“Greetings, my friend. Meet us in the kitchens, Pedro. It’s a full moon tonight so we need to take advantage of it.”
“You’ve seen the Prince Lucas?” He asked cautiously.
Rosabelle nodded sadly, not speaking her fear.
“So you know it has started on him already. He must have hastened the effects when he told you the story of the curse. You’re right. The rose is in full bloom and there’s a full moon tonight. Let me get dressed and I will meet you in the kitchens.”
Rosabelle nodded and returned to the kitchens. She saw Lucas, Miranda and Keithley were back too with the other people in the castle.
Pedro joined them moments later. Rosabelle could almost count up to ten in total. So many lives lost, she thought.
"I believe this is the whole staff, Rosabelle." Lucas said. "Tell us your news. Were you able to find Esmeralda?"
"Yes. She has given me instructions in how to harness the power of the magical rose but it has its limitations. There are only sixteen petals and one petal can only bring back one person. The last petal should be reserved for our prince so he can wish his curse away."
"And did she teach you how we can move the rose under the full moonlight, Rosabelle?" Pedro asked.
"Yes, with this pot of soil, Pedro." Rosabelle then went to explain what Esmeralda said. Pedro was nodding, understanding the task at hand.
Lucas started to designate the special jobs needed to be carried out.
"We need to make a list of the people we need to wish back. Miranda and Keithley, you start writing the list. Pedro will head out to the greenhouse and start digging up the rose plant. It's almost time for the moon to be at its fullest. We should head out to the gardens and meet up at the south side. We'll need torches to light the path to where we are supposed to meet. Rusty and Davis, you're in charge of the light."
As they all separated in their tasks, Lucas held on to Rosabelle's hand, clasping it with both of his hands, "Rosabelle, I am grateful you came back. I have missed you so much."
She whispered, "I promised I would, Lucas."
He smiled at her and kissed her hands, brushing his lips softly on her skin that made her toes tingle. She felt her body go warm again and she blushed. They walked hand in hand towards the greenhouse. They entered the greenhouse and saw Pedro was already busy working there. He had taken the pot of soil with him. He had started uprooting the rose plant and transplanting it slowly into the pot, holding it by the root. The magical rose was in full bloom and it was holding strong as Pedro buried its roots in the magical soil. It did not wither or die. Rosabelle can feel the surge of hope from everyone. This was the night when they could go back to their normal lives and not be scared by an impending doom.
They made their way to the south side of the garden and Pedro set the pot in the middle of a small stone table. Miranda held a paper in her hand and she gave it to Lucas who read it. He returned the paper back to Miranda and grimly said, "We will prioritize the servants and their family especially the children. Cross out my father and the other people of nobility."
"But--?" Miranda started to say but Lucas cut her short.
"And that is an order. He would have done the same thing. The servants first. I brought you to this mess. You do not deserve to suffer any longer. We will have to coordinate with everyone so that they will have a turn at the rose. Cross out the names that were called out."
Miranda can only nod as she made out a new list of names.
"It's time," Pedro said, looking at the full moon up in the dark sky. The rose was starting to move a little. The moonlight shining strong up above.
"Miranda, you first. Hold out your hand and wait for the petal to drop in your hand then speak Chip's name." Rosabelle encouraged.
Miranda approached the rose. She held out a hand and waited. Finally, one petal fell. It landed slowly on Miranda's hand.
"I wish to bring Chip back." Everyone held their breath as they waited on what will happen next.
The petal disappeared from Miranda's hand and they heard a shout from behind, "Mama!"
"Chip!" Miranda turned to the voice that called her name.
Chip was running down the grassy path where they were standing. He jumped into Miranda’s arms. Mother and son were reunited. Miranda held him for dear life, not wanting to let him go. And there was Chip, alive and well, not a blemish to his face or body.
"Keithley, next." Lucas called out. Keithley caught his petal in his hand and whispered a name on the list. Jenkins appeared to their far right, a little dumbfounded at their appearance in the garden.
One by one, the other servants grew confident and they approached the rose with their assigned names on the list.
Rosabelle waited, watching as new faces appeared. One was even Matthew, Miranda's husband and Chip's father. The family of three embraced each other. Chip was crying with tears of joy as he saw his father alive and well.
At last, they reached the final petal. It was Lucas' turn. He approached the rose which had the last remaining petal. He held out his hand and the petal fell in his palm. He stared at it. Rosabelle could not wait to see the curse broken. She couldn’t wait to see the white mask gone from his face.
Lucas looked at her and Rosabelle looked back at him. She then realized a moment too late that Lucas had another thing in his mind. He had no intention of ever using the last petal for himself. He whispered something as she ran forward to try to stop him.
"Lucas, no!"
The next thing she knew Lucas fell to the floor, severely weakened and he was gasping for air. Rosabelle felt a tingling sensation on her right side. Her hand came up to her right side of her face. What was once the rough ridges of scar tissue had become a plane of smoothness. The pain was gone, not even the slightest twinge! She looked at her right arm and hand. They were flawless. Lucas had given his last petal to her. He sacrificed himself for her.
She knelt on the ground and started to cry, "Lucas, what have you done? You fool, you could have wished your curse away."
Lucas whispered back, "My lovely Rose. You sacrificed a lot for us. It is but fitting to have the last petal wish for you. You deserve so much more. Goodbye, Rose. Take care of the people in this castle. I could not ask for more loyal servants as they. "
With his final breath, he added, "I love you, Rosabelle." And then silence. No movement was seen in his chest.
Rosabelle held his hand, "No! Stay with me, Lucas! Please. I love you, too!"
She cradled his head in her lap, her tears falling in sadness at the love lost. She could feel his face cooling down rapidly and she bent down so that his last thoughts would be the warmth of her kiss. She pressed her lips to his tenderly, all her love pouring into it. One first and last kiss to remember. Her heart sank further as she kissed him goodbye.
A loud piercing whistle sounded from a near distance which made her open her eyes. It sounded like a booming shooting star. She gasped as she looked down and saw the white mask slip off from Lucas' face. He had the most handsome face she had ever seen. A face her heart knew already. She touched his face gingerly, tracing his perfect contour and aquiline features.
Suddenly, Lucas flickered his eyes open, "Rosabelle."
Her mouth opened in surprise, not daring to believe what she was seeing, "Lucas?"
He was alive and well, breathing and his body warm beneath her hands. She could not be imagining this.
"Yes, my young lovebirds, the curse has been broken." The enchantress Esmeralda came forward, her green dress glistening in the darkness of the night as she came forward. The servants did not dare move, deeply rooted in their spot. They were probably scared to bring on the wrath of the enchantress.
Lucas got up in haste, helping Rosabelle up as well and they slowly gave a bow of respect, "Enchantress, I hope to seek your forgiveness for the offense I have committed. Please forgive me."
Esmeralda brushed his apology aside, "I think Mabel realized her foolishness and died more in shame than grief. It was your va
nity that brought the curse upon you but it was your selflessness that broke it. You were willing to give up the last petal for the woman you love. Rosabelle's true love's kiss brought you back to life."
Rosabelle smiled and asked, "Does this mean we get to have our happy ending?"
Before Esmeralda can reply, a high-pitched laughter joined them. The imp, Rumpel, appeared near them. He was wearing his black garb with gold buttons.
"I hate to interrupt such a joyous occasion but I have come to collect Rosabelle."
Rosabelle's worst fears surfaced as she realized why Rumpel was here. She held on to Lucas tightly. He held her in a protective embrace.
"Forgive me, Lucas." She pleaded, sorrow in her eyes at the thought of leaving her beloved.
Lucas looked from Rosabelle to Rumpel, confusion in his eyes, "What is going on here? What is the meaning of this?"
Rumpel waved his hand and drew up the contract from thin air, "As you can see, Rosabelle has signed her freedom away to me in exchange for helping her find Esmeralda."
"Oh?" Esmeralda raised an eyebrow at the small man, clear contempt in her eyes.
"You were hard to find so I helped Rosabelle find her way to you. I am demanding payment for the service rendered immediately."
"You probably staged the whole thing, Rumpel. You're a sly one, aren't you?" Esmeralda said with her tone of voice accusing.
"Let's agree to disagree on how Rosabelle signed her freedom away. What matters most is that I now own her." Rumpel flicked his hand and Rosabelle found her hands bound in chains.
"No!" Lucas shouted, his hands trying to pry the tight binding chains. "It cannot end this way."
"Say your goodbyes already. We are leaving immediately!" The imp said impatiently.
Rosabelle bowed her head. She could not deny to the rest that she indeed signed her freedom away. She took solace that everything turned out well in the end. Lucas was free from the curse and the servants were back to their normal lives.
"Let's go!" Rumpel said as he raised his hand for a spell.
"Wait!" Esmeralda commanded. "Let me see the contract again."
Rumpel magically threw the contract towards Esmeralda who magically kept it in midair in front of her. She took out her spectacles from the air and wore them. She read the contract closely and when she was done, she threw it back at Rumpel who caught it with his hand.
"It's not valid." Esmeralda said simply, tossing her spectacles which vanished in midair.
"What do you mean? It says here---" Rumpel stammered, clearly starting to get upset.
"Rosabelle cannot give her freedom away since she's already obligated under contract to another."
"To whom?" Rumpel demanded. His resolve breaking. His perfect plan dissolving before his eyes.
Prince Lucas replied, "To me. She is technically still my servant and I have not released her from her servitude. She still owes me payment for a wrongdoing her father committed."
"Since Rosabelle was still serving her sentence with the Prince, she cannot sign away her freedom therefore the contract you're holding is null and void." Esmeralda snatched the paper from Rumpel's hand and crumpled it in the air. The torn pieces floating slowly to the ground like snowflakes.
Rumpel watched the pieces of paper fall and his temper flared up. He started stomping his feet in rage and was muttering, "Fool, fool, stupid fool! You made a fool of me! Aaargh!" He gave a scream of frustration and then disappeared before their eyes, his scream echoing in the wind. And then silence as everyone looked on, still shocked at the scene.
Rosabelle was first to react when she realized she was not going to serve Rumpel for the rest of her life. She was staying here where she belonged, with Lucas. She clasped her chest with joy, "Thank you for helping us, Esmeralda."
Esmeralda smiled back in return, "Yes, Rosabelle. Everyone deserves a second chance especially when they change for the better. Your heart is pure and enlightening. I am feeling generous so I am gifting you one more request and then I will bid you farewell forever."
Rosabelle turned to Lucas who nodded his agreement, guessing what she was about to say and then she asked, "We did not have enough petals to wish the other people back. Can you bring them back, Esmeralda? Please?"
Esmeralda nodded and waved, "It is done." She pointed on the other side of the garden and there were other people standing there. More people than she could count. More people than she could have imagined.
Esmeralda waved again and then vanished in a flash.
"Father!" Rosabelle heard Lucas call out. He approached an elderly man with a white beard who was standing in the middle, still dazed and confused at what was happening. Lucas gave him a hug and his father widened his eyes in recognition, "Lucas! The white mask is gone. What happened?"
Rosabelle followed the others as they bowed low to their king.
Lucas laughed, "It is best explained when we are all seated. It has been a long and tiring journey, thanks to this lovely lady. Father, meet Rosabelle, our savior and hopefully, my future wife, if she will have me."
Rosabelle blushed and felt the king reach for her hand, pulling her up from her curtsy, "We, the kingdom of Viceroy, are grateful. I thank you for saving my son and the people in this castle."
"It is my honor, your majesty."
The king kissed her cheek and then exclaimed,"Well? Are you marrying my son?"
Rosabelle shyly answered, "He has not ask me yet, your Majesty."
Lucas came forward and went down on one knee, "Rosabelle, my love, will you marry me? I don't have a ring--"
"Oh yes you do," Rosabelle reached into her breast pocket and pulled out the ring Lucas gave her. He took it and waited, hovering the ring near her ring finger.
"Yes, Lucas, I will marry you."
Lucas smiled and slipped the ring into her finger and they sealed it with a kiss. He looked into her eyes which twinkled in amusement.
"Oh and for the record, I release you from your servitude. You are no longer my servant. You, my love, are my keeper because you hold the key to my heart and thoughts forever."
"And you hold mine, " Rosabelle replied with a smile, her heart light and swelling with love.
“Everyone, I present you Princess Rosabelle, savior of Viceroy!” The king announced. Everyone bowed in gratitude and then the king continued with, “This is a momentous time in our lives. Let us celebrate our renewed life with love and laughter! We shall prepare for a royal wedding and everyone is invited!”
There was a round of cheers and applause all throughout the garden as both royalty and servants beamed at the young couple. It was a happy ending, indeed! Everyone was hugging each other and patting one another's back like a long lost friend. Chip was running around in exuberance with the other children, glad to be back to his old self again. He was also happy he was not the only child left in the castle.
Rosabelle could feel the love all around and she thought of her mother who would have been proud of her. Her family would be proud and now she had a new one who accepted her into their fold.
A shiver passed through her and Lucas enveloped her in his embrace, making her warm, "Cold, my love?"
"Never with you." She cradled her head on his chest.
As they watched the moonlight, a falling star streaked across the midnight sky. Rosabelle closed her eyes and made a silent wish. She was home and at last with her happy ending....
EPILOGUE
"Look, a letter from Isabelle!" Rosabelle exclaimed excitedly. She ripped open the letter and started reading silently.
Lucas looked up from his paperwork. He watched his lovely wife from his desk. Rosabelle was in her last stages of pregnancy but she looked as beautiful as ever. Her father, Mr. Thomas Hardy, was visiting and was staying until his grandchild was born. He was in good health and had retired from his merchant business. He was getting famously with the king. They were already planning their trip abroad to a place she had never heard of. A place called Venice.
"Any good news?"
He asked, teasing her with a smile.
Rosabelle frowned, "I guess she took a position as a librarian in one of the other kingdoms. She complains about her master and described him as beastly, whatever that means."
"Your sister Isabelle is a renowned beauty. I'm sure she will turn this master of hers around."
"I'm sure you're right." Rosabelle said but half-convinced. Isabelle had left their home after a dispute with her suitor Gaston and had responded to a job opening in one of the neighboring kingdoms. She had wanted her own adventure especially when she saw how happy Rosabelle had been at the wedding.
Lucas walked towards her and embraced her, kissing her lovely neck, "Of course I am right. I am the Prince of Viceroy, future king I might add."
The door opened suddenly and their four year old son came bouncing in, "Papa, Mama, look what I found."
Prince Philippe was the spitting image of Lucas. He was angelic and handsome but at times too adventurous. Jenkins had quite a handful keeping an eye on the prince already but Rosabelle knew, Jenkins favored the little prince.
He was holding something golden. As he came closer, Rosabelle saw it was the golden compass. She had almost forgotten about that wonderful piece of device.
"What is this, Mama?"
"This is a compass, Philippe. When you lose your way, it helps you find it again."
"Like magic?"
Rosabelle looked at Lucas, "Yes, like magic."
Philippe turn to look at the chess board that was in the corner, "Papa, can you teach me to play with that?"
Lucas smiled, "Of course, son. There's no time like today--
"Ah, Lucas, you might have to hold that teaching lesson for later." She stopped as another contraction came on. It had started just before her son, Philippe, came in. She thought it was just a false alarm but the contractions were getting more frequent and stronger.
The White Mask & The Red Rose Page 15