ROSES HAVE THORNS

As the carriage began to slow down, nearing the gates of the Academy, Kurt looked out the tinted glass window.

"Just here is fine. I don’t particularly want to draw any more attention to myself than I already have."

Faye nodded understandingly. She reached forward and sharply knocked three times on the partition separating the cabin from the driver’s seat. Outside, the Vice Captain barked a brief order, and the carriage smoothly pulled to the side of the cobblestone road.

Right as Kurt was about to make his exit, Faye’s voice rang out.

"I sincerely hope you will agree to my request the next time we meet, Kurt. In return for your compliance, you may ask for absolutely anything within the crown’s power that will assist you in your search. And it goes without saying that if you are successful, your reward will be more than substantial."

"... How long are you planning on staying in Eldoria, your Highness?"

"I plan on staying for quite a bit," Faye replied with a calm smile.

"Alright. I’ll get back to you with an answer in about a week. But you know... you wouldn’t have to wait a week for my answer if you just gave me some sort of royal order to do so."

"Ahahaha! Oh no, no way. I would rather not force you into this. I value your... unique capabilities, and I would much rather remain in good standing with you. This is a private family matter, after all.

"Frankly, the mere fact that I am asking you, an outsider, for help is already tarnishing the competency of the Dorothy royal bloodline, who haven’t been able to locate this mastermind despite it already being eighteen long years...

"I expect to hear good news from you, Kurt Rossana."

’I’d rather you not expect anything at all, Princess.’

He casually nodded at the three Dorothy siblings. "Later then. And good luck to both of you in the upcoming gauntlet. I’ll be rooting for you."

Junior slammed his fist against his chest and looked at Kurt with starstruck eyes. "I won’t let you down, Master! Just watch me!"

Kiana cleared her throat, her cheeks still carrying a faint pink hue as she adjusted her posture with perfect elegance. "Thank you, Rossana. Your support is appreciated."

With that, Kurt popped the carriage door open and clicked it shut behind him. Within seconds, Vice-Captain Kenneth and his horsemen escorted the transport back into the flow of traffic, making its way toward the entrance of the academy.

As Kurt fell back into a steady stride along the bustling sidewalk, his mind began to process the weight of the information Faye had just dumped into his lap.

’A second mastermind, huh? Haaaa... Once this tournament has finally settled down, I need to find Emy and ask her if she knows anything about that night. Which she probably does.’

Something kept nagging at his chest as he continued up the road. It was the expressions he had caught on Junior and Kiana’s faces the moment Faye had recounted the horrific details of their mother’s murder.

’I really hope those two don’t sit in their rooms thinking it’s somehow their fault that their mother died. To be born on the exact same night of the attack... yeesh. At least nobody blames them from what I’ve seen.’

The thought of their circumstances triggered a memory in his mind that he’d been unknowingly putting in the backlog.

Tristan and Rupee.

Kurt’s pace slowed slightly as a wave of guilt washed over his own conscience.

’Damn it... I really need to stop stalling and just tell Rupee the truth about what happened to her family. The longer I hide it from her, the worse the burn is going to be when it finally comes to light.’

Shaking the heavy thoughts from his head, Kurt pushed his way through the gates of the Future Academy where hundreds of students, citizens, and tourists were lined up along the walkways, wildly cheering and waving flags as the royal carriages and noble transports arrived at the main plaza.

"Well, look who it is!"

"Hmm? Oh, hey!"

A genuine smile broke through his gloom as he spotted Sophie and Cindy standing near the edge of a stone fountain.

Sophie stepped forward and lightly slammed her open palm against his back with a hearty laugh.

Smack! Smack!

"There’s our favourite lover boy! The man of the hour!"

"G-Good afternoon, Sophie, Cindy, hahaha."

"Seriously, Kurt. Where on earth can a woman find a man like you? Swatting all the annoying flies buzzing around Diana, whooping that blasted Everett’s arrogant ass into the next calendar year, open challenging Reuben Valentine to a bloodbath and then he just walks away?! Ooh-wee!"

Suddenly, Sophie boldly grabbed Kurt’s arm and pulled it flush against her chest. She looked up at him with a wicked, teasing grin.

"Honestly, maybe I ought to just cut the line and take you all for myself. You don’t mind a beautiful, seasoned old gal like me, do you?"

"Ha. First of all, Sophie... there’s only enough space in this heart of mine for that one special person. Secondly... old gal? Please. You don’t look a single day over twenty-five."

"Hmmm~ Keep talking like that and I might actually have to steal you away from her."

"Eurgh! Sophie, stop it!" Cindy’s face turned bright red as she lunged forward and aggressively yanked her older friend off his arm.

She pushed Sophie away with an embarrassed huff, then bashfully looked up at Kurt while twirling a lock of her hair. "Um... ignore her, please. But... she’s right. You were really cool out there yesterday, Kurt."

"Appreciate it, Cindy,"

"By the way, you should have seen the look on her face when you and Diana started kissing–"

"Sophie! Shush!" Cindy screamed in terror, frantically leaping through the air to try and cover Sophie’s loudmouth with both hands, but was easily dodged.

After a moment of chaotic wrestling, Sophie finally calmed down. Her expression shifted into something remarkably soft and sincere as she looked toward Kurt.

"But in all seriousness, Kurt... really, thank you. Thank you for stepping up and helping Diana in a way that no other person ever could. She needed that more than you know."

"Yeah. I’m glad it all worked out in the end. Although, I really wanted to go to town on Reu–"

"AHOY THERE, LAD!"

The trio turned around, and Kurt’s face lit up as he recognised the rugged form of old man Willy. To his surprise, the old guardsman was dressed in his finest coastal coat.

"Old man Willy!"

The two men immediately dapped their hands together in an echoing clap, their grips firm. "You actually managed to get away from the harbor and make it to the capital?"

"Ay, lad! Wouldn’t miss this grand spectacle for all the gold in the sea!" Willy laughed.

He turned his head and offered a polite nod toward the two women. "Good afternoon to ye, lovely ladies."

Willy then reached behind his coat and gently nudged at a small figure who was desperately attempting to hide behind his legs. "Phoebe, lass! Stop yer hiding among the rigging and greet this here magnificent man properly!"

’This old man really loves to glaze me up... Pause!’

A shy little girl slowly peered out from behind Willy’s coat. She wore a pristine little dress, her hands nervously clutching the fabric of her skirt as her wide eyes looked up at Kurt.

"H-Hello..."

"Well, hey there, Phoebe." Kurt crouched down to her level and smiled. "Are you the granddaughter Willy mentioned?"

Phoebe looked confused as she tilted her head. "I... I don’t know. I have four other sisters at home."

’Wow.’

"Bahaha! Ay, that she is! This here is the specific granddaughter who happens to be an unhinged fangirl of Ms. Herst!"

"Oh, is that so? Are you here today to support Emy in the gauntlet match?"

Phoebe’s face instantly lit up with a bright smile, and she nodded her head vigorously. "Yes! She’s the strongest ever! The very Best!"

BZZZZZZ!

["Attention all spectators. The semi-final matches will formally commence in exactly one hour. Please begin making your way toward your designated seatings immediately."]

"Well, blimey! We best be grabbing our seats before the main tide rolls in and fills the galley! Phoebe, lass, follow your old granddad to the upper decks!"

"Okay!" The little girl offered Kurt a small wave. "Bye-bye, mister."

"Take care, kid. Enjoy the show," Kurt waved back as the two of them turned and quickly blended into the massive river of people flowing toward the coliseum.

Once Willy and his granddaughter were completely out of sight, Kurt’s warm expression turned deeply serious as he looked toward Sophie.

"Sophie. Before you head inside, I need to get some serious advice from you."

Catching the drastic shift in his tone, Sophie gestured a quick nod of her head at the younger girl standing beside her. "Cindy, honey... Go ahead. I’ll be right behind you."

"Oh. O-Okay. I’ll see you inside. Later, Kurt."

Once they were alone, Sophie folded her arms over her chest and bore her sharp eyes onto his. "Alright, Kurt. Out with it. What’s got you looking so glum?"

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