Rose's POV

I was looking at myself in the mirror as the makeup artist tried her best to make a minimalistic makeup according to my demand.

I was tired of all the plaything. Our life wasn't meant to attend parties and be feminine, and yet when we have formal occasions, I do need to wear the dresses that Lissa generally orders for me.

I looked down at my gorgeous drees, a chiffon A-line gown with hand beaded lace illusion three quarter length sleeves, front and back scoop necklines, beaded lace bodice. The side draped skirt had a cascading ruffle and central back gathers with a sweep train.

At that moment Lissa burst into the room, excited, "Rose are you ready?"

I turned away, "You know very well that I didn't save you or do anything of this sort for you to honor me publicly. What was the need for all this?"

"It's my wish as a queen and you definitely deserved it, so just gulp it down,' she said, wrapping her arms around me.

The makeup artist stared at us horrified, perhaps trying to fathom why the queen was hugging a mere guardian.

"Could you please leave us alone?' Lissa put on the politest voice.

The young girl left, leaving us alone.

"Rose, she said, twirling around in her vintage fabric," Today, guests from all around the world are coming, so I need to look my best. See if I'm okay,"

It was then I noticed how gorgeous her dress was. It was a luxurious high neck applique beaded quinceanera gown in the softest colors of pink and ash which highly accentuated her queenly grace.

"You look perfect," I said, hugging her back. It felt so good, like the old times when we were still students.

Someone cleared his throat in the hallway.

And it was Dimitri who seemed to be too uncomfortable in his dress. I bet it was handpicked by Lissa too for the occasion as she had the morbid fear that we would reach there in something less costly.

Dimitri was wearing a black designer honeycomb jacket with satin shawl lapel, full canvas construction, with a single button closure. It had a soft, natural shoulder construction, chest barchetta pockets with dual vents, satin covered buttons and no flaps.

"Oh ho, I guess you two need some private time," she winked at me.

"Yeah...well..." I said, clasping my hands behind my back, and looking coyly at him.

Lissa left smiling to herself, but Dimitri had frozen at the door.

I went and waved my hands in front of his face, "Hey, wake up."
He blinked once, twice and then without a warning, grabbed my waist and lifted me up, dress and all and twirled me around.

I had no experience of Dimitri behaving in that way. It was so sweet, romantic and unprofessional. In our lives of fight, chase, death and danger, these moments were what I lived for.

"Put me down," I squealed.

He put me down immediately and smiled, "You look gorgeous."

"Wait till you see me on our wedding day," I teased.
His face went blank for a moment. He came near and whispered, "Rose, I somehow feel that we shouldn't have seen our future. It wasn't right. It increases expectations and makes us think every choice carefully to not ruin that perfect future. I don't think that's a good thing because it makes us wary, cautious. We will be motivated away from risks, and that's not good. Could we please forget the future and live for the present?"

"Actually," I whispered, clutching him, "You remember I was quarrelling with the future rose? It was because she wanted me to stop putting Lissa first every time and think about our future. She says that she learnt it the hard way. We probably have messed up our future a lot already and I had made the choice. I'll take on life as it comes to me. I'll forget the future too."

"Thank you," he mumbled as he kissed my forehead and burst out laughing, seeing my condition.

"Why?" I whined.

"I don't want to spoil those perfectly done up lips," he grinned.

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

I couldn't help smile as we walked hand in hand to the ceremony.

We were going to receive the titles of 'Guardians of Honor' and that would make us free from curtsying the queen. It is the highest honor given to any guardian, when the queen acknowledges them as her equal.

And as Lissa pinned the gold batch to our dresses, and we were given a special guardian outfit with golden collars, I couldn't help but think of the future, in spite of all my promises.

Of all the faces in my mind's eye, one face stood out. A baby, whose gentle lips had touched my cheeks.

I squeezed Dimitri's hand as the crowd gave us a standing ovation.

827 words completed...

A/N Written for the black belt write to rank contest by action

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