[[NOW 2ND CHAPTER OF FRAGILE]]

Time passed as if it had angel wings to fly with.

Cattaneo Clan's leader Vincent was informed about Rose before he had the opportunity to worry about where his little daughter had disappeared off to and just like that evening passed and the darkness of night prevailed, not bothering that the newly bound friends were keeping each other company.

"This is the doll dad brought me from Japan, it has clothes like those of the ancient people. Although last time he traveled to Asia alone yet this time he has promised to bring me and mum along with him. We will first go to Thailand where dad promised to show me the cliff beaches and from there to India for a vacation.

We will first go to Thailand where dad promised to show me the cliff beaches and from there to India for a vacation

Have you heard about the rock temples there? It was said to be constructed thousands of years ago

Have you heard about the rock temples there? It was said to be constructed thousands of years ago. I want to see how they look like.

Then I might go to France to see Palace of Versailles...I have read about that in a book.

Unlike other families, we do not like to travel every year unless a problem arises in an area. I love home and Ares too likes to stay back sometimes.....oh! and when he does, we play with dolls. Earlier he was kind of sketical about it but when I threw a tantrum he had no option hehe."

'sketical?'

Oh, skeptical...although Rose wanted to laugh out but controlled the bubbly feeling as if not wishing for Aurora to be at disadvantage.

Aurora opened up another metallic box to see what else she can show to her new friend while rambling on and on about everything and anything she could talk to Rose about.

How absurd was it to know that the Prince that was known to be ruthless and brutal was this kind to his sister? Rose earlier feared even coming to the Palace because of the tales she had heard about the mafia royalty but the moment she met Aurora and Ajax so many of her emotions were in turmoil.

She soon realized that no matter how sparkling and shiny Aurora's life looked from outside, in reality, she had no close friends thus unlike the girls in her schools who had a 'holier than thou' attitude, Aurora was a very simple person.

Rose gingerly picked up the doll wrapped in shiny white and yellow sewn crochet fabric which had its designs like a kimono. Her face was round and plump with eyes drawn as dots. The thing Rose liked about Aurora was that the girl despite being the mafia princess did not know how to boast her wealth and flaunt her power unless arrogance was needed to be displayed.

Was it possible to be friends?

Only time will tell.

"Here this is what Ares brought me and mum, mom likes it simple so her bracelet contained hundred blue gems that were smaller but mine are bigger and see, it's pink!"

A beautifully decorated bracelet made of teardrops of dangling pink rubies was what Aurora wished for Rose to see yet the girl could not move her eyes from the picture kept at the bottom of the jewelry box. An angel was smiling so devastatingly that the girl found it harder to breathe, his blue eyes looking at the camera were filled with joy as a little girl was sitting on his shoulders.

It looked like they were going to attend a wedding, that magnificent man had a violet tuxedo on while his tiny sister sitting on his shoulder was adorned with a lilac lace dress and her head embellished with tens of flowers twisted together. It looked like a fairy tale fantasy as they both laughed without a care in the world.

Rose felt her heart beating erratically. She wanted that too, who was that man that appeared to be so caring......like a god.

"Do you like it, Rose?"

"Huh- Ah n-no..I mean yes."

"That is the photograph that we took on our parents' 14th wedding anniversary. I became a bridesmaid and Ares was the best man and infront of the holy saint out parents took their wedding oaths once more.

You must not know it because it was a very closed-off ceremony, only four of us were there and none of the clans were called."

"That...That is your older brother?" That tiny girl had seen Ares not once but many times but dared not think that all of that would later resort to this..... to this unfathomable feeling that seemed to be like a cluster of butterflies circling around her heart made up of rose petals and she could not express what she felt.

"Yes! That's Ares.

I-I am sorry Rose, next time.....um when I marry I will invite you for sure."

"T-Then I will I-invite you too."

____________________________________________________________________

"Rose! how many times do I have to tell you, dear, you are a lady, can't you behave like one? Where did you disappeared off to? I and your father were worried." Sierra Cattaneo was the wife of Vincent, the leader of the Cattaneo clan, and Rose's father.

The woman was known to be strict and commanding discipline from each of her branch members but despite her conservative ways, there was no doubt that she loved Rose just as a mother would.

Even though the head maid had informed the couple that Rose was with Aurora yet they were not convinced. On contacting Rose on her personal cellular device she replied that she was with her friend thus they had their anxiety calm down a little.

"I was with Aurora."

"With the princess-"

"Hello" People parted like the red sea when an azure frilled lace elf came bouncing from in between filled with laughter followed by someone who had Sierra's eyes widening.

The Queen

It was miraculous how the world revolved and changed with every passing moment. The meeting of Mafia Queen Alaina and Rose's parents was cut short due to the magnanimity of the event and then Sierra and Vincent had thought that this might be the first and last time of confrontation with the mafia rulers yet unknown to them it was merely the beginning.

From then onwards Rose was frequently invited to the Axaina palace in Switzerland to celebrate events as common as friendship day and as profound as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Aurora also visited their home in Italy when she was traveling with Ares for he was attaining his education from the place or sometimes with her parents when they were on a vacation.

Days passed into months and months concentrated into years, and over time the bond was strengthened to somewhat consider them having close ties and alliances beyond what was considered professional. Since Aurora favored Rose, it was only natural that the entire circle of her acquaintances held the innocent girl in high regard yet Rose was neither the one to boast nor the person who sought attention thus even the matter of being so close to the only princess of the empire was taken as something that was not meant to be flaunted but preserved.

They were best friends and thus the angel felt her utmost love and devotion to her friend instead of any greed and lust for power.

"I have packed an entire closet of teal colored dresses! A-and the bow-ties that you have suggested, those stickers that mom got from me from Spain.

Ho il mio spazzolino da denti e le ciabatte di pelliccia di ciliegia.... oh Dio, sto avendo un attacco di panico."

(I have my toothbrush and cherry fur slippers .... oh God, I'm having a panic attack)

Rose blabbered in Italian whenever she was nervous, and right now it seemed to be the best time to lose her wits. Her bodyguards driving two cars ahead of her, while two black Phantoms were following her medium-paced car as she was visiting Axaina Palace once again.

They were already within the seven-kilometer radius of the castle and due to the King and Queen being out to Russia, the place was even more tightly sealed thus it required them four check posts to pass inside this inner circle which accessed the necessary protocol of supervising each vehicle through sensors.

"Come se tu fossi mio amico a causa delle tue stupide pantofole... stupido, sono in ritardo perché ci sarà una bufera di neve in arrivo, non perché il mondo sta finendo."

(As if you were my friend because of your stupid slippers ... silly, I'm late because there will be a blizzard coming, not because the world is ending.)

Rose whined not paying attention to the way those words slipped past the lips of the mafia princess, earlier it used to be like a miracle when Rose was most of the time startled with how many languages Aurora could converse in fluently yet now it was like winds blowing past.

"Alright Rose sweety, listen to me, take a deep breath and chant 'I can do this' till you reach my home since now I need to go to my hotel room. The blizzard is going to hit the city in the next seven hours and dad has given strict instructions to the bodyguards to take me to the next city so I need to get going."

"Y-You remain safe alright, eat frequently and cover yourself well, don't let the winter wind get into your body, ah, and turn the heater in full blasts!"

"Yes ma'am!"

The phone was disconnected with a beep and then the holy chant of 'I can do this' began. The most terrifying part was not staying without Aurora, it was more about being alone with her crush.

It was already one year since Rose came to know Ares through the photo in Aurora's box and since then her heart had been unable to relinquish the feeling of liking him. She was not ready at all, not ready to come to see him infront of her.

She wanted him to like her, would he like her? The girl wanted to rip off her silky strands in anxiety and nervousness.

Was it too late to run away? Rose took a shaky breath in when she realized that yes it indeed was, as her guards parked the car infront of Axaina Palace.

She had arrived a day early in Switzerland only to find out that Aurora's flight has been delayed due to blizzards. Although the girl could afford the best hotels in the country but her best friend insisted to live in her house.

And after getting a glimpse of the castle years ago, Rose knew exactly why.

She was a Cattaneo princess and her safety was always at stake but not here...not even a person can breathe without getting it noticed in this place.

The guards were heavily guarding the arena, not even a single car was visible in the route from miles away from here. This was a web impossible to reach unless permitted to...The underworld establishment to the most powerful mafia family, their dream home.

Rose stepped out of the car trembling when a guard came forward bowing respectfully.

"Miss Cattaneo, please, this way." Two bulky men followed the lead taking the suitcases from Rose's hand as their chief led the way.

It was a windy day with dark grey clouds looming over, the intoxicating scent of flowers swirled around the girl whose mouth was gaped open with the magnificence she saw.

White lotuses were floating in the crystal blue lake which had a small wooden bridge that connected two sides.

It looked as if she had been transported to an ancient era. The little girl almost jumped when she saw a pair of black swans in the pond forming the heart shape with their crimson beaks, there were white ones as well, their icy feathers fluttering as they swam from one place to another. Last time these things were not here.

Did they renovate with magic?

Till the time Rose had reached the inside part of the palace grounds she wished she could go out again, Switzerland was known for its coniferous trees yet she had seen an apple orchard and strawberry creepers on her pathway to here. God knows what else was in here.

If previous times were stunning then this was something magnanimous beyond comprehension.

PAST

Rose fiddled with the strap of her backpack, being terrified of the castle grounds. She felt it was a maze and if she got lost she might disappear with a poof. Earlier being surrounded by her best friend she never noticed how scary can this castle could be if one lost their way. The anxiousness on her face was evident and it looked as if she was going to meltdown before a meek 'hello' left her mouth.

The mafia prince was raged, not only the little devil did not come but also left him to take care of god knows which spoiled child of a forsaken clan.

He of course had known about Aurora's best friend but could not help and think that no one was worthy enough to get closer to his precious sister. His entire life has been spent among these clans and he had never met a person who was devoid of greed, they wished for something or the other from him and it might be the same for Aurora yet since his parents approved he too had somewhat of a much better view of this 'best friend' than others.

The angry steps caused Rose to stiffen and look up at the balcony to see the man in complete black with dark ripped jeans and a shirt that was folded up to his biceps only to contract around it making her face flustered like a peach.

ARES

Aurora's brother

Mafia Prince

The person whose picture was shown to every clan to let them know the hierarchy of the rulers but that was not the only picture she had seen of his, not the only side she was made aware of.

He was a god.....her crush.

Before Rose realize that the man she was watching was not a mirage and could cry from nervousness, stormy irises locked with her warm honey ones and the steps halted making her freeze.

Real

He was infront of her.

He saw her...

Ares looked at the girl who he was sure was no older than thirteen, clutching her belongings close like a timid rabbit watching a scene unfold yet being hauntingly unaware of her charm and aura. She was adorable with wide fearful eyes that had a tinge of excitement, she was an angel.

A precious doll

It was like the air got knocked out of his lungs and he was left breathless when she took a step back as he slowly receded down the steps in a haze. The flowery dress made her look like a Disney princess that came straight out of a fairytale. Those tales of elves and fairies all coming to life.

She looked anywhere but at him when he walked toward her, his head bending down to look at her opalescent eyes which now watched his every step keenly. Ares could not tell why but he felt a sudden tinge of pain in his heart, such a precious person, and how come he thought bad of her.

"What is your name doll?" warmth spread bursting in each pore all the while filling it with a sugary sweet feeling when the frail princess relished in the deep voice of Ares.

He gently took her suitcases in one hand while the other palm left feathery touch on hers as he took her small palm leading her into the castle.

"Rose" she whispered biting her teeth into the red flesh of her supple lips, the man said absolutely nothing but smiled as his eyes twinkled.

The hallways were long and well furnished with high almighty ceilings, chandeliers pouring out light, they stopped infront of a door carved with turquoise flowers patterns.

"This will be your room princess, once you get settled down, please come to my room, we need to have a very important discussion." Ares pointed to the door beside her, indicating that it was his personal suite and the matter was serious.

Was it?

______________________________________

"Not to scare you Rose but you have broken the rules of the palace, even if I want I cannot exempt you from the punishment." Rose stiffened, she was not knowing that there were a set of etiquettes that one had to follow and thus did everything out of instinct.

"W-What did I do? What will I-I do now?"

"When you came inside, you did now bowed down your head infront of me so you have to do it now and then I can decide your punishment."

"p-punishment?" the girl got teary-eyed, she just got here and she actually managed to embarrass herself infront of her crush...

She bowed, soft black hair reflecting light, and the braids bounced down in the process, the heart of the mafia prince broke with how divine Rose was, she did not even challenge him.....that needs to be changed, she should bow to no one, listen to no one......not even him and do whatever she wished for.

His frame emerged closer as he pressed a very light kiss to her scalp making the girl gasp lightly while he arranged her small braids in the process, those luscious hair patterns left a silky texture of touch on his calloused palm.

His body moved away giving her space as the tears that previously gathered in those cocoa pools of innocence were forgotten. Rose hated people coming into her personal space but the way Ares did it, with those kind touches that were devoid of all malice and greed. The way he smiled at her so brightly....was this alright to do?

"What do you love doing in your leisure time?" Rose was in a flustered, dazed state when her mouth automatically replied.

"ballet" as soon as the word left the lips, her eyes widened. She just started learning!

"Then you will dance for me.....that's your punishment princess."

"I c-can't, I d-don't do it well." a palm patted her head softly making her break out from the fear.

"I will not judge you, Rose."