The news of Rose''s punishment had spread like wildfire, and people whispered about the young woman who had dared to attack the Crown Prince. As a result, no one dared to offer her help or shelter, fearing the Emperor''s wrath.


    Luckily, Rose stumbled upon a small cave, its entrance hidden behind a thick veil of foliage. She started a fire, the warmth and light a comforting respite from the cold and darkness. As she sat by the fire, hugging her knees, Rose couldn''t help but think about the events that had led her to this point.


    "I should''ve done that," she muttered to herself, clenching her fists. "Even if I was eager to kill, I should''ve waited." Her eyes narrowed, her mind replaying the memories of Crown Prince Nicolas''s betrayal. "I was blinded by love," she realized, her voice laced with bitterness. "I did everything he wanted, thinking he felt the same way. But he never did. I was just his plaything."


    Rose''s gaze drifted to the map beside her, her eyes tracing the route to her family''s estate. "It''s around 2-3 days by foot," she estimated. "Luckily, I have my past life experience to rely on. I know how to defend myself and take care of my needs."


    As she looked at her father''s sword, Rose''s determination hardened. "When I get home, I''ll convince the houses that respected my father to join me in rebellion. I''ll tell them that my father was assassinated by the Crown Prince." Her eyes narrowed, her mind already racing with strategies and plans.


    Just as Rose was lost in thought, she heard a faint footstep outside the cave. Her head snapped up, her hand instinctively reaching for her father''s sword. She stood up, the sword at the ready, and called out, "Who''s there? Show yourself!"


    A pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness, and Rose''s heart skipped a beat. The eyes drew closer, and a figure emerged from the shadows. It was the malnourished child from the dungeon, his ocean-blue eyes fixed intently on Rose.


    Rose''s grip on the sword tightened, her mind racing with memories of the child''s fangs and the pain he had inflicted. "Stay where you are!" she commanded, trying to keep her voice steady.


    The child didn''t move, his eyes fixed on Rose with an unnerving intensity. "I-I want to say sorry," he stammered, his gaze dropping to his feet. "I''m sorry, lady."


    Rose''s grip on the sword relaxed, her expression softening. She saw the genuine remorse in the child''s eyes and knew that he was still just a child, despite his unnatural abilities.


    As she lowered the sword, Rose couldn''t shake the thought of how this child would grow up to be a bloodthirsty monster. But for now, he was just a lost, scared child.


    "Come here, near the fire," Rose said, her voice a little softer. "It''s cold tonight."


    The child smiled, his eyes lighting up, and ran towards Rose. But instead of stopping in front of her, he suddenly hugged her waist, his arms wrapping tightly around her.


    Rose was taken aback, but she smiled and brushed her fingers through the child''s hair. "You''re warm," he said, his voice muffled against her cloak.


    Rose looked at the child, her eyes searching for any sign of manipulation. But all she saw was innocence and a deep-seated need for human connection.


    ''If this child is Matthew,'' Rose thought, ''I might be able to use him in my rebellion. With the right training and guidance, he could be a powerful ally.''


    As she looked into the fire, Rose wondered if this was the White Lady''s way of helping her. Had she been given a powerful tool, one that could tip the scales in her favor?


    Rose turned her attention back to the child, who was still hugging her waist. "You don''t have a name, do you?" she asked, and the child shook his head.


    Rose smiled. "Do you like Matthias?" she asked, and the child nodded enthusiastically.


    Rose held the child''s forehead, her eyes narrowing as she felt his cold skin. "You''re cold," she said, concern etched in her voice.


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    The child nodded. "My body is always like this. That''s why I''m happy to hug someone who is warm."


    Rose''s heart went out to the child, and she knew that she had to help him. "How long have you been in that prison?" she asked, her voice gentle.


    Matthias shrugged. "I don''t know. Long enough to know I''m in prison."


    Rose''s eyes widened in horror. "How old are you?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.


    Matthias shrugged again. "I don''t know."


    Rose''s heart ached for the child. She examined his features, trying to estimate his age. "You''re around 8 years old, based on your height," she said, making an educated guess.


    Matthias nodded, his eyes wide with wonder. "Really?"


    Rose smiled. "Yes, really."


    Rose looked outside the cave, and her eyes widened in wonder. The first snowflakes of winter were gently falling, casting a serene silence over the landscape.


    She turned to Matthias, a smile spreading across her face. "You know what? I think today is a special day."


    Matthias looked up at her curiously. "What do you mean?"


    Rose''s eyes sparkled. "I think today should be your birthday."


    Matthias''s eyes widened in excitement. "Really?"


    Rose nodded. "Yes, really. And what better day to celebrate your birthday than on the first snowfall of winter?"


    Matthias grinned, his eyes shining with happiness. "Thank you, Lady."


    "You can call me, Lady Rose." Rose smiled, feeling a warmth in her heart. "Happy birthday, Matthias."


    Matthias became silent all of a sudden and then his face lit up. "I want to come with you!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.


    Rose hesitated, unsure if it was wise to take a child with unnatural abilities on her perilous journey. But as she looked into Matthias''s eyes, she saw something there that gave her pause.


    "Okay, Matthias," she said finally. "You can come with me. But you have to promise me one thing."


    Matthias nodded eagerly. "Anything!"


    Rose smiled. "You have to promise me you''ll be careful. We''re going on a difficult journey, and I don''t want anything to happen to you."


    Matthias nodded solemnly. "I promise, Lady Rose."


    As Rose smiled and ruffled Matthias''s hair, she couldn''t shake the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn''t yet imagine.


    ***


    As they finished their breakfast, Rose stood up, her eyes shining with encouragement. "Come on, Matthias, we must move. The sunlight won''t harm you," she said, her voice filled with conviction.


    Matthias''s eyes widened in fear, his pupils dilating as he gazed at the cave entrance. "I will get burned and die," he whispered, his voice trembling.


    Rose smiled reassuringly, her lips curving upward. "You won''t," she said, her tone gentle. "Besides, how did you manage to catch up with me if you didn''t travel during the daytime?" She raised an eyebrow, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.


    Matthias thought for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration. "I ran from tree to tree, so I could have a cover," he replied, his voice hesitant.


    Rose''s eyes sparkled with understanding. ''Maybe he is really sensitive to sunlight,'' she thought. She remembered the rumors about Matthew, how he was never seen during the daytime, and how his attacks always occurred at night. The stories had spoken of a monster, a creature driven by bloodlust and vulnerable only to sunlight. Until the people called him, The Undead Knight of the Empire.


    "You''re really that sensitive in the daytime, huh?" Rose asked, her voice gentle.


    Matthias nodded, his eyes downcast, his shoulders slumping in defeat.


    Rose offered her hand to Matthias, her palm upward. "Let''s just try," she said, her voice encouraging. "If you really can''t stand the ray of the sun, then we will resume our journey at nighttime."


    Matthias looked at her hand, then back at Rose. He saw the genuine concern in her eyes, the kindness that seemed to radiate from her very being. He took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest, and took Rose''s hand.


    She gently pulled him out of the cave, and Matthias took one step outside, his eyes closed firmly. He felt a sting on his skin, a burning sensation that made him gasp. But to his surprise, the pain instantly went away, replaced by a warm, tingling sensation.


    He opened his eyes to find Rose smiling at him, her eyes shining with encouragement. "See, you''re fine," she said, chuckling. But as she looked at Matthias''s skin, her expression turned concerned. "But your skin is red. Oh my..." Rose hastily got her scarf and wrapped it around Matthias''s head, shielding his skin from the sun.


    "You''re still getting used to it," Rose explained, her voice gentle. "Let''s go," she said, her eyes sparkling with encouragement.


    Matthias was shocked by what had just happened. All his life, he had believed he was vulnerable to sunlight, that even a single second in the sun would be catastrophic. But now, with Rose by his side, he felt...different. The sun''s rays no longer seemed to burn him, no longer seemed to threaten his very existence.


    Matthias looked at Rose, his mind racing with questions. ''What did Lady Rose do to me?'' he wondered. ''How did she make me immune to the sunlight?'' He felt a sense of wonder, of awe, as he gazed at Rose. She seemed to possess secrets, secrets that could change the course of his life forever.