Dogs Among Withered Roses

The rose of Valentiera,
The unfortunate goddess who grants victory,
The watchdog who can’t let go of the hand of a fallen angel,

Berenice Rosa Valentiera.

The new fence of the withered rose,
The young king’s hunting dog who swore loyalty,
The traitor pierced only by fragrant thorns,

Erkin Lucio Lafayette.

Berenice, the half-sister of Ricardo, boss of the Valentiera Family, keeps Erkin by her side as her new bodyguard at her brother’s command.

“Erkin, I meant you. Get out.”
“….”
“If you don’t get out, I’ll get out and walk. Choose.”

From the moment they met, Berenice found Erkin’s presence irritating. While continuing to clash with Erkin, whose true purpose as her guard she couldn’t grasp, she learns that Ricardo plans to arrange her marriage.

“Forget the engagement they’re discussing, and just see me until someone else shows up.”
“You mean a relationship for show?”
“Why. Don’t you like it?”
“No. I like it.”

Berenice’s intent to use Erkin, her brother’s assigned bodyguard, to escape an unwanted marriage soon bloomed into a red, rich flower she herself didn’t recognize. She had no idea that he wasn’t the loyal hunting dog who swore a bloody oath, but a spy ready to sever Valentiera’s throat. Believing they shared the same heart, she gave him everything she could.

“You thought I’d kneel and beg you to spare me?”
“If you did, do you think you could keep your life?”

Even if she tore herself apart, Berenice wanted to kill him. But she couldn’t pull the trigger. To one who mocked oaths, a painless death was a luxury.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Erkin. Your life depends on me.”
“….”
“If you want to bring my brother’s head or my wrist to the Security Bureau, you’ll have to kneel and lick my toes.”
“As you wish. If the lady commands, I’ll obey.”

In the end, instead of driving a bullet into Erkin’s forehead, Berenice placed a soft kiss at the corner of his right lip, delaying their end for a moment.

She vowed that when every rose blooming within her had withered away, she would plunge the stiletto straight into his heart.