The morning of the funeral the skycried in protest. Black umbrellas dotted the area, hiding solemn faces that I avoided at all costs. The past two days had been full of sympathetic eyes and uncomfortable ceremonies. Despite fervent refusal, I'd been forced to attend the molnija ceremony that should've been Rose's. The sting of the small lightening mark on my neck didn't even begin to touch the pain in the rest of my body.
I'd seen Lissa once. After being discharged, I visited her room and she'd lost her composure pretty quickly. The nurse had to sedate her to keep her from hurting herself or anyone else in the room. Clearly, Sonya's charms weren't doing any good. Though it was customary for the queen to speak at a royal guardian's funeral, I desperately hoped they would make an exception.
Of course, I'd kept my promise to Rose and visited Abe and Janine. They were very welcoming and polite, but the faces they made when I told them her last words…I'm not sure if I did more good or harm. I tried to leave quickly, but Janine insisted on tea. So there the three of us sat, tears intermingling with the tea, silence wrapping around us.
Upon entering the throne room, some faceless guardian led me to the front and directed me to my seat, but I pushed past him to face the casket. It was beautiful, almost worthy of the perfection inside. As per custom, it was closed, so I closed my eyes and conjured up the memory.
The beautiful dark hair framed a face that often held the most adorable look of concentration. Her dark eyes challenged you to even begin to understand her, and lately, to her great disdain, were surrounded by the slightest crow's feet, a sign of the remarkable life she'd led.
I placed my hand lightly on the top and whispered, "Я люблю тебя, любовь моя."
"Guardian Belikov?" the guardian asked, his voice full of caution. Nodding, I followed him. "I'm very sorry, Sir."
"Thank you," came my conditioned response. I'd heard these words so often over the past few days that I began to wonder if they even held meaning anymore. With a solemn nod, he was gone.
Abe and Janine took their places next to me, hands interlaced.
Panic washed over me as I saw Lissa enter and take her place at the podium, Christian stationed close behind her. Surely they wouldn't…
"Welcome," she said evenly. But it wasn't Lissa, not the Lissa I'd come to know. This Lissa was too distant, medicated. "We're here to celebrate the life of Rosemarie Belikov and her service to the crown." What have they done to you?
"Rose was my…" her voice faltered for a second. "Rose was the best guardian, the best friend I could've asked for." Just like that, her measured composure was gone. Noticing the change, Christian stepped forward and placed a hand on her arm. Nodding, Lissa stepped back and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Rose was more than a guardian to both Vasilissa and I. She was a best friend, a shoulder to cry on, and just a genuinely wonderful person. Those who knew her were lucky. Those who didn't missed out on a brilliant display of wonder and life. She will be truly missed." He bowed his head and said the traditional Romanian, "Fie ca ea odihnească în pace." May she rest in peace.
My body shook as the sobs took over me. Janine reached over and took my hand in hers. I didn't dare a peek at her face. Instead, I took it and squeezed it encouragingly.
The rest flew by in a blur of ceremony and custom. Before I knew it, I found myself in the graveyard. Rose was buried in a plot not too far from Mason. I knew it's what she would've wanted.
After several more sorrys and horribly pathetic looks, Lissa, Christian and I were left alone at the gravesite. Lissa produced a bracelet from her pocket, her chotki. She placed it on the tombstone and looked up at me.
"Thank you. Thank you for giving her the life she deserved," she said through tears. I scooped her up in my arms and hugged her tight. I couldn't think of the words to say, so I hoped the hug conveyed my thanks.
After parting, Christian patted me on the shoulder and guided Lissa to their car. I stood there for what felt like hours before kissing the tombstone and walking away.
I found myself at Mason's grave. Smiling bitterly, I leaned down and placed Rose's nazar necklace in the wet grass. "Welcome her and show her around, will you? Take care of her for me, Mason. Спасибо, друг."