Rose Monster: Lolovivi Part Two (complete)

To my dearest, 

Lolovivi, I am sorry for my departure. I felt if I saw you I would not have the strength to go forward and return home. As the heir, I cannot step away when things are hard. I have to step up and take care of them. This may all sound like a joke to you, considering how I must have hurt you. Believe me when I say that, had I seen your face before I got in the carriage, I would not have left your side. 

I do not expect you to write me, nor do I wish you to. I simply wanted to get this out, and share with you how I feel. The time I spent with you while I mourned for my father will be a treasure I hold dear to my heart. You comforted me and made me smile when I thought good cheer was impossible. You taught me about flowers, when I thought there was nothing I could learn. It is because of you that I now see the beauty in the mundane, and the artistry that is the nature around me.

In our short time together, I learned many things from you, but none compare to the fact that I could love someone so much. In you, I found a friend, a partner, and even someone I would call a lover. Though I feel that door is closed now, my heart will be eternally open to you. You will forever be the greatest thing I ever held, and the most tragic story I will ever read. 

My one regret in all of this is that I did not tell you in time. It was too late to show you the depth of my love, and also too soon. Call me a coward if you must, for I am. I couldn’t face my love for you and do my duties at the same time, so I ran away. So - two regrets. I have two regrets now. 

Beyond all that, I do think we were supposed to meet. Star-crossed though we are, it will never be enough to explain away why we must be apart. Had I been stronger, maybe this would have lasted. If I could be like you, my Knight of the Roses, then perhaps I would be more deserving. 

In my dreams, I send you kisses, and when I wake you are my every thought. Though I know you may curse me, it does nothing to my already wounded heart. The only other thing that could hurt me would be if I had to love someone else. It would make me happy if you find love elsewhere, extremely so, but I do not think I am made to love another. You are extremely lovable and it is easy to fall for you, and I am surprised there are not more bowing at your feet. If there are, why did you ever turn your eye onto me?

In any case, I cannot keep rambling in my pitiful way. If I never hear from you again, that is fine. All I can do now is remain busy with my duties. All I want from you is to be happy.

With all my love,

Salome

The letter is handed to me by Merah Muda one afternoon at tea. Salome has gone home to Pirlipat, and despite what they said, I am not angry at them. I know how much they are hurting from losing their father, and losing someone else must have been too hard for them to bear.

Merah Muda and I discuss going to Pirlipat to go see Salome, but I am hesitant. I am simply a gardener, a Prim, and Salome is heir to the throne of Pirlipat! If I go there, what could I possibly do? I am not meant for their world, nor would I ever belong in it.  It scares me to think about that, no matter how much I long to be with Salome. I know it would only end with heartbreak if I attempted to do anything.

“I still think you should go,” Merah Mudah tells me. “Go see Salome, lift their spirits, brighten yours. Talk to them before you give up.”

“What could I possibly say?” I murmur. “Everything that needs to be spoken is already known between us. Salome will rule Perilipat as their leader, and I will continue to grow roses for as long as I live.”

Merah Muda tilts her head to the side and gives me the eye. “What happened to the knight that I used to know? The romantic who believed that love could be fought for? Where are they now, Lolovivi? For I do not see them here.”

I hang my head. “It is not so simple, Merah Muda,” I whisper. “I know I cannot be a knight. I am not a child anymore.”

“Salome called you theirs. You are a knight to them.” Merah Muda shakes her head. “I still see that power inside you. I know you are strong enough to do anything you wish.” Then she opens the window. “Look at that garden and tell me it was not a monster to be conquered.”

“Merah Muda,” I try to argue.

“No, no.” She wags her finger at me. “I promised you long ago, my dear friend, that I would make sure you would always be able to see that strength inside of you. Do not make a liar out of me.”

I gaze up at her, at her regal posture and how stiffly she’s holding her hands. I know she wants to slap sense into me so badly, but she is holding back. I look back at Salome’s letter and smile.

“I’ve never been outside the royal kingdom,” I murmur. “How can I be a knight if that is the case?”

“First time for everything!” Merah Muda claps her hands. “Now! Little Genevieve is doing a special performance in Pirlipat to celebrate the coming holiday. She and the Maestro will be traveling together, so they will have the large carriage.”

“You’ve had this all planned out, haven’t you?” I fuss at her.

“Nonsense, this only just came to me,” she scoffs. “But, the large carriage does have that wonderful cage on the back, so if you wanted to take your Sugar Plum roses, they could travel safely in there.”

I gasp softly, then turn my head away. 

“What is wrong? Weren’t you growing all that you could just for Salome?” Merah Muda asks. 

“I was,” I grumble. “I mean, I am but--” I fidget in my seat. “It would be nice to plant them for Salome. I was growing the Sugar Plums for them anyway. It’s only right that they should have them.”

“Presenting them as a gift for their holiday would be wonderful too,” Merah Muda says with a smile.

I nod. “But--!”

“No buts!” Merah Muda scolds me. “I’ve already told Genevieve you’d be traveling with her and the Maestro, and they are excited to have you.”

“You told them?” I scoff. “I thought you said you hadn’t planned this out?”

Merah Muda just shrugs. 

I grew up with Princess Genevieve, and Maestro Fortescu has been around since… I don’t know, but I am very familiar with him as well. Traveling along with them is fine, even if the Maestro creeps me out a bit, but at least Genevieve will be there.

I have the Sugar Plum roses packed in a special glass case to protect them and keep them warm on the journey. The case is loaded carefully onto the carriage under my supervision.

“I suppose this ruins the surprise of your roses, Princess.” I bow my head in apology to her.

“Papa Rosso isn’t very subtle. He’s been hinting at roses to match my complexion for a long time now, like he’s smooth,” she giggles. “You really don’t need to go through the effort. I like the roses that grow in the gardens as they are.”

“Nonsense,” Fortescu growls. “A rose just for you would be the perfect addition to this world. It would also do well to prepare for the garden we will have someday.”

“Because that’s just what this kingdom needs - another rose garden.” Genevieve rolls her eyes, then smiles up at her husband.  

“I just want to make sure Salome gets their roses and I plant them somewhere they like.” I climb up into the carriage and take my seat.

As we’re traveling along, I notice Fortescu keeps looking at me, then dipping his head to scribble on a notepad.

“You’re making them uncomfortable,” Genevieve fusses at him. “What on earth are you doing?”

“The little Prim has inspired me!” Fortescu announces. “Their story is as romantic as our love story is.”

Genevieve scowls. “Our story isn’t so much a romance as it was a warning.”

I glance towards Fortescu. “You think this is romantic?”

He chuckles. “After what Queen Merah Muda told me, it is perhaps one of the greatest love stories since the Knight of the Lilies. I wish to be the first to capture that! So I started writing a song, but the song became another song, and after that another! It has become an opera before my very eyes.”

I duck my head and tuck my hands together. “But this is the ending,” I murmur. “I am going to see Salome one last time, and give them the roses I planted.”

Fortescu chuckles. “I assure you this is nowhere near the ending, little Prim - but the very beginning of a new act.”

Genevieve glances towards me with a smile. “Don’t you love Salome?”

“Of course,”I squeak. “But Salome is royal and I am just a gardener.”

Fortescu lifts his hand and points at me. “You are a gardener, and I am a March Hare.” He lays his hand on his chest. “Yet somehow I married a princess. Not to mention one of our kings used to be a stable boy. Royals break the rules for love all the time. What is to say your Salome won’t?”

I squint my eyes at him. “Didn’t King Rosso almost kill you?”

“Daily!” Fortescu laughs. “But the key word is almost!”

Genevieve sighs as she elbows him in the side. “Don’t think of this as an ending yet, Lolovivi, because as soon as you do, that’s when it is lost. Think of the Knight of Lilies when he thought he had lost Princess Ruby forever. Did he give up? Did he go back to his garden? He wanted so badly to return to his old life, but despite the chance he went running for what he learned he truly wanted.” She takes hold of Fortescu’s hand and beams up at him. “Isn’t that what you want as well?”

“I--” I go quiet as I imagine Salome’s face. How their long fingers touch me, and how their soft lips feel. I squeeze my knees. “What if this means I have to stay in Pirlipat?”

“There are worse places to be,” Fortescu replies. “Such as being without Salome.”

I gasp softly at the revelation. “You’re right. All this time, I’ve been so miserable.” I nod my head. “You’re right. It’s a new act.”

Arriving in Pirlipat, I notice right away the sweet fragrance that hangs in the air. It is as if powdered sugar makes up part of the atmosphere. Here, everything has pastel tint to it, and there is a twinkling glow in the air.

The royal palace is made of rosy quartz and amethyst, and the tall spires are twisted together to look like candy canes. The drawbridge is solid jade and, as we cross it, the sound of the horses’ hooves is like gentle bells.

“Make sure these roses are top priority!” Fortescu barks at the staff who have come to collect our luggage. “Make sure you put it near a window so it gets sunlight!”

Genevieve stands beside me, placing her hand on my shoulder. “This is the first time I have ever been outside of Miror,” I confess shyly. I look around me at the courtyard, my eyes fixing on a tree that looks like it is made of frosted sugar.

“Pirlipat is very nice. I always enjoy coming to sing here. Rather than giving me flowers, I get bouquets of chocolate and sweets.” She leads me as we follow behind a mouse wearing a fluffy pink dress.

We are taken to a parlor full of crystalline furniture decorated with mint green accents. The cushions on the chairs are very soft, and when I look through the clear armrest, I see sparkles moving inside. 

Moments later, another mouse comes in with a serving tray and starts setting up a royal tea. Only she doesn’t serve tea - the drink is a rich hot chocolate.

Genevieve catches the mouse’s attention with a gentle touch of her hand. “My friend cannot have hot chocolate. Do you mind if we could get some tea or warm water for them?”

The mouse bows her head. “Yes of course, Princess. I’ll be right back.”

“Thank you,” I say softly as Genevieve takes her cup, stirring it with a cinnamon stick.

Genevieve gives me a wink. “Be warned - even their water is sweet here.” She takes a sip of her chocolate as the door opens again.

“Dear niece!” A plump woman in a cream-colored gown comes into the room. Her hair is stacked high on her head in concentric pinwheel curls.

“Auntie Devina!” Genevieve stands and greets the woman, kissing both her cheeks and then giggling as they look over one another.

“My, my, you remind me of my Salome.” Queen Devina pats Genevieve’s waist. “So absolutely tiny!”

Genevieve chuckles. “I do have an appetite, Auntie, no worries there.”

“Good, good.” Devina turns and sees me. “Oh my, what a pretty darling you are.” Then she gasps and clasps Genevieve’s hand. “Is this your child?”

Genevieve laughs. “No, Lolovivi is a dear friend. They are Grandmother’s head gardener, and they have brought a gift for the palace gardens.”

Devina smiles at me, and I can see she has the same eyes as Salome. “What a gorgeous creature you are! I’ve never seen anything quite so perfect.”

I duck my head. “Thank you.”

“Salome has so loved roses since she visited Miror,” Devina sighs. “They will be so happy to see you, I am sure.”

“Where is Salome?” Genevieve asks. “I was so excited to see them, I never got to when they were with Grandmother. I only got back once they were leaving.”

Devina sighs and joins us for the hot chocolate. “I do not know what to do. I thought sending Salome to Miror would help them, but I can’t help but feel my poor child is in a worse state than before, no matter how much they try to keep up appearances.”

The mouse returns, giving me a glass of sweet water. 

“Perhaps they would like to see the roses that Lolovivi has brought to plant in your garden.” Genevieve smiles kindly. “It might do them some good to pick out a spot special to them for the roses.”

Devina sighs. “Perhaps, but I am so worried for Salome. My heart is broken as is, but it is shattering seeing my child try to grin and bear it.” She looks at me. “Do you mind going to the gardens?”

“Not at all,” I gasp. “The roses may be in our room by now.”

Devina nods. “I will have the staff fetch them,” she says. A mouse comes to me and leads me outside to the garden.

As I stand there waiting, I feel a presence near me. I glance behind me, expecting to see the mice with the roses, but instead I see Salome. I fully turn around, standing before them as they linger in the doorway. Salome’s wide eyes have tears in them, and their long hair has been pulled back into a ponytail at the top of their head. Their hand quivers at their throat in disbelief.

“Hi,” I manage to squeak out.

“What are you doing here?” Salome wheezes. They shake their head. “I thought I would never see you again.”

“So did I.” I take a step towards them. “But I wanted you to have your roses.”

Salome rushes out and takes me in their arms, picking me off the ground. They hold me tenderly and press soft kisses all over my face. 

“Don’t cry,” I chuckle. I use my vines to drink the tears from their cheeks.

Salome kisses me deeply. “But I am so happy!” They gaze at me lovingly. “You have no idea how much I have missed you.”

I wrap my arms around their neck. “I know all too well,” I whisper. “You have been on my mind all this time.”

Salome quickly sets me back down on the ground as more mouse servants arrive with the glass case of roses. “I came to plant these,” I say to Salome. “Just for you.” I open the case and take out one of the carefully potted plants. 

Salome smiles down upon me and takes the potted plant. “I have been wanting roses for the garden ever since I came home.” They bury their nose in the petals. “This is better than I ever could have dreamed.”

I stand and take a deep breath. “Salome,” I say sternly. “I came here only to give you these roses.”

The look that comes to their face is heartbreaking.

“At first.” I start to shake. “But soon I realized I could not come here without a fight.”

Salome’s lashes flutter, and they cast their gaze down.

“You called me your Knight of Roses. Well, I am here intending to fight for you. Royalty or not, I cannot go without letting you know how much I love you and will always love you.” I’m fighting back tears as hard as possible. My fists are balled up and raised to my chest. “I will do everything and anything to stay by your side.”

Salome sets the roses aside, and they kneel down in front of me. “I do not know what to say,” they whisper. “I am overwhelmed, and entirely undeserving of such love.” Their smile is bright and gentle. “If someone like you loves me, I am not sure what I can do.”

“Someone like me?” I shake my head. “I am but a rose, and you are my sun.” I take hold of Salome’s hands and squeeze them tightly. “Without you, I would wilt away and never grow again.”

Salome kisses me. “I couldn’t bear that,” they laugh. “Besides, you do not need to grow for me. You are the most perfect size I could imagine.”

I wrap my arms tightly around them. “Hold me now and never let me go.”

“Of course,” Salome sniffles.

I hear a sigh coming from behind us. Turning, I see Fortescu standing there with a pen and pad in hand. 

“What are you doing?” I snap at him. 

Maestro Fortescu spreads his arms. “Witnessing the most triumphant love story of all time! I had to capture it for my opera.”

Salome glares and takes a dagger from their boot. They stand and place me behind them. “Get out of here! Whoever you are!”

“He’s mostly harmless,” I scoff.

Fortescu chuckles and bows from the waist. “I know when to take my exit.” He leaves, but I do not fully believe he is gone.

I go into the garden with Salome, where they select a spot to plant the roses. Salome points to a window nearby. “That is my room,” they say. “From there, I will be able to see the Sugar Plums whenever I gaze outside. And perhaps you, if you are out here working.”

“If I stay,” I murmur, “what will I be here? Will we have to stay hidden? Will I have to watch you marry a suitor?”

Salome sits down beside me on the stone bench. They take hold of my hand and look out over the roses I have just planted. “If you stay,” they murmur, “you will be my companion. Most young royals take one. You won’t have to watch me marry if I can fight it long enough. Although my mother is adamant I marry a child of the Licorice family.” They sigh and squeeze my hand. 

“Is it so uncertain now?” I ask.

“It might be for a while.” Salome smiles. “But with you here, I feel as though everything will be alright.”

That evening, Genevieve is to perform for the palace. In the ballroom, she and Fortescu stand before a grand piano and bow. Genevieve is wearing a beautiful fluffy gown of soft lavender, and Fortescu is wearing a suit to match.

Fortescu gives her a kiss before he sits down at the piano to play. Genevieve sways to the music, then begins to sing. I have never heard the song before, but it is beautiful and triumphant. Genevieve’s voice is powerful, and Fortescu’s playing brings out the sweetness of her voice.

Salome smiles down upon me. “Would you like to dance?”

I gulp nervously. “, uhm--” I fidget in place. “I have never danced before.”

“Do not worry.” Salome takes my hands. “If there is something I know, it is how to dance.” They start to move, guiding my steps. Soon they sweep me across the floor, lift me up and spin me around, tossing me into the air and catching me again. We laugh to ourselves as the music swells and Genevieve’s voice fills the air.

As the song ends, the room erupts in applause. Salome kisses my cheek as they set me back on my feet.

“This song is one of my newest pieces,” Fortescu announces. “It will be part of an opera I am creating with my lovely bride.” He takes Genevieve’s hand in his.

“It is called ‘The Knight of Roses’,” Genevieve replies. “And we are still working out our ending.”

“But!” Fortescu punches the air. “Once it is complete, it will be my ultimate masterpiece.” He kisses Genevieve’s hand. “But for now, we will perform your favorites.” He returns to the piano and begins playing.

“Knight of Roses?” Salome looks down at me. “Is he writing an opera about… about us?”

I chuckle softly. “Maestro Fortescu is strange, but his music is truly the most beautiful in all the world. Would it be so bad if his music was for us?”

Salome’s cheeks darken. “No, I suppose it wouldn’t.” They look at me unsurely. “But… but what about the ending?”

I stand on tiptoe, and Salome kneels down to meet my kiss. “Hopefully, it won’t end,” I whisper to them.