Homeless girl, Rosalie, is found on the cold streets of Crausley Sands with nothing but the clothes on her back and a black obsidian stone key around her neck, having no memory of who gave it to her.
When Rosalie is taken in by none other than Princ...
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It hadn't been as straightforward as Rosalie had hoped in avoiding Liliana after the previous night.
She admired her young friend's confidence and willingness to accompany her to Grangston Green, but as she would be travelling to the place blind without an inkling of what would await her, Rosalie could not take that chance with Liliana.
In spite of her reservations though, she had managed to allow Liliana to meet her in the mansion's gardens at midday.
Rosalie would let her have her say, even though it would not change how she felt about Liliana lying to her mother about why she should be relieved of her duties for the day.
Standing at the lakeside, Rosalie admired the vibrant greenery vacant of the glacial layer in the wake of the snow. The ripples on the water's crown curved and swayed, skimming the grassy edge.
Rosalie basked in the tranquility of the subtle sounds of nature and the scents of the first sign of spring whisking in with the delicate breeze.
It was a peaceful moment that was soon adjourned.
The sound of footsteps bounded towards her from behind.
"I see your little friend still lingers," Liliana observed, glancing up at the softly swaying branches, at the raven huddled on one of the tree's lower arms.
"It lingers. It watches. It waits." Rosalie's whispering response could barely be heard through the whistling air.
"For what?"
"If I was aware of why, do you think I would still be trying to piece together this jumbled up puzzle?" Retorted Rosalie, instantly regretting the sting in her tone. "I'm sorry ... I don't mean to be harsh."
Liliana's faint smile secreted the hurt Rosalie's voice had caused, though it did not escape Rosalie's attention and it only escalated her shame at the way she spoke to her only friend.
"I understand. You don't need to apologise. You remind me of my father in that respect." Liliana admitted.
Rosalie could not contain the surprise from displaying on her face. She had never heard Liliana reference her father before, and she never felt it was her place to instigate such a topic, especially since eavesdropping on the intense discussion between Prince Darick and Colias. Despite how much Rosalie ached to learn the tale of Liliana's father's demise. If it did indeed have anything to do with the witches of Grangston Green, and he rebelled against King Frideric, why didn't Katrina and Liliana find themselves banished from the mansion?
"My father was a very determined man," Liliana resumed, distracting Rosalie from letting her mind wander any further, "if there was a solution to be found, then he would stop at nothing to find it. And if he couldn't, well then it was in our best interest to avoid him, rather than to be the recipient of his sharp tongue. Of course, we knew it was in no way maliciously said, but it cut deep nonetheless."
