Yuri, Wolfram, and Greta walked towards the garden, basket full of food and picnic blanket in tow. Yuri continued to badger Wolfram for information about Conrart and Rozalia. Wolfram had yelled at him for being nosy and then confessed that he didn't know very much about the situation. Wolfram said he only knew what little information people were willing to tell him and that wasn't much.

On their way to the garden, they saw Gunter hobbling toward them, clutching his stomach and moaning. He had obviously had a run in with Anissina. Poor guy, Yuri thought.

"Gunter, are you okay?" Yuri asked.

"Yes, I'll be fine, your highness," he said and added, "I just need to get as far away from that infernal lab as possible." He then gave Wolfram a concerned look. "Has Conrart spoken to Lady Rozalia?"

"Yes, we left them to have a private chat," Wolfram answered. "Why?"

"Lady Rozalia is with Anissina now," Gunter said and then looked away thoughtfully. "I wonder…"

"Wonder what, Gunter?" Yuri asked.

"Oh! Does his highness know about Conrart and Lady Rozalia?" Gunter asked.

"I only know that they were childhood friends and that Conrart was going to propose or something like that," Yuri said. "Do you know more, Gunter?"

"Your highness, Lady Rozalia used to be a resident of Covenant Castle," Gunter answered.

"Resident?" Yuri repeated. "You mean she used to live here?"

"Married, huh?" Anissina said, lowering her tea cup. "For someone who has been holding on for so long, you're giving up pretty easily."

"I'm tired of waiting, Anissina," Rozalia confessed.

Rozalia and Anissina sat atop one of the castle's balconies, looking out over the majesty of the Great Demon Kingdom. Rozalia found Anissina performing some ghastly experiment, using Gunter as her guinea pig. Rozalia had unwittingly saved Gunter from his demise and he hailed praises upon her before leaving lest Anissina thought up of some other way to physically scar him. Anissina was intrigued by Rozalia's news. She thought that her friend would have been happy spending her entire life waiting for Conrart to come around. It seems that even one of the most patient creatures in the whole Demon Kingdom can't be asked to wait a lifetime.

"It's sad to think how much your relationship with him had fallen apart," Anissina sighed. "Remember when we were children?"

"How could I forget?" Rozalia smiled sadly.

"Are you sure about his, Rozalia?" Anissina asked. "Are you sure you couldn't wait for a bit longer?"

"Wait for another few decades and still come away with nothing?" Rozalia asked, shaking her head. "I don't want to be alone anymore. Besides, it's utterly hopeless. Ever since he… ever since… he…"

"Alright, that's enough," Anissina advised as Rozalia blew out a sigh. "A woman who claims to have moved on shouldn't be moved to tears anymore, right?"

"Ever the logician," Rozalia chuckled. "You know very well that emotions aren't logical."

"Ah, well, I still think you should have taken my advice years ago," Anissina said with a sip of her tea. "You should have taken Conrart by the collar and demanded marriage."

"I couldn't do that."

Anissina sighed. "You're far too nice, Rozalia, dear," Anissina told her.

A sly smile formed on Rozalia's lips. "And what about you, Anissina?"

"What about me?"

"When are you going to take Gwendal by the collar and demand marriage?" she asked deviously.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Anissina huffed.

"Or perhaps you've replaced dear Gwendal," Rozalia teased. "He used to be your only guinea pig. Now it's Gunter's screams that fill your laboratory."

"So?"

"So does Gwendal know he has a rival?" Rozalia giggled.

"Shut it, Rozalia!" Anissina exclaimed. "I do not like Gwendal like that!"

"Methinks the lady doth protest too much," Rozalia joked.

"Shut up!" Anissina yelled and watched as Rozalia laughed. "Be honest. Are you going to be happy with Holter?"

Rozalia sighed again. "I know I'll be content," she said. "I'm not asking for anything more than that."

"I honestly thought I 'd see you back here at Covenant Castle permanently one of these years," Anissina said and sipped her tea thoughtfully.

Rozalia said nothing but looked up into the sky.

Years and years ago:

"Come on! Come on! Come on!!"

"Where are you taking me? Rozalia!"

Little Rozalia had Conrart's left wrist in both her hands and dragged him through the halls of Laurent Castle. The two children had known each other for a year and a half and have played together every day since their meeting. That day, Conrart's mother, visited the von Laurent family. She heard that Lord von Laurent had gotten remarried and she just absolutely had to stop by, give her congratulations and meet the new Lady von Laurent. Conrart practically begged her to come along so he could play with Rozalia.

Rozalia pushed open a set of wide and elegant looking double doors and dragged Conrart inside. It was a large rectangular room but Rozalia didn't pay attention to anything in it. She dragged him to a large painting hanging on the wall. It was a painting of a beautiful blonde woman with deep ice blue eyes. She was wearing a bluish white gown and was sitting on a white stallion, flower petals falling around her. She looked down on Conrart and Rozalia kindly. Conrart stared open mouthedly at the really fancy painting.

"Wow," he said, "that's a really pretty painting."

"She's my mother," Rozalia said proudly.

"I thought the woman with your father was your mother," Conrart asked, confused.

"Father said she's my new mother," Rozalia answered. "But she's not my real mother. She's my real mother."

"Oh."

"She died when I was born," the little girl said, sadness creeping into her voice. "I never got to know what she was like. My brother said she was really nice and smiles a lot."

"She's really pretty," Conrart commented.

"Whenever I feel sad, I come in here and look at her painting," Rozalia said and then began to cry. "I never even met her. I never hugged her. But I miss her so much. I didn't want a new mother. I want my real mother."

Conrart watched her cry, sad because she was sad. Then he reached out and pulled her into a hug. "Don't cry any more, Rozalia," he said. "Do you know what I think? I think your mother wouldn't like to see you crying. I think that you should try to be really happy for your mother."

Then he just hugged her and let her cry.

Ever since that day, whenever Rozalia felt sad or whenever she missed her mother, it was always Conrart she turned to. He was always really nice and let her cry and then cheered her up and made her laugh. Rozalia didn't know that someday, he was the one who would make her cry.

"Anissina!!"

Greta came running into the balcony and skidded to a halt by Anissina's side. "Hi, Greta," Anissina greeted.

"Anissina, will you play with me?" Greta asked. "Yuri, Wolfram, and Conrart went off into town."

"Sorry, I have something I need to finish in my lab," Anissina said and Greta sighed sadly.

Rozalia watched the little princess's sad face. "I'll play with you, princess," she said to her.

"Really?" Greta's eyes lit up.

"Sure, if you want," Rozalia said, putting her tea cup on the table and standing up.

"Yay!" Greta said and seized Rozalia's hands and pulled her away from the balcony. "We can play with my dolls. I have a lot of dolls."

"Alright, alright," Rozalia laughed, "but could we slow down?"

After an hour of traipsing around town, Wolfram started to get bored and complained and nagged at Yuri and Conrart to return to the castle. To give their poor ears a break, Yuri and Conrart agreed to walk back to the castle. Yuri glanced at Conrart. He seemed to be thinking deeply ever since he came back from his chat with Rozalia. Of course, Conrart never provided any explanation or said anything about what was bothering him. He never does. Yuri thought back to what Gunter had said.

"Lady Rozalia and Conrart were quite close years and years ago," Gunter had said. "They saw and spent time with each other almost every day. Lady Celi grew fond of Lady Rozalia and invited her to stay here at Covenant Castle. Then one day, years later, without an explanation, she left and went back to Laurent Castle. Everyone was certain that she and Conrart loved each other. Everyone thought that Conrart would propose. It was quite a shock when she suddenly left."

Yuri wondered what really happened. If they really loved each other then shouldn't they have stayed together? If they really loved each other then shouldn't Conrart have proposed? Shouldn't they have gotten married? It really seemed like not one person knew the full story. Yuri was sure that Conrart knew. After all, he was directly involved but Yuri seriously doubted that he would tell him. Conrart seemed content on forgetting whatever it was that happened between them. But why? What happened?

"Something wrong?" Conrart asked.

"No, no," Yuri stammered. "Why would you say that? Nothing's wrong."

I should be asking you that, Yuri thought to himself.

"You're wondering about Lady Rozalia, aren't you?" Conrart asked knowingly.

Yuri gulped and Wolfram looked over. "That obvious?" Yuri asked.

"Everyone's been curious for decades," Conrart said. "You'll hear things about it, I'm sure. But whatever you hear, no matter what anyone tells you, I guarantee you that what happened between Rozalia and me was entirely my fault."

"Your fault?" Yuri repeated and exchanged looks with Wolfram.

"Was she alright?" Wolfram asked. "She didn't almost… you know… die… did she?"

"No, no," Conrart chuckled, "nothing like that. But I did hurt her."

"Conrad…"

"Please don't ask me what happened," he said, trying to smile. "I'd rather keep it in the past."

They arrived at the castle and ran into Gwendal and Lord Rasmus.

"It seems that everything turned out for the best," Rasmus said. "My sister and I must take our leave."

"Are you sure you don't want to stay for dinner?" Yuri asked politely. "We'd love for you to stay."

"I'm afraid that's impossible," Rasmus declined. "I'm expecting a very important guest at Laurent Castle tonight. I'm sorry."

"Oh, it's cool," Yuri said.

"And where is Lady Rozalia?" Gwendal asked, raising an eyebrow.

"She's with Anissina," Wolfram announced.

"I'll go and fetch her," Conrart offered and walk away.

They watched him walk away and Yuri sighed. "Why does everything about that guy have to be so complicated?" he asked.

"Are you referring to his relationship with my sister, your highness?" Rasmus asked.

"You know what happened?" Wolfram asked.

"I only know a little," Rasmus confessed. "Rozalia doesn't talk about it. She very much loved him a long time ago and I believe she still does."

"Conrad didn't love her back?" Yuri asked.

"I believe he did," Gwendal interjected, "but the reason as to why she left him remains their secret."

"Did they have a fight then?" Wolfram prodded.

"We don't know," Gwendal answered.

"If she loved him, then why'd she leave him?" Yuri asked himself.

Moments later, Conrart walked into view with Rozalia and Greta. Rozalia and Greta were having an animated conversation about the pretend game they just finished. Greta was skipping happily and Rozalia was smiling fondly at her. She almost looked motherly.

Upon seeing her, Rasmus again bowed to Yuri. "It has been a pleasure, your Majesty," he said. "Rozalia and I must now take leave of you."

"Lady Rozalia's leaving?" Greta frowned.

"I'm afraid I have to," Rozalia said to Greta sweetly.

"Can't you stay a little longer?" the little girl asked.

"That's a great idea!" Yuri announced, making everyone turn to him. "Why don't you stay a little while longer with us here at Covenant Castle, Lady Rozalia? Greta really seems to like you."

"I couldn't possibly, your highness," Rozalia attempted to decline. "I would hate to be a bother."

"Nonsense!" Yuri proclaimed. "We'd love for you to stay."

"Yeah, please stay," Greta pleaded. "I like playing with you."

"I won't take no for an answer," Yuri said.

Rozalia smiled, conceding. "Well, I suppose if his Majesty wills it," she said, "then I suppose I must stay."

"Great!"

"I shall send for some of your clothes then, Rozalia," Rasmus said, a slight knowing smile playing on his lips.

"Thank you, Brother."

Rasmus bowed before again Yuri and walked away. Greta grabbed Rozalia's hand.

"Come on!" she said, pulling Rozalia away. "Let's go play some more!"

Yuri watched Rozalia and Greta, a smirk on his lips. He would crack the mystery of Conrart and Rozalia. He guaranteed it.

Conrart watched her laugh and play with Greta. He watched her smile and laugh. How did everything go so wrong?