“Keagan, Fritz went too far today.”
“I bought you a new watch, don’t be angry with him, hm?”
The medical staff had already gone from the old house; only a handful of guards stayed behind.
Rosalie noticed nothing strange. She smiled and opened the jewelry case, diamonds shining brightly.
“I promise I won’t let Fritz stir up trouble again.”
When she spoke Fritz’s name, warmth slipped into her voice without hiding; even she failed to notice it.
I stood still, watching her quietly.
Now she wore a necklace worth tens of millions.
The collar, once worn thin by washing, now held smooth mother-of-pearl buttons.
Even the gardenia scent on her body was exactly the same as the smell in Fritz’s hair.
I looked at her graceful appearance and suddenly thought of that Winter Solstice long ago.
She stood in the snow, the cuffs of her down jacket leaking cotton, yet hugged roasted sweet potatoes to her chest, afraid they would turn cold.
“Keagan?”
She noticed my silence and moved closer again.
That gardenia smell grew even heavier.
Fritz suddenly dashed out, staggering as he fell into Rosalie’s arms.
“Sister Rosalie!”
“He had people hold me down and cut skin straight off my body…”
“Didn’t you say you would keep me safe forever? It hurts so badly now…”
Rosalie’s breathing clearly broke.
She looked at the bandage wrapped around his chest, then at the smooth skin on mine, and her eyes chilled.
Her voice dropped low.
“Keagan, how did you turn into this?”
“So… heartless?”
Fritz cried softly against her shoulder, but the glance he sent my way carried nothing but challenge and pride.
“He’s still so young, with such a large mark on his body, how will he live later?”
Rosalie’s voice grew cold. “Do you need to ruin him before you feel content?”
I watched the way she blocked Fritz behind her.
All at once, I remembered Rosalie at eighteen, careful, restrained, not even daring to wrap her arms tightly around me when she held me.
Back then, she made her first promise, saying she would stay by my side for life.
I gently brushed the fresh skin on my chest, holding back the ache rising in my heart.
“Have you considered what I’m meant to do with those words carved on me?”
“He tattooed me with those words. I took a piece of his skin. Even.”
Rosalie parted her lips, yet nothing came out.
Seeing her fall silent, Fritz suddenly screamed wildly. “Sister Rosalie! You’re already carrying my baby!”