In the ruin of love, roses and ashes remain.
The golden sun dipped behind the marble spires of the imperial palace, bathing the land in dying light.
In this land, there lay a garden — timeless and still. Roses of every color swayed in the warm breeze — red, white, and ash-grey. Their fragrance lingered like a memory that refused to fade.
At the edge of the garden stood a lone woman.
Her crimson dress flowed with the wind as she bent gracefully, plucking a single red rose. She brought it close, inhaling its scent, and a soft smile curved her lips.
Passersby paused, caught in the moment. For a heartbeat, they could not tell if what they saw was real… or a dream.
"Who is that beautiful woman?" a young man asked, still in a daze.
His mother whacked him over the head with a basket.
"Ow!" he grunted, rubbing the spot as he glared at her.
"That's Rosa Sunvale!" the woman hissed. "Don't you dare look at her, lest your eyes pop out!"
The man scoffed. "How would my eyes pop out, Mom? You always say the strangest things. I'm just taking a peek — nothing will happen."
But the moment he turned to admire Rosa again, an arrow struck with deadly precision — straight through his eyes.
A chilling scream tore through the air.
People scattered in panic, screaming. The man's mother collapsed to her knees, weeping uncontrollably. Some fled. Others simply resumed their business, unfazed—as if this were a normal occurrence.
It hadn't always been this way. But recently, such scenes had become... expected.
The natives who remained wore unreadable expressions.
The grieving mother screamed, her voice hoarse and raw, but the guards arrived swiftly, lifting the bloodied body without ceremony. She followed, sobbing, stumbling behind them.
And Rosa — Rosa stood still, unmoving. She had seen everything, yet said nothing.
Her silence, heavy and trembling, was not from indifference...But fear.
There was a rumour in the kingdom. They said there was a woman in the capital — so beautiful that poets forgot their verses, and warriors lowered their swords. Whispers of her grace spread like wildfire through taverns, temples, and tea houses. A woman as enchanting as moonlight on water.
However, anyone who dared to even catch a glimpse of her often met a cruel end. Some said she was cursed — that her beauty was too powerful for the world to bear. Rumors spread that the dark patriarch of the evil kingdom Caelvaris, a master of dark magic, had placed a curse on her, making it impossible for anyone to marry her.
But only Rosa knew the truth behind her tragic fate. She knew the truth behind the frequent violence.
Ash Valeheart. A mighty yet arrogant lad, the son of General Rowan — a renowned warrior celebrated across the lands for his unmatched bravery. The people expected Ash to not only follow in his father's footsteps but to surpass him, to become an even greater legend. If men would willingly die for Rosa, then women would lay themselves at Ash's feet, craving his favor without asking for anything in return.
Born fierce and restless, Ash possessed a relentless stamina that no one could rival. By the age of 14, he had already made a name for himself at the royal hunting banquet, where he faced and hunted down a fierce tiger — a feat that many considered impossible for someone so young.
For that legendary hunt, the people crowned him with a title that echoed his strength and courage: "The Tigerbane."
However, even the formidable Tigerbane could not help but fall for Rosa — the enchanting woman whose very presence seemed to soften the hardest hearts.
Ash was deeply possessive of Rosa. He never spoke to her directly, never made a move — but he watched from a distance, always there. Anyone who tried to get close to her, anyone who so much as looked at her the wrong way, disappeared. Killed by Ash without hesitation.
Rosa kept her feelings to herself. She had only heard people talk about how handsome and gentle Ash was. Honestly, she was kind of expecting to meet him first before deciding what to think about him.
Ashy thought he kept it well hidden from Rosa, but he was wrong. Rosa knew everything.
Just like what happened to the young man — Rosa knew who was behind it.
She stood at the edge of the crime scene, lost in thought, when someone suddenly pulled her back to reality.
"Miss Rosa! You're here? I've been looking everywhere for you!" a girl said, out of breath. She was panting hard, clearly in a hurry.
"Amara, calm down and breathe with m—"
Before Rosa could finish, Amara grabbed her hand and spoke again, louder this time. "Miss Rosa! The master is ordering you to come home right now and get ready for the party!"
Rosa's expression changed. Her brows pulled together in frustration. "I told Father I wasn't going to that banquet."
Amara knew that her young miss always stayed true to her words, and never changed her mind if she decided one thing as final. But there was still one way to make her go.
Amara quickly joined her hands, begging. "Please, Miss Rosa! If you don't come, the master will punish me! Just this once — come for my sake!"
Rosa took a deep breath, and exhaled, "Alright, let's go." She said, offering a soft smile.