A chill lingered in the room, its silence broken only by the faint flicker of candles. The once-vibrant space now lay cloaked in darkness, the night having pulled the world into its quiet grasp.  

Through the dim haze, the unsteady light of a few candles illuminated the emptiness, their fragile flames mirroring the withering season outside.  

In the barren landscape beyond the window, a lone rose bloomed meekly. Its petals, delicate and trembling, seemed ready to fall at any moment.  

After her treatment, Elise lay restless, tossing and turning beneath her blankets. Even as the room settled into silence, she could still hear his voice.

The words of the snake lingered, coiling deep in her mind.

"You are afraid."

The cold voice burrowed into her wounds, stirring the tumultuous thoughts she tried to suppress. Slowly, she pushed herself upright. Her legs wavered as they touched the floor, dizziness striking her with cruel precision. Stumbling without resistance, she felt herself lose balance.

"Is that enough for you?"

That voice again.  

The words, sharp as thorns, refused to leave her. They pricked at her consciousness, inflicting a dull, persistent ache.  

And then, the whispers grew louder.

"Princess Charlotte will be saddened." 
"She cares deeply for you."  
"What will you do if she truly leaves you behind?"

The insidious tone warned of an inevitable loneliness.  

For a brief moment, Elise stopped breathing.  

"She’ll… leave me?"

Her sister—the only person who visited her on this desolate star.  
Her sister, who hid her kindness behind weary eyes.  
Her sister, who never gave up, even when her hands bled from the rose’s thorns.  

The thought of losing her…  

"It’s what you wanted."

Elise tried to convince herself.  

It was what she had planned all along.  

She knew how devoted Charlotte was, even if she didn’t show it. Deep down, Elise had wanted to lean on her sister, to be held, comforted. But she also understood that her wishes could never be granted.  

Reality was cruel.

"At most, you have a year left."

Five years ago, Elise had been handed a death sentence.  

The doctors’ diagnosis was clear: a terminal illness.  

Despite her sister’s tireless efforts, Elise’s fate had already been sealed. That was the first time she saw Charlotte cry.  

"She’s suffering because of me."

Elise realized, far too late, how much of a burden she had become. Watching Charlotte’s quiet sobs filled her with guilt. Her once radiant sister seemed diminished by her mere presence.  

"I have to stay away from her."

To spare her sister pain, Elise chose to push her away. To make Charlotte hate her, if necessary.  

If she were to die tomorrow, she didn’t want to leave a scar on her sister’s kind heart.  

"It’s all my fault."

It was foolish, but Elise had been young. To protect her sister from pain, she chose to sever their bond.  

But Charlotte’s determination knew no bounds. Despite the thorns that pricked her fingers, she kept reaching out.  

"Please, just leave me alone."

The sisters’ stubborn conflict only grew worse over time, culminating in their current estrangement.  

Years had passed since Elise’s prognosis.  

Yet, there was no solace in survival.  

Elise’s condition deteriorated, her suffering relentless. The curse gnawed at her day and night, leaving her a shadow of herself.  

"Cough, cough…"

Every fit reminded her of her frailty. The curse tormented her, stole her breath, and brought her to the brink of despair.  

Charlotte’s helpless tears only added to Elise’s guilt.  

In the quiet of her room, Elise muttered bitterly to herself.  

"I tried so hard to push her away."

She wanted to feel relief, just as the snake had said. If he could convince Charlotte to give up on her, Elise would finally be at peace.  

Or so she thought.  

"Then why…" 

Why did it hurt so much?  

The thought of Charlotte disappearing from her life made her chest ache unbearably. Her breaths came shallow and uneven, her head spinning.

"Haa… ngh."

The reason was simple.  

Like the rose in the fairy tale, her love was hidden behind her thorns.  

Her sharp words weren’t born of hatred.  

Not all that is pointed is malice, just as not all that is soft is love.  

Her love was jagged, painful, and unyielding.  

How could she rejoice in her current predicament?  

This wasn’t the outcome her heart desired.  

Elise bit her lip, the bitter contradiction gnawing at her.  

"Why…"

Why her?  

What had she done to deserve this curse?  

An illness so rare, it afflicted only a few across a century.  

What sin had she committed to carry such a heavy burden?  

"Did it have to be me?"

Memories of her miserable life surfaced, accompanied by a growing self-loathing.  

"Cough, cough!"

Another fit struck, her body trembling violently. Gasping for relief, Elise reached out blindly.  

Her fingers closed around the pocketknife on her bedside table.  

Unwrapping the bandages on her wrist, she pressed the blade against her skin.  

"Slash."

Fresh pain bloomed over her old scars. The sting spread through her arm, momentarily drowning out her other torments.  

A crimson rose bloomed on the floor beneath her, vivid and dark.  

"..."

Elise’s breaths steadied, but only for a moment. The fleeting relief was addictive.  

Without hesitation, she pressed the blade against her flesh again.  

"Slash, slash."

The wounds multiplied, the pain a bitter balm against her despair.  

"When will it end…"

When would her wretched existence finally cease?  

Tears mixed with the blood as her trembling hands continued their grim ritual.  

Her fragile legs gave way, leaving her kneeling amidst a growing sea of crimson.  

As Elise stared at the roses she had painted, fresh tears welled in her deadened eyes.  

"Sniff… ngh."

She was drowning in the scent of her despair.  

She didn’t want to die.  

But she couldn’t live like this.  

"Slash, slash."

The sound of the blade continued until her arms were spent. Blood dripped from her trembling hands as she reached for the bandage around her neck.

"Your Highness."

A pair of arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her into a firm embrace.  

Startled, Elise struggled weakly, but the embrace held steady.  

A familiar voice whispered softly into her ear.  

"Shh… it’s okay."

It was him.  

The boy who had teased her mercilessly over the past few days.  

She turned her head slightly, catching a glimpse of his pale golden hair.  

"Everything is okay now. I’m here."

The warmth of his arms seeped into her frozen body.  

The knife fell from her grasp, clattering to the floor.  

"That’s it," he said gently, stroking her hair.  

Elise stopped resisting, her trembling subsiding as she leaned into his warmth.  

For a long while, the two remained like that, sharing each other’s presence in the cold, dark room.  

The icy chill in the room gradually faded as warmth spread from the boy’s embrace. Elise’s frail body seemed to melt into his hold, the tension in her trembling frame easing as time passed.  

The silence stretched, broken only by the faint sound of her ragged breathing. The boy continued to hold her, his hand gently stroking her crimson-streaked hair.  

"There’s no need to hurt yourself anymore," he murmured softly. "I’m here now."

Her breath hitched, but she didn’t respond. Her deadened green eyes, dim and lifeless like wilted leaves, stared at the crimson-stained floor.  

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she allowed herself to rest.  

Moments passed. Then minutes.  

Finally, the boy shifted slightly, adjusting his grip to keep her steady.  

"You’re safe," he said again, his voice a quiet reassurance.  

Her trembling lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. Only the faint sound of her breathing and the occasional hiccup broke the stillness.  

After what felt like an eternity, the boy carefully pulled her closer, as though shielding her from the suffocating weight of the room.  

"Let’s get you cleaned up," he said softly. "You’ve been through enough."

Elise didn’t resist. Her strength had long since abandoned her, leaving her too weak to protest.  

Gently, he helped her to her feet. She wobbled, her legs barely supporting her weight, but his firm hold kept her upright.  

Guiding her to the bed, he helped her sit down, her body slumping against the soft sheets. Her wrists, still bleeding from fresh cuts, were carefully wrapped in clean bandages.  

The boy worked silently, his movements deliberate and precise.  

"Does it hurt?" he asked quietly, his voice softer now.  

She shook her head weakly, though her expression betrayed the truth.  

When the wounds were tended to, he knelt by her side, his golden eyes meeting her dim green ones.  

"You don’t have to carry this pain alone," he said. "Not anymore."

Her lips quivered, but she turned her head away, unwilling—or perhaps unable—to respond.  

"I know it’s hard," he continued, his voice steady but gentle. "But you’re stronger than this. You’ve endured so much already."

Her fingers twitched slightly, her gaze dropping to her lap.  

"Why…" she whispered finally, her voice faint and brittle. "Why are you doing this?"

He hesitated, his expression unreadable for a moment.  

"Because someone needs to," he said simply. "And because you deserve better than this."

Her shoulders trembled as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.  

"No, I don’t," she murmured, her voice breaking. "I… I’m nothing but a burden. I should have never—"

"Stop," he interrupted, his tone firm but not unkind.  

She flinched, startled by the sudden change in his demeanor.  

"You’re not a burden," he said, his voice softening again. "You’re worth so much more than you realize."

For the first time in years, Elise felt something stir within her—a flicker of something she couldn’t quite name.  

It wasn’t hope, not yet. But it was something.  

The boy reached out, gently cupping her face in his hand.  

"You’re allowed to feel weak," he said. "You’re allowed to cry. But you’re not allowed to give up."

Her breath caught, and for a moment, she couldn’t look away from his eyes.  

"You’re not alone anymore," he said softly. "I promise."

The words hung in the air, a quiet but unshakable vow.  

Elise didn’t respond. But for the first time, she didn’t push him away.  

The boy stayed by her side, his presence a steady, comforting warmth in the darkness.  

And slowly, the suffocating cold that had gripped the room began to fade.