War of A Rose

War of a Rose • Chapter 44

Chapter Forty-four
Rosaelia

I gazed at the white card resting atop the box on my bed, my heart pounding with anticipation. The cursive writing was unmistakable - it was from Alessio. I traced my finger over the cursive writing, reading the words over and over again. "For Amina mia. Per sempre tua, Alessio." For my soul. Forever yours, Alessio.

My eyes drifted down to the small rectangular shaped box resting at the edge of my bed. It was wrapped in a beautiful silver paper, with a ribbon tied in a bow across the top. I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement as I delicately undid the ribbon and slowly lifted the lid.

A shield of white tissue paper covered the contents of the box, but I could tell that whatever it was, it was red. My fingers trembled with excitement as I pulled the paper from the box, revealing a heap of fabric within. As I lifted the dress from the box, my breath caught in my throat. It was stunning. A beautiful red ballgown that seemed to shimmer in the light. I ran my fingers over the soft fabric, admiring the intricate details and the way it flowed like water in my hands.

With a smile on my face, I laid the dress out on my bed and began to undress. As I slipped the gown on, it fit me like a glove, hugging my curves in all the right places as if it was made for me. I felt like a queen. I twirled around in front of the mirror, admiring the way the dress flowed around me.

I couldn't help but wonder how much Alessio had gotten it altered. How much did he change to make it fit this well, to make it looks this perfect? This dress has been in his family for decades and yet, as I stood here admiring myself in the mirror, it felt as if it was the first time it had ever been worn.

As I admired myself in the mirror, my mind couldn't help but wander to the events of the night. Domenico's impending arrival filled me with a sense of dread and anticipation. We had prepared as best we could, but there was always the possibility that he would bring something unexpected.

I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind and focused on getting ready for the masquerade ball. I began to style my hair, pinning it up in a half ponytail, leaving two face framing curls loose. Then, I carefully applied my makeup, making sure that every detail was perfect. I went with a simple Smokey eyeshadow and signature red lip.

Satisfied with my appearance, I headed down to check on Liliana. As I walked down the hallway towards her room, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. I had been so preoccupied with my own preparations that I had neglected to check on her earlier.

When I reached her door, I hesitated for a moment before knocking softly. A muffled voice called out, and I pushed the door open, peering inside. Liliana was sitting on the edge of her bed, dressed in a simple black gown, her hair pulled back into a neat bun. I could tell she was still struggling with the aftermath of her injuries, both physical and emotional. I sat down next to her and took her hand, giving her a reassuring smile.

"Liliana, you look beautiful," I said, motioning to her dress.

"Rosaelia," she said softly, a hint of surprise in her voice. "You look beautiful."

I smiled, grateful for the compliment, but my eyes couldn't help but linger on Liliana. She still looked so fragile, so vulnerable, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of worry. "How are you feeling?" I asked, taking a seat beside her.

She nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I'm fine. Just a little nervous, I guess."

I nodded in understanding, knowing that the events of the past few weeks had taken a toll on her. I reached out and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Don't worry, everything will be alright. We'll be there for each other, no matter what."