CHAPTER NINE - Thorns in Bloom
967 Words
The garden stretched endlessly before him, a quiet oasis nestled in the heart of a cold, ruthless world. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of rain from the night before. Dew clung to the petals of roses and lilies, shimmering like fragile jewels in the soft morning light. The garden was beautiful — too beautiful for a house that breathed violence.
Marco walked slowly along the path, his hands tucked into his pockets, his gaze drifting over the flowers with quiet wonder. He hadn’t expected this. In a place where power ruled and cruelty was currency, he hadn’t thought anything could grow at all. Yet here they were — delicate, thriving.
He crouched by a row of white roses, brushing his fingers gently over one of the petals. Soft. Warm against his cold skin.
It made him wonder.
“How do you grow in a place like this?” Marco murmured under his breath.
“I could ask you the same question,” came a calm voice from behind him.
Marco glanced over his shoulder to see Luca approaching, hands loosely at his sides. His expression was polite, as always, but there was a cautious edge to his tone.
“You know Alessandro will be angry if he finds you out here,” Luca said as he stopped a few steps away.
Marco straightened, irritation flickering in his eyes. “Of course he will,” he muttered. “He’s always angry about something.”
Luca raised a brow but didn’t argue.
Marco exhaled sharply. “So, I’m not even allowed to walk around the house now?” he asked bitterly. “Is breathing next on the list?”
Luca gave a small, understanding shrug. “You’re not a prisoner,” he said calmly. “But you’re not exactly free, either.”
The words hit harder than Marco wanted to admit. He turned his gaze back to the garden, walking slowly along the path. To his surprise, Luca fell into step beside him.
For a while, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant hum of the mansion behind them.
Marco broke the silence first. “He’s not what I expected,” he said quietly.
Luca glanced at him. “Who?”
“Alessandro.” Marco hesitated. “I thought he’d be… different.”
Luca’s expression softened slightly. “How so?”
“I don’t know,” Marco admitted. “Colder. Less… human.” He shook his head. “One second he’s threatening to break me, and the next he’s wrapping my hand like he cares. It doesn’t make any sense.”
Luca chuckled under his breath. “It makes perfect sense. You just don’t know him yet.”
Marco frowned. “So who is he?”
Luca tilted his head slightly, considering the question. “Alessandro is… complicated,” he said finally. “He carries a lot more weight than most people realize. His father expects him to be perfect. The men expect him to be ruthless. And I think… somewhere in there, he’s still trying to figure out who he is.”
Marco fell silent, processing Luca’s words. It wasn’t the answer he’d expected.
They walked a few more steps before Marco spoke again. “Why isn’t he married?” he asked suddenly. “Most heirs are. It’s usually the first thing they do — secure power through marriage. But Alessandro…” He trailed off.
Luca laughed softly. “He’ll marry when the time is right,” he said. “Or when Augustus decides it’s time. Either way, Alessandro isn’t in a rush.”
Marco nodded slowly, though he wasn’t sure he believed it. There was something in the way Luca said it — something that hinted at a deeper truth.
As they continued walking, Marco’s gaze drifted to Luca’s neck. A faint, dark mark peeked out just above the collar of his shirt. It wasn’t hard to guess where it came from.
Marco’s expression shifted, his anger dimming slightly. “That happened during the scuffle with Leo, didn’t it?” he asked quietly.
Luca glanced at him, surprised. “It’s nothing,” he said with a shrug.
“It’s not nothing,” Marco said. There was genuine regret in his voice. “I’m sorry. For… what he did.”
Luca paused for a moment, studying him. “You don’t have to apologize for him.”
“I know,” Marco said. “But I want to. Leo isn’t a bad person. He just… hates losing. He’s been like that since we were kids. Always needing to win. Always hating anyone who got in his way.” He sighed softly. “He takes it too far sometimes.”
Luca nodded slowly. “We all have our flaws,” he said. “It wasn’t personal.”
Marco offered a small, grateful smile. The tension between them eased slightly, replaced by something quieter — something almost understanding.
They reached the edge of the garden, where the path curved back toward the mansion. Luca glanced at the sky, then back at Marco.
“We should head back,” he said gently. “Before Alessandro notices you’re gone.”
Marco exhaled, shaking his head with a wry smile. “Can’t let the king get angry,” he muttered.
Luca chuckled. “Trust me,” he said. “You don’t want to see him when he’s angry.”
Marco glanced back at the garden one last time before they turned toward the house. The flowers swayed gently in the breeze, untouched by the violence of the world around them.
And as they walked back toward the mansion, Marco couldn’t help but wonder…
Maybe Alessandro was a little like those flowers. Strong enough to grow in the cold.
But surrounded by thorns.
- Writer
