The Rose: The Promise of Eternal Love

Ghweneʼs Point of View

Three days had passed and I am still here inside my room. Locked. Aunt Rosette made sure that I couldn't escape. I stood up and sat on my bed. The digital clock beside me stikes at six o'clock in the morning. A new day and the third day of being prisoned in my own room. I sigh.

My wedding with Yuan is approaching on the next day and I really don't want to get married with someone I don't love. I looked at my windows that's badly closed. I knew there are guards outside and its really hard to get out of here. The door of my room open and Aunt Rosette come in.

"Still planning how to runaway here?" She asked mockingly and smiling at me, evil. She's holding a tray of my breakfast and placed on the table not too far from my bed.

"Whatever you do, Ghwene. You will never be able to leave this room. You can't run away from your marriage with Yuan on the next day." I coudn't speak as much as I am not showing any emotions towards her. I just stare at her smiling like an evil queen.

I was wondering why I need to marry Yuan when their interest is on my dad's business?

She maybe already poison's my dad's brain and become submissive to her. To the point that he just let this woman forced me to marry someone I don't love. I know that they're only doing this for their own interest. "Get ready for tomorrow. Yuan and his father are coming here. You need to be presentable when you face them." She remind me and left.

I really can't stay here long. Even though its hard for me to get out of here, I still make a way. The door of my bedroom open again and its Scarlette. My cousin. She walked coming in without asking if she can. "Are you happy?" She asked.

"Happy that you'll gonna marry the person I love, Ghwene?" Scarlette and I can't get along eversince. And the fact that I will marrying Yuan, I'm very sure that her hatred towards me added.

"I will not let you marry Yuan, Ghwene." She said in a gritted teeth.

"I know Scarlette. And I won't mind. Yuan will be yours and our marriage will be cancel but-" I intensionally hang what I'm saying as I examine her face reaction. "But what?" She asked impatiently.

"But you'll gonna help me get out of here. And thats when all you wants gonna happen. I'm not willing to marry him either."

She raised an eyebrow at me but I could see in her eyes that that was exactly what she wanted to happen. "All right. It's two oʼclock in the morning. There are no guards outside your room and outside the mansion."

"Get ready. Iʼll just come to you when the time comes," She said and I just nod.

I almost can't wait but I have to. I took a shower first then packed my belongings. As the hours passed, I am ready and Scarlette just come in time.

She motioned for me to follow her. Since it is early in the morning, the guards are resting at this time. But I can't get out because my bedroom was locked and I don't have a key while Scarlette has.

We went through the backgate.

"I turn off the CCTV in the monitor room. The guards are also asleep there," She said.

She took me not far from the mansion when we finally succeed to escape. "Now, donʼt come back."

"But-"

"You wanted to get out of here right? I'll jusr give you what you want. Nothing can stop me and when you come back..." She approached me and held my arm tightly. "I will kill you." She said.

I got nervous but she immediately let go of me and then smiled. "Goodbye, Ghwene." I don't know where I should go.

I canʼt cross highways because someone might see me. I am well known in our city because Dad's business is in the highest top rating so we are known here as the richest. I passed through grassy and dense jungle. Itʼs scary because itʼs still dark and I might be bitten by a snake here but I have no choice.

I'm wearing a white t-shirt, it overlaps with my denim jacket. I pair these with a skinny jeans and boots. Typical gangster look. I'm not like Scarlette's fashion that always being dressed and in high hills. I'm just a simple person.

I want to slap myself because I donʼt have a flashlight expecting I will be in situation like this. Damn. Everywhere I looked, were trees and grass. But Iʼll just cotinue to walk.

I checked the time on my phone and it tells four-thirty in the morning. My foot hurts when I walk so I must have better rest first. I saw a big tree nearby. So I went to it sat down under its. And my eyelids getting heavier as soon as I choose to rest.

-

I woke up suddenly because I heard the birds chirping around. It means the sun is shining. I got up to continue walking. I don't know how far I walked last night. And stop again when I saw someone from a distance.

It's wearing weird; whole black like warriors still masked. I was nervous when he looked at me while holding a knife so I ran fast.

He also run chasing me. But I also immediately stop when another man blocked my path. I turned around behind me and the man from my back is already in front of me aswell as other men like them encircle me.

I fought back. I stepped on it to cause the man to fall. I was about to run away when I felt it grab my foot and pull it so I fell and hit my forehead on a rock there.

I stepped on the man again but I still couldnʼt run because the other man was holding a gun, it was pointed at me while I was just sitting here on the grass.

I could feel blood dripping down my forehead and my vision was blurring. I heard the shout of a horse and its footsteps approaching and suddenly the two men fell down and lost consciousness. I just leaned against a tree because I was dizzy.

I donʼt know why... but before I completely lost consciousness I saw a man approach me but I didnʼt totally see what it looked like.

Ghweneʼs Point of View

I just woke up and the first thing that popped up to me was a white ceiling. I was lying on a fancy bed like a princess owns this room, but wait? Where am I?

I got up and there was a big mirror there and I looked at myself. I have a band-aid on my forehead. I remember the men chasing me. When I raised my hand, I immediately noticed that the bracelet was missing that my Mom given to me before she died. I kept it for a few years but now itʼs gone.

I saw the big clock on the glass surface. Itʼs 8:30 AM. What?! Wait, how many hours do I sleep?

I heard the door slam open and a beautiful woman stared at me. "Youʼre awake, young lady. Hereʼs your breakfast," She said and set down the strange tray with food and juice. The weird really. I donʼt understand what kind of clothes theyʼre wearing like... Iʼm in the other world of people. "What happened? Where am I? And who are you?" I asked one question after another but the woman just smiled.

"Prince Zeijan saved you. You were wounded so I treated you. Not only that, you were bitten by a snake," she said and frowned at me.

I immediately looked at my leg.

"While you were sleeping, I gave you an antidote to keep the poison from spreading, you had to eat, there was a medicine mixed in to get rid of the venom of the snake that bit you." She said and I nodded.

"Iʼll just come back later," she said.

She was about to leave when I spoke again. "Where am I? And whoʼs... Prince Zeijan are you talking about?" Iʼm not naughty. Iʼm just curious now who was this woman is referring to and I also want to know where I am.

"I am Rianna, Prince Zeijanʼs servant. Everything he commands I will obey and do. But I just want you to know, this is not an ordinary world you entered, young lady. You probably donʼt know yet, but nothing can tell you everything but you know for yourself," she said.

I can't understand her. Why do I personally know everything? "Enjoy your meal, young lady." She said and finally got out of the room I was staying in now.

I shook my head.

So, there is a king and queen. There is a prince and a princess. There are soldiers and servants. I sat on the bed and looked at the food here landed. My God, this is not the kind of place or our world republic the government but here... different.

I just lay in bed after I ate the food but thinking about what was going on now in the our mansion. I knew auntie Rosette and Dad were looking for me now. I knew they were furious at by my escape. During these times, I know Yuan is also helping to find me but... can they find me in this place?

How else can I get back there. When I come back, Scarlette will kill me. I don't know what I should think now. I looked at my phone. No signal and plus... low battery. I was still confused now, as is my life... when has my life been better?

When I was thirteenth, my mother died. Her body was found in the forest and according to the investigation, she was raped, before killed. It was very shameless to do that. Itʼs been five years but the suspect is still not found but... no one still knows who was that suspect is.

I looked at the wall clock above the large mirror; ten o'five AM. I just felt like I'm in our mansion, the time was fast because I was just staying at the room. I ran away so I could do what I wanted to do. But why doesnʼt it seem like itʼs still like this?

I got out of this bed and approached the door. I touched the doorknob and I smiled when it opened. I looked around before I finally left the room. I was expecting to be in the big palace. Obviously. Even though Iʼm happy in this place that I just saw for the first time, there is still a mixture of apprehension and fear in me because I donʼt know who they really are.

As I walked and I reached the terrace of this palace. It was definitely not totally outside the palace because there were guards at the big gate not far away. I could see below the fenced road and it was surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers. I smiled at the red rose that I saw. I want to go down to pick one up but I might get caught leaving the room.

"Young lady," I turned immediately to someone who speak. I saw the woman again earlier. "Youʼre not in the room ʼcause you're here," she said.

"Ah, I'm sorry. Iʼm just want some fresh air," I replied with a smile. "The prince orders you to take a bath and change. Your prepared clothes are on the bed," she said.

"Thereʼs no need. Iʼm leaving here this place as soon as possible," I said.

"But why?" Its astonishment and I nodded. "Yes. I want to thank to your prince for his kindness, but I canʼt stay here for a long because... I donʼt fit in this place."

"You canʼt leave, young lady." Rianna turned to another someone.

I was stunned with this guy. I have met a lot of good-looking men but this one was different. The aura and his presence are different. "Prince Zeijan," Rianna said and bowed down at the man in front of her.

Wait. Prince Zeijan?!

"You?" I was wondering at the man in front of me. Is he the prince who saved me?

"Go back to the room and do what I told you. Rianna, take her." It would have been good, but I thought he's a little strictly aware for the strangers like me.

"Yes, Prince Zeijan." Rianna looked at me and motioned for me to follow her.

I looked at Prince Zeijan again but he was not looking at me but now that I have turned my back, I know he looked at me. I know that style.

***

Yuanʼs Point of View

When we went to the Joson's mansion, we found ourselves in a commotion. I never thought that... she ran away but I prepared a lot of private army to look for her. Ghwene and I are getting married tomorrow and I hope everything goes well. I was riding a horse and I ordered my staff to search her here in the forest, I could smell Ghweneʼs scent. "Prince Yuan!" When they called me, I immediately approached them.

I got off the horse first and looked at the two men with arrows in the back; lying down and these two men were my Dad's staff. I looked closely at this thing. I noticed something shining on the surface of the rock and I picked it up.

This is Ghweneʼs bracelet! What happened to her? I decided to go back to my Dad and our mansion. I went straight into his office. "Dad," I saw him. "Howʼs the searching for Ghwene, son?" he asked me.

"Dad. Looks like I already know where Ghwene is. I think... she was in Zeijanʼs place now. And I even found it that I know she owns this," I showed him the bracelet. "Donʼt waste any more time, Yuan. Even if you canʼt find Ghwene now, Iʼll tell Edgardo to cancel your wedding first." he looked at me again.

"And if itʼs true that she was in Zeijanʼs place, leave immediately. Hereʼs what you remember, Yuan. Itʼs necessary, Edgardo and Rosette will donʼt lose trust in us." I smiled.

"Donʼt worry, Dad. Ghwene is only for me. I picked the rose, so I will benefit from the rose I picked." I said. I looked again at the bracelet I was holding.

Wait for a while, Ghwene. I will get you back to me, I will.

Ghweneʼs Point of View

After I take a bath. Rianna assisted me to fix myself. Actually, she didnʼt have to do it. I was being assisted all the time, thatʼs why I ran away from those things that I don't want, but ended up like this. Nothing has changed. "You don't have to do this, Rianna. I can do it all alone, Iʼm sorry." I said.

"But it was ordered by-"

"Even if it was ordered by your Prince Zeijan. You know, I was thinking about what kind of government that you have here... I know this kind of monarchy. In our place, itʼs not like this but in the mansion... this is the rule in my life. I have no freedom, and I canʼt do what I want to do." I'm facing the mirror now while sitting and Rianna, standing in my side.

"Dadʼs business partnerʼs son and I are supposed to get married tomorrow but I just ran away so I went to the forest... where your Prince Zeijan found me," I sighed then stood up and faced Rianna. "I'm sorry about that, young lady. This is how we really are and we are far from those like you but I am sorry that you feel that way in life. I understand you. Donʼt worry, next time..." she said.

I just smiled. Next time?

"As I said... I donʼt deserve to be here in your place,"

"Why not?" she asked me.

"Donʼt ask why, Rianna. First of all... you already know... that we come from different world," she smiled.

"You speak same as Prince Zeijan," She murmured. My forehead frowned. "Are you saying something?" I asked her but she just shook her head.

"Nothing. Come on downstairs , letʼs join Prince Zeijan for lunch," She said and she held my hand. "What? Wait... lunch? Shall we accompany the prince to his lunch? As in?" I said, I can't believe it. "Of course. The prince could not even talk,"

"Youʼd better just go with him to lunch, Iʼm shy..."

"Tss, thatʼs not it."

"Hmm, Iʼm not comfortable. I think he is strict," I said as I walked with her. "Heʼs really like that, but when you know him for a long time... you will know the real Prince Zeijan. If you only knew..."

"If I only knew... which one?" I ask.

"Nothing. Come on," she greeted me. We got to the dinning area and there I saw a lot of food prepared on the long table.

I could feel Prince Zeijan staring at me. Rianna greeted him but he was still looking at me. I looked at what I was wearing; just a simple white dress and I'm still wearing my brown boots. Something is missing; my bracelet. Where did that go?

"Sit down," Prince Zeijan offered. I looked at Rianna, she was about to pull me a chair but I preceded her. "Iʼm sorry, Iʼll take care of it." I told her with a smile and she just sat close next to Prince Zeijan. "I donʼt think youʼre comfortable in what you're wearing, young lady." The prince said so I looked at it.

"No, uhm... itʼs okay." My answer.

"Your leg wound is still fresh so thatʼs what I put on you first," I just nodded. A little silence prevailed. I don't know why anything is weird about how I feel. I donʼt feel bad, weird feelings. "You are getting married. Why did you run away?" Prince Zeijan said but he wasn't looking at me.

He must have heard earlier while Rianna and I were just talking. "To the person I donʼt love? If you are in my situation, I know you will do what I did, Prince Zeijan." I said.

He nodded. "You may be right," He said so I looked at him. "Itʼs really hard to escape the pedestal youʼre in but... you did it without fear,"

I will also not be happy if the marriage with Yuan happened . Since Mom died, Dad has changed. Well, because of Auntie Rosette. "Iʼm sure your family is looking for you now and all the concerns about your marriage," Rianna said.

"Right. But as I said, I don't have to stay here because by the time they track me down here, you might even be in danger. My fiance and his father have many private armies," I said.

"If you leave here, you will have nowhere else to go, young lady. And I wonʼt let you leave either because itʼs dangerous, once you leave the palace..." I looked at Prince Zeijan.

"Why?"

"Those men who chased you, they were my fatherʼs men. But when they come back here and my father finds out that someone has entered the palace... they will not hesitate to kill you,"

"W-Who are you referring to, Prince Zeijan?" Iʼm confused question. He averted his eyes from me and besides, why was he only referring to me?

Arenʼt they human?

"That was my father and... my brother. I have been orphaned by my mother for a long time, but... we are only second in my fatherʼs life because my father had his first family." Iʼm just looking at him now.

Even though he wasnʼt looking, I could see that he was sad. "I am a prince but I have not yet been crowned, but I know that my brother will not stop me from expelling me from the palace so that he can have the throne and the crown,"

Scarlette looks like his brother. He wants Yuan to be her, and Prince Zeijanʼs brother... wants to get the throne and the crown. "In that case, one of you two is the crown prince." I said and he sighed.

"But honestly... I would rather be an ordinary person. Because I never wanted to sit on the throne and lead the whole Tian Kingdom," he said. I just headed. "You are in the same state in life. There is no difference," Rianna said.

"Maybe your paths have met so that you two can work together through challenges and trials,"

"Do you believe in destiny, Rianna?" I asked and she smiled looking at me. "Of course. Destiny... that comes naturally, not in hurry. How about you? Do you believe in destiny?" This question came back to me. If you ask me...

"I believe in destiny, and you're right, Rianna. It comes naturally but what I can't believe ... is eternal love," I replied.

"Eternal love," Prince Zeijan said so I looked at him. "Someday, that will also be achieved by two people who have met even though they come from different worlds." What he said was meaningful. My forehead frowned slightly. "Do you see the future, Prince Zeijan?" Rianna asked.

That means... the prophecy. I don't believe in that. Thatʼs not existing for me and our world. But in this kind of place, the prophecy was still existing.

What kind of people are they here? And why in so many places in the world am I still stuck here. "No." Prince Zeijan answered Riannaʼs question earlier. "In that case, those two people are lucky to have the eternal love." I didnʼt say a word and so did Prince Zeijan.

The two of us caught sight of each other but I immediately avoided. I don't know how to communicate with a prince like him. "Whatʼs your name, young lady?" Prince Zeijan asked me. I fell silent. "Ghwene... Ghwene Aliz Joson." My answer.

"Joson?"

"Is there a problem with my surname?" I asked but he shook his head. "Nothing. Itʼs like... Iʼve heard that before. I just don't know where," he said. This man is very mysterious too.

Looks kind. But even though its face is very humble, its strictness still prevails. "What is Prince Zeijan saying that... his fatherʼs men are chasing me in the forest? What is their purpose?" I asked Rianna.

After we ate, she accompanied me on a tour of the entire palace. "Those, the king ordered to hunt forest rangers. The king does not allow anyone else to enter that forest unless you are actually from the Tian Kingdom," she explained. Rianna turned to me.

"And since they didnʼt kill you, they will definitely look for you. And when they find out that you are here inside the palace... the king will order the soldiers who are here... to kill you." I looked at him again.

"When that comes to happen, Prince Zeijan will not be able to protect you. The king is still more powerful and only can follow his orders,"

Iʼm nervous now. What if the king came here and found out I was here he would kill me. Iʼm sure I have no escape and Prince Zeijan canʼt do anything if the king orders me to be killed.