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anomaly-beans · 2 years ago

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The fic rewrite is finally done!

Here we have a major part of Merry’s backstory, influencing many parts of their current character.

For those unaware, Merry is the first character I played in Fallen London, so if you don’t know much of the game you might see a couple of words from it out of context.

Content warnings for: Canon-typical swearing (“canon” because it’s Merry and they swear a lot. The fic is pretty tame though, all things considered), blood, stabbing, manipulation, threatened death, almost death, drugging, someone shot with a pistol

The Color Red

A floral scent hung in the air. Roses and chocolate. Freshly roasted coffee beans and still-warm baked goods. Smells that told of a certain event coming around.

The Feast of the Exceptional Rose.

Honestly, Merry had been confused by the event the first time it rolled around after their arrival in the fallen city. Who was to blame them? Nearly everything in the city had been strange to them at first, coming from a background in a small rural farmland area, growing up amongst a strict Catholic family. Some of the new things excited them though. How freeing the city was to a person from their background. There was so much to do and see. People rarely blinked an eye or made a fuss when they shied away from gendered titles and nervously laughed upon people calling them “sir” or “mister.” While there certainly still were things that were frankly frowned upon and the worry of scandal, it also seemed much more free for them to explore romantically.

Which they surely did.

Their first few months in the city had been taken up by them just trying to get comfortable. Figure some things out that they hadn’t had the luxury to think about on the surface. Sure, they had experimented with different pronouns and clothing when they were a teen, and then up until the death of their brother, but it had felt dangerous when they did this on the surface. Now… they felt free. They explored around, experimented with how they thought of themself, how they wanted to present themself. Eventually settling on wearing more “masculine” clothes as they felt more comfortable in them (plus the added bonus of them being easier to move around in them on more… dangerous and fast-paced occasions) and kept their hair at a manageably longer length than they had as a kid, down to their chin and easy to tie up if they needed it out of their face.

Once they felt more comfortable with themself they began to socialize more. Attending many events and making allies with different factions and groups of society. They found themself favoring the bohemians at first, mostly hanging with the artistic folks and people who would throw parties.

In fact, they had just recently gone to one of said parties. It was actually the reason why they were out at the moment, holding a letter in their hand and wandering the streets of Veilgarden, glancing up at street signs and building numbers to try to place a location written in the letter.

To explain what the letter was, who it was from, and why they were searching for a certain address, first we must go back to what had happened at the party. Or, really, it was more of a masquerade ball.

Merry had been excited by the event, going out and spending as much as they could afford at the moment to get an outfit planned for the event. A custom masquerade mask and a cloak made of fine sheep wool that they had stolen from their home before running away to come to London. The whole outfit was themed around sheep, as their family had owned a herd of sheep that they cared for and Merry had grown quite fond of the animals.

Their main goal upon getting there was to find a person to dance with and, hopefully, get in a relationship with.

They had a bit of experience in dating and courting others. Merry had actually been in quite a few relationships before this event happened. The only problem was that they had, well… all ended up on a sour note or with a simple breakup. Plus a few instances of one night stands. Really the only one they could think of that hadn’t ended up that bad had been their relationship with their now best friend, Norah. She ended the relationship in the gentlest way she could, breaking it to Merry that she didn’t think of them in a romantic way but that she still enjoyed spending time with them and cared about them. The two had settled on being friends.

Most of the beginning of the masquerade, which took place at the beginning of the Feast of the Exceptional Rose, had been spent chatting with others, drinking champagne and wine, and watching the couples dancing together. Merry recognized a few even with the masks on, but found it more fun to watch the strangers. There was something about the mystery of who each person behind their mask was. Why did they choose the mask that they wore? Who could they be?

On their 7th glass they were shocked out of their fascination with the dancers by a sudden polite tap on the shoulder. They couldn’t help but jump and nearly spill the rest of their red wine on the table.

“Oh my. I did not mean to scare you,” a light chuckle came from the one who had startled them, who Merry turned to face, “I was simply getting to know some of the people here and thought it best to greet the people who were not dancing at the moment.”

Merry had to look up to meet the eyes of the tall gentleman speaking to them. His eyes creased into a smile under the similarly grinning face of the wolf mask he wore upon his face. His mask and the rest of the clothes he wore were a deep crimson red with black accents. Very neat and quite expensive looking. The fellow must have been more upper class.

“Ah, well,” Merry started, going a bit red themself under the mask in embarrassment at their startle, “It is quite alright. Not a drop was spilled.” They smiled.

“Good, good. We wouldn’t want to stain this floor red, I’m sure.” The wolf chuckled. He reached out a gloved hand to greet Merry properly,

“The name is Charlie.”

“Merry. Pleasure to meet you, Charlie.” Merry shook his hand, or more like he shook theirs, taking their hand rather firmly and giving them a rough shake.

The man cocked his head, his eyes creasing again with what could be assumed was slight amusement.

“As in Mary had a little lamb?” he chuckled, gesturing to their mask.

Their cheeks went red again at the connection, nearly spluttering as they explained the difference.

“No, no. As in “make merry” or someone who is merry.” They couldn’t help but laugh along.

“Ah! I see. Still, it is an excellent name.”

Merry hummed, taking a sip of their wine.

“So, Merry, I’d love to speak with you. Get to know you? Maybe even, if I’m a lucky guy, ask you if you would like a dance?” They could tell he was grinning even if the mask covered his whole face, grinning itself.

“Maybe. Don’t push your luck just yet,” They chuckled themself, leaning on the table casually to look at him, “but yes, let’s talk.

~~~~~

The night had ended with that dance the charming wolf had asked about. Merry had gone home with their heart fluttering, not even from the amount of drinks they had that night. The man was quite the charmer. Witty, flirtatious, confident. He had taken the lead on their dance together, which Merry had been perfectly fine with as they didn’t have much experience dancing. And, as some tradition at dances during the Feast, the two had removed each other’s masks at midnight, finally getting to see the face of the one that they had danced with.

And now here they were, a couple days later, wandering the Veilgarden streets to find the address that Charlie had sent them. An official date (at least they hoped so). Judging based on the number of the address, it wasn’t in any of the fully residential districts, so it was either a flat or a small business. They were in the right part of Veilgarden at least, judging from how close the building numbers were to the one written in a deep crimson on the sheet of paper they held.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee, baked goods and tea hit their nose as they rounded a corner. There, in front of them, was the address they needed. A small but extravagant cafe with an intricate wrought iron fence forming a small outdoor seating area covered by a wooden roof. The whole outdoor area, from the roof and the fence was covered in tangled vines and draping moss, plus the decorative mushroom bundles and hell roses that decorated the place for the season.

The place looked a bit expensive for their tastes (their current job as a journalist didn’t pay very well), but they had some money saved away for special meetups and such.

There weren’t many there in the courtyard at that moment so it was easy to walk in and look around for the one they were meeting. Plus, yet again the man was wearing a bit of red in the form of a top hat, so Merry’s eyes landed on his table immediately. They grinned and adjusted their tie, hoping they looked decent and wouldn’t stand out too much from the others here, what with their suit being bought second hand. Charlie had his back turned to the entrance so Merry gave him a soft greeting as they got near the table so they wouldn’t startle him.

Their stomach felt full of moths when he gave them a warm smile as they sat down.

“Ah, Merry. It is good to see you. You look quite handsome, if I should say so. It is nice to see you when you aren’t in the costume you had been wearing during the masquerade.”

Luckily the waiter saved them from having to come up with a response while they felt quite flustered from being called handsome. They took a quick glance at the menu, deciding on getting a plate of scones as well as their normal dark cherry coffee they liked to get when it was an option at any cafe. They weren’t going to lie, their sweet tooth could be quite a headache when it came to not spending too much money. Charlie seemed to nod in approval at their decision.

So they assumed the date was going well so far, and that maybe they had some similarities.

~~~~~

It was closer to the end of the month now, the season nearing a close. Overall it had been an exciting season for Merry. The several dates they had gone on with Charlie seemed promising. It filled them with hope that maybe finally they’d have a steady, committed relationship. Not to mention he had sent them many letters since then, and fresh packages of perfect roses.

The hour was late when they were walking again on the Veilgarden streets. This time not on a date, but wanting to head to the Singing Mandrake for a late night drink. The day had gone swimmingly well, having finished several articles they had been writing and with the success of downing a spider colony at the docks. Their body was admittedly a bit tired after that long struggle with the little monsters, so a nice drink sounded like it would do them some good.

They were nearing the place, on an empty portion of the street with no late night walkers or loiterers about, when they noticed a flash of red out of the corner of their eye. Quickly they stopped, preparing for a scrap, not knowing what the color they saw was. They turned just in time to see red coattails flutter past a corner into a dark alleyway on the other side of the street. Coattails that they recognized.

Charlie! They hadn’t seen him or heard from him in a couple of days. Maybe if they hurried they could catch him. They could have a drink at the bar together!

Even with the time they had spent living in London (what was it? 3 years now? Time was hard to keep track of) the streets of the fallen city were hard to navigate. The back alleys, even worse. The layout of the city made no sense, like a twisting labyrinth that made the head spin trying to navigate and make sense of it all. They found themself nearly stumbling many times as they were running in a darker part of the city, not lit up by lamps but only by the faint glow of false stars on the ceiling of the cavernous neath. If the darkness and the labyrinthine layout of the alleys wasn't enough, Merry found that the deeper in they went a sharp almost floral smell began to tingle at their nostrils, getting stronger with each corner they turned.

Their head felt like it was swimming. Was it the twisting maze they found themself running through? Christ, that smell burned their nostrils. Their legs ached from the running and how tired they had already been after the fight with the spider council earlier. Shit… Where had Charlie gone to? How long had they been running?

Merry just had to stop. Their legs were burning and they felt dizzy with how confused their head was with the directions. The smell by that point had started to smell more rotten, but still somehow floral.

Merry leaned against a wall, wheezing for breath and rubbing at their eyes. At this point they were thinking they’d completely lost Charlie. There was no way they’d find him now. Not with all these twists and turns in every direction. Their eyes rolled upwards to stare at the cavern ceiling as they caught their breath. Goddamn! What was that smell?!

It was as they took a deep breath to try to pinpoint the smell that they found themself doubling over in a sneezing and coughing fit. The rotten floral scent burned their nostrils and lungs. At some point they found cold hard stone under their hands as they were now on the ground on their hands and knees, wheezing for breath through the sudden fit that had overtaken them.

It was then that they felt a sudden sharp shove to their back, nearly knocking the breath out of them, and making their weakened knees give out on them and sending them to the ground on their stomach. Even through the coughing and sneezing, their head swimming, their mind went frantic as they realized that they were just hit. Merry tried to turn over to be in a better position to fight and get a look at their attacker, but a sharp heeled boot pressed down at their shoulders keeping them on the ground.

“Ah, Merry. What a pleasure to run into you here-” an all too familiar voice chuckled.

“Ch- Charlie??” Merry managed to wheeze out, trying to turn their head to look up and push off the boot from their shoulder.

The heel ground down into their shoulder blade in response and they let out a hiss in pain.

“What- what the fuck are you doing?!” Merry snapped at him through clenched teeth.

“Oh, Merry… I am simply just doing my job-”

“Let me guess, you’re a fucking killer for hire?”

“Oh heavens no! There won’t be any killing here unless you force my hand,” He chuckled darkly,

“Now let’s stay quiet so the constables won’t catch me, hmm?”

They felt a tug at the collar of their shirt, forcing their head upwards and making the front of their shirt and tie dig into their throat. The sudden constriction startled them to the point that they could barely fight against it. Their back was slammed into a nearby brick wall and the grip on their collar was shifted to hold the front of their shirt to keep their head in place. Now they were face to face with him, pinned against the wall by the taller man. They felt his other hand go to their left hand and tug down their sleeve, exposing the skin of their wrist.

Merry gasped in pain as they felt something sharp, metallic and cold scrape against their hand.

“Mhm, should be sharpened enough,” he lifted the sharp implement in front of Merry’s face. Already the weapon had fresh blood at the tip,

“Now let’s get this over with. It’ll only hurt for a second. The faster I get this done with, the faster you can run away. I’m sure you want to do that, no?”

Merry’s eyes had trouble focusing, their vision swimming. Charlie chuckled at seeing them blink and try to focus their eyes on the weapon.

“Having trouble with your vision there? Feeling a bit weak?”

He pulled something red from his lapel and put it near Merry’s face. Which only served to make their vision blur more and their nose sting from the strong floral scent from earlier.

“Drugged roses. Ingenious idea created by yours truly. I find it helps to keep my clients from fighting back too much.”

Tears stinging at their eyes only served to further blur their vision, but still they blinked them away and forced their eyes to focus on the metal object stained with their blood.

Was that?-

A spirifer’s fork?

The realization dawned on them. What he was here for.

To steal their soul.

Before he could press the twin tines into the flesh of their wrist they lashed out and delivered a knee straight against his ribs. He stumbled back from them, his hand going to grab at where they had kicked, hissing in pain and fury.

“You! You prat! You could have just made this easy! Come here!” he snarled, dashing forward to grab Merry again.

Their mind was running a little slow from the drugged effect of the rose, but they managed to roll away from the part of the wall they had been at, dodging out of the way. They stumbled with the quick movement with their head still spinning though, falling backwards onto their rear. Within just the few seconds after their impact with the ground, Charlie leaped forward and pushed them fully to the ground. His growl was almost animalistic, reminding Merry of the grinning wolf mask he had worn when they first met.

Was it just mere coincidence or some cruel twist of fate that he had been a wolf and they, a sheep that night?

The world span and they had no room to process how it had happened as they now found themself on their stomach on the ground, the spirifer now pinning them down with his full weight and not just a single boot. Their vision flashed as something sharp slashed into their hip through their coat, definitely too sharp to be the spirifer’s fork from earlier. Either a dagger or a knife. They shrieked in pain as it slashed them again. A hand went to cover their mouth but they quickly latched onto it, biting his hand hard. Charlie screamed in pain in turn before stabbing them with the fork in the space where their shoulder and the side of their neck met.

Merry feared for their life and soul at that point, their vision flashing again as they felt blood dripping from multiple wounds and the fork stabbing into their skin.

Things would have been very different for them if, at that moment, a shot hadn’t rang out through the air and they hadn’t felt Charlie fall limp on them right afterwards, blood from a gunshot wound staining their back. Their breaths came out raggy and heavy as they laid there with the weight on their back. Their eyes rolled up lazily to watch as a woman came running up to their side, holding a still-smoking pistol.

“Are you alright, citizen?” She asked frantically, sounding out of breath herself.

Merry grunted in response, laying their head down on the pavement tiredly.

They felt the lady push the collapsed spirifer off their back and then help them to their feet, steadying them on her shoulder.

“Th- thanks-” Merry managed to breathe out.

“No worries. I’ll get you patched up once I get you back to the wagon.”

“Wh- who are you?”

“Name’s Shauna,” she spoke as she helped them steady themself before they walked back to the wagon she had come in, “I’m a shepard.”

“That’s.. That’s the group that takes down spirifers, correct?”

“Mhm. And that one was one of the ones I’ve been trying to track down for months. You should be the last one he ever uses to get souls.”

Merry glanced back over their shoulder at the crumpled body on the ground, now staining the stones red. Their eyes landed on the rose that had been on his lapel, now fallen to the ground and stained with blood the same color as it. They felt sick to their stomach at the thought that he had been sending them roses before this. They turned away as Shauna started to help them walk to the wagon.

“God… I hate roses…”

~~END~~

#content warnings listed in post #sorry if the format is weird. I wrote it formatted differently so it was weird getting it onto tumblr #my writing #beans rambles about ocs #fallen london oc

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russicnroses · 7 months ago

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RUSSIAN ROSE | VOLUME ONE | PART 5

CHAPTER THREE: The Target, The Duke

PAGES: 120 - 142

TRANSLATION TOOL: Chatgpt

CONTENT / WARNINGS: long post, blood, death mention.

In the carriage heading to her destination, Saya repeatedly adjusted her posture. Today was the day of the party at the residence of Duke Felix, held at the Moika Palace overlooking the Moika Canal.

Unlike the champagne parties, this was a formal ball, so Saya was dressed more extravagantly than usual. Five others, including Maxim, were also invited. Only Rodion, who disliked confined spaces, wore a dissatisfied expression. The rest, accustomed to such events, were dressed in formal attire and headed there in a separate carriage.

Tonight, Saya wore a white satin dress. The waist was tightly cinched, with a low-cut neckline, and the skirt's hem, adorned with ample draping, was trimmed with white fur. The skirt was further decorated with embroidered roses in white silk thread, and overlaid with organza fabric adorned with rubies. The gloves, reaching up to her upper arms, were also made of organza, with a row of embroidered roses along the sides, visible to the onlooker. The fabric overlaying the skirt was designed to attach to her fingers with fine gold chains, allowing it to flutter gracefully during the dance.

Around her neck, she wore a necklace with a chain made of small diamonds linked together. This was something Kirill had prepared. Despite having barely exchanged words before, it seemed he cared enough to do this for her. However, after giving Saya a cursory glance, he couldn't help but mutter,

"Pitiful."

Suppressing a feeling of bitterness, Saya stole a glance at Haji sitting across from her. The invitation was also extended to him. The rumor of the beautiful cellist, now the talk among women, had evidently reached Felix's ears.

It was said that Felix, following in the footsteps of his father, Count Yusupov, was quite the aesthete and always strived to devise interesting ideas. Tonight’s ball was also supposedly doubling as a celebration for his friend, Grand Duke Dmitry, who had just returned from his mission on the battlefield. To break down barriers, the event was a masquerade ball with a relaxed dress code.

In a black tie tuxedo with a Chesterfield coat over it, Haji looked much more composed and fitting than Saya. Noticing Saya’s gaze, Haji spoke:

"Is something the matter?"

Even after Saya's return that day, Haji treated her as he always did. Feeling the need to respond in kind, Saya had not mentioned that day's events since.

"Well, I'm just a bit restless today." Saya admitted.

Understanding her sentiment from that alone, Haji continued.

"Since it’s the Grand Duke, he likely has connections with the police and various other authorities. It would be good if we could get some valuable information."

"Right." Saya nodded solemnly.

In the end, there had been no news since the day they encountered that chiropteran in the alley. Maxim had prioritized recovering Saya and Haji, silencing the coachman with a hefty tip and transporting them to the mansion. He then went to the scene with other members to retrieve the body of the person attacked by the chiropteran. However, the body had completely disappeared.

Had the chiropteran returned to take it away? Were they even capable of such actions?

Alternatively, had it been discovered by a local resident and subsequently concealed for some reason? As of now, none of these possibilities, or any other, could be confirmed.

Clenching her gloved hands tightly, Saya thought, "This is all my fault."

(Damn it, If only I hadn't failed, the body wouldn't have disappeared, and it might have provided some clues. I need more information quickly. I need to move on to the next step.)

"......Saya."

Haji, looking concerned, gave her a gentle smile. "You don't need to be so tense. It's just a party today, after all. At least on the surface."

"Yes... You're right. And Tanya went through so much trouble to prepare this dress for me. Though, it's a bit overwhelming."

Saya tried to cheer herself up with light banter, but Haji, as usual, responded sincerely. "You look very good in it today, too."

"Haji..."

"Yes?"

"......It's nothing."

(I think I kind of understand why Haji is so popular now.) Saya, feeling a bit embarrassed by her warm cheeks, turned her gaze to the window. The carriage was just passing the square in front of the train station. On the tracks, a locomotive was standing still with only three passenger cars attached. The unusual configuration and the heavy security around it caught Saya's attention.

"What is that, Haji?"

Haji glanced out the window briefly and immediately understood what had caught Saya's interest. "It's a special train. Someone of high status must be traveling."

"Hmm... I wonder who it is..."

As they murmured, the train emitted a large amount of smoke and steam and disappeared into the dark Russian night.

The Moika Palace, as its name suggests, is built facing the Moika Canal that flows through Admiralteysky. Among the other buildings along the canal, its yellow and white facade was particularly eye-catching. Upon arrival, the well-informed servants ensured that Saya and her group did not encounter other guests and received their masks smoothly.

When they opened the grand doors to the hall, they were greeted by the sight of a dance already in progress to the strains of a polonaise. The hall was filled with dancing couples, who changed partners after each round. Both men and women held each other's hands as if they were performing a ballet. When they parted from their previous partner and took up with a new one, the women, dressed in their splendid costumes, curtsied in a courtly manner, while the men bowed deeply in response.

The colorful hems of the dresses swirled to the music, creating a rustling sound.

In the countryside, candles are still used, but in the mansions of nobles and public offices, electricity has been installed. The lights, amplified by crystal and amber chandeliers, made the room appear even brighter thanks to the white and gold walls and floors.

The music was woven flawlessly by an orchestra of strikingly handsome musicians, their performance impeccable. Even in the garden extending outside the balcony, electric lights were lavishly installed, reflecting off the snow-covered trees and making the area as bright as day.

Just as the dance ended, the guests—especially the ladies—noticed their presence and all turned to look at them at once. The sound of rustling clothes was so loud that it almost drowned out the orchestra.

(Amazing.) Saya felt uneasy under the piercing gazes, but the others seemed completely unfazed. According to them, the thrill of a masquerade ball lay in "knowing who someone is but pretending not to," and respecting the host Felix's intention of a relaxed dress code, they all wore white ceremonial uniforms with red sashes from the military academy.

The gazes through the masks and the whispered voices, barely suppressed in excitement, were all directed at them.

"See you later," Maxime said, patting Saya on the shoulder as he headed towards the back of the hall. The other members followed suit.

With some ulterior motives in mind, they dispersed one after another. Especially Valery, who hastily left, making Saya wonder, "What's wrong?" as she looked up at Haji. Uncharacteristically, Haji also averted his gaze.

Just as she was about to inquire, a young man in a tailcoat approached her. In the hall, a quadrille had begun.

The quadrille is a dance where several people form a square, exchanging places and partners, and even when it eventually turns into a chaotic mix, that's part of the fun, making it even more lively.

"---Welcome."

"Oh, yes. Prince Felix..."

With her memories hazy and a mask on, Saya couldn't recognize him at first. Finally, she realized who he was and hurriedly responded, only for Felix to place his index finger on her plump lips.

"It's a masquerade ball, so please leave your name, status, and titles outside the door," he said, lightly touching her lips. "Besides, the man behind you is giving me a frightening look."

The one who appeared to rebuke him, likely Dimitri, wore a black military formal dress adorned with gold braid decorations on the front and epaulets, with the Order of St. George hanging on his chest.

"First of all, isn't today supposed to be a celebration of my safe return?"

Felix made a disgruntled expression when interrupted, a look Saya could tell was feigned. He was probably enjoying the interaction.

"Don't be so crass. Leave your name and titles outside. Besides, you should enjoy yourself without relying on others."

Dimitri, used to such situations, shrugged his shoulders. Saya felt that even though he sounded exasperated, his expression behind the mask was likely kind.

Then, a mischievous smile suddenly appeared on his lips, and he knelt down.

"Well then, you, a nameless flower, would you dance with a nameless me?"

Felix shouted, "That's cheating!"

"Should I honor the host? Didn't you say to leave titles outside?"

Felix, caught by his own words, was at a loss. Saya, caught between the two, was bewildered.

Felix, frustrated at being bested by Dimitri, turned his anger towards Haji.

"Look, he's glaring at you too. Why don't you say something?"

Dimitri seemed particularly upset at being outdone—perhaps because he and Felix were as close as brothers, and such moments made it hard for them to back down. Saya, listening to their exaggerated words with a wry smile, noticed a figure approaching. She almost called out his name but stopped herself, recognizing his smile even through the mask.

"Surrounding the flower and making her uncomfortable is quite tactless," Dimitri said.

"Tactlessness seems mutual here. Look, the abandoned flower is glaring at us. No matter how infatuated you are with her," Felix responded.

The quadrille had ended on the dance floor, and everyone was now looking for partners for the next waltz. Despite it being a masquerade ball, it seemed women couldn't invite men, so many resentful glances were directed at Saya, making her feel awkward.

Finally, Haji, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, "You said to leave titles and names outside, didn't you?"

In the next moment, he took Saya's hand.

"Haji?" Saya blinked, surprised.

"Let's dance, Saya." He replied.

Without waiting for a reply, Haji pulled Saya to the center of the floor.

“H-Haji? Are you angry about something?”

Even though they were trying to act normal, it was true that the awkwardness from that day hadn’t completely disappeared. Saya was confused by Haji's unusual behavior.

“I’m not angry.”

“Yes, you are!”

Saya shouted as he pulled her along, and Haji suddenly stopped. She thought she would crash into him, but he gently caught her in his arms.

The gentleness was just like Haji's usual self.

Haji sighed, still averting his eyes from Saya, and pressed his forehead with his hand.

“...I’m sorry. If I’m angry, it’s at myself... please don’t look at me too much.”

“I'm wearing a mask, so you can’t see me, right?”

As Haji was at a loss for words, the music started.

“It’s starting... what should we do?”

Saya muttered without thinking, and Haji placed his hand on his chest and bowed deeply.

Just moments ago, they had been at odds, yet his demeanor was annoyingly calm and gentle.

(How unfair...)

Saya thought as she also bowed and took Haji's offered hand. He placed his other hand on Saya’s slender waist. Luckily, both of them were skilled enough to naturally follow the music. Haji, in particular, was surprisingly unflustered in such situations, despite always quietly standing behind Saya.

We have to dance— Saya thought as she noticed the movement around her.

(We’re turning left!)

Haji took the lead.

Typically, waltzing to the left is more difficult. Most balls have dancers turn right, but debutantes are required to be able to dance turning left as well, so it is occasionally included as a novelty. Anyone who had made a proper debut in society was expected to be able to dance this way.

Saya knew this in theory. But her upbringing, despite appearing perfectly normal, had kept her far from high society.

She felt the blood drain from her face. It seemed like everyone in the hall was watching them. The marble floor suddenly felt cold and uninviting.

(What should I do—I’ll embarrass everyone...)

Just then, she felt a strong squeeze on her hand.

Even through her gloves, the warmth of Haji’s hand brought Saya back to her senses.

“Don’t lower your head, Saya. It’ll be alright.”

Haji spoke calmly, as if nothing had happened, and gracefully adjusted his grip on her hand.

“If you don’t panic, you can keep up.”

He said, and as he let himself move to the music, he began to step smoothly. It all happened in a moment. The onlookers probably didn’t notice Saya’s initial distress.

As they began to dance, following Haji's lead, they naturally blended in with their surroundings.

The hem of Saya’s white dress and the layered organza roses floated gently with their movements. The ruby embroidery on her dress sparkled occasionally, leaving a beautiful trail.

“...Haji, you’re good at dancing.”

Saya said this, still puzzled by Haji’s earlier demeanor. Haji responded without looking at her, keeping his head up as they danced. It was reassuring at this moment.

“I was drilled in the basics as a child. So, I manage.”

“I see...”

Haji was a Romani who wandered, making a living through singing and dancing.

(If he hadn’t met me, he would still be free somewhere.)

Again, she found herself thinking about something she couldn’t change.

Sensing Saya's unease, Haji spoke gently.

"Tonight, titles and statuses are left outside the door."

His voice was as kind as ever, the same Haji she knew. Saya looked up, puzzled by his words, but Haji continued without meeting her gaze.

"Here, it's just you and me, Saya."

("Just Haji and... me")

Saya murmured to herself, recalling a sunny day filled with light. Back then, all she could offer was her cello playing. Although it was frustrating when Haji surpassed her skills, it also meant he had accepted what she offered, and in retrospect, even that was precious.

It was a quiet, fulfilling moment.

"......Yeah."

Some places, eternally beautiful, can never be returned to.

Saya knew she had things she needed to do. She couldn't forgive herself yet, but she softly closed her eyes.

("Just for now, just for this song")

After that, Saya danced one song each with Felix and Dimitri. Maxim was now surrounded by ladies and was nowhere to be seen.

Felix, returning to Saya after greeting people around the room, grabbed a champagne glass from a passing waiter and downed it in one go. He said with genuine enjoyment,

"A lively distraction is necessary on winter nights."

Saya smiled. Considering why she was in Russia, she couldn't fully indulge in enjoyment, but she couldn't resent Felix's cheerful demeanor. Dimitri remarked,

"You seem to have fun regardless of winter or summer. After all, you're still a cadet and haven't been deployed."

"True, but I do constantly worry about our nation's future, and I have my share of worries," Felix replied, signaling for another glass of champagne and quickly finishing it. He returned the glass without looking at the waiter, meeting the reproachful gazes of his friends.

"I didn't even get to relax at the summer palace this year because of certain incidents," he said, his tone shifting from light-hearted to serious.

Dimitri furrowed his brows, scolding Felix. Saya seized the moment to ask,

"What incidents?"

More sensible than Felix, Dimitri responded apologetically,

"This isn't something to discuss on such a delightful night, and it wouldn't be good if it got out."

Being told this only increased Saya's curiosity.

"You mentioned titles are left outside," she said with a smile.

Felix and Dimitri exchanged looks and shrugged. Dimitri chuckled, and Felix resigned himself.

"You've got us. But it's really not a pleasant story."

Felix offered a bench by the wall. Following the custom since Empress Catherine's time, benches and card tables with lit candelabras were placed around the hall. Sitting down, Saya found the bench more comfortable than expected. Haji stood a short distance away by the wall.

"Since summer, there have been several cases of bodies found under mysterious circumstances," Felix began.

Felix glanced at Saya while mentioning the bodies, oblivious to the real reason behind her slight reaction. He continued, seemingly satisfied

"It's something that happened in the suburbs, and it hasn't been made public due to social concerns. The cause is still unknown."

Felix, like many nobles, owned multiple estates in and around Petrograd. They would change residences according to the season and necessity. Felix mentioned that although he liked Moika Palace for its convenience, it wasn't the most lavish of his properties.

Being a lover of rumors, Felix spoke openly once he started. "The bodies all had wounds and bite marks, as if they were attacked by a beast. If it were just that, it wouldn't be so surprising."

"Felix," Dmitri interjected, tapping the card table with his gloved hand. However, Felix, caught up in his story, ignored Dmitri's disapproving look and continued in a lowered voice.

"All the bodies were drained of blood, leaving them white."

Saya felt her blood pulse loudly in her veins, and she could sense Hagi's tension beside her.

Felix seemed to think Saya's pale face was a sign of his storytelling prowess. Encouraged, he continued.

"With the prolonged battles at the front and such incidents happening in the suburbs, the common people would be even more confused and their anger might turn towards the court. So, it was kept quiet. Well, there haven't been any reports recently, and the bodies were seen only by local police officers, so it might just have been a bear."

Saya thought it was a lie. A few days ago, she had seen a chiropteran. The white bodies must have been victims of chiropterans. But why hadn't Felix, despite being so well-informed, heard about the incident that happened just recently within Petrograd?

"Well, because of that, we couldn't escape the heat this summer, but now that winter has come, we can welcome new guests and reunite with old friends. It's good to be lively."

Felix, still in high spirits, gazed out the window and murmured, "I wonder if there will ever be another ball at the Winter Palace."

Saya recalled the grand palace she had seen from the car window on her first day in Russia. It was too large and opulent to be called a hideaway, with its green statues on the roof that she found eerie.

"The Hermitage," she murmured involuntarily. Felix turned to Saya and eagerly continued.

"It houses wonderful paintings and artworks. There’s a corridor modeled exactly after Raphael's gallery and a golden clock I loved as a child. I wish I could show them to you."

Dmitri, who had spent his childhood at the Catherine Palace with the Grand Duchesses, spoke nostalgically. "It's been years since Olga's debutante ball. Recently, the imperial family has been secluded in the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoe Selo."

Felix picked up the thread. "Now, the Romanov family includes Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and the heir Alexei. While it's inevitable for them to have some restrictions, the Emperor and Empress dislike events. The Grand Duchesses, who are around your age, Saya, barely see any young officers due to their seclusion."

"It's like they're princesses locked in a tower," Felix sighed, as if this were a major issue.

"The Emperor must have his reasons," Dmitri said, trying to temper Felix's remarks, though he sounded unsure himself.

Eventually, he bitterly added, "It's all because of the Gray Cardinal."

"The Gray Cardinal...?" Saya frowned and asked. Dmitry's tone was unusual, almost spitting out the words.

After a moment's hesitation, Dmitry decided to explain. Unlike Felix, he had been taught not to gossip. "The Gray Cardinal is a nickname; he's actually a priest. No, he was originally just a pilgrim. After a man named Grigori Rasputin used some dubious magic to cure the Tsarevich's illness, the Empress became completely under his influence."

"The Tsarevich is ill?" Saya asked. Dmitry fell silent, and Felix answered instead. "This is well-known to all Russians. It's a disease inherited from his mother's bloodline, hemophilia. It's a condition where the bleeding doesn't stop. Even a small injury can be fatal. The Tsarevich was the first male child born after four daughters, and this illness, from his lineage, brought immense sorrow and suffering to the Empress. That's when Grigori appeared."

"If it were only that," Felix continued, "Grigori took advantage of the Empress's reliance on him to meddle in politics, hence the nickname Gray Cardinal." Dmitry, finding it difficult to speak, muttered bitterly.

Taking advantage of the absence of the master, he has been acting as if the Winter Palace were his own. Not only the Empress, but the Grand Duchesses and especially the Tsarevich are fond of him, making it worse.

"But the Tsarevich's health has indeed improved, hasn't it?" Felix summoned a waiter and ordered champagne. After receiving his glass and ensuring the waiter had left, he continued. "The Empress, on his advice, has set up numerous field hospitals, not just focusing on the Tsarevich. I heard she left today to visit soldiers in remote areas. As a military man, it's a great morale booster, isn't it?"

Saya recalled seeing a special train on her way here, realizing it must have carried the Empress. Indeed, visiting soldiers personally would boost their morale. Not everything seemed negative.

What weighed more on Saya's mind was Felix's earlier offhand remark: a princess locked in a tower. She had known such a girl in the past.

Without noticing Saya's silence, Felix and Dmitry continued their half-argument.

"What?" Dmitry seemed incredulous. "But the Empress is employing many suspicious characters at his behest. I've heard people line up daily, bribing him to get his favor. If military decisions start being influenced by his dubious prophecies, what then?"

"Not a chance. The ultimate authority in military matters is now the Emperor. No matter how favored he is by the Empress, there's no way such a charlatan's words would be heeded. That's underestimating the Emperor."

At some point, Felix had begun arguing with Dmitry. Crossing his legs, he tested him further. "Have you ever met this Gray Cardinal? Judging someone you've never met based solely on rumors is unlike you."

Dmitry, visibly displeased, responded, "In his case, there's no need to meet. Just hearing about him is unpleasant enough, let alone meeting him."

Ignoring the heated discussion, Hagi bent down and whispered in Saya's ear, "Saya..."

"Your face is pale."

"Is it really? I'm fine."

As soon as Saya said that, she felt a strange unrest in her chest. Her limbs tingled, and her body felt oddly light.

"...I was really fine just a moment ago."

Hagi looked down at her with a reproachful yet concerned expression. Saya wanted to show him that she was fine, but her voice had already started to waver.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

Noticing Saya's condition, Dmitry nudged Felix in the side with his elbow. "Saya—see, it's because you kept talking about unpleasant things."

"No, I did try to stop. Besides, ladies often like scary stories," Felix retorted. Seeing Saya remain silent, he hastily changed his tone. "Though it seems you're different... Shall I arrange a room for you?"

Saya shook her head. After all, it was she who had wanted to hear the conversation, and she felt it was rude to show such behavior, but the feeling of breathlessness only intensified.

"I'm fine, I just need some fresh air..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Hagi stood by her side and offered his hand. Saya, without saying a word, withdrew from his assistance.

(A princess locked in a tower.) Saya thought. It's just a metaphor. She understood that.

The princesses were not actually locked up, nor did it have anything to do with her.

But she once knew a girl who was locked away.

Suddenly, Saya felt as if someone had called her name, but she lacked the strength to turn around.

#russian rose vol 1 #rr: volume 1 chapter 3 #bloodplus #blood+

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