CHAPTER 453: ROSE WITH THORNS (END)

Rose sat curled up on the edge of the garden bench, her knees hugged tightly to her chest and her forehead resting gently against them. The warm late afternoon sun filtered through the leaves, casting soft golden shadows across the lawn. A breeze rustled the bushes nearby, but she barely noticed it. Her thoughts had been too noisy lately—buzzing like angry bees ever since that moment.

She didn’t mean for it to happen. Loki had kissed her cheek—right in front of Sebastian.

Just thinking about it made her face flush all over again. He had done it so casually, so shamelessly, while she was pouring tea in the kitchen. Sebastian had been walking past the doorway, holding his mug, and he saw everything. And instead of apologizing or acting embarrassed like a normal person, Loki had just grinned and winked.

Rose hadn’t been able to look her brother in the eye since. He hadn’t said much either. Cold silence had replaced their usual conversations, and now that silence had started to hurt.

She plucked a tiny flower growing by her slipper and stared at it, her fingers fidgeting with the delicate stem. "Why does it have to be like this?" she whispered to herself. "Why can’t they just get along?"

"You tell me."

Her head jerked up. Sebastian stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, watching her. He wasn’t glaring but his face was unreadable, as if he wasn’t sure if he should be angry, disappointed, or just exhausted.

"Hi," she said softly, sitting up straighter.

He walked over, slow and quiet, then sat beside her on the bench. For a few seconds, he said nothing. Only the sound of birds filled the air.

Then, calmly, he spoke. "I don’t like him."

"I know," she murmured.

"I really don’t like him."

"I know that too."

Sebastian let out a deep breath and leaned back against the bench. "He’s loud. He’s clingy. He talks too much. He has no sense of boundaries. And worst of all—he kissed you like he owns you. Right in front of me."

Her cheeks burned again. "He doesn’t own me."

"But he acts like he does."

Rose twisted the flower in her hand, watching the petals fall one by one. "He’s just... Loki. He’s a bit much. I know that. But he’s not trying to be rude to you on purpose."

"Really? Because it feels very on purpose," Sebastian muttered. "He stares at me with that smug little face like he’s proud of pushing my buttons."

Rose gave a small, helpless smile. "He kind of is."

Sebastian turned to look at her. "You think this is funny?"

"No," she whispered. "Not really. I just... I don’t know what to do anymore. You’re the most important person in my life, and he’s... he’s the one I care about. I never wanted to choose between you two."

"You wouldn’t have to choose if he didn’t act like such an idiot all the time."

Rose glanced down again. "Maybe. But he makes me laugh. Even when I’m sad, even when I feel like the whole world’s too heavy—he says the dumbest things and suddenly I can breathe again."

Sebastian looked away, his jaw tight.

"And I know you’ve always looked out for me," she added, voice trembling just a little. "You protected me more than anyone else ever did. You were there when I cried at night, when I failed school tests, when I broke down over dumb things. You always picked up the pieces. So now... I feel awful. Because I’m hurting you without meaning to."

There was a long pause. Sebastian stared ahead at the garden, his brows drawn together.

"You didn’t hurt me," he said quietly. "He did."

Rose nodded slowly.

"But..." he added, softer now, "you’re right. You didn’t do anything wrong."

Her head turned toward him, eyes wide with surprise.

"I saw how sad you were the other night. You skipped dinner, barely spoke to anyone, and cried when you thought no one was looking. I hate seeing you like that. And the truth is—he does make you laugh. I’ve never seen you roll your eyes so much and smile at the same time."

Rose blinked, her lips trembling. "Then why can’t you just... be nice to him?"

"Because he’s Loki," Sebastian grumbled. "Because he wears sunglasses indoors and flirts with every reflection he sees. Because he threatened to ’manifest’ into your husband right in front of me."

She snorted despite herself. "He was joking."

"He never jokes. That’s the problem—he’s completely serious while joking. It’s dangerous."

Rose giggled under her breath and leaned her shoulder gently against his. "He’s a good person, brother. Really. He’s weird, and dramatic, and does far too many hair flips for someone with ears like his, but he’s kind to me. And I like him. I... like him a lot."

Sebastian closed his eyes for a second.

"Fine."

Her breath caught. "What?"

"I said fine." He opened his eyes and looked at her, resigned. "I’ll try. I can’t promise I’ll like him. But I’ll try. For you."

She gasped, then threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "You’re the best big brother ever."

"I didn’t say I’m inviting him to Christmas dinner," he grumbled into her hair.

She laughed. "Too late."

"And I swear, if he ever kisses you in front of me again—"

"I’ll punch him myself," she promised with a smile.

Sebastian chuckled, low and unwilling, but real. "You’re serious?"

"Oh, very."

Just then, a familiar voice echoed from the house window behind them.

"Did someone mention kissing?! Because I’m available!"

Both of them turned to see Loki leaning dramatically out the window frame, a fake rose between his teeth and a dish towel draped over his head like a bridal veil.

Sebastian groaned. "I take everything back."

But Rose just laughed harder and leaned closer to her brother, wiping her tears with the back of her sleeve.

"Too late," she whispered again.

—THE END—

And that’s the end of Rose with Thorns!

I hope you had fun reading this little side story~

It wasn’t meant to go too deep since it’s not part of the main plot, but I still wanted to give Rose a small spotlight of her own. She deserved that much, didn’t she? (⁠˶⁠ᵔ⁠‿⁠ᵔ⁠˶⁠)

Next up: Tara and Ethan’s side story!

Thank you so much for reading! Every comment, vote, and moment you spent with this book truly means a lot to me. You make all the late nights and rewrites feel worth it.

Sending love, hugs, and happy giggles your way~ (≧▽≦)