PART II:

Chapter 7:

The first time after the incident in the forest was hard for Rosette. If that wasn't enough, everybody thought that she had imagined all and was crazy in her head. Of cause she wasn't. In the first few weeks she always went in the woods hoping that she would find a clue where the demon had taken Chrno. But she never did. The people already started to tell rumours about her. She herself found out that it was useless to continue looking for him. So the girl stopped doing that. After a while she even began to believe the things her psychologist was telling her, that it was all in her fantasy. She really started to believe that, but there was nevertheless an empty space within her which couldn't be filled again. Every time she was alone that feeling came up again and made her feel sad and lonely. Rosette just tried to be always with others. Fortunately there were Joshua and Azmaria who diverted her from her thoughts. The three almost always spent their free time inside. Since Joshua was still sick sometimes it was better that way. But when it was nice weather and Joshua was okay they sat outside in the yard around the well.

So one year passed, by then another, a third and a half. Rosette was now 15 1/2years, Joshua 14 1/2 and Azmaria nearly 14. Soon the time would come that they had to leave the convent again to live in their family houses as young ladies and gentleman. One day a messenger came from far away. He had two letters for the two blonde siblings and as well two for Azmaria. One was written by their parents who told them that the children, no not anymore, that the teenagers were supposed to move away and that they would come to pick them up. Actually the youth were surprised that the letters came so early. Only two days before Sister Kate had told them that they had a 3/4 year left. Now the letter said that they have to go during the following two days. The reason for that was explained at the end of the letter and in the second letter. Rosette who held the letter in her hands began to read while the others listened to her.

Dear Lady Rosette and Lord Joshua,

With deep sadness we announce your uncle's, King Victor Carl Alexander Augustus Caesar Friedrich William Ludwig VII's, death. (AN: What a name XD) He was cruelly murdered in the night of August the 30th. (AN: lol, my B-day XD) You and your dear family are invited to come to his funeral on Sunday September the 5th. Your resident will be in the royal palace where you will stay for the moment. King VII didn't have any children who would be able to be his successor. His wife also died because of a sickness a while ago. You father, Lord Vinsent is the dead king's only close relative, so he will be announced as the new King of our dear kingdom. Consequently you will be announced as the new crown prince Joshua and crown princess Rosette.

Long live the new king

The senate

(AN: Sorry, I'm really bad writing letters like that ." I could write it in German, but in English it's more difficult.)

Azmaria's letter was a little but different, but actually it said the same. The king was dead, Lord Vinsent would be the new king and Joshua and Rosette the new crown prince and princess.

With an open mouth all three teenager stared at the sheet of paper in front of them.

"C-crown princess?" Rosette stammered. Never ever in her life she had expected something like that to happen. She in the royal palace? They had to get all the expensive stuff there far away from her before she was able to destroy it! She knew exactly that she was too wild to be kept in the palace and that she would break something, earlier or later. Moreover she had heard that the palace was in the middle of Soronada, the capital city. There would be no forest around, no meadows, no brooks, no nature. Only the huge buildings and the branched streets. Would she even fit into such a city? Now that she was used to this life here? Exactly that was the point. Perhaps that change would help her to forget about Chrno. She still dreamed of the day he had been kidnapped and probably killed by that devil. The thought always made her sad and she didn't want that sadness anymore. So she had tried to forget everything. But a strong part in her refused to do so. Now she hoped that the new situation would help her. Internal she scolded her again, because she had thought about him once more. She touched the watch which had never left its place around her neck. She closed her eyes and took some deep breaths. Azmaria asked her if something was wrong because Rosette's look in her eyes was so empty again. Quickly the blonde shook her head and answered with a smile and an "Everything's alright." Then they started to chat about the topic. They all agreed that it was sad that the king died, but especially Joshua looked forward to his new life as crown prince.

In the afternoon they hurried around, packing their luggage and choosing what they should take with them and what could stay here. All in all they needed the whole rest of the day. In the night Rosette slept restlessly. She woke up a thousand times and one time she dreamed about Chrno again. In the dream she was in her twelve years old body again, with a nice dress and her two braids. She went through woods to the clearing. Chrno was already here and greeted her. "Hello, Rozetto." His pronunciation of her name was always funny. Either he said 'Rozetto' with 'z' and an 'o' or 'Rozetta' with a 'z' and an 'a'. (An: That's the Japanese pronunciation, isn't it? It sounds so funny ^^) He had a funny accent when he talked in her language at all. Anyways. It was one of these dreams in which she was running towards him, but he never reached at his place. She ran and ran, but it seemed only further away in the end. Chrno waved at her and made his 'Psht' gesture. Then he was caught by two claws, everything went back and Rosette woke up again. She sat in her bed and closed her eyes tightly. 'I am not allowed to get weak now.' She told herself ran with her hand over her face. Afterwards she tried to sleep again, but it didn't work right. From time to time she fell into a kind of half sleep. The next day Rosette was as tired as hell and she wasn't very pleased as a maid woke her up to tell her that her parents had arrived yet. The girl got dressed and went downstairs into the entrance hall. Her and Joshua's luggage stood there. Some servants just brought it outside. At the left side there were a group of people chatting with each other. Rosette could see the headnun, Azmaria, two other rich adults (obviously Asu's parents) and her own parents. She hurried over to them and gave each of them a hug. Her parents were happy to see her again. Normally they had only had time to come and visit their children the weekends, but not always, and at important holidays. Her mother, an about 35 years old woman with shoulder long brown hair, brushed with her hand through Rosette's golden locks and told her again how happy she was that she saw her again. Rosette replied the same and talked a little bit to her father who was a 37 years old tall blonde man. She asked him where Joshua was. Her brother apparently had overslept and was too late. They had to wait for him a little while. In this time Azmaria introduced her her parents, a small woman with short locks and a middle aged short haired man. The man was an important business man, so his family was invited to the funeral as well. Finally Joshua showed up and everyone got into the waiting carriages. There were three of them. One for Azmaria and her family, one for the siblings and their maids and another one for their parents.

"When are we there?" Rosette asked and looked out of the window. Until now she hadn't seen something interesting, only bushes and trees or grass.

"Soon, Miss Rosette. It will take a while." Her maid answered gently.

Five minutes later:

"Are we there?"

"Soon, Miss Rosette."

"And now?"

"I'll go take the muffins." The other maid said annoyed and leaned behind the bench to take some muffins out of the box with food. Immediately Rosette was quiet and ate happily her muffin.

"Surprising that the same trick works still after ten years." The annoyed maid whispered to her colleague.

(AN: I hope you remember the carriage scene in Chapter 1)

It was a long journey and they had to overnight one time in a very expensive hotel and the other time they overnighted in a mansion which belonged to Azmaria's family. All in all the journey took three days. (AN: I hope the annoyed maid has enough muffins for Rosette) In the evening of the third day they finally arrived at the capital. The sun already hung low over the horizon and it made everything have a warm orange colour. After they had passed the huge city gate where there were a lot of guards, they were now on their way to the palace. The carriage would bring them there.

Excited Rosette and Joshua looked out of the window. They had never been in such a huge city. Actually they had always been in the convent, none of them remembered the time before; that was too long ago. Anyways they were amazed by the big amount of houses and they wondered how so many people could live here. In every corner were people who watched the carriages with big eyes or who waved to them. Shyly the two siblings waved back sometimes.

The city was round and it had some different areas which were arranged like rings. In the outermost ring the rather poor people lived. Closer to the centre the houses got bigger and more expensive. Between the rather poor and the richer area there was the place where the market and all shops were. This area was relatively big and the carriage needed nearly ten minutes to cross it.

For Rosette it was really interesting to see how other people lived. In the market area she looked at the little shops and the goods they sold there. She also found it funny how the people were looking at her. Everybody looked at her… except for one person. It was a young man, not really a lot older than her. He wore one of these dark cloaks which covered his clothes. The hood of the cape simply hung down at his back. Because he stood in the shadow of a house Rosette didn't really saw what hair colour he had, but it was dark hair and it reached to his shoulders. He looked to something in his hand. As well the object in his hand was not seen from the point where Rosette was. A smaller crowd of people was in front of him. Suddenly he looked up and stared her in the eyes, but only for a second and with no expression. Then he immediately turned around and vanished in the crowd.

Rosette gasped nearly imperceptible. His hair shimmered purple in the late evening sun. And she would never forget these red sparkling eyes, Chrno's red sparkling eyes more specifically. The girl stared with an open mouth outside and gripped the pocket watch again. Three seconds or later she noticed that she had to look very stupid and all the people saw her like that. She quickly turned away from the window and stared to the floor of the carriage.

"Is something wrong, Milady?" One of the maids asked. "Aren't you feeling well?"

"I… am… just a little bit tired… that's all." She let herself sink into the upholstery of the bench and began to think. (AN: Duh! She is able to think! Duh! XDDD) How was that possible? So he did survive? He was living all the time? Why hadn't he tried to tell her she didn't need to worry? Well, that meant if it even was him. Nonsense. How many people were there with purple hair and red eyes? And the age fit as well. The girl sighed. That was too much for her. At first she got a letter that she was the new crown princess and now that.

--

And now a song again:

Restless

She embraced, with a smile

As she opened the door.

A cold wind blows, it put´s a chill into her heart.

You have taken away the trust,

you´re the ghost haunting through her heart.

Past and present are one in her head,

You´re the ghost haunting through her heart.

Take my hand as I wonder through,

All my life I gave to you.

Take my hand as I wonder through,

All my love I gave to you.

You have taken away the trust,

you´re the ghost haunting through her heart.

Take my hand as I wonder through,

All my life I gave to you.

Take my hand as I wonder through,

All my love I gave to you

By Within Temptation

AN: Sorry because there are so much AN's in this chapter, but I couldn't hold me back XD And as you can see I hear a lot of WT while writing… You will see more song lyrics under the chapters of this fanfic ^^' Anyways, the next chapters will all be in Rosette's view. But what happened to Chrno during all the time? Hehe, I know it and you do not!!! Mwhahahaha! And I won't tell you… yet. Please review^^