Chapter 26 - Sleeping King

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

 

As I said before, if you wish to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon to get early access to all the translated chapters.

  

I’ve finished setting up the Bella Novels Discord server! You can join us using this invite. There, you’ll be able to easily follow chapter updates for the novel(s) of your choice—along with access to many other features and community content.

I’m also introducing something new: the Chapter Boost System! This system lets you accelerate a novel’s releases by one, five, or even ten chapters.

Join the Discord to learn more about how it works and take part in this new feature!

 

If you’re able to provide me with the Raws of the Novels I need, you'll be the first person to receive my translation of them. You’ll also gain instant access to up to 30 advanced chapters for the novel of your choice, OR you can also request a SuperBoost for that novel.

For more details, you can check out the Raw Provider new page. 

 

Here you go, and I wish you a good read. 

Chapter 26

 

 

No. Stop. I'm overthinking again.

 

He hated his old self who had once been too naïve, but he also resented the part of himself now that trembled at every thought, clouded by fear.

 

Extending his body with care not to wake Aurelian, Fisé held his hand just above the sleeping young man's shoulder.

 

He didn't touch him. Instead, he allowed the gentle current of magic as the Rose King to flow outward from his palm.

 

He focused his senses even to the parts of Aurelian hidden beneath the coverlet, beginning to quietly erase any lingering signs of their night together.

 

A delicate shimmer bloomed from Fisé's hand—like golden dust suspended in rainbow light—dancing gently over Aurelian and casting a luminous glow upon someone already radiant.

 

Every trace of the night faded. The remnants that had clung to his clothes vanished; his long blond hair, once damp with sweat, dried into softness; even the soot that had marked his skin disappeared.

 

Fisé's power spilled beyond Aurelian himself, reaching into the surrounding bedding.

 

The sheets and blankets, which had been stained by both of them, were now restored, as clean and unblemished as if the night had never happened.

 

Though time itself could not be reversed, the effect was so complete that one might believe the clock had been turned back.

 

Aurelian murmured, "Mmm… so warm," in his sleep, as though soothed by the sudden comfort. With a blissful smile, he drifted deeper into slumber.

 

If only I could say, "It was just a dream," and pretend nothing ever happened… how easy that would be.

 

But Fisé, unable to settle his heart, left the room with a quiet sigh.

 

Beyond the door, the air was bitterly cold—like the walls of a prison—and he immediately longed to return to the bed behind him.

 

Descending the stairs, he paused at a window on the first floor and looked outside.

 

It had snowed sometime near dawn, it seemed.

 

In this region, days without snowfall were rare, so the clear weather during their escape had been a stroke of luck.

 

As the faint morning light filtered in, Fisé walked the dim room, searching for Aurelian's cloak.

 

He remembered the hem had been splashed with muddy water last night, and had hoped to cleanse it now.

 

But no matter where he looked, he couldn't find it.

 

Puzzled, he tilted his head slightly.

 

That's strange. I don't remember seeing it in the upstairs room… and with that heavy fur lining, it should be bulky enough to stand out anywhere.

 

Then, sensing a presence—large, alive—Fisé suddenly recalled what he had forgotten.

 

There was a massive black steed in the stable outside.

 

And with that memory came understanding: Aurelian must have gone to check on the horse before coming upstairs last night.

 

It wasn't like the solid, fortified stables of Twydal Castle—this one was simple, and poorly insulated. Aurelian must have worried that his second beloved steed might not withstand the cold.

 

Fisé was certain: he must have laid his royal mantle—the emblem of his noble lineage—across the horse to keep it warm.

 

That was the kind of person Aurelian was. Fisé knew this well. He was the kind of man whose kindness went unnoticed until moments like these shone a light on it, making Fisé feel all the more ashamed for having forgotten the horse entirely during their shared night.

 

It looks like the snow fell heavily last night. I hope the stable held strong. Not that there's much I can do… but I want to at least stroke him. Even that bit of friction might bring him some warmth.

 

Fisé wasn't sure whether the impulse came from concern for the horse—or from the aching loneliness that craved Aurelian's warmth. Either way, he turned toward the entrance.

 

Despite being called a palace, the retreat was small—no larger than a typical noble's manor. The path to the entry hall was short, and the lock on the door was easy to disengage.

 

Of the two doors, he gently opened just one.

 

In that instant, a rush of chill air swept in.

 

But it was not an ordinary cold—it was so fragrant, so sweet, that even Fisé was taken aback.

 

It carried the delicate perfume of fresh roses, mingled with a sweetness like honeyed fruit. The scent rolled in endlessly, bright and heady.

 

If one had to give it color, it would be that of a flushed cheek; if it had a sound, it would be like hundreds of golden bells ringing at once—the rapturous sound of love itself.

 

"—What… is this…"

 

The forest surrounding the villa was white.

 

Fisé had been convinced the snow had fallen while they slept—but what he saw stunned him speechless.

 

Covering the earth—save for the pond—were not snowdrifts, but cascades of pure white roses.

 

The ground that should have been buried in snow, the trunks that should have remained a deep brown, even the boughs that had held snow just hours ago—now all lay beneath layers of emerald vines and pristine blooms.

 

So dense were the blossoms that the greenery barely showed through.

 

No human gardener, no matter how skilled, could coax so many roses to bloom at once. There was no space left untouched—great white roses spread like a jubilant chorus, announcing their joy to the world.

 

I love you. I cherish you.

 

Their silent cry rose and spilled over, echoing the heart of the Rose King—crying out so loudly in Fisé's stead it was almost unbearable.

 

"Ah…"

 

Overwhelmed by the abundance of roses born of his own emotions, Fisé drifted toward the edge of the small pond.

 

Where he sat, the ground yielded softly beneath him, like a bed woven of thornless roses.

 

No, not like a carpet—but something even gentler. A bed of petals.

 

Flowers larger than a grown man's hand overlapped in layers, welcoming him like fresh-fallen snow.

 

Surrounded by them, the fragrance only deepened. New buds emerged in waves.

 

Even the water's edge was overtaken—blooms unfolding with no place to go, petals dipping into the pond.

 

Neither last night nor this morning had seen snow. There never was any.

 

This uncontainable surge of feeling—this blooming—left him frightened, as though he were simply reliving what had happened seventeen years ago.

 

He was so afraid, he prayed: Please… no more blossoms. Please, no more. And yet, he could not stop it. Buds now began to fall into the cold pond, and the blooming only grew more unruly.

 

Feelings I can't control… they frighten me. If I'm betrayed again… what then?

 

After covering all of Twydal in those white roses, the memory of what he'd done afterward had left him unable to stand.

 

He hadn't forgotten about those black roses, as dark as mourning cloaks, that tormented the people.

 

Countless homes had been destroyed. Many people were injured by their vicious thorns.

 

If it were to happen again, there might not just be wounded—there might be deaths.

 

Back then, he had been newly born to the world, ignorant, and deceived by those who knew better. But this time, he had no such excuse.

If something were to crack in his relationship with Aurelian, the despair would run far deeper.

 

He could already see it—the black roses slipping from his grasp, spreading across the kingdom in a frenzy, leaving devastation in their wake.

 

So long as they stay white, it's still safe. But if they darken… if they fall and sink into blood…

 

The white roses, once indistinguishable from snow, now seemed black to Fisé's eyes.

 

The water of the pond shimmered red, as though the entire beautiful world were being soaked in blood.

 

His soul cried out—this love was dangerous.

 

He should go on living gently, as he always had—allowing only enough roses to bloom to gather a modest amount of rose oil. Nothing more.

He could live quietly with Launis, perhaps take in a lovely cat or two, read books, and continue translating for the nameless fae who needed him.

 

That would be wise. He didn't need to think hard to know it was the right path.

 

Calm down first. Breathe deeply… The roses before me are still white. Their fragrance is sweet, their bloom exquisite, and the oil they yield is of the finest quality.

 

Fisé gently plucked one large rose and breathed in its scent.

 

He hadn't yet reached a conclusion—but for now, he sought to calm his heart.

 

The petal he brought to his lips was unmistakably white, soft as velvet to the touch.

 

The stem in his hand was a youthful green, with barely any visible thorns. Though the stem itself was sturdy—hard to believe it had formed overnight—the thorns were small and soft. With a gentle stroke from above, they wouldn't harm anyone. Their shape and texture were the most modest he'd ever known.

 

It's all right. The world is still white. A beautiful, fragrant vision stretches out before me. For now, there's no danger. Nothing has happened. These are the white roses a Rose King is meant to bloom. Fragrant, unthreatening, and beloved by all. There's no need to despair.

 

Repeating those thoughts to himself, Fisé slowly restored his perception of the world.

 

And with a long breath, he let the scent of rose upon rose fill his lungs.

 

"Fisé… good morning."

 

 

Last Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter
⥼ Bonus Discord Chapter ⤴

 

❧ Join Bella Novels' Newsletter by clicking here ↫ and
receive an email for each New Update -͙✧˖*°࿐