Chapter 125: Roses, Roses

After crossing into the Arctic region, lakes and islands gradually became more numerous than solid land.

The year here was divided into only two seasons, summer and winter. Mosses hugging the ground and hardy shrubs took advantage of the fleeting warmth to complete their entire life cycle before the cold returned. Limited by the harsh climate and scarce sunlight, brightly colored flowers rarely grew naturally in these lands, leaving the native flora surprisingly sparse.

Yet Aurora's wedding venue was overflowing with blossoms, so vibrant that it hardly resembled northern Europe at all.

Everywhere Sophie looked, red roses, lilies, jasmine, lily of the valley, hydrangeas, lisianthus, baby's breath, and countless other flowers she could not even name bloomed in magnificent abundance.

It was all thanks to the bride's Gift, Plant Manipulation.

As long as Aurora had seen a plant before, even a single leaf or tiny seed was enough. She could shape it into whatever form she desired and even imbue it with the symbolic meanings of different cultures associated with each flower.

Among them, red roses, the timeless symbol of love, were by far the most abundant decoration throughout the ceremony.

Arm in arm with Sulpicia, Aro leisurely wandered around the venue while waiting for the bride to make her entrance.

One particular rose caught Sulpicia's eye.

Fearing that its thorns might somehow scratch skin harder than granite, Aro carefully plucked the bloom himself before placing it gently into his wife's hand. At the same time, he whispered shamelessly affectionate words. "This is Aurora's Gift, my dear Sulpicia. Red roses may only be given to one's beloved."

Sulpicia beamed with delight.

Having spent centuries living deep within the underground palace, protected layer upon layer from the outside world, she had very little opportunity to encounter new people or unfamiliar wonders.

A bride with the Gift to command plants was simply too fascinating.

She could hardly wait to meet her.

Aro held her hand throughout, continuously reading her thoughts through his Gift. To everyone else, it appeared as though he had been talking to himself from beginning to end.

As one of the female guests, Sulpicia enjoyed the privilege of seeing the bride before the ceremony began. The moment the thought of visiting Aurora crossed her mind, Aro responded immediately.

"Alec."

He summoned the guard he trusted most to protect his wife.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, the youthful-looking boy silently appeared behind them and waited respectfully for his orders.

Personally placing Sulpicia's hand into Alec's, Aro instructed, "Escort Sulpicia to see the bride."

Alec's appearance remained frozen in adolescence. His face was almost identical to Jane's, his exquisitely beautiful features giving him an androgynous elegance that blurred the line between boy and girl.

Offering his arm like a perfect gentleman, Alec escorted Sulpicia away while faithfully carrying out his duty as her protector.

Given his youthful appearance and delicate features, no one considered his presence beside the bride a violation of wedding tradition.

Once Alec had escorted Sulpicia away, Jane drifted soundlessly to Aro's side.

"Master, I have something to report."

Aro had deliberately sent both his wife and Alec away. He wanted a private moment to discuss Jane's recent behavior.

Of course, by "discuss," he meant allowing Jane to confess everything of her own accord while he played the role of the kind and understanding leader who would lovingly accept whatever burden weighed upon her heart.

He slowly opened his hand. "Come, my child."

Physical contact through the palm was the condition required for Aro to activate his Gift. He had prepared himself with endless patience.

He expected hesitation. He expected uncertainty.

After all, what Jane was about to confess concerned the deepest, most private emotions hidden within her heart. Aro privately referred to such things as a young girl's secret feelings.

They were always delicate. Always vulnerable.

The hazy excitement of budding affection, the restless fluttering of first love, the countless moments spent replaying a single thought over and over until sleep became impossible. Even the fiercest flame within the Volturi could soften into something as gentle as flowing water.

Yet today, Jane was completely different. Gone was the indecision she always displayed whenever her emotions became involved.

The decisive captain of the Guard had returned.

Without the slightest hesitation, she opened her hand and firmly pressed it against Aro's palm. She moved first, boldly and resolutely.

The determination she carried no longer existed only inside her heart. It was evident in the strength with which she gripped his hand.

Jane clutched Aro tightly, almost afraid he might escape.

"Master!"

The familiar title sounded less like a respectful address and more like an urgent plea.

In that instant, Aro understood. There was no longer any need to activate his Gift.

Jane's heart was already spilling from her lips.

"As you can plainly see... I have found the love of my life."

Her slender hands completely enclosed Aro's larger ones.

"Master, I've finally realized what love truly is. Even the whole world together cannot compare to a single Sophie."

The cold-hearted captain of the Volturi Guard. The beautiful blonde girl.

Word by word, with absolute solemnity, she acknowledged her love.

"She shattered the walls I struggled so hard to maintain. After Chelsea interfered, I tried answering her with cruelty and indifference, but those masks collapsed far too easily. In a single moment, they crumbled into something weak and rotten."

Love arrived without warning, and once it took hold, surrender was almost impossible to resist.

I think I lost my mind the night we fled beneath the full moon. Since then, I've only run farther and farther into this beautiful madness.

The frightening part is that I cherish every second of it.

"I am beyond saving now, Master."

"Jane..."

Aro pulled his hand free and called her name in a low voice, trying to stop her before she continued.

Reading someone's thoughts through his Gift was one thing. That allowed delicate matters to remain unspoken, quietly resolved between them.

But Jane had no intention of giving Aro the chance to retreat. She had already made up her mind during their journey to the Irish Coven.

The moment the proper opportunity presented itself, she would immediately ask Aro to honor the one privilege reserved exclusively for the core members of the Guard.