"Rose..." Rune suddenly halted his steps and called Rose. The girl turned to him and asked him a question without a sound. 'What is it?'

"Do you want me to hone my acting as your fake boyfriend?" Rune asked her sheepishly. The man became daring after several glasses of wine he drank earlier.

"What do you have in mind?" Rose furrowed her brows.

"At least, let me hold your hand," whispered Rune. "So later, when we meet your family, we won't look awkward."

Rose was stunned by the young man's words. Ahh .. what a flirt, she thought. Rune didn't look like a womanizer, but somehow he could find such an excuse to hold her hand. And he was good with his words too!!

However, come to think of it, Rune was right. They must appear natural as a couple. With that in mind, she had to get used to holding hands with Rune. Finally, the girl nodded lightly and stretched out her hand towards the man.

The young man took Rose's hand with a wide grin on his face, and so they continued their journey happily.

Two girls who just came out of the club caught their actions before Rose and Rune walked away. They looked at each other.

"See? I was right! The two handsome men are a gay couple," said one girl, looking disappointed.

Her friend nodded sadly. "Well .... what a shame, they are not into women. They are both so handsome."

***

Back at Rose's apartment.

"You're right .. you can surely look like a man," Rune commented as they arrived back at the apartment. "Your life seems very fun and full of excitement."

Rose smiled at the young man's words. She just shrugged and didn't answer.

Since she was sleepy from drinking a lot of wine at dinner outside earlier, Rose decided to hurry to her room in the loft and rest.

Rune stared at the girl's back while she walked up the stairs until she disappeared on the second floor. Then, he took a breath and shook his head.

What a very unique and lovely girl, he thought. Rune then opened the sofabed and made the bed, and lay down comfortably.

He was very happy to live with Rose.

***

FOUR YEARS AGO - GLASGOW, SCOTLAND

.

That night, a luxury car pulled up in front of the boarding school for children of the world's top-class families, St. John Academy, and out came a middle-aged man accompanied by a teenage girl from inside.

"Oh, why.. of course, Mr. Stockton.. We will educate Lady Fournier properly.." said the principal in a friendly manner. The tall, bespectacled, high-class woman looked at the teenage girl in front of her. "This sudden arrival is surprising, but ... well, please pass my regards to the Duke and Duchess Fornier ..."

"Of course, Madame ..." Mr. Stockton bowed down and excused himself. "Thank you in advance. I will convey your regards. Goodbye."

"Goodbye ..."

As soon as Mr. Stockton came out, the principal looked at the girl in front of her from head to toe and cleared her throat softly, "Lady Rose ... I want to see you wear a nice dress tomorrow morning when you go attend the class. Now Miss Khatrine will show you your room."

Rose only smiled a little. She was wearing men's clothes, a white satin shirt and black trousers with commando boots.

Ugh ... The contents of the suitcase she carried were not much different. She did not have any dresses there.

'Even my mother never tells me how to dress. Why would this lady bother me so much?' she thought in annoyance.

"Please come with me, Young Miss..." said a fat woman who appeared from the next room. She politely motioned Rose to follow her to the girl's dorm on the east wing.

The room was spotless and spacious. Rose immediately opened the window and walked to the balcony. She was pensive looking at the moon, illuminating the night. No matter where she was, the moon was still the moon, and Rose was sure that she was looking at the same moon Leon was seeing now.

Rose Fournier is the only child of Duke Fournier and his wife, Duchess Fournier. They were of high nobility in the kingdom of Medion. They had a very close blood relationship with King Henry Camille.

Since childhood, Rose only had one friend, and they were inseparable. Leon was the son of a maid who worked at the Fournier's estate. His mother died when he was five years old. His father was unknown. He grew up together with Rose and became her guardian.

Leon was often taunted and mocked as a bastard by the other servant's children, and Rose always stood up to defend him. The two of them often went out among commoners, disguised as the villagers. They went out on adventures, fishing in the river behind the palace, climbing the trees in the royal garden..

They grew up together with their hearts linked to each other. Rose became a naughty tomboy girl. She rarely wore a dress like the lady that she was. Imagine if she dared wear women's clothes with various dangerous activities that she always did..

Life was good for Rose and Leon. However, suddenly when Rose was a teenager, Duchess Fornier forbade them to meet again. She became worried that Rose would fall in love with Leon, a mere commoner, the son of a maid whose origins were unclear.

That's why she sent Rose into a famous boarding school in Scotland, St. John Academy. She wanted her daughter to be separated from Leon. She hoped that, by not seeing each other for many years, it would kill whatever feelings they had for each other.

Rose was very sad. She was not willing to part with Leon. She had admired her faithful bodyguard since they were little. Their age was only two years apart. That was why they could connect really well and became best friends.

Leon grew up like a noble. He was tall with a handsome face and long brown hair. Leon had a fine character and perfect manners since he studied with Rose and her private teachers since they were young. He was also an expert in horse riding. When he rode his horse, he looked so impressive, like a prince. People would often mistake him for a nobleman.

Unfortunately, he just looked like one. He was not really a nobleman's son.

"Your mother is right, Rose ... I do not deserve you ..." Leon said the night before Rose's departure. Secretly, he managed to climb a tree to Rose's room and find her. "They want you to go to school in Scotland. Do it for your own good ..."

Rose shook her head sadly.

"I do not understand your attitude. I don't accept being treated like this .." she said disappointedly. "Later, I'll wreak havoc in St. John, so they will expel me. Then I'll be able to come back here ..."

Leon smiled. His blue eyes were filled with profound sadness.

"That's not a good idea. They will just transfer you to another boarding school ..."

"I will get myself expelled again...!" said Rose stubbornly.

The long-haired young man shook his head. His eyes looked far at the moon. But what he saw was something far.. more than the moon.

"Rose, I think... we shouldn't see each other again.."

Leon quickly walked out of the window and down through the tree before Rose could stop him.

"Leon! Where are you going??" Rose had to call in a whisper, afraid her mother would hear her. "Leonard!"

The memory was still vivid in Rose's mind. The last night when she saw Leon. The man didn't even walk her to the car this morning when she left for Scotland.

Rose lay down and hoped to dream of Leon tonight.

She hated being in St. John.

.

.

>>>>>>

From the author:

Finally, we'll get to learn a little bit about Rose. If you guessed that she is a lady, then you are RIGHT! She is a lady, from a fictional kingdom in Europe, called Medion kingdom. She is quite a unique character.

Like, I said, I poached her from her own book, called "Rose Of Medion" which I wrote 15 years ago, but I never finish. I only wrote the outline and I know everything about her and her friends and her love life.

Since I don't think I'll ever be able to completely write her story, I decided to bring her here and make her part of my Alchemists series. I hope you'll like her :).