Invidia - Envy - Sin of covetousness

A young girl and boy were playing in the gardens. Ages eight and eleven respectively. They were waiting for their other playmate to come join them. The three of them were quite close, just as their families were. It was normal for them to visit each other often. 

"Are you done yet?" the little girl asks. 

"Almost." the boy responds. "Give just a few more minutes and it will be done." 

"Hurry up. Reeve will be here soon."

"You always go on and on about Reeve." the boy complains. Finally he lets out a sound of triumph, as he had finished the flower crown he wanted to give to the girl. He places it on her head. "You look very pretty now." he tells her.

"Thank you." she smiles at him. Just then she notices her mother.

"F/n dear and Steven. Would you mind if I take F/n real quick?"

"Not at all Mrs. L/n." the girl follows her mother. She walks away with her mother, and after a while comes back running to Steven.

"What happened?"

"Reeve got sick, but his parents came over." she says excitedly. "Mother says that they decided to have me and Reeve get married when we get older. Isn't that amazing?" She goes on and on about having a happy family and her ideas for the future, when she feels something soft on her lips. At the age of eight, her first kiss was stolen. Stolen by someone she wasn't suppose to marry.

"Why does it have to be Reeve? Why can't you like me?" She felt shocked that Steven would do such a thing, but that shock turned to anger. She began to cry. She couldn't bare to even see him, and so she ran, ripping off the flower crown. It was the last time she ever saw him.

You wake up to the rays of sunshine streaming through your window. It had been ten years since that incident. You told your parents what happened, and since then, they decided that you would no longer play with Steven. 

You felt regret after that. Reeve also stopped talking to Steven after that incident and the once familiar ties between the families, were all strained. All because of something you said as a child. Steven was a good friend to you and you wished you could turn back the clock so that way you could be friends again.

You were reading in your room, shortly after breakfast when you heard that Reeve was here. You go out to greet him and smile. You and Reeve continued to be close friends, and you did care for him, just not the way a lover would. You questioned if it was the guilt you had towards Steven preventing it.

"We have to discuss the guest list." he says as the two of you sit in the parlor room. "I was thinking of inviting the Liszt family, but Lady Liszt recently gave birth."

"We should still send an invitation." Since you were eighteen, you parents decided it was time to hold a formal engagement party. After discussing who else to invite, you bring up Steven. "It has been ten years. We all were children back then. I wish to make amends with him."

"It has been ten years. I can barely remember his face now. I don't know if we should."

"I want things to go back to the way it was. I want to make things right."

"...Alright. Let's invite him." You smile at Reeve and later that week, invitations are sent out to everyone you invited, Steven included.

It surprised Steven that he was invited to come to your engagement party. It was no secret that his actions a decade ago caused a rift between the families. A scandal everyone loved gossiping about. 

It had died down over the years considering you all were just children but the rift remain. But now, you were reaching out to him. He never forgot the feelings. Why did it have to be Reeve? Before you were separated from him, he was closer to you. You would tell him all sorts of secrets and the two of you spent more time together. Reeve and him had the same status and wealth. So why did he have to be the one to win your hand?

Nevertheless, the fact you are allowing him back into your life was something to feel joyous about. He waited patiently for the night of your engagement party. He arrived at Reeve's family home and showed his invitation. The attendant took it and gave him a mask. He smiles as he puts it on. This must of been your doing. You always had an affinity towards masquerades as a child.

You and Reeve were getting ready in your respective rooms. You both agreed that when the clock struck ten, you two would go to the top of the staircase and announce the engagement formally. This meant though, you two wouldn't know what the other was wearing or what mask they had on. After getting dressed you enter the ballroom. You had requested to keep everyone's identity secret and so, people were referred to by the color of the clothes and what status they held.

You were wearing a black dress and you wonder why you chose it. Today was suppose to be a happy day, so why did you choose something so somber. The people referred to you as Lady Black. You made small talk with everyone while trying to find Reeve. It was your idea, but you were beginning to wonder if it was a good idea. 

You step outside into the garden area. You had one more hour before it would be formally announced. You could hear the faint music playing as you are left alone with your thoughts. You walk towards the railing and admire the roses. How dark red they were. They were beautiful. As you admire the flowers, you notice the presence of another. You turn and you see a black haired male wearing a sliver mask. Just like you he was wearing black except for the white rose bud on his chest pocket.

"I presume you are a lord." you tell him. 

"You wouldn't be wrong. I am Lord Black."

"Lady Black." you respond. He walks over and looks at the roses. 

"Very beautiful aren't they. The red is so vivid."

"It is."

"But I think white is better." he says. "Very pure."

"Interesting interpretation for a rose."

"I had years to think about it. Never thought I would say such things." The silence continues for a bit, but you don't mind. "I never thought they would let me back in." he says quietly. You turn to him.

"Excuse me?"

"It has been a decade. The day I got that letter, I was happy. Happy to know they forgive my mistakes."

"Steven?" you call out unconsciously. He turns to you.

"It is good to see you again F/n." he smiles. Ten years. It has been ten years since you saw him.

"I am so sorry." you tell him. "I was a child and had I known what would've happened I-"

"It is okay." he says gently cutting you off. "We all made mistakes. I apologize for what I had done. I also owe an apology to Reese."

"Damn right you do." you both turn to the speaker, and see a man dressed in white. 

"Reeve." Steven calls out. 

"Ten years." Reeve states. "It has been ten years. I never thought I would be seeing you again."

"Nor had I."

"You best thank F/n. She is the reason why you are here."

"I know. I really am sorry for what had happened." Reeve smiles at Steven.

"Bygones be bygones. We were kids. What did we know? It will take a while to get use to, but I hope we can be friends again. Just like in the past." You smile at the exchange. Finally, things were the way they used to be. The three of you talk and Steven gives you his white rose.

"A...congratulatory gift. From me." he says as you take it. You turn to Reeve.

"I think it will look better on Reeve." you say as you put it on his jacket. "It matches your attire." Steven looks on with a smile plastered on his face. Steven informs you it is almost ten and you and Reeve leave to prepare for the announcement. He watches you walk away. It wasn't fair.

Steven knew who you were even without the masks. Reeve told them it took him a while. And the rose. He gave it to you. Why does Reeve have it now? And tonight. The night where everyone will formally know and accept that Reeve will be marrying you. Steven still loved you. It wasn't fair to him. 

"I could make you happier." he whispers before entering the hall. The party ends on a good note for you and Reeve but you felt something wrong in your chest. You were happy with Reeve, but still, it wasn't the kind of happiness a married couple would have. You bid Reeve farewell that night. In a month, the two of you would be married. Hopefully, your feelings would be sorted out by then.

Steven should of been happy that you allowed him back in your life. But the memory of you giving the rose to Reeve made him feel anger. It was as if you were ignoring the love he had for you for over ten years. It was nearing the date of your marriage and he kept whispering to himself silently, alone in his room.

"Why Reeve? I knew you before you even met him. I was able to find you in the crowds before him. I am have the same wealth and status. I would make you happier. It isn't fair. Not fair at all. Why does Reeve get to have your heart? When I loved you longer." He goes to his desk. On top of it was an pressed ring of flowers. The flower crown he gave you when you both were kids. Gently, he takes it and presses his lips upon it. He needed to do something. He couldn't bear the thought of losing you to a man he thought didn't deserve you.

Reeve was walking down the streets late at night. He was going to surprise you with a visit. In his arms was a bouquet of white roses. You told him how you found them much more beautiful than the red ones. Surely you would like his gift. Perhaps, he should of brought his carriage. It was getting colder, but it was late, and he didn't want the coachman to stay longer than necessary.

As he walks, he feels as if he is being followed. He speeds up and so does the other person. There weren't other people around due to how late it was. He was on a well lit street but for how long? Your home was a little isolated. It was best to go home and come the following morning. As Reeve turns around, he makes eye contact with a mask figure. He recognized him. Before he could say anything, a sword pierces his chest and he drops to the ground, with his blood dying the roses red.

You were informed the next day, that Reeve was found murdered. Your wedding was coming up so soon. The man you were engaged to since you were eight was now dead. What about Steven? How was he handling the news? It must of been hard, considering how recently your reconciliation was. You decide to dawn your mourning gown and visit Steven.

Steven was wearing mourning clothes as well, and he looked just a forlorn as you. The two of you sit in the dining room quietly.

"To think this would happen." he says after a while. 

"It pains me to know he is dead." you respond. "He was a good friend."

"Not lover?" Steven asks with interest.

"I cared for Reeve. But I couldn't bring myself to love him. Not after the falling out of the families ten years ago."

"I see." A maid comes in and gives tea to the both of you. As you sip on it, you find yourself getting sleepy. In your hazy vision, you see Steven walking towards you.

 You wake up feeling the weight of someone on you. Your eyes are open, but you can't see anything. In fact, you can't move your limbs.

"I'm sorry." you hear a male voice.

"Steven?" you call out. 

"I'm sorry." he says again. "I love you F/n. I love you so much I did this to you." 

"What do you mean?"

"Putting sleeping pills in your tea. I can't let you go. I loved you longer than Reeve. I have same power as him too. I know it is wrong to use his death like this, but I couldn't help it." You feel a drop of water on your cheek, and you realize he is crying. "Please don't hate me. I just wanted you to be mine. Back when we were kids, it was too much to bear hearing you would be someone else's."

You felt relieved hearing his voice. As if the regret was fading away. Your situation you were in, was by far undesirable, but you felt relieved knowing Steven was there. You smile at Steven and you feel your eyes stinging with tears.

"Please untie me." you ask him. Steven is taken a back by your smile, but does what you ask. You remove your blindfold and smile at him with the tears in your eyes. You gently wipe away his. "I understand now. Why I couldn't love Reeve. Because you were in my heart all along." Steven looks shocked.

"Really? You...love me?" he asks.

"I do." The words he desired for so long; it was his, not Reeve's. You loved him the whole time. Not Reeve. The happiness he felt couldn't be describable. He hugs you while crying happily. You were his, body and soul. All because he got rid of the man who caused him so much pain.

Yeah, I based this off a vocaloid song called Cantarella. The video they used had a story line that I decided to base this off of.  This was actually pretty difficult to write because I wanted to avoid using words like envy or envious. Hope you enjoyed.