Rose Monster" Lolovivi Part One (complete)

In the back of the royal palace, there is a small chateau where the queen mother Merah Muda resides. When she was young, the chateau served as a place to entertain and house guests. It was like her own personal dollhouse. She could decorate it, arrange it, and style it however she desired. It became her oasis as her sons grew, as both were willful and combative with one another. 

When Rosso and Bianco divided the castle, Merah Muda moved to the chateau permanently, naming it the Maison de Petiller. The pink peaks of the house could be seen over the separate rose gardens of her sons.

My Papa and Zaza both work for King Rosso, and I grew up helping tend to the red rose garden. I was always smaller than everyone else around me. When I was a child, my parents worried over my stature and often feared for my safety. I never grew much, and even as an adult I am often mistaken for a child. My size has never been a hindrance to me, but people tend to think it is, and treat me differently because of it. 

I grew up loving the stories of knights fighting giant monsters like the Jabberwocky and Bandersnatch. I would make myself swords and fashion foes to battle out of Zaza’s old garden equipment. Because of my parents’ constant concern, I would have to hide this activity, so I built small playhouse at the back of the red rose garden.

One afternoon while playing, I was a bit rowdier than usual. I charged at my makeshift enemy and went crashing through a hedge, then rolled into the garden of Queen Merah Muda, who at the moment was having her tea.

“My, my,” she said. When she stood, I saw she was very petite herself. Her hair was the color of cotton candy, piled high on her head and covered by a net that was dotted with pearls. “It appears I have a little visitor today.”

The bucket I used as a helmet sank over my eyes. “I’m sorry, ma’am!” I squeaked.

Merah Muda took the bucket from my head and smiled down at me. “You’re Rosenrot’s little one, aren’t you?” She offered me her hand and helped me to stand. 

I bowed my head low and nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Oh, come now, no need to ‘yes, ma’am’ me to death.” She led me over to her table where she was having tea. “Come and join me. I would love the company.”

I climbed into one of the seats, and she gave me a cushion to sit on that helped me reach the table. She fed me sweets and tiny sandwiches with a pink fruit tea. 

“What were you doing, if you do not mind me asking?” Merah Muda inquired.

I peered up at her as my vines soaked in the tea. “I was playing,” I admitted shyly.

“What sort of game?” She leaned towards me with a smile. “My grandchildren have been very much into the ‘Alice’ stories, so they’ve been playing those games together.”

“I like those too,” I murmured. “I prefer knight stories.”

Merah Muda beamed. “My boys enjoyed those too. They used to sneak into their father’s armory and take things, then go hide somewhere and play. Of course, they often got carried away, and more than once one of them needed to see the doctor.” She sighed and rolled her eyes. “I never thought they’d grow up to be the kings they are now.”

“Oh.” I looked away uneasily.

“But I think it is the stories of such heroics and nobility that eventually helped them.” Merah Muda smiled. “Children see the adventure and action, but as they get older, they begin to realize the true heart of the stories, and what made those knights worthy of such tales.” She looked at me with a sparkle in her eyes. “I think true leaders are attracted to such stories.”

I glanced back up at her. “Leaders?”

“Tell me, Lolovivi, what do you like about those stories?” Merah Muda refilled my cup and placed a sugar cube inside.

I smiled softly as I looked back at her. “I don’t think I’ll ever be a leader,” I replied. “But being so small, I’ve often been told there are things I might not be able to do. I like to believe that even despite my size, I am strong, and I could be a knight if I worked at it.”

“My, my,” she sighed. “If only my boys had as much insight as you do at your age. My husband, Bellerophon, used to say you cannot judge a nut before it is cracked.”

I tilted my head to the side. “What?”

She chuckled. “It’s a long story.” Her smile became soft and her gaze distant. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and looked back at me. “Is your dream to become a knight, then?”

“Maybe,” I murmured. “But I also want to have a garden like my Zaza. Like the Knight of the Lilies!”

Merah Muda smirked. “But he never planned on being a knight. It was all an accident.”

“But he did it because he knew it was right! Even if he never thought of it, he still found strength to help save his people. And he fell in love with the princess! And then they lived in his garden for the rest of their lives.” I placed my palms over my face. “It’s all so romantic.”

“I had a feeling we were kindred spirits,” Merah Muda chuckled. “I was a hopeless romantic as a girl myself. I used to dream of knights coming to my rescue or some dashing prince sweeping me off my feet.”

“Is that what happened with you and the king?” I gasped excitedly.

Merah Muda sighed. “I am afraid not. My happy ending came down a path I never imagine to traverse.” She looked across the gardens towards the peak and spires of the royal castle. “I was so desperate for my happily ever after, I almost lost it.”

“But…” I trailed off as I looked at her. “You got it, right?”

Her smile returned. “I did. But I learned a very hard lesson.” 

At that instant, the bell tower chimed, signaling the new hour. I jumped off my seat in a fright and headed back towards the hedge.

“Oh no! I’m late!” I gasped.

“Will you come and visit me again?” Merah Muda called after me.

As I gathered my things and headed towards the hedge, I looked back at her. “You want me to?”

“I told you, I think we’re kindred spirits, Lolovivi,” she said with a smile. “Please, anytime you want, you can come to the Maison de Petiller and make it your own.”

I bowed to her. “Thank you! I would like that.” I left through the hedge, returning home to find my Zaza fretting because I had not come home for lunch.

When I returned to my playhouse in the back of the garden, I noticed that there was a a new archway in the hedge. Merah Muda placed it there so I could come and go as I pleased. I visited with her often to have tea with her, and she would read me stories. She had so many books, and so many tales I had never heard of. 

“I found this among my collection,” she said one day. “I would like you to have it.”

My Papa had given me many books in my life, but this book soon became one of my greatest treasures. It was bound in white leather, with gold lettering and a picture of a lily hand-painted on the cover.

“The Knight of the Lilies,” I whispered in awe.

“Not just a little fairy tale, but the whole story,” Merah Muda said with a bright smile. “I thought you would treasure it.”

I clutched the tome close to my chest. “I will! Oh, thank you!” I jumped up to hug her, wrapping my arm around her waist, then looked up at her. “Why are you giving me this? You’re always so kind to me, but I am only a Prim.”

Merah Muda smiled again and cupped her hands around my face. “I was very much like you when I was little. Too small, told I would not achieve much, and that I was no fit ruler because I could not have heirs.” She knelt down so we were on the same level. “But I know as you do, Lolovivi, that there is power inside no one else can see.” Then she gave me a stern look. “I want you to remember that, always. You may be small, but you are mighty.”

I hugged Merah Muda around her neck. “Thank you.”

As I grew, Merah Muda hired me to plant her a pink rose garden to match her son’s. I was given a team, and together we grew a maze of pink roses for Merah Muda, with a canopy in the center where she would have her tea each day.

I have even been able to create my own breed of roses by splicing together the red roses from Rosso’s garden with the white roses from Bianco’s garden. The result is pink roses whose color varies depending on which side of the garden they are planted on. If they grow on the left, they are darker, and if they grow on the right, they are lighter This allows the garden to take on a beautiful gradient when seen from the castle. 

One afternoon while I am tending to the garden, I come across a figure in the maze. I am startled at first. Usually at this time, only me and my team are out and about on the grounds. The figure is kneeled over on the ground and they appear to be crying.

I approach cautiously, not recognizing this person at all. “Are you alright?” I ask softly. “Do you need help?”

They look up suddenly. Their long hair is a soft, muted purple, and it drapes down along their back and shoulders in soft waves. Their skin has a sparkling, crystalline shine to it. They wipe at their eyes, sniffling softly before standing. “I’m sorry,” they say.

I gasp as they rise, and rise, and rise. They are magnificently tall!

They glance down at me with sad, plum-colored eyes. “I needed a quiet place. I didn’t mean to get in your way.”

I shake my head and step closer to them. “You weren’t. I was mainly worried.”

Their face is beautiful, with fine features. They have lips with an elegant curve to them, and such high cheekbones. Their hair falls across their forehead and descends around them in long waves. Their coat is cinched at the waist and let out below to drape gracefully around them. It is pale lavender in color, and the suit beneath is cream and gold. High ruffles frame their sharp jawline, and they give off a sweet scent.

“Are you alright?” I offer again.

They tuck their chin down into the ruffles. “It isn’t for you to worry about,” they sniff. “You’re only a child. I don’t know if you would understand.”

I make a slight scowl. “I’m the same age as the King,” I grumble.

The person gasps, and their long fingers flutter around their mouth. I can see that each nail is ornately done, long and covered in gems. “I’m so sorry!” 

I look down and shrug. “I’m used to it.” Then I straighten my shoulders. “I’m Lolovivi, Merah Muda’s master gardener.”

“Oh!” The person looks around them, at the walls of the maze. “You’re the one who created this wonder! Auntie has been singing your praises ever since I arrived. She even has bouquets of your roses all over my room.”

I can’t help but smile with pride. “Wait.” I furrow my brow. “Auntie?”

The person nods and places their hand on their chest. “Merah Muda is my great aunt. King Bellerophon was my grandmother’s brother.”

“Oh,” I whisper in awe. This means they are from the neighboring kingdom of Pirlipat, and a royal to boot.

“My father passed away,” they murmur. “Auntie invited me to stay here with her to recover.” 

“I’m so sorry for your loss.” I do not understand their grief, but I do care. “Feel free to cry here as much as you like, if this is where you feel safe.”

“I feel so alone in the chateau,” they confess. “Being around your roses, I feel like I am not so lonesome.”

“Is it a friend you need?” I ask.

They drop their eyes. “I have none here.” They sink back down to sitting and tuck their long, elegant legs below themselves. “Even back home, I had very few.”

“What about your cousins?” I ask, stepping closer to them. 

“Both are so busy,” they sniffle. “Ludovico is king, and I do not wish to bother him or his husband with my troubles. Not to mention that Genevieve is traveling as we speak.” They look up at me with their plum-colored eyes behind thick, dark lashes. “I do not wish to burden anyone.”

“What’s your name?” I ask.

They seem surprised by my sudden inquiry. “Salome,” they answer.

“Well then, Salome,” I kneel down beside them, “You will not be a burden to me. I’ll be your friend whenever you need one.”

Salome smiles at me brightly. “You’re very kind, Lolovivi.”

I take Salome to my house, which was built where I used to play knight as a child. Tons of planters, pots, and soil litter the ground around my home. The door Merah Muda placed in the hedges still remains. I assure Salome they can visit me at any time. 

“This reminds me of the summer home we used to visit when I was little,” Salome murmurs. “My father hated the openness and impersonal feel of the royal castle, so he wanted somewhere to go that felt more personal.” Tears appear in their lovely eyes. 

I touch Salome’s hand and they open their palm, letting my hand slide into theirs. I clasp their hand and turn my face towards them. “Would you like to come in and see the project I am working on?”

They nod silently as tears fall down their cheeks.

I lead them inside and show them to the special greenhouse I have built at the back. I tell them I am breeding a new rose that will be used for Princess Genevieve’s birthday celebration. Her favorite color is a pale purple, but so far I have only been able to create darker shades. Right now, I have dozens of roses, and in the center are the purple roses I have been working on.

“Right now, I haven’t gotten the color right at all,” I tell them. “I’m trying to create something more pastel for the princess.” I suddenly realize that the purple of the petals is the same as Salome’s eyes. “Right now, I’m calling these Sugar Plums.”

Salome sniffles and starts sobbing into their palms.

“Salome,” I gasp, “what’s wrong?”

They whimper and touch the purple rose gently. Their tears slip from their fingertips and appear like dew on the delicate petals. “My father and I are from the Sugar Plum clan.”

“Oh,” I jump slightly. “So you’re--.”

“Part fairy, part royal.” They smile at the rose. “How strange fate is. I come here to recover from the loss of my father, and here you are, recreating him as a blossom.” They press their nose close and breathe in the scent.

I should have known by looking at Salome what their lineage was. All I saw when I gazed upon them was a tall, beautiful creature. I could gaze at Salome’s face all day and never grow tired of it. Even now, as I look at them, my vines are twitching in excitement, and my petals turn to them like they are the sun.

“Thank you for showing me this,” Salome replies. “It makes me very happy.”

“Of course,” I answer breathlessly. “You can see it anytime you want! It’s still growing, and there are more starting to bud as well.”

Salome’s brows rise. “You won’t get rid of it because it is a failure?” A hurt look appears in their eyes.

I shake my head. “It isn’t a failure,” I explain. “Simply unexpected. I have many pink roses I cultivated before I made the Gradients that I use for Merah Muda’s garden. The Sugar Plums will remain with me, and I can continue to grow them for other events.”

Salome sighs with relief. “That makes me happy to hear.” They turn back to the Sugar Plum blossom with a soft smile.

As the days go by, Salome continues to visit me. They watch me while I work in the greenhouse, and I tell them all them methods I use to breed my roses. Salome listens to me, a content soft smile on their lips.

Some days, I find them crying, and I hold their hands while they do. I want to be a comfort to Salome, and I want to be their friend more than anything, but there is a quickening in my heart that makes me joyous and anxious around them.

One evening, a terrible storm breaks. I worry for the garden, but there is not much I can do now, so I go to work in my greenhouse. As I am tending to the Sugar Plums - which I have now grown many more of than I need - there is a knock at my door. 

I wonder who it could be - perhaps my Papa or Zaza worrying about me in this weather. I open the door and Salome is standing there, soaking wet and shivering.

“What are you doing?” I pull them inside, where it is warm. “It is storming horribly out there, and freezing!” I sit them down on the sofa. “Stay here. I’ll get you something to dry off with.”

“I’m sorry,” Salome whimpers. “Merah Muda got stuck at the castle, and I was all alone in the chateau.”

“Don’t apologize to me!” I huff. I take a towel to their hair. “But you could have gotten hurt out there.”

Salome looks up at me. “I wanted to see you so badly, Lolovivi.”

Hearing them say my name makes me shiver all over. “I am not worth an injury, Salome. Had you gotten hurt, I would have felt awful! I would have cried! I would--” I am silenced as their sweet lips press against my mask.

Salome’s long fingers cup my face and smooth along my petals as they kiss me. I lean closer to them, wanting to feel their skin and smell how sweet it is.

They break away, licking their lips and ducking their head down. “I’m sorry,” they quickly apologize. 

I clear my throat. “No. It’s okay.” I continue trying to dry their hair. 

“You’ve been such a comfort to me,” Salome whispers. “You fill my heart to overflowing, and when it gets to that point, I can’t control myself.”

A place a soft kiss to their cheek. “You fill my heart too,” I coo.

Salome smiles at me. “You remind me of my favorite story. I think that’s why I am so drawn to you.” They take hold of both my hands. “My father used to read it to me when I would get sad or upset, and it always made me feel better.

“You are my Knight of Lilies,” they giggle. “But of Roses.”

I gasp and bounce. “The Knight of Lilies is my favorite story too!”

Salome beams. “Do not tease me!”

“I am not.” I walk over to my bookcase and show them the book that Merah Muda gave me. “Your Auntie gave me this when I was little. I loved stories of knights and, secretly, I always longed to be one.”

Salome touches my cheek, placing their soft palm against it. “You saved me,” they whisper. “Perhaps you are a knight.”

I giggle and nuzzle into their palm. “You are a royal, just like Princess Ruby.”

Salome wraps me up in their long arms and I bury my face in their hair. Their sweet scent becomes sugar on my tongue, and I happily melt into their strong embrace. That night, I fall asleep in Salome’s arms.

At dawn, I wake to find myself still in Salome’s embrace. The storm has passed, and the air outside is crisp. “I should get back,” Salome whispers.

“I’ll walk with you.” I take hold of their hand.

We walk through the garden together. Rain still clings to the plants and shines on the roses. As we come to Maison de Petiller, Salome stalls and pulls me back to their side. 

“I’ll have to return home soon.” Their tone is heavy and sad. “Will you hate me?”

“Why would I ever hate you?” I frown.

“I kissed you, and told you how I felt, and now I will have to go away and maybe--” They hesitate, small tears forming at the corners of their eyes. “I may never see you again.”

I take their palm and place it on my cheek again. “I much prefer that you were honest with me, rather than never saying anything at all.”

Salome kneels down and kisses me. “I will write to you often, and I will try to visit when I can.”

“I promise to always answer your letters.” I look down, then back towards Maison de Petiller. “Do you know when you have to go home?”

Salome shakes their head. “I’m sure it will be soon. My mother will send for me to return home when she thinks I am ready.”

I squeeze Salome’s hand. “Until then, you can still visit me whenever you need it.”

The next day, as I am working in Merah Muda’s garden, I hear a great commotion at the entrance. Going through the roses, I see there is an impressive carriage at the front. A tall man dressed all in black is loading luggage onto the back, and I see Salome descending the palace steps.

I rush forward, desperate to say goodbye to them. Before I can reach the carriage, I am stopped. Merah Muda grabs me aside and holds me in front of her.

“Let me go!” I struggle against her. “Please! I have to tell Salome goodbye! It is important!” I start to cry. “Merah Muda, please!”

“Stay here, Lolovivi,” she says sternly. “Stay with me.”

“No! I need to say goodbye!” I turn back in time to see Salome stepping into the carriage. The man in black beside them walks around, a dark look on his face. As he goes to the front and takes the reins, I can see Salome sitting inside the carriage.

“Salome requested that they not see you before they left,” Merah Muda speaks softly. “They did not think they would be strong enough to go otherwise.”

“But… why?” I whimper. 

Salome glances from the window of the carriage, and they place their palm upon the glass. I rush from Merah Muda’s grasp, trying to run alongside the carriage, then trip and fall on my face. I stay there until Merah Muda helps me up. 

“I had roses for them,” I sob.

“Well, then,” Merah Mudah sighs. “We will have to take them to Salome, won’t we?”

I look up at Merah Muda in awe. “But how? I--” I swallow the painful lump in my chest. 

“You’re a knight, are you not?” Merah Muda smiles.