Page 137 of The Throne Seeker

She wholeheartedly agreed.

The sky remained clear as they traveled. The roads were quieter than the previous day, with only a handful of fellow travelers passing. They stuck to the main road until they veered off, going west towards the mountains instead of continuing north to the capital.

A sprawling forest of towering trees welcomed them, becoming bigger as they journeyed closer to the mountains. A fresh, crisp aroma of pine encased her with the light breeze. Something about it felt magical; perhaps it was the way the sunlight glittered through the leaves, casting playful shadows on the green moss that covered the ground, thriving at the bases of the sturdy trees. It was full of life—pure, natural life.

The sun had fallen behind the mountains as they finally reached their destination.

Rose had to stop and stare.

The grand estate was well-hidden, with giant trees flanking both sides of the long dirt road leading to the front courtyard. The mansion was built entirely from light-gray stone, the very same stone as the rocky mountains behind it. Giant pillars held up the front porch, which had two large black lanterns, hanging on either side of the arched double doors. The base was left overrun with thick green leafy vines, thinning out as they weaved around the windows and stretched to the roof.

Not only was the manor more beautiful than she had imagined, but it was also situated beside a beautiful emerald lake, with water so clear she could see straight to the bottom.

Now she knew where they had come up with the name Highland Haven.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, not knowing how better to describe it. If she had a home like this, she would never leave.

Roman’s mouth tugged to the side. “It is.”

Only a single servant was there to greet them—a robust woman with a generous chest and even wider hips. Her light-auburn hair was styled in a bun, and her cheeks glowed rosy against her fair complexion. Her thin lips curved into a welcoming smile.

“Master Roman,” the woman greeted with open arms, coming down the steps as Rose and Roman dismounted their horses. “It’s been nearly a year since I saw you. Look how you’ve grown! I barely recognized you.”

Roman gave her a rare genuine smile. “It’s good to see you, Gretta,” he said, embracing her with a bear hug.

Gretta peeked over his shoulder to Rose. “And who’s this beautiful lass?” she asked curiously, openly looking her up and down.

“Rosalie Versalles,” she said, “but everyone calls me Rose.”

Gretta’s eyes lit up. “Ah, I finally get to meet the famous Rose.” She patted Roman on the shoulder as she scanned her once again. “I’ve heard so much about you. I feel like I know you already.”

Rose slung Roman a brief side-eye. “Good things, I hope.”

Gretta waved her away. “Oh, of course! Although I’m surprised to see you here with Roman and not one of his brothers. But I suppose Tristan is quite busy, just married and all,” she said with a bright smile.

Rose cringed at the mention of Tristan. She tucked her hair behind her ear as Roman shifted uncomfortably.

To her credit, Gretta picked up on their body language. “Well, come in, come in! You both must be starving. We’ll get you settled in, and then we’ll have supper. I hope you’re alrightwith soup for dinner. It was such short notice, I didn’t have the chance to plan properly.”

Inside the manor was just as beautiful. The staircase took up the majority of the entrance hall, wide enough to rival the castles. Its walls were strewn with dark wooden beams and the furniture sat in pristine condition. The open ceiling soared to the second floor, making it feel that much bigger. Despite its vacancy, the air was crisp and fresh. It was quiet. So quiet. She’d have to get used to that.

To her left, an archway led to a sitting room with an oversized fireplace and dark-green velvet couches. Above the fireplace, a woven tapestry depicting the royal family caught her eye. Her heart stung as a young Tristan stared back at her.

She didn’t have long to absorb it all as Gretta guided them up the staircase. She let her fingers glide over the smooth, dark-wood railing while her shoes effortlessly skimmed the deep-plum stair runner. The halls were empty, giving Rose the impression there were few servants here besides Gretta. Maintaining an estate of this size with such limited help must have been a full-time job. But even so, not a speck of dust was in sight.

At the top of the staircase, she discovered enormous floor-to-ceiling windows that spanned the entire wall, narrow and cathedral-shaped, similar to those in the castle.

Her feet skidded to a stop, her breath stolen by the view.

The lake was at their doorstep, its waters so close that the enormous patio stairs plunged directly into the crystal-clear depths. Nearby mountain peaks surrounded the lake, offering shelter to the entire valley. In the heart of the lake sat a flat grassy island encircled by a rocky shore. The sun had left the sky, leaving behind a purple-pink glaze over the water. The stars twinkled brighter with the added elevation alongside the twinmoons, no more than mere slivers in the sky that night. She soaked in every glorious detail of it.

Roman sauntered behind her, glancing over her shoulder at the view. “What do you think?”

“It’s perfect,” she confessed softly. “It feels like home.” Her eyes widened as she realized she’d spoken the last bit aloud.

She glanced nervously at Roman, biting her cheek.

He wasn’t looking at the view, but at her. A rare light formed in his eyes as the corners of his lips twitched.