The Kiss Year of the Roses Floral SeasonThe OrchardAltsas Isla  I'M WARY OF LYSIA. Ever since she told me that she was in love, she has been acting like nothing happened. I wonder who are love interest was, a Prince? A duke? A Sire? A commoner perhaps? She leads me deeper into the orchard and we sit under the shade of trees. She doesn't even loosely resemble the girl who was crying just minutes ago. She sits beside me biting into a mango. She sinks her teeth into the fleshy yellow fruit and chews with a hum. "Are you sure you won't eat some mango?" She stretches a small mango to me. I shake my head. Her countenance falls but she recovers fairly quickly. "Suit yourself," she says with a shrug.

The Grapes Year of the RosesFloral SeasonThe OrchardAltsas Isla  RAKAR LEADS ME TO THE ORCHARD. He doesn't even glance at me through out our walk there. He halts in front of the white bridge and a strong wave of de ja vu hits me. But I quickly recover. The orchard hasn't changed much since I left here with Rakar.  My eyes catch glimpses of changes and I gulp. Just beside the river is a table dressed with white linen and it's matching chairs. On the table is a tray of grapes, a jug and two goblets. A table for two.  A lean and tall stoic figure stands rigidly on the bridge and stares into the river. I turn on my heels and will my legs to run.

The Wine Year of the RosesFloral SeasonThe Dining RoomAltsas Isla  KYAN STEERS ME OUT OF THE STABLES. We walk towards the Palace together with him a few paces in front of me.I want to go back to my room and lie down for a bit, spending a few hours in the Prince's company is exhausting.  "So, at the end of the day I succeed to learn a couple facts about you," he says. "That's all you will be learning," I reply to him. He chuckles but it is so low that I might be mistaken. "Are you really that heartless,  Isla?"  "What do you mean," I a

 The Laughter Year of the RosesFloral SeasonThe StablesAltsas  Kyan  UTTERLY DISORIENTED I walk to the stables. I don't understand why my father would consider Lud a potential husband for Lyza. Is my father losing his mind? I'm not sure my mother knows about it, I know she can never agree to it. I also know Lyza will be heartbroken when she hears the news but there is very little she can do about it. I doubt I can do anything either.  This will be the second time she would cry in the last few days. The first time, I caused it. I don't regret it though, I believe that the guard was taking advantage of Lyza. I'll stand by what I did anytime but this; Lysia's marriage to Lud is unacceptable. Lud seems like some

The Swim(2)Year of the RosesFloral SeasonThe Orchard, RiverAltsas Isla MY BREATH HITCHES AND MY HEART THUMPS painfully. Kyan has been underwater for a while now and he is not coming up. Frantically, I pull off my sandals and run into the water, hitching up the skirt of my dress. Seeing there is no point since water splashes up the entire length of my legs, I let the dress capsize.I push through until I am waist deep in the water. I don't realize that I'm crying until a tear drops into the river causing ripples."Kyan?" He isn't drowning at all. He rises out of the water like a god and ire grips what is left of my weeping heart. "You!" I spit out with fury and relief rolled into one.Kyan throws back his head laughing loudly, his shoulders shudder and his chest heaves. He wipes his eyes will the heel of his palms and gives me a mocking smirk. "You are quite caring, aren't you?"I bite my lip to prevent a spill of curses and insult. Instead, I spin around and begin my journey bac