Beneath the Roses Part 2---Thorns in the Garden

Vale (me)

Hello~ welcome back~

Vale (me)

Now let’s begin :D

Vale (me)

Three days passed.

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

*walking around the mansion*

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

*listening from the other room and is clenching his fist*

Renji Takahiro (guard)

You sure you ok?

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

I’m fine!

Renji Takahiro (guard)

…uh huh….

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

It’s just that he is walking around this place like he owns it! Like he was never gone!

Renji Takahiro (guard)

….come on now….its almost dinner time

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

You are right….lets get going! I don’t know what I would done without a best friend like you Renji!

Renji Takahiro (guard)

Same here Cae~

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

Now let’s go eat!!!

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

*runs off*

Renji Takahiro (guard)

Hey! Wait up! *follows him*

Renji Takahiro (guard)

The estate had shifted, just slightly. Some staff started bowing a little lower to Anastas.

Mariya Rosenthal (mother)

*smiles sweetly upon seeing her son walking into the dinner hall*

Viktor Rosenthal (father)

….

Lucien Delacroix (advisor)

Welcome back young master

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

Thank you Mr Delacroix…*looks at the family advisor*

Elena Rosenthal

Brother!!! *hugs Anastas* thank god you are back! That leech has been here way too long! I’m so glad the true Heir is back!

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

*smirks* aww thank you little sister

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

Tch….(I’m a leech huh…)

Lucien Delacroix (advisor)

* offered Caelum wine one morning and said calmly* You know how the Rose Circle tests its heirs, right?

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

*Caelum stared* We’re not children fighting over a toy.

Lucien Delacroix (advisor)

No…

Lucien Delacroix (advisor)

*sips the wine in his hand and smiles slightly* You’re grown men with knives now.

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

Tch whatever….

Viktor Rosenthal (father)

*sigh* can you stop annoying Anastas?

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

You are on his side?!

Viktor Rosenthal (father)

He’s my son so of course—

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

And I’m not!? *shouts out loud*

Mariya Rosenthal (mother)

Enough Caelum!

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

….

Elena Rosenthal

Just go to your room leech~ *smirks*

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

…. Tch! *leaves*

Renji Takahiro (guard)

Cae!

Viktor Rosenthal (father)

Go after him….

Renji Takahiro (guard)

Yes sir…. *leaves*

Viktor Rosenthal (father)

*place his hand on his chest* tch….

Mariya Rosenthal (mother)

Is your heart in pain again my love?

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

So father’s heart condition hasn’t gotten better….huh?

Lucien Delacroix (advisor)

Indeed….Master Rosenthal’s heart has weakened….we need to choose a suitable heir as soon as possible….

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

I see…

The next day….

The air was sharp with the scent of gunpowder and sweat. Caelum stood with a pistol in his hand, targeting bottles lined across stone slabs.

Pop. Pop. Pop.

Three shots. Three hits. He let the gun lower. And then—click. A second gunshot split the air.

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

Huh?! *turns around*

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

What? You can’t do that?

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

*his sleeves rolled to the elbows, cold blue eyes meeting Caelum’s hazel ones. He lowered his own pistol like it weighed nothing*

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

Thought you liked being alone *said it with no emotion*

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

I do~

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

*sets another bullet in the chamber* But I figured someone should remind you how to aim.

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

You know~ *smirks*

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

Right. Because Daddy’s little ghost knows everything.

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

*laughs bitterly*

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

I don’t need to know everything….i just need to know what I need to know

Their eyes locked.

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

This is war….

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

Whatever you say baby~

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

I’m not a baby!

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

Later that night

The table was set for twelve. The main family and lieutenants. Viktor at the head, Mariya at his right. Caelum and Anastas sat opposite each other while Elena sits next to Anastas

Renji stood behind Caelum. Daria behind Anastas. Eyes like knives. The air was tense.

Daria Volkov

My handsome cousin was so cool in today’s training!

Daria Volkov

I love what you did to the leech!

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

So you taught Elena how to call him a leech huh?

Elena Rosenthal

It suits that leech brother! Cousin Daria said she was proud of me!

Daria Volkov

Exactly~

Daria Volkov

Also Anastas~ I wonder if we can kiss on the lips~

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

We are cousins Daria.

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

*looks at her seriously*

Daria Volkov

So what~ it’s just a kiss

Mariya Rosenthal (mother)

Enough you two

Viktor Rosenthal (father)

*sighs*

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

So, Anastas. Where were you hiding all those years? Training? Running? Or just sulking?

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

*He smiles was polite and deadly* Somewhere that taught me not to flap my mouth like a loose pistol.

Elena Rosenthal

Huh weren’t you taken away by—

Daria Volkov

*shuts her up* don’t say that little cousin

Elena Rosenthal

Right…sorry

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

It’s ok Elena

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

*smirks* You should loosen up. You’re in my house now

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

Mhm?

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

I don’t remember you having the blood of the Rosenthal family…so how can you be the heir?

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

Tch…why you little!

Viktor Rosenthal (father)

Enough!

Mariya Rosenthal (mother)

My love, be careful of your heart

Viktor Rosenthal (father)

I’m fine my love….

Mariya Rosenthal (mother)

Caelum you are dismiss

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

But-

Mariya Rosenthal (mother)

I said you are dismissed!

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

F-fine! *leaves*

Renji Takahiro (guard)

*follows Caelum back*

Renji Takahiro (guard)

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

What do you want…

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

*was following him*

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

Speak up!

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

I want to see if there’s anything left of the boy who picked roses with me *seems genuine*

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

*flinched* that boy died….i buried him long ago

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

*steps back* that’s ashamed *he says coldly*

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

Vale (me)

Thats the end of part two

Vale (me)

Now allow me to introduce the characters before you go

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal

1. Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal – The Adopted Heir • Role: Former acting heir to the Rose Circle • Traits: Fiercely loyal, volatile, protective • Struggles With: Insecurity, being seen as an outsider • Goal: To prove he’s earned his place • Conflict With: Anastas (threat to his position + unresolved tension)

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal – The True Heir • Role: Biological son of the mafia boss; recently returned • Traits: Cold, calculated, elite-trained • Struggles With: Trust, abandonment, lingering feelings for Cae • Goal: To reclaim his birthright—and uncover who tried to erase him • Conflict With: Cae (jealousy, betrayal, old flames)

Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal

Viktor Rosenthal (father)

Viktor Rosenthal – The Mafia Kingpin (Father) • Role: The current mafia boss; dying • Traits: Strategic, manipulative, unpredictable • Secret: He pitted Cae and Asya against each other for survival • Goal: To find a worthy heir before his enemies do

Mariya Rosenthal (mother)

Mariya Rosenthal – The Queen Mother / Mafia Matriarch • Role: Viktor’s wife; stepmother to Cae • Traits: Elegant, intelligent, ruthless behind a smile • Backstory: Raised in the mafia world; loyal to her son Asya • Goal: Push Asya into power—even if it costs Cae everything

Lucien Delacroix (advisor)

Lucien Delacroix – The Advisor / Consigliere • Role: Mafia strategist, knows everyone’s secrets • Traits: Mysterious, persuasive, charming • Backstory: Raised alongside Viktor; sees the war coming • Twist: May be playing both sides • Potential Ship: Secretly protective of Cae

Lucien Delacroix (advisor)

Renji Takahiro (guard)

Renji Takahiro – Head of Security / Cae’s Best Friend • Role: Right-hand man to Cae • Traits: Stoic, deadly with knives, loyal • Secret: In love with Cae—but won’t act on it • Conflict: Doesn’t trust Asya, and ready to kill if needed

Daria Volkov

Daria Volkov – Asya’s Cousin / Hacker / Cleaner • Role: Asya’s personal tech expert & childhood confidante • Traits: Snarky, brilliant • Goal: get Asya to love her and marry her

Nero Valenti

(Not gonna review yet)

Nero Valenti

Elena Rosenthal

Elena Rosenthal – Asya’s sister / princess of the family • Role: the family’s princess • Traits: cute, loves to follow others • Goal: to get Cae out of the house

Elena Rosenthal

Vale (me)

These are the current characters~ if there are any changes, I will tell you in the next vid

Vale (me)

Now bye bye~