The Alchemists

Rose furrowed her brows when she heard Anne's sweet words. She didn't have any relationship whatsoever with this princess from Moravia. They had met only a few times and she always kept her distance.

So, why would Anne act all nice and smiling like this? Didn't she dislike Rose? Leon had confessed that Anne was the one who gave the reporters false information about Rune being part of the Schneider family.

She had apologized for her action, not to Rose though, but instead to Leon. She said it was meant to be a joke.

However, Rose knew, and Leon must know too, that Anne did it out of jealousy. It was done out of petty, and not intended for humor.

Anne must have the knowledge that Rune was not part of the Schneider family, but she said it just now as if she didn't know?

What kind of game was she playing?

Rose hated fake people who acted nice and all smiles before her, but stabbed her behind her back. Initially, she thought her hatred for Anne was just mere jealousy since Anne was marrying the man she loved. But now, Rose was certain that she hated Anne for being childish and fake.

She felt really sorry for Leon for having such a woman as his wife. Anne was too young to be anyone's wife, Rose thought. She was imm.a.t.u.r.e and petty. Didn't Leon see that? Couldn't he make better choices for himself?

Rose had let the man go and tried to move on, but she still cared about Leon and wished he would have a better woman as his wife.

Rose knew Leon too well and she knew he was not compatible with such a woman. This imm.a.t.u.r.e princess from Moravia would only make him suffer.

Sigh. Rose looked down and focused on her Bacilia Sling. She didn't want to see Anne's face nor hear her voice because they would only make her mad.

"I am glad you think my family would be a good addition to your family," Rune spoke on Rose's behalf. "I really like Rose and I hope she would be able to see our future together. I can't wait for the day to come."

Anne looked at Rune from head to toe, as if assessing the man, then she smiled again. "Yes, of course, that's why we are so happy that we invited your family to attend our wedding. I didn't know that Rose is dating someone from the Schneider family and that you will come here. Oh, there he is!"

She waved her hand and smiled at a man who was walking in their direction. Spontaneously, Rune, Rose, JM, and Terry turned to see who Anne was waving to.

Leon's face suddenly turned murky. He just realized what his wife did when he recognized the man who came.

It was Jan Van Der Ven, a very important man from the Schneider Group. Why was he here? Leon was not notified that the Schneider family would send a representative. He didn't even know they were invited.

"I don't remember inviting them," he muttered to Rose, apologetically. 

He was thinking of inviting the Schneider to invest in Medion, but he didn't think of inviting them to his wedding since they were not close. Did Anne invite them without his knowledge? 

For what? And why didn't she tell him? 

After the incident with the article stating that Rose was dating Rune Schneider from the Schneider family, shouldn't Anne learn not to do something like this again?

"Don't you have to meet your parents?" Leon tried to salvage the situation by telling Rose to go with Rune and saw her parents. He couldn't let Rune and Rose be embarrassed when someone from the real Schneider family came and expose Rune as a fake.

"No, I came with them," said Rose casually. "I don't need to meet my parents."

"But, I think it will be better if you go and see your parents because..." Leon didn't continue his words. Jan had arrived and greeted them with a broad smile.

"Good evening, Your Highness," he said, "Thank you for having me. On behalf of the Schneider family and Schneider Group, I would like to wish you both a happy wedding and a great life together, filled with happiness."

Leon looked helpless, that he couldn't say anything but smile nervously. He turned to Rose and looked at her with regret in his eyes.

"Thank you for taking the time to come to our wedding, we really appreciate it," said Anne gracefully. "Please, no need to stand on ceremony. The Schneider family would soon become our family too, now that their son is dating my husband's sister here."

She smiled wickedly as she glanced at Rune. Jan only noticed the people around the royal couple after Anne pointed at Rune and he batted his eyes, looking surprised. 

"Hey, you are all here? Why did nobody tell me?" he asked them, looking pleasantly surprised. "When did you arrive in Bacilia?"

Rune shrugged. "I arrived last week. I didn't know our family is invited, so I didn't tell anyone I will attend this wedding. I actually came here as Rose's guest."

"Rose?" Jan turned to Rose and quickly admire the girl's beauty. Inwardly, he thought Rose and Rune looked so good together. Heck, they actually looked very similar.

So, this was the woman who could melt Rune's heart and made him feel love?

She looked like a really nice woman. Beautiful, and intelligent.

Rune cleared his throat. "This is Rose. She is my.... girlfriend."

"Wait..." Anne furrowed her brows and raised her hand, looking confused. "Do you know each other?"

Jan nodded. "Yes, of course. This is Rune Schneider, he is my good friend and my boss. As you might already know, my family has been working for the Schneider family for generations."

Anne needed a few moments to digest the information. She turned to look at Rune and studied the man. Then, she turned to Jan and tried to see if he was joking.

Apparently, Jan was not joking.

"Is there a problem?" Jan asked Anne.

At this point, Rose already knew what Anne was trying to do. Apparently, after spreading rumors that Rune was an impostor who claimed to be a member of the Schneider family, she wanted to 'expose' his lies, by inviting someone who was really from that family, to make Rose and Rune embarrassed.

However, her plan backfired when the man who came to represent the family actually confirmed Rune's identity.

"No... no, there is no problem," Anne muttered unclearly. She faked a smile and took her leave. "Thank you for coming to our wedding. I hope you will have a good time."

Rose really wanted to smack Anne at that point. However, she held back. This was Leon's wedding day. She must not let it ruined. 

Meanwhile, Leon only looked at his wife's back as she walked away from them. His heart was conflicting. He could also deduce the same conclusion as Rose and now he was really disappointed in Anne.

Rose never bothered Anne and she had suffered enough throughout this ordeal. Why couldn't Anne just leave Rose alone?

"I am happy to meet you, Sir. Thank you for coming to our wedding," Leon said to Jan. Then he turned to Rune. Leon looked at the man intently, before finally admitting that Rune was very impressive.

"Ah.. don't mention it. We are looking forward to getting to know Medion more and decide on what to invest in this country," said Jan calmly.