Seven arrows. Seven perfect shots.

And seven days since Prince Tayden Pharrell and I have begun to spend time together.

“Excellent!” my mentor clapped like an galvanized seal, beaming proudly despite the sweat dripping down my face that made me look unrecognizable as a lady. “You have hit all center marks today too!”

I grinned at him, my breaths sharply entering and exiting through the gaps of my teeth.

A week ago, Prince Tayden finally approached me and opened up about lots of things: the burden he feels, how he misses his brothers, how he keeps his distance because he thinks everyone hates him, and even the fact that he always had to lie. He still avoided my question about how he gets his injuries though. All I know is that it must be assassin work, but he doesn’t go into any further detail.

I realized that my heart yearns to see him every bit of the passing hour, that I had become a tamed creature who runs out of my burrow whenever I hear his silvery voice draw near. I liked it when we were together, all by ourselves. I liked each moment.

“You did great, Rosette!” cheered Prince Jacque Darryl from the side, to where wooden fences served to separate the Training Field and the entrance of the forest. Beside him were his other siblings, staring at me with impressed expressions. Heat ran up my cheeks once I caught Prince Tayden regard me.

The prince with a book scoffed and adjusted his new pair of spectacles. “I am still better than her.”

“She can take you down anytime, Nathan.” Prince Eugene Brancen corrected, giving his brother a side glance.

Prince Nathaniel James scoffed again, this time feeling offended.

I tried not to laugh at him.

“I have to agree, sorry.” Prince Vante Osburne chuckled, ruffling his blonde hair. The appeal he displays by wearing princely clothes will never fail to astound me.

“Well, little mousey had been devoted to practice so it is not quite surprising.” The brat, Prince Agustus Dane, commented, all while clearing his throat.

“She is truly admirable.” Prince Tayden murmured.

The six princes whipped their heads at him in shock.

I felt butterflies in my stomach.

“It is time.” Prince Jacob Erhart stated, nodding affirmatively.

I cut off the line of daydreaming and spun towards him. “Time for what exactly?”

“Rosette, what is your ultimate weakness?” he asked, tone dark. “What is it that controls over you and leaves you no choice but to cower?”

The youngest was confused. The rest of the princes, however, had their eyes wide open.

Without a second doubt, I said, “Fear.”

“And what is your fear?”

“Swords,” I answered him, fists hardening. “I am afraid of the tip that belongs to any blade.”

Now Prince Jacque knows. Now all of the seven princes know.

“We shall destroy that fear of yours.” Prince Jacob told me, looking directly into my shaking pupils. Then, he seemed to use a lighter tone as though he wanted to put peace into my ghost and send me to the clouds, smiling reassuringly. “I promised you that I will turn your weakness into strength, did I not?”

You will also prove them wrong, Rosette. I recalled him say within the very same ground of the Training Field from before. I shall turn your weakness into strength.

He really meant it.

“I’m grateful, Jacob,” I attempted to protest, “but don’t you think it’s too rushed—”

“Assassins,” my mentor called out, striking a gaze towards the two men that stood farthest from each other under the trees, “I need one of you to throw your royal knives at her.”

What?!

Excluding the assassins, the princes freaked.

“Jacob, you are being harsh!” said the sixth-born in worry.

“Hey, brawny, calm yourself!” added Prince Nathaniel, putting his literature down.

“Brother, I implore you to reconsider!” the Heir shouted with his entire might.

“Jacob, do not!” Prince Jacque frightfully exclaimed.

The third-born ignored them, austerely fixated onto the individuals that received his request. The outfits they’ve chosen were polar opposites yet again—Prince Tayden wearing fine silk of white varieties and Prince Agustus fitted with black apparels—as both remained silent.

“Tayden, you have been quite close with Rosette just recently and I respect your skills without a doubt,” he said, “will you do the honors?”

In response, the First Field Assassin gave him a deadly glare.

“Fine,” my mentor sighed, half-expectant of that reaction, “then Agustus it is.”

Prince Agustus rolled his catty eyes. “Always the second option…”

As he was grumbling, I sensed a gentle push on my shoulder. I clumsily staggered a few inches to the side, my boots snaking along the grass. When I spared a glance, it was Prince Jacob encouraging me with his faintly curled lips.

“Stay there and defend yourself. Shoot the knives with your arrows. You have perfect aim. You can do it.” He instructed while stepping away from where I stood, confident with his words. It was so confident that it had this weird effect on me that made me want to be confident as well.

He checked on his brother. “You know what to do, right?”

“Of course I do.” Prince Agustus muttered, lifting his foot and grabbing the three knives hidden from view. “It is the assessment Father created to eliminate your fear of snakes and simultaneously testing your accuracy with your weapon.”

I muffled a gasp. The memory of when I caught Prince Vante sneaking out of the palace flashed in the back of my mind, when he pleaded that I won’t tell anyone. Father may not seem like it at first glance, but he’s a really strict man. He told me.

“His assessment awakened my survival instincts. It was severe but it helped.” Prince Jacob nodded, eliciting his childhood. “Now, shall we begin?”

The second-born looked at me, his gaze softening when our eyes met.

“I will only do it if she’s okay with it.”

“Great! You get to have the final verdict, Rosette.” The First Field Marksman turned to me with a heart-shaped smile, the very same man that had my admiration the moment I first met him. The power he had as he held his bow, the concentration of his aim, the flicker of hunger for supremacy in his dark irises…I wanted what he had.

So, indubitably, I must experience what he had experienced to get here.

It was my intent to have him train me. I signed up for this. None of this was Prince Jacob’s fault. It was mine.

With a rustic exhale, I replied. “Let’s do it.”

The rest of the princes tensed up at the distance.

“Now that’s my student.” My mentor grinned, pleased with my answer. He stayed a couple meters to where I was, fingers interlaced behind him.

Prince Agustus let out a heavy sigh, slowly walking to my direction and stopping a few feet ahead of me. He tried not to look at me, but it was perhaps difficult for him since we eventually exchanged stares.

He raised his hand that contained the three royal knives.

His brothers held their breaths.

I prepared my bow and arrow.

And that was when I saw it…the trace of Prince Agustus’ quick, passing emotion. It was just like when he rescued me plenty of times before, when he saw my tears, when he found me after I got lost, whenever he searches the weakness I hide within my eyes. I couldn’t identify what it was, but for sure it was as ephemeral as petals falling from a dying rose. A second upon catching it and shortly…it disappears.

His hurled his knives directly towards me.

I saw their sharp points glint under the sunlight. My hands were shaking at the thought of them piercing me, eating and tearing my flesh. Blood, there would be blood spilling all over my body, all over my dress. I’m going to die. I’M GOING TO DIE!

Run. My inner voice cried. Please, run!

I was too scared and froze on the spot.

My vision became hazy, taking me back to the scene of my nightmares, of where hooded men on horses chased me until I fell to the ground, of where I died alone. Blood gushed out of my nose and mouth, my heart gradually beating to a stop.

I dropped Aculeus as I staggered forward.

I could hear people screaming my name, yet to my ears, they sounded like faded buzzing, like they came from a faraway land…

“ROSETTE!” someone yelled.

That voice…

Tears streamed along my cheeks. It was him…the Musician.

I opened my eyes in efforts to get a glimpse of his face, but I only saw the knives zooming closer and closer—

I felt a big hand pull me by the wrist, embracing me as I came in contact with his chest. The knives hit the target wheel behind us. The buzzing was gone. My vision was normal again. I didn’t die.

“You fool!” Prince Jacob angrily roared, gripping tight onto my shoulders. “You almost got yourself killed!”

The other princes surrounded us, stricken with concern.

“I was so scared…” I said in small weeps. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

He went quiet, eyes becoming gentle like a diminishing fire. His muscles relaxed and he carefully wiped my tears.

“No, I should be the one apologizing.” He whispered, wrapping his arms around me for a delicate hug. “You did your best.”

Instead of victorious laughter, my sobs filled the breezy zone of the Training Field.

I’m sorry… Looks like I couldn’t keep my promise after all…

I love you.

Those were the words I uttered, the words I will utter someday soon.

“Rosette,” the person beside me soothingly spoke, “are you alright?”

I smiled at him, cupping a hand to his face. “I’m fine. You’re with me now.”

Prince Tayden Pharrell burned to a shade of bright red, making me laugh. I could feel his temperature rising underneath my fingertips. He’s been showing me different sides of him each day, more of his true self in every possible way. How surprising it must be to fall in love with the same man over and over again. How surprising it must be to see the stars I adore shimmer within his eyes like the evening of when we listened to the rhythmic pulse of our peculiar hearts.

It all started from there.

“You are flirting, milady.” He sweetly laughed, grabbing my hand and putting it down.

We both ended up teasing each other, giggling at our own shy expressions.

“Ah, it’s really better here.” I released a breath of contentment as I reclined onto the balustrades of the old balcony located at the abandoned palace floor. The wind was cooler, the view was peaceful because it presented the road to the gates and the road to the village downhill, and the ambiance was solemn like this place had turned into a sanctified site.

Prince Tayden appeared to be a bit uncomfortable at first, for he had never stepped foot into this floor ever since it got scorched in flames.

I wanted to talk to him about it. However, I was distracted by a certain young man strolling by the bushes below us. Judging on the commoner clothing alone, I recognized who it was.

Hastily, I tried to cover for him, vying for the assassin’s attention.

But his eyes were already glued to the person escaping out the gates.

Oh no, is he going to be a snitch and inform the king? It’s one of his missions after all. Does that mean Vante will never be able to roam freely again? Does that mean it’s my fault?

Strangely, the fifth-born merely shrugged and sighed.

I blinked, realization hitting me. “You knew?”

He nodded.

“Wait, since when?” I sputtered, unable to hide my shock.

“We’re twins,” he could only say, “I figured it out as soon as he started doing it.”

“But you didn’t…tell your…”

He nodded once more, this time with a pained yet pleased smile. “Yes.”

Out of all the seven, he was probably the one who felt alone the most, the one who suffered the most, the one who lied the most. He was probably the one who had to choose between the most difficult decisions—just like between his loyalty to his father and the care that lingers for his brothers.

And based on my observations during the past two months, he was the one who became misunderstood by many.

“You are about to cry again.” He lightly chuckled, patting my head. “If you are still sad about what happened this morning, do not fret. Jacob failed his first assessment too. He was gravely terrified of serpents.”

I sniffled, biting back my tears. “It’s not about that. I’m sorry for calling you cruel.”

His smile wavered, but he kept it stable.

“Come, Rosette. I want to take you somewhere.”

Third Person’s POV

Before the maiden could comprehend where she was, her breaths were short and quick. When they slip out of her mouth, they crystalize and she could see them like they were smoke pirouetting along thin air. Rosette and Prince Tayden have been climbing up a steep path somewhere deep in the woods for no one knows how long, and it’s definitely unalike to the other twin’s hill that displayed Duva.

“We’re here.” He heavily exhaled, forming mist.

Deliberately, he lifted a huge leafy branch of a tree and ushered her through. She ducked and went under it like it functioned as an entrance. Once she stood straight, she let out a tiny gasp.

Hundreds of dark pine trees stretched far and wide, not allowing her to see what was beyond them. Fogs glazed over them akin to feathery clouds. The sky was tinted in dismal gray as how one would expect to see on a rainy afternoon.

“It’s cold,” she remarked, rubbing her skinny sleeves, “in spite of it being spring.”

Prince Tayden reacted fast and swiftly stripped off his vanilla-colored coat, placing it over her shivering body. She was reminded of how the sixth-born also did the same thing back when she sneezed.

This made her smile. You guys really are twins.

“The hills,” said the prince, “are untouched by any activity of man, so they are abundant in trees and seem like they are one, like a vast mountain.”

Rosette sat down, taking a break after the entire exploration. Her legs were giving in. She wrapped the coat around her to increase heat.

“They’re gorgeous, Tayden.” She pointed out, her nose and cheeks chilly to a hint of pink. “How did you find this place?”

He was silent for a while.

“Well,” he replied, sitting beside her on the soft soil, “there was this incident that occurred years ago.”

She knew what he was talking about.

“I felt guilty.”

“Guilty?” she repeated. Why?

He timidly dipped his head. “I felt so guilty that I actually wanted to disappear.”

The maiden frowned, clenching her jaw.

“So one day, I ran away from home.” Prince Tayden went on, watching the haze in front of them as they were being reflected in his pupils. “I fled into the forest, going deeper and deeper to the places where even the sun cannot reach.”

He decided to alter his selection of words in attempt to brighten the mood.

“Then, I noticed that I was marching up an indistinguishable trail. You can imagine the look on my face when I discovered this spectacular view.”

She mildly giggled at his last sentence, appreciating his effort. “How did you return to the palace?”

“Father was worried sick.” He replied. “He sent out almost all the soldiers of the kingdom to search for me and declared that whoever among them would bring me back will be given a reward, a full sack of gold.”

“Just a sack of gold…? Anyway, did a soldier find you?”

“No. Agustus did.”

Her eyes fluttered open in disbelief.

“We maintained our silence throughout the venture back home.” The prince added, producing a memory of two little boys trudging along the woods. “He just grabbed my hand and held it tight until we arrived at the gates. I could tell that he was clearly uncomfortable with the whole situation.”

Rosette contemplated. Human connections are truthfully complex to fathom with a simple way of thinking.

Agustus used to be so close with Tayden. They were inseparable, always following our mother and father. Prince Jacque’s voice stirred in her memories. They would even play the piano together while the rest of us are kept entertained.

She did a small smile. “Of course, of course he’d be the person who found you.”

“Yes,” mumbled the prince, “and I found you.”

Both of them stared into each other’s eyes.

“It was during my mission. I remembered Mother teaching me how to play Lent et Douloureux for the very first time. And then, like a sign…” he leaned closer to her frame, affectionately tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, “there you were, wandering alone in the forest with curiosity written on your pretty features. I was enraptured by the swaying of your hair and the twinkling of your perennial green irises.”

Regardless of the cold, she was glowing as though the sun showered its blessings. She was beautiful, undeniably beautiful.

“You are a peculiar girl that disturbed my peculiar heart.”

Time was at a standstill.

It was just them in this corner of the world.

His lips tenderly pressed against hers. There was lasting warmth on them and he shared what was left of it with her. They could feel their breaths stroke their skin, swirling gracefully as they rise above them like steam. He tugged her closer to him, yearning for more.

The maiden recalled what Madame Ulna alleged about her future card.

A rose that stands for beauty, love, friendship and vitality. A dagger that signifies death, betrayal, destruction, and insidiousness.

They snuggled together, unifying the seemingly opposite meanings of two images. With this, they've created a picturesque portrait, a symbolism about the duality of human life.

And ever since then, the hills became their favorite place, because it was somewhere only they know.

“Hey, Vante…”

The sixth-born looked at him, buckling his silver sword at his hip. “What is it, brother?”

“I’d like to inquire for your opinion,” said Prince Jacque Darryl one day after they finished sparring, nervously fidgeting with his fingers, “about the relationship between Rosette and Tayde—”

“Why are you asking me?”

“Y-You guys are twins…” the seventh-born mumbled, progressively convincing himself that his reason sounded very stupid, “s-so I thought…”

A big, slender hand smacked him on the shoulder, causing the startled youngest to jump slightly. He turned around and saw his older siblings, Prince Eugene Brancen and Prince Jacob Erhart, approach them with a smile.

“You shouldn’t bother asking that grump.” The Heir chuckled while playfully nudging him. “I understand why you would be curious though. Lately, I always witness those two together a lot.”

Prince Jacob folded his arms. “Well, I think there’s something going on.”

They all heard a flustered grunt. It was from Prince Vante Osburne, trying to swallow his drink.

The eldest stifled a laugh. “Let’s not discuss this sort of topic any longer.”

One way or another, everyone had come to an agreement.

“Speaking of discussions,” Prince Eugene rotated back to the third-born, tilting his head sideways, “you wanted to talk to me about an important matter, yes?”

Prince Jacob’s expression changed. He instantly faced the Heir and nodded in a firm manner. “It’s better if we confer in your private office, but to put it simply, a guard reported to me that there have been indications of a person breaking in and out the dungeons—”

“Yo wassup, my dudes!”

The princes stiffened like sticks. They shuddered upon recognizing the owner of that high-pitched voice as though it belonged to a ghost.

Rosette skipped along the lane, obviously in a good mood. She was grinning from ear to ear. In a blink, they could nearly conceive that her eyes were actually sparkling.

“Oh, um, you’re not with Tayden today?” Prince Jacque bravely spoke up.

“He went on a quest last night and hasn’t returned yet.” She casually responded, eyeing her nails and then chirped up at them. “What were you guys gossiping about?”

It was quiet.

“That’s funny.” She giggled innocently. “Everybody is acting strange. You guys look like you had just finished talking behind my back and got stunned after I arrived coincidentally. Hah! That would be ridiculous.”

They all secretly glanced at one another.

To her confusion, the princes suddenly cleared their throats and produced fake coughing noises in complete synchronization while avoiding her gaze.

The maiden raised a brow.

Still, before she could question them, two approaching figures managed to steal the spotlight. She whipped her head at their direction, grimacing. She then marched towards them, letting the four princes get a breather like they had been released from custody.

The duo, namely Prince Agustus Dane and Prince Nathaniel James, also grimaced when she advanced to where they were. The group of four watched at the side, guessing that there was recent argument among these three again.

Hurriedly, the second-born seized the book that his brother carried and began to read a line from one of the pages.

”By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.” He said aloud.

“I was in the middle of reading, you know.” Prince Nathaniel griped.

Rosette placed both hands on her waist in a stroppy movement.

“My, my,” she sardonically smiled, “if it isn’t the snobby brat and his sidekick.”

“What do you want, woman?” Prince Agustus snarled.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “An apology.”

“Already done with the deed~”

“A sincere one.”

This had him grouch. “Okay, right, I almost killed you again. But you said you were fine with the assessment in the first place! You said let’s do it in this weird, squeaky tone and then suddenly it’s my fault? Bah! Ladies are absolutely complicated.”

Prince Nathaniel was itching to laugh. However, he refrained from doing it once he felt the maiden’s threatening scowl target him.

She puffed up her cheeks in defeat. “I will never forget this, you unpleasant child.”

“True, you cannot help it. I am indeed unforgettable.” Prince Agustus winked as he tossed the bangs of his raven-black hair a bit to the left of his forehead.

“Wow, you are annoying.”

“You, my dear, are worse.”

Rosette was usually a patient kind of person. She would never be bothered to care for anybody upsetting her. She would never hate anybody at all. But then this man, this terribly charming yet provoking rude man, was really getting on her nerves.

Without warning, she snatched the book from his grasp and browsed the paragraphs.

“Out of my sight! Thou dost infect my eyes!” she stated in great volume.

Prince Agustus gasped with a hand to his mouth, insulted. He retrieved the book from the thief and flipped through the folios. “Thou art like a toad, ugly and venomous.”

“BRAT!”

“RAT!”

“YOU WANNA FIGHT?!”

“TRY ME!”

Like an angry bull, she charged.

The prince flailed to dodge her attack, but she was agile and quick on her feet. She successfully pounced on him, pinning him to the ground. After all her rigorous training, the strength of her body wasn’t even comparable to a normal lady anymore. But her opponent, also a master of his own physique, wasn’t interested in losing.

The audience panicked and finally had the courage to step in. There was dust everywhere, making it difficult for them to see what was happening. Since it hurt, they had to close their eyes while trying to separate the two.

The female and male continued their fight. It was impossible to detach them from each other unless somebody had to risk getting injured. They tumbled and rolled, biting and clawing like wild animals.

Unexpectedly, they stopped.

Everyone fanned out the dust in order to see. The two bodies were immobile.

“D-D-Did they die?!” the seventh-born whimpered.

Prince Nathaniel dove straight towards them, squinting at how odd the shadows behind the dust formed. It appeared as if one positioned at the top and the other rested at the bottom.

“Ah, my darling, you’re safe!” he exclaimed in relief, hugging the hardbound literature as he knelt down by the bodies. After making sure that his item was undamaged, he scoffed and peered at the two characters beside him.

“Nathan, are they okay?” the Heir coughed.

The bespectacled prince horribly shrieked, snapping the male and female back to reality.

Rosette’s eyes widened. Prince Agustus’ eyes widened as well.

At last, the area was cleared and the rest of the siblings witnessed it with their very own perspective of the scenario in front of them. Their jaws dropped.

“Oh my,” uttered Prince Eugene.

Rosette sat up, touching her lower lip. She felt liquid. It was blood.

Prince Agustus looked at her with dread. He licked his lower lip, also tasting blood.

They accidentally kissed.

And both of them screamed at the top of their lungs.

A/N: Um, yep, well, that just happened.

Anyways thank you guys so so so much for the 40k reads! This is honestly a dream come true for us! We'll continue to work hard and make you guys proud!

Since we publish our chapters unedited, we feel somewhat unsatisfied with the book. That's why we have been editing the first few chapters little by little and get those mistakes corrected! We are grateful for your understanding uwu

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Nocturnal Armys.