ROSES HAVE THORNS-Chapter 95 - A Promise Is A Promise

"Amy, we’re leaving. Pack up whatever essentials you need." Emelie ordered as she barged into the room.

"Leaving?" Amy stopped her magic and looked up from the study desk. "What do you mean? Where are we leaving to? What about the food? Did you get them? I’m still kind of hungry–"

"Not now, Amy. Something urgent came up, so hurry up. Pack up about a week’s worth of things. We’re going to the hotel I’m staying at."

For about five seconds, Amy just stood there wide-eyed as she processed the news. Once she snapped out of her momentary daze, she let out an ear-piercing squeal and transformed into a human tornado.

"Really?! Well, why didn’t you say so!".

She dove under her bed, triumphantly yanking out a bright yellow suitcase, and hoisted it onto the mattress. Not bothering to unzip it carefully; she ripped the case open as if she were a kid tearing into a birthday present and turned towards the room with the eyes of a predator.

Then, the blur began.

Amy skidded across the hardwood floor in her socks, crashing into her open closet. She didn’t look nor did she sort. She just grabbed handfuls of fabric. A sequined New Year’s Eve dress? In. Five pairs of mismatched socks and a swimsuit she hadn’t worn since late last summer? In. The only thing that made remotely sense was the heavy winter wool parker that just so happened to come into her view.

"We might need snacks! *Gasp* But there are no snacks! I know! My secret stash!" she yelled from across the room, hurling a half-eaten bag of marshmallows and a single, slightly bruised apple perfectly into the suitcase.

Next, she vaulted over the bed, completely ignoring gravity, and raided her desk. A pair of sunglasses, a stapler, and her favorite fuzzy throw pillow went flying through the air, landing in the chaotic pile of belongings. She then darted into the bathroom, reappearing three seconds later with a toothbrush, four bottles of hotel shampoo she bought from a discount store, and no toothpaste.

The suitcase was overflowing with a monstrous mountain of unrelated items.

"A-Amy. Don’t you think you’re taking it a bit too far– WHOA!" Emelie dodged to the side as the pink entity ran by her.

Without missing a beat, Amy threw her entire body weight onto the pile, squishing the marshmallows and wrestling the zipper. The poor zipper groaned in protest as she dragged it violently around the perimeter.

The entire process took less than forty-five seconds.

With a final triumphant snap of the zipper, she yanked the extendable handle up. Amy sprang to her feet, chest heaving, a stray sock clinging to her shoulder, and her hair a wild, electrified mess. She skidded to a halt mere inches from Emelie, slapping on the biggest, most adrenaline-fueled grin imaginable.

"Okay!" she beamed, vibrating with pure excitement. "I’m ready. Let’s go!"

"Right..." Emelie looked skeptically at the suitcase. "Why are you even so excited?"

"N-No reason! I just... I’m just happy that I’m leaving this boring room is all! Haha.. ahaha..." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"... You’re not thinking about Kurt, are you?"

"WHAAAT!? Me!? Think about Kurt!? That stupid..ly handsome– That stupid face!? No way!"

"Mmhm... You don’t sound very convincing."

"Really! I’m already over him! Please believe me..." Amy’s eyes grew soft with tears as she gave Emelie the puppy look.

"... Whatever. So long as you know that he’s already taken, and that you won’t cause him any problems, then it’s fine."

"Yippee! What’re we waiting for?" She grabbed Emelie’s hand and dragged her out the door. "Let’s hurry before it starts raining again!"

"Even if it does, I can cover us easily."

"Shush! No excuses! Ooooou, I wonder what the rooms are gonna look like! Is there an extra bed? Do we have to share? What kind of room service do they offer? I can’t wait to see!"

"Hahaha! Ok! Ok! Slow down already! The hotel isn’t going anywhere." Emelie laughed as her previous sour mood lightened up and she let herself be dragged along by Amy.

.

..

...

"Thanks again for the lunch, Maggie. It was great."

"No problem, Mr. Kurt. I’m glad you liked it. The kids were also delighted that you came by. Seeing them so happy is always such a joy to witness."

"No need to be formal. We’re basically friends at this point. Call me Kurt."

"Alright, Kurt." Maggie turned around and called out, "Rupee! Tristan! Kurt is leaving now! Aren’t you going to say goodbye to him?"

Soon enough, little footsteps could be heard running as two little figures appeared from behind the door.

"Uncle Kurt is leaving already?! But why can’t he stay here, Mrs. Maggie?" Rupee held onto Kurt’s leg as she asked.

"Rupee... Uncle Kurt is a very busy man. Please understand that he has work to do." Maggie tried to explain but Kurt simply raised his hand to her and crouched down to Rupee’s level.

"Rupee, I’m actually going on a small adventure just like you did. And while I’m away, there’s something very important that I must get."

"Something important? What’s that?" She asked innocently.

"The letter from your mom and dad, of course! I know it’s still a bit early, but I bet that there’s another letter waiting for you."

"Really?! Yaaay! Thank you, Uncle Kurt!" Rupee jumped in Kurt’s chest and hugged him. After which she let go of him and stood up straight with her hands on her hips. "You must hurry and come back quickly, alright?"

"Your wish is my command, little lady." Kurt bowed as if he were in the presence of royalty.

"Hehehe~"

"Uhm.. Uncle Kurt. There’s something I want to ask you." Tristan pulled on his pants to get his attention.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"C-Can... Can you train me on how to use that?" He pointed towards Kurt’s black sword on his hip.

"You want to learn how to wield a sword?"

"Y-Yes... N-Not "want". I.. I must learn how. For Rupee’s sake..." The little boy’s voice trailed off.

"For Rupee’s sake, you say?"

"Y-Yes... For Rupee’s sake..."

"Hmmmmm. Okay. I’ll teach you whenever I get the time."

"T-Thank you, Uncle Kurt!"

"But you have to promise me that Rupee’s safety will be your main priority. Only then will I teach you."

"I-I promise! I really promise! I super promise!"

"Good. Then next time I come back, we begin training."

"Y-Yes sir!"

Next, Kurt approached the two guards, Vicky and Bob, who were standing near the front gate like stone pillars. As he drew nearer, they straightened their shades and ties and wore the solemn look of duty.

Vicky stepped forward, nodding with a sense of shared burden. "Don’t you worry, Boss," she said as her voice dropped to a respectful tone.

"We’ll keep the perimeter tight and the orphanage safe. No one, especially any suspicious priests, will get near those kids. You have our word."

Bob tapped the baton at his hip, offering a reassuring, if slightly grim, smile. "Rest easy, Boss. We’ll be their shadows until you get back."

Kurt stopped a few feet short of them. His brow furrowed in genuine confusion. "That’s... incredibly noble of you," he started, "and hearing your guy’s enthusiasm puts my worry to ease. Truly. But I’m actually here because I realised that I forgot to ask you guys something."

"Boss?" Vicky took off her sunglasses.

"It’s just... I never signed a work order. I haven’t seen a background check, and I certainly haven’t seen a bill. Yet, here you are, guarding the orphanage gates. Where exactly is the paperwork for this operation?"

Vicky and Bob exchanged a quick, sheepish glance.

"Ehem! The contract isn’t with you, Boss," Vicky explained, clearing her throat. "It’s with Dominik. He came to the agency directly, said he was looking for two capable guards and that we should report here immediately."

"Yeah, that prefect has the contract, Boss." Bob added. "Said he was going on a boat trip to save his best friend but couldn’t leave the orphanage unprotected due to the zealots targeting it. The contract also stipulated to refer to a man known as Kurt Rosanna as our boss, and that if he so wishes, he could cancel the contract at any time."

"Ahh. I get it now. Listen, I’ll talk to Dominik about cancelling that contract–"

"What?!" Vicky cut him off. "Boss, if you are angry with us or unsatisfied with our work, please let us know so that we can improve or correct any mistakes!"

"Yeah, Boss! Please don’t fire us!" Both Bob and Vicky were about to get on their hands and knees when Kurt stopped them.

"Wait! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not firing you!"

""You’re not?""

"No. I just want your company to redraw the contract so that it’s fully in my name. And send it to City View Hotel. Hiring you guys was initially my idea. So I can’t, in good conscience, have Dominik pay for it. That’s all I wanted to tell you."

"Thank Goddess Bula above... I was honestly worried there for a second." Vicky breathed a sigh of relief. "No worries, Boss. I’ll let the company know about it A.S.A.P."

"Great. Then I’ll be leaving now. See you guys. And thank you for your hard work."

The guards stood a little taller, this time with the professional ease of knowing that their jobs were secure.

......

"It’s still only 3:00pm. What to do now?" Kurt wondered as he walked the streets. "Emelie is busy with the tags, Dominik is at work and Diana is also at work... Holy shit. I just realised... I’m jobless..."

*meow*

"What the?! Kitty? Perfect timing! Isn’t this the part where you lead me to the answers of my problems?"

"meow?* The cat tilted his head.

"... Wait? You got nothing?"

*meow*

"Darn it. Is it time for me to look for a job?" Kurt slumped his shoulders.

"Kurt Rossana!" A voice called to him from behind.

"Hm?"

"W-Wait! Junior, we just recovered from our injuries. Surely this isn’t the time for–"

"Nonsense! We lost our duel fairly; therefore, we must face our punishment fairly."

"But Junior–"

"Hello Princess Kiana. Prince Maxwell." Kurt greeted. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"No! Junior, don’t say it–!"

"Spank us, Kurt Rossana!"