#heathcliff kissers pspspsps

[hotaru-no-yume]

A Tale Within the Festival of Miracles

The blue rose symbolizes miracles. But after that festival, you can’t help but see it as a symbol of your happy ending. NOTE: Reader’s family is awful here. Mentions of verbal abuse in the first and last parts.

"Be grateful you cursed child. I've finally found some use for you."

You kept your expression blank as your father started showering you with insults once again. Your gaze never left the meal in front of you, carefully slicing it to small pieces with your knife before stabbing it with your fork. Practiced movements that had been taught to you since you were young flawlessly hid your aggression and frustration in response to your father's verbal abuse. 

Your younger sibling snickered, relishing in your misfortune - had you done the same at the dining table, you would have been heavily reprimanded for lack of manners. Isn't that just unfair? The insufferable brat could get away with anything. Your mother, as always, did not say anything. Though you didn't really mind. She's been ignoring you for years; unwilling to accept that she had given birth to a child with magic. 

"I've found an engagement partner for you."

You froze before finally meeting your father's gaze. That was surprising. Your powers usually warded off potential suitors. No one ever wanted to be involved with the likes of you.

"Do not ruin this opportunity. This is your chance to be of use to our family. If you mess this up, we're throwing you to the streets. Do I make myself clear?" You kept your disrespectful thoughts to yourself, giving him a smile that didn't reach your eyes.

"Yes, father." 

"Excellent. You will be meeting your future partner after a week. Be sure to prepare." He commands before continuing on with his meal. 

Your younger sibling apparently had enough with being ignored and had started throwing a tantrum. Your parents were quick to placate the brat, and you were left forgotten. Once you had finished your meal, you quietly excused yourself and exited the dining room.

You shut the door with a loud slam, feeling your blood boil. Leave it to your father to not ask for your own opinion when it comes to these things. He must have been excited to finally get rid of you. You expected that he would do something sooner or later, yet you still felt tears of frustration threatening to spill out as you recalled his words. You wondered what sin you committed in a past life to deserve all of this. You used to think that magic was a blessing; that you could make your family see that it isn't something to fear or be ashamed about, but over the years, that childish hope for acceptance and affection slowly dwindled. 

The mansion you grew up in resembled those that you've seen in fairytales, but underneath that beauty was an ugly cage with painful chains that ate away your heart and happiness. 

You wipe your watery eyes before laying down on your bed, exhausted. Your maid hovered around you nervously, eyes darting around the room. She probably thinks your magic would lash out and cause harm if she got too close.

"M-Master, please get up. You still haven't had your bath yet…" 

With an irritated sigh, you got up and let her prepare your bath. As you waited, you went out onto the balcony and saw the bright lights of the city in the distance. It seems a lot of people were there at this time.

'Is there an event?' You wondered.

"Hey, what's going on in the city? Why are there so many people?" You asked the jittery woman after she re-entered. 

"Oh...it's the start of the Blue Rose Festival." 

"Is that so?" You recalled your parents telling the story of their first meeting to quell your sibling's curiosity some time ago. The two of them had met during the week-long festival when they were in their prime and eventually ended up together - a good example of the belief that those who cross paths during the festival will have their lives intertwined, one way or another.

You ignore your maid's calls to come back inside as you stare intently at the lively streets in the distance. You always wanted to attend a celebration like that, but your family never let you out of the house in fear that you would 'besmirch' their name. A mischievous smile appeared on your face before you went back inside. To hell with them, you're going to have some fun before you get married off to some spoiled noble.

"Forget my bath and nightwear. Prepare some simple clothes for me instead. The plainest ones you can find. I don't want to draw attention to myself when I go out."

"Y-Yes, certainly- wait, what?! Master! You don't mean to go out tonight, do you?! T-The Lord and Lady would never-"

"They don't have to know." You cut your maid's protests off before bringing out your magic tool. You felt rather guilty when you saw the terrified look on her face, but she would never let you go otherwise. 

"Let's keep it that way, alright?" You purposefully lowered your voice into a threatening one, causing her to squeak. It's not like you would actually harm her though. This was just a simple bluff. She bowed and scrambled to your closet to prepare an outfit as you instructed. Meanwhile, you approach your mirror and utter your spell. You watch your features begin to change; turning into a completely different person. 

No one will ever recognize you.

Day 1

Sneaking out of the mansion was ridiculously easy with your magic. All you had to do was turn yourself invisible and keep quiet. The guards were completely oblivious to your escape. Before you knew it, you were outside the gates. You feel the soft grass beneath your feet, you hear the rustle of the trees as the wind blows and the ocean of stars that decorated the night sky. Your ears perked up once you heard the festive music getting louder. Your cloak fluttered in the wind as you started to run, excitement getting the better of you. The moment you stepped onto the city streets, you felt like you had entered into another world. You look around in awe within the sea of people, marveling at the bright lights and the beautiful decorations. In this moment, you felt like a bird that had been let out of their cage for the first time.

"Hello, child. You must be here to enjoy the festival as well." An old lady carrying a basket of blue roses greets you. 

"Yes! It's my first time here. I'm very excited to experience everything in this festival."

She chuckles, gazing up at you with fondness and amusement, "I see. Here you are, dear. Have this. If you are to attend this festival, then you must wear a blue rose."

She quickly tied a blue rose corsage around your wrist.

"And this as well." Next, she handed you a blue rose brooch. "If you were to find a special someone, then make sure to give this to them, alright? I hope you have fun, my dear." She smiles at you one last time before walking off.

"Thank you very much!" You wave at her until she disappears into the crowd before gazing at the brooch in your hand. It glittered under the lights of the city but you were certain that it would remain unused and forgotten soon enough.

"Now then. Where should I go first?"

You look around, putting the negative thoughts in the back of your mind and putting your focus back on the festival. There were games, food stalls, souvenir shops…

"...and so the angel Roselia descended from above…"

"Hm?" You see a stage play being performed in the plaza, retelling the origins of the celebrations. You approach the large crowd of people, gazing at the actors and actresses on stage.

Many years ago, an angel had fallen in love with a wizard of flowers. The wizard, in turn, loved her too. They would meet every night in the wizard's dreams and as time passed, they fell deeper in love with each other. The angel wished to see the man she loved in person, but God did not allow her. Eventually, the angel was given a choice: stay in heaven and go back to her way of life or fall and lose all of her powers. Much to God's surprise, she chose the wizard. The people of that time saw an angel descend from the heavens. Her wings slowly disappeared, turning black and crumbling to dust. The otherworldly glow she had dimmed as her powers diminished, becoming an ordinary human. However, even as she fell, she felt no fear, because her love was waiting for her. He caught her in his arms and what bloomed around them was a garden full of blue roses. The flower that symbolizes miracles. They married and lived a happy life. The woman grew old like an ordinary human and died in her husband's arms. The wizard followed soon after, having predicted his time of death. The house that they lived in had been turned into a memorial site a long time ago. And what's mysterious about it is that blue roses always seemed to bloom beautifully there, no matter the season.

You clapped along with the other people in the audience once the play was over, making a mental note to visit that memorial before the festival ends. 

Intending to explore more of the festival, you turned around, only to collide with someone. You would have fallen if the person hadn't grabbed you by the waist and pulled you close. You blinked, slightly dazed before you looked up to thank them. However, once you caught a glimpse of his face under the hood, you can't help but gape. In front of you was perhaps the most beautiful man you've ever seen. Golden blonde hair that resembled the sun, vivid blue eyes that reminded you of the vast ocean; even that apologetic expression was attractive on his handsome face. You stuttered for a moment, unable to form words in front of the man's beauty.

"I'm so sorry! Are you hurt anywhere?" He asks worriedly. That snapped you out of your daze and you coughed, trying to calm the rapid beating of your heart after you broke away from his hold.

"No, not at all. What about you, sir?"

"I'm alri-"

"Where did you go?!"

"Come back, my Lord!"

The man flinched and glanced back, face paling. Curious, you peek from behind him and see a group of women running through the street in search of someone. You look between him and the group before grabbing his hand. He jolts at your touch, but you tighten your grip and pull him into a run. 

"You're running from those women, right? I'll help. Just follow me and keep your hood on. Someone can spot that pretty face from a mile away." He stutters at your compliment before pulling his hood down. You laugh, leading him through twists and turns until the women's voices finally fade. Both of you ducked into an alley just in case and waited for a few more minutes.

You peek from the entrance, scanning the streets left and right before finally turning to your companion. "I think you're alright now." You give him a thumbs up and a reassuring smile. Faced with your positivity, he can't help but smile as well. You felt your heart skip a beat again. Surely, there was some rule about being that gorgeous? Or perhaps that man was just your mind playing tricks on you. 

'Maybe this is a dream…' 

Just to be sure, you slapped your cheeks several times. You winced in pain before hearing the man's worried voice again.

"W-What are you doing?!"

"Alright. You're real."

"Huh?"

"It's nothing." You waved off his concern as if slapping yourself was the most normal thing in the world. Wonderful. He must think you're crazy now.

"Anyway...thank you for helping me. Those women had been following me around for so long. I didn't know what to do."

"It's fine. No need for thanks. I wanted to help, so I did. Oh, and I'm [Name]! What's yours?"

"My name is Heath. It's nice to meet you. If there's anything I can do to repay you, then please say so."

"You don't have to. I don't really need anything."

"I insist. I always repay my debts."

Saying that with such an earnest expression on his face...how can you possibly refuse?

"Um...well. Attending the festival alone is very lonely. If you don't mind, please accompany me."

Day 2

It had only occurred to you the next night that you had asked a stranger to tag along in your little adventure for the whole week. Not only that, you recalled that one of the women had called him 'my lord', so he might be a nobleman. Great. You probably bothered him and wedged yourself into his schedule. You've seen just how much your parents had to deal with in high society, Heath was probably experiencing something similar. 

"[Name]!" You looked up and saw Heath waving at you in the distance. You returned the gesture feeling guilty of your hasty actions. 

"Did you wait long?"

"Not at all. I just got here." 

"That's good. Also, I would like to apologize. Asking you to accompany me for the entire festival was really rude of me. It's fine if you don't stay for the entirety of the celebration. Just until you're able to."

He smiles in reassurance. "Don't worry. I came here to relax. Besides, I felt lonely too. A close friend of mine is out on a job so he couldn't come with me. So, let's enjoy the festival together. Shall we?" He bows gracefully before holding out his hand towards you, like a prince asking for a dance.

"You...you're really charming, you know that?" You muttered before taking his hand. He laughs at your comment as a pink blush rises to his cheeks. 

"Why, thank you."

The second day of the festival was fun. Heath had no problems with you deciding on where to go next and what shops to view. There were lots of stalls that sold delicious food and fun games with lots of different prizes. Heath had looked at you in surprise when you said you had wanted to enter an arm wrestling competition.

"A-Are you sure?" He asks, nervously looking at your opponent: a large burly man with a lot of muscles. 

"Just watch me!"

Much to the crowd's astonishment, you won easily, slamming the man's arm onto the table. You internally stuck out your tongue as a sign of mischief - no one knows you had used strengthening magic on your arm. To them, you just looked like an average person with an abnormal amount of strength. You walked off the stage with your prize in hand.

"That...that was amazing. Congratulations." Heath smiles at you before leaning in right next to your ear and whispering, "But please be careful about using magic, alright? You might get into trouble if these people find out."

You jerked away, trying to control your flustered expression. That gave you a shock. Unable to form words, you only managed to give him a thumbs up and a crooked smile.

Both of you had tried out more games and wandered around before finally calling it a night. You bid him farewell before walking home.

Day 3

"Will you tell me a little bit about yourself?" Heath asks on the next night you meet up before taking another bite of his food. Both of you sat on one of the park benches taking a quick rest. There weren't many people around in this part of the city, but you still kept your voice low.

"Hm...well, you already know I have magic. And then…" You begin to tell him about your circumstances, your family, their mistreatment, and your approaching engagement. Normally, you wouldn't share these things with a person you've only known for a few days, but Heath looked like a trustworthy man, and he was a wizard. Your own kin are easier to trust than the humans with fickle hearts. 

He looked crestfallen once you arrived at the end of your story. He looks down, anger and frustration swirling in his eyes. "Even now, some humans still hate us. I just can't understand. We laugh, we cry, we get angry, we love just like everyone else. So what if we have magic? We're still people, aren't we?"

You give him a sad smile before looking up at the starry sky. "Humans fear things that they can't understand. I don't know if it's the same for everywhere else, but my family...they lock me up and attempt to control me so I wouldn't harm them. It might have given them a sense of security. Can you believe it? They fear their own child who wants nothing more than their love. It's kind of sad."

Heath doesn't say anything, but even his presence was enough.

"Thank you for listening. What about you Heath? Do you have a story to tell?"

The two of you talk late into the night. A pair of outcasts that found solace in each other's presence. In this world that rejected the unknown, you can't help but think that your meeting was a blessing.

Day 4

"I never want this to end." 

Your voice wavers as the tears you've been holding back for so long finally fall. You call Heath's name and his response was to pull you into an embrace. You scream and cry like a child in the dead of night, letting out your frustrations and worries. You feel him patting your head, you hear his whispered words of reassurance and feel his calloused hands rub your back soothingly.

"It's okay. It's alright. Everything will be fine."

They won't be. You know they won't be alright. You'll get married off to some unknown noble while your family celebrates your departure. You're just moving from one cage to the next. You feel as if one day, you will lose yourself to your despair and sadness.

You spend the fourth night crying in Heath's arms. You wished that you didn't have to leave.

Day 5

Heathcliff looks out of the window, vivid blue eyes reflecting the moon and the stars. His gaze lowers to the streets below, seeing bright lights and cheerful faces. The clock chimes, signaling that it was already midnight, yet his lamp continued to flicker and burn. 

He contemplates his choice, for he knows that once he sends this letter, there will be no going back. He had always been the cautious one. The type of person that would think deeply about his actions and it's consequences. He had always been the one to scold Shino for being reckless.

However, he felt like this was the right thing to do. He hears his childhood friend's voice in his mind.

"You are the head of the Blanchett household now. Even if you act out, no one will raise a hand against you. I'll make sure of it. If it is my Lord's wish, then it will be fulfilled without question."

Day 6

"I want to visit the Blue Rose memorial site today." Heath was quick to agree and you both set off to the couple's final resting place. What greeted you both when you arrived was a garden of blue roses, glowing beautifully under the light of the full moon. 

You lean down and touch a delicate petal with your fingertips, marvelling at its beauty. You recall the tale of the angel and the wizard, thinking that this wasn't just a symbol of miracles. To them, it might have been a symbol of their eternal love. 

'Maybe, in another life...my story would be happier. If God really does exist, will he grant me this wish?'

You turn towards your companion, seeing him admiring the rose garden with a soft smile. Again, you are reminded of just how beautiful he is. Inside and out.

"Heath."

"Yes?"

You approach him before taking out the rose brooch from your pocket. You put it on him without a word, thinking that the color matched his eyes perfectly. 

"Do you know what that means?" You ask, teasingly.

"Yes." He breathes out before taking out an identical brooch and doing the same thing. Your heart flutters, feeling yourself tear up again under his gentle gaze. 

'Perhaps I…'

Day 7

You and Heath watch the fireworks take off into the sky on a secluded hill, painting the night with beautiful colors. Before you realized it, both of you were already holding each other's hands tightly, perhaps due to the inevitable goodbye that was nearing.

It was time for this happy dream to end.

"[Name], may I see you?" He asks. All this time, you've been keeping your altered appearance so Heath didn't know what you looked like.

You let your magic fade as you revealed who you were under your disguise. Heath cups your face with his hands, taking the real image of you in. 

"Beautiful."

After a night filled with tearful goodbyes, you wake up the sound of several maids running around your room. You were urged to get up the moment you opened your eyes. In the early hours of the morning, you were thrown into the bath, dressed in the finest and fanciest clothes, and prepped to perfection - all for the sake of a person you've never met before. You ignored the maids mentioning your puffy, red eyes as you walked out of your room.

Your legs felt heavy as you walked down the stairs, feeling as if you were about to walk into an execution ground instead of meeting your partner. Perhaps you would just fake illness later and run away to some other country. Where to though? The west? The south? Maybe the central country? 

You waited for the butler to announce your arrival before walking into the lounge. There, your father was seated talking to…

"...Heath?" You whispered.

Heathcliff turned at the sound of your voice, giving you that shy smile that you've learned to love so much. Your father turned red in anger at your lack of respect, standing up in order to reprimand you.

"You insolent child! Show some respect! We were going to marry you off to a count in the neighboring town, but the Lord of Blanchett had sent you a marriage proposal himself! God knows you even managed to bewitch him but-"

"Shino." Heathcliff called and a tall man with long, black hair immediately held a scythe to your father's neck. His sharp, red eyes glared at the man mercilessly. "Watch your tongue. You will not insult my new master."

Uncaring of your father's predicament, Heathcliff stood up and approached your frozen form.

"It's nice to meet you. My name is Heathcliff Blanchett. I look forward to getting to know you in the life we'll spend together."

The rose brooch he was wearing glittered in the morning light.