Roses of Betrayal

Chapter 4, Is It A Happy Birthday?

They held hands again and this time there was silence hanging between the both of them, just to make them relapse the moment in their own head again and again which made their hearts flutter faster and faster by the second. One is quietly melting away from the touch while the other one tries to keep their cool for the birthday party. Then Amara finally arrives at her own seated area with Kyan hyping her on the side-lines and telling her not to worry about anything. Then suddenly everything goes silent, and they hear a voice shout: "Roll the trumpets!" The trumpets make Amara's inner flow smoothen bit by bit and feel something spark inside of her. She decided to close her eyes and when she opened them after a few seconds time itself had slowed down and everything was not moving anymore. The only thing she does see are four different types of colours shining right In Front of her eyes. She tried reaching out to it until she heard a familiar voice saying to her "Amara... Pleasse...Careful he..HaRm.. He..isn'T.. who you thin..." Suddenly the voice disappeared, and Amara stared at the lights who were shining less and less by the second until they disappeared. Suddenly a voice awakens her from her dark thoughts. "Drums and singers!" She just thinks it was a dream and nothing serious. "Now make the coronation, begin!" Imani takes a deep breath before announcing "All bow down to your new crown princess, princess Amara!" After that was said the doors slowly open with white doves fluttering out the gates and people outside the gates being amazed at how the princess is sitting. Grinning down at them with legs crossed in motion while slowly opening her crimson-pink eyes glowing in the moonlight sky looking down on them with multiple stars behind her slowly shining. And four stars shine brighter than others, so it makes them stand out more. It's the first time that they have seen princess Amara due to the fact that she has always been in closed doors and walls, and they're all surprised to see her stare at them like that. And slowly one by one the guests of the party say to Amara "We all wish you a happy birthday, Princess Amara." Imani smiles at the sight of her daughter finally being seen and appreciated by the citizens of Sicilian Kingdom "I, Queen Imani of the royal castle from Sicilia. Here by now officially I am making my daughter the first and last one heir of the Imani family. May she bring laughter and joy through her later on years when I pass the throne to her. They all can bow down." Everyone in the moment couldn't believe their ears, Amara already turning into the crown princess this early from age. They couldn't help but feel quite proud of her waiting for nineteen years for this? "Congratulations on your newer promotion Crown princess Amara!" they happily yell out. Amara couldn't help but think "It's finally time, I am the official crowned princess of Scillia. Mother will not and cannot decline my marriage offer, right...?" The red curtains started to slowly close, and Amara stood up to wave at them and walk away from the seat she was in. She saw Kyan smiling at her from a distance, he was slowly showing how proud he was of her growing up so fast. "Let's go to the party, shall we?" He put out his hand and Amara softly placed hers in his making them walking hand in hand again together to the party. As they arrived at the party, they saw Aire leaning back and waiting for them at the door. "Why did it take so long?" He complained and staring down at their hands letting go of each other. He could only give a quick glance to it and look back up to meet Amara standing excited before his eyes. "Sorry it took a while, me and Kyan were having a longer walk than we expected." She shrugged slowly. "What way did you guys go?" "A less noisy route for Amara you still do know how sensitive her ears get from time to time, right?" Kyan asked him if Aire could only nod at him and try to help him remember that Amara has weak ears. "I guess that makes a bit more sense now that now that I think about it more and more. But can we just go inside already? Many people are waiting for you Amara, especially your mother." He said looking at Amara's eyes glowing brighter than usual. 'That's a bit... Odd...?' "Oh my, really then let's go already!" Amara smiled brightly and walked into the room and suddenly started to get bombed by greetings from family members.  "You guys must've had fun together all alone now didn't you Kyan?" Aire pushed away from the entrance to the party, Kyan could only smile at him in response. "Wow why are you so mad lately at me what did I do dear prince?" He said tauntingly. "Should it really matter that much because I am her bodyguard, or did you forget?" He looked at him before giving him a quick push at his shoulder and walking in the room without looking back at him. Aire could only look down and think about his actions and laugh at it and get his mood up to talk with the people in the party with a "heart whelming" smile. At the party many got drunk, and others were enjoying their time there and kept greeting and talking about the royalties and Kyan, but many talked to Amara and asked one specific question "Have you already found your lucky one?" But Amara could only tell them with a sad expression that she hasn't had a chance to talk it over with-it her own mother about this situation. But she promised that she will keep them up to date whenever she has the chance to, lucky not many people asked the question, but it was the question that was asked the most to her first and the second most asked question is "Who do you like more, Kyan or Aire?" How was she supposed to know her feelings completely? I mean she likes them both but had many romantic moments with both of them, but she could only reply with Aire every time she heard the question. And then completely forgets her own feelings for the other as if it was never there to begin with, she found it not odd but normal. Was it not then? But it must be normal right because she feels this and not no one else and nobody has to know her real feelings, right? It doesn't matter that much... Right? Snapping out of this deep thought Amara noticed that more and more people were starting to go and leave the party to either go their rooms or go home but most ones who got a room to stay in the castle were here a bit longer than others and she saw Han-Yun and Tlanglong together with one of them being drunk and the other one keeping the other company with a soft smile. She also saw Aire over there, so she started to approach them alongside with Kyan. "Amaraaaa!!! I am sooo... happpy for youuu~ HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYA!!!!!" Tlanglong said with him slurring and on his own words, Amara only could give a small giggle and thank him a lot. "I am so sorry for him being this drunk I told him to not drink this much..." Han-Yun said with annoyance. "I do not want to help him with his hangover tomorrow especially!" Aire and Kyan both left out a little chuckle. "I am sure Tlanglong would be upset if he doesn't have you by his side when he wakes up Sir Han-Yun right Kyan?" Aire said putting his arm over Kyan's shoulder. "Yeah, I can already Imagine him being said and trying to find you throughout the entire castle." Han-Yun could only stare at the both of them with more annoyance in his eyes while Amara and Tlanglong are giggling, talking and gossiping behind both of while Amara fully understanding what Kyan and Aire exactly are talking about. "Maybe you should just bring him to your room already and make him drink water how does that sound?" Kyan suggests it with an innocent expression. "Remove that expression, it doesn't fit your head." Han-Yun said with his eyes turning away from his gaze. "Pfft, already whatever you want Sir." He said and moved aside so Han-Yun could take Tlanglong arm and bring him away to sleep in his own room. "Byeee Am..Ra let's TalK aGain someTimes..!!" The dragged man waved at Amara, and she waved back at him happily. And when they were fully out of their sight, Amara only could ask Aire to excuse herself because she needs to talk with her mother about a certain private matter, she doesn't want him to be around with and that it's nothing personal at all. Aire could only sigh in response but told her he would wait for her until she returned back to him. On her way there she could only take a quick stop and a deep breath and look down and suddenly took much more deeper breaths by the second and Aire could only give her reinsurance on her shoulder telling her to not worry about what she will say towards her. She could only give him a small smile before putting her head up and continuing her way to Imani without any struggles but only stress in the head, as she arrived at the seating of Imani with Zhayin beside her alone and drinking. Amara approached the both of them with a bow while Kyan could only greet them how he greeted as everyone else, a sloppy bow with a glare nothing out of the ordinary. Imani started at the both of them before asking them their reasoning why they're here. "Well... Isn't this a big surprise? Can I help any of the both of you?" She said full heartedly and a soft gaze. Amara could only give Kyan a glance with the face of "are you sure I should do this?" And he could only nod at her, so she took a deep breath before talking. "I want to speak with your highness about my own marriage proposals." Zhayin was quite stunned back with Amara's sudden formality in front of the both and could look at the queen with a quick glance and stand up. "Well, I guess it's time for me to talk to others, right? Let's have a quick drink, Kyan!" He quickly said and grabbed Kyan by his clothing and walked with him down the stairs he just got up from. Imani could only stare at Amara with a hint of annoyance but let her speak her mind before everything escalated the wrong way like it usually does. "Speak, what do you want?" She coldly asked her. "We don't have all day now do we and don't waste my time." Amara got chills sent up her spine down to her full body but still could open her mouth. "I want to talk to you about the marriage proposal I have." She said while looking away to not have any eye contact at all with her own mother and Imani could only look at her with disgust. "Should one even keep asking their parents about the same idiotic marriage proposal? I bet you at most 10k marks that you simply forced the poor man or even woman at least into this. I do wonder if a man is even attracted to you." Amara couldn't believe her ears, what did she ever do to deserve that type of hurtful comment from her own mother. It wounded her, it wounded her so much more than she anticipated but she tried to keep her tears from foaming. She tried her best to give a composed smile towards her mother and gave her a laugh, it was quite cracky. She couldn't come up for herself after that so she just looked down to hide away her tears. "Are you actually crying? What a joke you are, not only do you cry on your own birthday you are also making yourself look like a fool." She annoyingly said. She leaned herself closer to the upset child. "Aren't you embarrassing yourself enough today?" She tonelessly said in her ear, trying to not make a big scene. She kept her tears in before walking away without a goodbye towards her mother, which only made her giggle a bit. Aire noticed her current state so he decided to walk up to her. "Your highness!~" He decided to yell out, not too loud but loud enough for Amara to notice his voice. "Ah... Aire, what can I do for you?" She said with a cracky voice which made Aire's soft smile disappear a little. "Wanna grab some fresh air? It's so hot in here, I could easily melt and turn into a water puddle!" He told her and without even letting her answer his question, he took her arm and went outside with her. Not only because he knew her answer would be: "No, let me send a guard with you." But it was because he genuinely wanted to just have a moment between them and let her speak her mind without crying in the open and have all eyes on her. However Kyan and Imani both witnessed this at the same time, both of them having different reactions. While Imani's face reaction was full of displeasure, Kyan had more of a disgusted reaction to this. When they arrived at the outside balcony, a fresh wave of air hit both their faces, making them cool off. Aire then helped Amara fix her hair and went back onto grabbing her hand, not wanting to let go of it at all. Amara however could only feel her heart race a bit and it was getting hot as before again, not knowing how to respond to that interaction. "Amara... Please don't be upset with your mother again." He comfortingly told her, wanting to reassure her ever since he saw her upset face. "She does not know what she has been saying nor knows what she's been doing towards you, but she will understand so one day." He looked at her with concern and softly petted her head. "Yeah you've kept repeating this to me for how long now? Exactly more than ten years, I am almost at the age of twenty and she's still been acting like this for an odd time." Amara coldly responded to him. She had enough of hearing the same thing over and over again. When will her mother realise she's in the wrong and not her? But however, she tried to prove herself in any way possible. Her mom kept beating her up just to keep her silent, having no way of speaking with her without any type of attitude at all. Aire could only stroke her arm while Amara was crying softly with her head slightly tilted down, her mother's words were too much and hard for her to be able to bite through this time. Aire saw it and his automatic reaction  was to hug her. "Aire, I can't do this anymore, I seriously can't do this anymore." She whispered to him in his chest and shook her head. All Aire could do was only look down at her to comfort her, telling her everything will be okay and she should go to her room with him without anyone noticing so she can cry everything all out.  "Would that really be okay?" She asked him, still not facing him. "I am sure that's fine, others left as well right? Why would that be a problem for you?" He asked politely, still rubbing her arm. "I assume you are right, it shouldn't be a problem for me at all." She told him in a soft voice. "May I then escort you to your room then?" "You may." Without a second being wasted  tried his best to sneak Amara away from her own birthday party, on their way out they felt like angry eyes were on them.  When they got to the hall which almost nobody entered, Aire suddenly spoke up. "I am not sure if I am allowed to say this but Amara u should learn how to speak up for yourself more." He said not looking into her eyes. "What do you even know?" She said while glaring at him, how could he say that?! What DOES he know besides him seeing her down after talking to her mother, why can a blind man take a hint but him? Only his mind may know that. "Well I'm sorry for that remark, I apologise if it was too rude." He carefully said towards her with a cracky voice. He didn't mean it in a rude way, he was just trying to put it out honestly. Which was a too harsh way to say it, it was quiet, you could only hear their footsteps and music from the ball-room slowly fading away. Then they finally arrived at her highness's  room. She quickly went in and closed the door in front of her prince. "Amara..." He quietly said while facing the closed door. "I don't want your comfort, I'll cry it out by myself." She said leaning against the door sliding down to sit on the door. "But who else will help you cry it out if it gets too much?" He asked while putting his hand on her door. "Go away, now, I don't want to talk to you." Hearing that made him quite shocked. "Wait what? Do you actually want ME to leave you alone right now??? Your highness, please think this over!" "Did I stutter? I am asking you to leave at my command, so leave." He could only remain silent for a few seconds before taking a couple steps back. "Please call me if you need me." He said before walking away with sad feelings. She waited for the footsteps echos to go away before starting to cry. Tears started to stream down her cheeks as she was finally alone from the party that was created on her birthday. She couldn't help it anymore, she couldn't help but keep up this sweet girl act. She started to smash things in her room, no guards from outside interfering with her because of her break down. Broken draws, mirrors, gifts and more but one thing that she didn't break was a letter from her estranged father. If she broke the letter in two pieces she would never forgive herself again. Whenever her eyes were laid on her mothers name she could only feel anger rise up from her body making her break more things, It's not because she hates her mother after all these years it's because she despises her. She had waited years for her mothers affection and love after her father leaving, but now that her eyes were finally opened, she was sure that she will never get her mothers love how she wants to, she has now finally accepted the emotions that came with it. This would not have happened if her mother showed a bit of affection. Breaking her dress, ruining her make wasn't enough. She wanted more and needed more. She's not satisfied with this disaster. She saw a small dagger and decided to pick  it up and put it on her thigh, slowly starting to cut herself from the top making big marks, she didn't stop although it hurted she couldn't stop. The reason why she is doing all this is because her mentality is unstable, the chain reaction has simply started when her mother started to look down on her and then turned it into violence not being able to love herself. Wishing more than just torture and death. Then she heard footsteps running towards her. She tried to quickly clean the dagger and put it away and then Suddenly her door got swung open by someone, not wanting to turn around and face them, she just stood by the window. "Do not take any step closer that way." That voice was familiar! It was Kyan! He walked up to her and asked what she was doing. "I heard so many things crash from your room, are you okay?" He asked with a concerned voice trying to check if she's not bleeding anywhere. Amara however avoided eye contact with him and ignored his touch, while pushing him away a little bit of blood started to drip down her leg making her shiver and him worry more. "Amara please tell me-" "Go away." "What..." This is the first time that she is pushing him away and it not being the other way around hurt him a lot. "Wait but you're bleeding..." He tried to grab her arm. "Your highness!" He yelled out. "Please let me help you!" Amara looks down and tries her best to keep herself calm before telling him to leave again. "Kyan, I do not want your help. What don't you understand when I say leave?" Her face was all gloomy when she finally looked up. "Amara please just listen to me-" "LEAVE!" She yelled out with anger in her tone. The room was filled with silence between them and outside as well. Without a sound Kyan left the scene, leaving her to fall onto her knees and cry her lounges out. Wishing she rethought her decision before making such a rational move, she's mocking herself within her pants. "Gosh..." Amara said. "I am really an idiot aren't i?" It's her birthday yet everything is not going as she had planned. It's almost like it's the same every single other year. Tears flooded from her eyes not only from the pain of her arms but also from the things she said to Kyan. "Lord... Or anyone who can hear me..." She softly muttered. "Am I really such a bad person for wishing a happy birthday?" Then she hears footsteps in front of her door, she does not recognise them. It was a new presence at her door so the only right move was that immediately she stood her guard up. "Who.. is there.." She hesitantly asked in a raspy voice. While she was slowly walking towards the door she feels a gust of wind coming from the window, so she turned around to see the window open and also see the man in black and gold robes was in front of her and looked at her deeply in the eye, he serenely whispered to her: "It doesn't matter who I am now, what does matter is how your mentally stable you are currently." He slowly made his way towards Amara. "We've finally found you... Trinity." He said in a much softer voice putting his hand on her head which made her more scared of him yet the feeling did give off a warm touch on her head. Her wounds slowly healed that she created out of anger, his words and touch are smoothing to her but Amara quickly got out of this trance and backed up. "Who are you...?" She questioned him. The man gave her a smile. "I am someone you should not worry about me currently." The man said with a serene voice. Before Amara could ask his name, the man slowly started to disappear with a light and rose petals traces and before she knew it he had already disappeared from her eyesight and guards were rushing in her room. Telling her there was an intruder lurking within the shadows and she needed a guard to watch her at any moment. That made her heart drop... No way... Did she accidentally meet the intruder?! Her eyes were fully shining while she tried to get at the window and looked down only to see a waving Kyan from the garden who also gave her a wink. Was it him..? But that wouldn't make any sense, the man had blue and white hair Kyan however had black hair. She decided to tell the guards to be outside because she is going to take a bath and change into her bath attire, they listened to her and the maids came rushing in after standing outside and hearing the order she gave the men. They quickly gave her a bath and changed her clothes. She was exhausted from the things she went through today, it felt like a fever dream for her so she decided to sleep earlier than normally. The dream she got was not comfortable either, she was in a dark space not able to yell for anybody. She was all alone but that is what she thought. After looking around for a while she heard a voice speaking to her and it was the same one from earlier today! "Mother... Room.. Evil... Dispose of." Then she saw an image of her mother in a coffin. She woke up from shock and looked around to see if she was still in a dream. But luckily she is in her room. She is now contemplating about going to her mothers room. Is she even able to trust every word that came off the tip of the voice tongue? She was just about to sleep again before hearing the voice saying the same thing again so she decided to go look because it could not hurt anyone right? She took a towel with her and silently started to walk towards her mothers room. She quickly wiped off the sweat that was coming from her face due to it only getting hotter while walking to the room. She threw the towel on the ground when she was almost there and within a couple seconds she found herself in a scene, an unbelievable scene even. What was Aire doing to her mother...? Why was there so much blood, why was there a knife and why was her mother lying on the ground!? There were no screams heard when she was walking towards here! And the last question to be asked is: "Why... Why Aire, why are you doing this...?" She said with a voice quietly above a whisper. It made him turn around and face her but look at his hands for a couple seconds before answering her. "Why? I am helping you! You won't be upset any longer, you should thank me for this." There was a smile appearing on his face, not one because he was happy but because he was losing it. "Do not come near me." Amara yelled at him with tears streaming down her face. Why was she crying about this? Doesn't she despise her own mother! "I was even ready to give you my whole HEART!" If this response with tears shows that she actually does have a heart for her mother? "Mara... Thank me, praise me for this!" He said with trembling hands however those hands quickly found a sword to please themselves after seeing the person that came between him and her. It was Kyan, he rushed as fast as he could to the scene after hearing Amara's scream. "I am sure you aren't allowed to call her Mara after that." He told him with a hint of anger. Aire could only look at them with a serious face, you could not read it at all. "Now Aire, tell me why did you do all of this? Are you absolutely crazy!?" He yelled out to him while observing the scene. Aire however only scoffed at him. "Are you seriously furious at me? Is this some stingy joke? If it is, I am telling you it's very awful and you should try something else." He explained to him. "Why the fuck would this be a joke, are you out of your mind? Do you know how bad it will be for you and your current reputation if they find out you killed the queen!?" He snapped at him while dropping his sword in front of Amara. Suddenly Aire started laughing at him. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" It was crazy, no joke he sounded like a maniac it was concerning. Kyan couldn't bear hearing its laughter. No longer it hurted his ears and started grabbing his collar making him push up against the wall near them. "Are you some type of idiot?" Aire laughed and put his sword near Kyan's neck. Kyan and Amara froze because of his choice of action that he made. "One wrong move and you're also dead." He said while glaring into his eyes. 'Why is this happening? What did I do...? Am I actually this frail to talk for myself now? That's disappointing.' Amara thought to herself before taking a sword from the ground. She sighed before walking over to the two boys. "If you kill him here, who can you put the blame to?" She said while slowly putting the blade to her heart. "...And especially if i decide to kill myself with his sword? Would you really want a death penalty written on your name?" She said in a serious tone that you couldn't ignore. Aire went completely silent after hearing that. "Because however you want to talk about the scene, the only ones without a scratch or scar on their body would be you. It's almost daytime, the sun is close to rising any second now don't you think?" Kyan finally understood what she was doing, she was creating a distraction to get him off guard so he could slip away! Aire turned left to check the sky to make sure she wasn't lying but at the same moment his sword got taken away! And both of them stood backed away from Aire, leaving him empty handed. Then he suddenly got mad. "If the both of you leave the castle I can simply say he abducted you Mara." ... Silence fell between them, not knowing what to say or do. So Kyan... What Kyan did was... Amara's memories stopped at that moment. "Amara?"