Chapter Text
Rosa stretched. The branch supporting her weight bent downward, but remained stable. Examining her normal resting place, she wondered if she could sneak a hammock into the canopy. Perhaps if it was camouflaged. Every so often, a patrol would pass by. None of the soldiers ever bothered to look up. Rosa watched them through half closed eyes. Really, if she were an assassin, all of them would be dead. Of course, they didn't go around calling for her. It would be bad if the knowledge that the crown princess of Stellis disappeared.. regularly. But from their body language, it was clear they were tired and irritated. Well, so was she. If they'd just let her be for a while she wouldn't have to sneak off for a moment of peace and quiet. Motion on the branch beside her woke Rosa after a quick doze. Rubbing her eyes, she blinked up into a familiar face. Breaking out into a smile, she sat up.
"Luke! How were the kids today?" Her sunshine did not return her smile like he normally did. The expression he wore was rather cross.
"Princess Rosa, what are you doing out here?" She pouted.
"Waiting for you to get back from town, of course." His eyes narrowed.
"Uhm. And your assignments..?" She stuck her tongue out at him.
"They're finished of course." As the two descended from the trees, Rosa brushed off her pants. "It's true. I just didn't tell any of the maids because I just knew they were going to give me something else to do." Luke shook his head.
"They should have-"
"No!" Planting her hands on her hips, she glared up at him. "I don't live to work every day, Luke. Once I finish my tasks, I should be allowed to do whatever I want. Otherwise, what's the point of finishing them ever? Isn't that how things work? I get my job done and then get to do what I want?" He just sighed deeply, scratching the back of his head. Rosa knew deep down she wasn't being fair to her longest friend. But he was really the only person who could and would listen to her vent. It would be unsightly for her to do it to just any old servant, but she didn't have other friends her age and the adults all tutted at her and called her unladylike when she did. Rosa sighed. She knew she should be grateful for the luxurious life she lived, but being a princess didn't make her any less emotional. She was still human, a fact she apparently couldn't keep reminding people of. A pressure on her head caused her to look up. Luke's eyes had softened.
"I'm sorry. You're right, Princess." He took her hand gently and started the trek back to the castle. "But do you have to take your break where no one can find you? The guards swarmed the city looking for you. They came into the school and even asked if I knew where you were. They didn't believe me when I said I didn't know and ended up searching the place anyways." Rosa frowned. It was a logical thought. Luke had covered her tracks for her before. But to disrupt a class while school was in session? That was overkill. Especially considering the kids needed that education to better their futures. Rosa always felt guilty for having Luke as her private tutor.
He was the same age as her, but had already gone to university and graduated so he could teach. When he came out at the top of his class, the palace had snatched him up. As a former ward, he was well trusted and Rosa listened to him.. More than she listened to anyone else anyways. But that was partially because he listened to her. And answered her. But he was a great teacher. He did lessons when he could at the local schools, but it all depended on time. And how well Rosa was doing in her own studies. Luke paused and she bumped into him. Glancing up, she gave him a questioning look.
"What is it?"
"What's wrong?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're sighing."
"I am not."
"Are to. That's probably the fifth time you've sighed since I found you." Frowning, she rubbed her face. Had she really sighed that much? She wasn't sure. Shaking her head, she continued to walk. If Luke knew she was feeling guilty that he was her tutor and not a full time teacher for the commoners, it would only lead to an argument between them. It always did.
"Even if I did sigh, it's nothing." Luke refused to move and Rosa refused to let go of his hand. It was so rare he held it nowadays without being forced to due to situational circumstances. With another sigh, she turned to face him, raising an eyebrow. "I told you, it's nothing." Luke stepped forward and gently stroked her cheek.
"No. Even your expression is sad. If I return you to the palace now, all the staff will think I was bullying their precious princess. I'll be ostracized." Rosa glared at him. She knew he was fibbing, even if his puppy eyes were good.
"I was just thinking about how better off the children would be if you were their full time teacher.." Luke's expression shifted and Rosa turned away. "See? I knew you'd get mad. This is why I didn't want to tell you." His grip on her hand tightened.
"This isn't nothing. I agreed to be your tutor because I wanted to." There was a pause and she felt his presence close again. The next time he spoke, his voice was right by her ear. Rosa closed her eyes as she listened. "I never asked to be because I didn't want to assume anything. But that doesn't mean I didn't want to be. Do you understand?" Her lips trembled and she didn't respond. "Look at me, please Princess?" Having never been able to resist when he asked things like that, she slowly turned to look up at him. Luke ran his hand over her hair and gently rested his forehead against hers. "I want to be here." He murmured softly. "Okay?"
"Okay.." Rosa finally responded and he relaxed.
"Good. Let's get home." Leading the way, his sunshine personality was back and he talked about the kids. Phrasing the soldiers barging in as a 'nice distraction from the monotony of school,' Rosa plastered a smile on her face and followed, holding in the sigh that wanted to escape.
She had really hoped Luke would kiss her.
~~~
Flopping into bed, Rosa curled around her pillow. Luke had gotten so close to her... On his own too! Burying her head in her pillow, her heart tightened. She hadn't meant to make him feel the need, but to say she didn't want it to happen again would be a lie. He knew of course. She suspected the whole palace knew she loved him. Most of the adults chalked it off to a childish crush. If they thought him a real threat, he never would've been allowed within 10 feet of her. While she was 99% sure her love for Luke was very real, she'd never loved anybody else before. And every story book she read matched what she felt whenever it talked about love. So how could she prove it to the others she was serious? As her mind turned over ideas, a knock on her room broke her thoughts. A soft voice came through.
"M'lady? Headmaster Aaron is here to see you." Rosa perked up. Headmaster Aaron ran the university where Luke had studied. He'd been a close friend of her parents and while her aunt Celestine was lady regent, he was, in actuality, her legal guardian having been named her godfather when she was born.
"Let him into the sitting room." Straightening out her pajamas, she pulled on a robe and called as well "And bring some tea please." She hurried into the adjacent room to greet him. Aaron hugged her tightly, patting her head. A servant entered and poured them tea before bowing and withdrawing.
"My, how you've grown."
"What brings you here, Sir?" Rosa peered at him curiously as they drank.
"Ah, I heard Luke started teaching a couple classes at the local schools in the city. Is this true?"
"Oh. Yes. All the children love him." Rosa beamed when she thought of all the kids staring at Luke in awe as he broke even the hardest of subjects down. She squirmed a little. "I remember being so frustrated with how easily he understood things when we were kids..." Luke had lost his parents in an accident at the castle. Thus, he became a ward and the servants all took turns looking after him. However, when Rosa bumped into him one day she 'adopted' him, as the adults liked to tell her. She wouldn't go anywhere without him for a couple weeks. She didn't remember it too well, but she did recall he was rather quiet. Now that she was older, she was embarrassed and a little ashamed with how forceful she'd been. But Luke didn't remember feeling any resentment for how she treated him. And as a result, he studied much of what she did. The fact she grasped the basics that were so fundamental to her current learning was all because of him. When he left to study at the university, she'd muddled along. She still made progress, but it took twice as long for her to understand any subject that wasn't kingdom law. "But, I'm happy he's such a genius because now I get to have him by my side." Realizing how that sounded, her face flushed red as the headmaster chuckled.
"Yes. You two make quite the pair. I remember when you two were little-"
"Do you need Luke to return to the university for something?" Trying to change the subject, Rosa quickly interrupted. Aaron's eyes twinkled, but he let up.
"Actually, I have an assignment for you two." Rosa's face fell as he brought out two leather-bound notebooks. Both were closed with a delicate looking lock.
"Sir... you came all the way from the university... to give us homework?!" He laughed loudly.
"This assignment is special, my dear. I assure you. And I do believe you'll like it. If you'll listen?" Pressing her lips together, she nodded and accepted the book. The headmaster handed her the key as she ran her fingers over the lock. Written on the cover in script were the words 'The Way of the Heart'. Flipping through the pages, Rosa's puzzlement increased.
"They're... blank.." Aaron smiled and nodded.
"Quite right. I want you two to start journaling. Not for future history books or records, but for yourselves. And I want you to focus on your relationship. Your time together, your thoughts, and feelings. Everything you feel like you want to say, but for whatever reason cannot. With each other as well as others. Because these are personal, I feel they will be quite safe from prying eyes, but I requested the maker add locks just in case." Rosa looked down at the silver key in her hand. Engraved in its handle was a delicate rose. "You can do as you please with these pages. Draw, write, make bullet points. But fill it. And when they're completed, I want both of you to come visit me at the university. Okay?"
"For.. what purpose?" Rosa tilted her head to one side.
"Because both of you are young. And brilliant. I know the kingdom of Stellis will be in good hands with you two leading it. But even older people need time to themselves to sort things out. I hope these journals will be a chance for you to do so." Under the steady gaze of the headmaster, Rosa's face flushed red. "Well? Will you give it a shot, my dear?"
"Al- Alright..." The headmaster smiled.