hadn't killed him," Perv sighed, setting his cup down.

Queen Oriana scoffed. "We should have gotten rid of her first. Instead, we ended up with much more work because she was the heir."

Queen Oriana stood and wrapped her arm around Perv's neck. "But that will all be sorted soon."

Perv put his hand around her waist. "Indeed, this whole country will soon be yours and mine," he said, before they began kissing and moved to the bed, the sound of loud moaning following after.

Rose slid down to the floor, tears flowing uncontrollably as she sobbed loudly, clutching her chest. "Why! Why!" she repeated, tightening her grip on her chest. "What... what did I do wrong to deserve this?" she choked out between sobs, curling into a ball from the pain.

Shadow's expression grew emotionless as he listened to the cries of pleasure mixed with Rose's cries of anguish. 'Although it pains me to see her like this, she needed to see this. She needed to see this with her own two eyes.'

Shadow glanced at King Oriana's soul, which was next to him, watching the same scene. The King's eyes begged Shadow to help Rose. Shadow gave one last look at Queen Oriana and Perv before crouching down to Rose. "Come, let's get out of here. You don't need to keep torturing yourself with this," he said, picking her up in a princess carry.

Rose clung tightly to him, crying into his chest, as if afraid he would disappear. Shadow carried her back to her room and set her down on her bed. She grabbed his arm as he laid her down. "Can you please stay for a bit? Please don't leave me alone," she pleaded, tears streaming down her face.

Shadow nodded and laid down with her. As he did, Rose muttered, "Can... can you please be Cid? I need Cid right now..."

Shadow nodded again, his Shadow outfit disappearing, leaving him as Cid. Rose buried her face in his chest, clinging tightly to him as she cried.

Cid exhaled and wrapped his arms around her, running his hand through her hair. "Is this my punishment?" she muttered.

"Hm?" Cid hummed questioningly.

"After being granted power, not only did I kill my father, I failed to protect my kingdom and I ended up disappointing you... I just can't help but wonder if my own mother betraying me is my punishment."

"Do you want me to be completely honest?" Cid asked, continuing to pet her.

After a pause, Rose nodded against his chest. "I think you're being a complete dumbass..."

"Huh?" Rose looked up, her face red and tear-streaked.

"You are trying to find blame in your actions for your shitty mother's shitty personality. Has it ever occurred to you that maybe, just maybe, your mother is a horrible person and it has nothing to do with you?"

"Here, let's go over the reasons why you think this is a punishment for you. Why did you kill your father?"

Rose looked down. "To free him from Perv's control..."

"Exactly. You were setting him free. He couldn't have been happier that you, his daughter, set him free from their control. After becoming a father myself, I understand that now as well."

Rose chuckled lightly as she wiped her tears. "I forgot you're a father yourself."

"That I am," Cid smiled. "Now for reason number two, you said you failed to protect this kingdom, but if you already failed, why are you still fighting to protect it?"

He tapped her red nose. "Deep down, you know there's still a chance to protect this kingdom. You wouldn't have agreed to the engagement if you had failed. The way I see it, the reason you agreed to the engagement is because you're still trying to protect it. You haven't failed just yet."

Rose leaned her head on his chest, a small smile forming on her lips as she closed her eyes.

"And lastly, you mentioned disappointing me... When did I ever say I was disappointed in you?"

"But last night..."

"Last night, I said that you aren't some whiny little princess, that you were better than that. That you were becoming weak... but I never said I was disappointed in you. We all have our weak moments. I've had them as well. It's what you do after those weak moments that counts."

"If you are going to stay weak and not do something to improve or better yourself, then yes, I would be disappointed. But like I said, you are better than that, so I know you will improve."

Rose's lips quivered as she tightened her grip around him. "Why are you so good to me?"

"Because you deserve every bit of it," Cid said as he held her face.

Rose shot her arms up and wrapped them around his neck, kissing his lips. Tears streamed from each corner of her eyes, but this time, they were tears of happiness. When she broke the kiss, Cid still held her face and wiped the tears with his thumb.

Rose held his hand that was on her cheek and looked at Cid in the eyes. She kissed him once more, and as she slowly backed away, she muttered, "Please make me forget what happened today... for a little bit. When I think back to this day, all I want it to be filled with is images of you."

"Are you certain?"

Rose's eyes showed a resolved look. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

"Well then, princess, I will happily oblige," he said as he slowly lowered her head and took her lips into his own.

As they kissed, it quickly became more passionate, the sound of their kissing resounding through the dark room, the only light coming from the full moon outside.

Her shadow from the moonlight was present against her wall. It showed her sitting up,  back arched, while looking up her mouth hanging open as she slowly moved. 

"Ahhh~" 

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