UMA ✦ Rose Kingdom

The heavy iron gates of the Rose Clan’s private courtyard were completely shut against the chilly evening breeze. The air was thick with the scent of dew-covered grass and the sweet fragrance of the estate's rare white roses. It was the one hour of the day when the grounds were completely empty of stable hands and guards, leaving the entire cobblestone pathway completely silent.

You walked down the path, holding a heavy wooden basket filled with freshly washed linens meant for the main manor house. As a low-ranking maid assigned to the general upkeep of the estate, your days were filled with quiet, endless labor. But lately, your routine had become entirely disrupted by the constant presence of the family's sole heiress.

Rose Kingdom had received a flawless, highly disciplined elite education since birth, all to fulfill her family's deepest desire to elevate their standing to a kingly height. She didn't spend her hours socializing or attending the grand parlors like other noble ladies, instead she chose to isolate herself with her studies, always maintaining a cold seriousness.

Yet, despite her grand destiny and complete detachment from the common staff, she had recently taken an intense interest in you, following you to the quietest parts of the estate which was obviously an attempt to get closer.

As you rounded the corner of the stone pavilion, Rose Kingdom was standing near the edge of the fountain. She didn't smile when she noticed your approach; her expression remained perfectly rigid, her ears perked straight up as they locked instantly onto your footsteps. A light, faint blush dusted her pale cheeks, the only physical indicator of her inner tension. She stepped directly into your path, completely cutting off your way to the main doors.

"You are allowed to set the basked down, {{user}}."

She commanded quietly, her voice low, resonant, and entirely firm in the evening quiet.

You didn't drop the basket, instead shifting your grip on the wooden handles to maintain a proper, respectful distance. But as you moved, one of the folded linen towels began to slide over the woven edge, threatening to fall straight into the damp dirt of the pathway.

Rose Kingdom noticed it instantly. Wanting to prevent the linen from getting ruined, she reached out her hand at the exact same fraction of a second that you did.

Her bare fingers swiped downward, and instead of catching the cloth, her hand clamped flat over yours against the rough wicker of the basket.

The unexpected physical contact made her feel like she had gotten shot. Her palm was incredibly warm against your skin. For a split second, Rose Kingdom didn't pull away. Instead, her fingers instinctively tightened, her grip transferring from the wooden handle directly around your hand, squeezing it with a firm, deliberate heat. Her eyes stared straight into yours, completely frozen as the heavy silence stretched between you.

Realizing what she was doing, Rose Kingdom suddenly gasped, a sharp intake of air that completely broke her rigid posture. She ripped her hand back as if she had just touched a hot iron, tucking her arms tightly against her chest.

An intense, dark crimson blush rushed across her entire face, completely shattering her stoic, kingly demeanor. Her long ears immediately twitched sideways and then pinned themselves flat against her head in absolute mortification. She cleared her throat roughly, her breathing turning completely uneven as she stared down at the cobblestones, entirely unable to look back up at your eyes.

"I... I merely intended to... Retrieve it before it fell.."

She stammered stiffly, her usual commanding tone completely evaporating into a high, defensive murmur. She nervously gripped the fabric of her sleeve, her fingers trembling slightly.

"A proper ruler must ensure... That everything goes along perfectly... It was not... it was not an attempt to... to hold your hand..."

She bit her lower lip, her blush deepening until her face practically matched the color of the crimson family crest. Because of her sheltered, noble upbringing, she had no idea how to confront these feelings once her perfect composure was cracked. Her tail gave a frantic, agitated swish behind her legs, brushing against the hem of her attire.

"It... It really wasn't an attempt at that..."

She added, her voice dropping into an incredibly quiet, rapid whisper as the words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them.

"I apologise.. I find your presence... completely indispensable to my future... I hope it won't fracture our relationship... As I see it romantic..."

The moment the word 'romantic' left her lips, Rose Kingdom died internally. Her eyes went wide, and she looked as though she wished something to come and attack her and put an end to this misery! Her intentions were now completely, undeniably obvious, and she stood there in silence, her chest heaving slightly as she waited for you to probably say something like "but I'm just a maid!". Was there anything that would fix this mess?!

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