“You're nothing but a delicate rose protected in Zeya's arms.”
Louisgard looked at the girl he'd always treated as a plaything and mocked her scornfully.
“But roses have thorns, too. Would you like to see the blade wielded by the Snow Kingdom's queen, bearing the will of all her people?”
Seeing the contemptuous smile at the corner of Louisgard's mouth, Irene felt the fire of battle flare inside her. She rose, drew the long blade from her waist, and lunged at him.
“That's a lot of progress, but this is as far as you'll get.”
Louisgard sidestepped her attack, then appeared before Irene in the blink of an eye. He raised a hand and clamped it around her throat, lifting her feet off the ground. As she struggled against the crushing lack of air, the long blade slipped from her hand and clattered to the floor.
“Little rose, beg me, and I'll let you go,” Louisgard said with a smug smile.
“I will never give in.”
The Eye of Ruin in Irene's left eye awakened and resonated with the Roseblade in her hand.
The Eye of Ruin's power emerged from her eye as blood-red rose petals, swirling around the blade of the Roseblade.
