Roses for Rosalind

Rosie took Juliet and wandered aimlessly on the street.She turned her head left and right from time to time, watching with interest the flags with different emblems embroidered on the windows of the mansions on both sides of the street.

This is also one of the traditions of the Knight Tournament: two weeks before the start of the conference, the herald will go to all parts of the country to send circulars and invitation letters to the knights who need to participate.After receiving the order, these knights must arrive at the designated town in advance, hang their own coat of arms on the window of their room, and post papers with their coat of arms painted on them in castles, monasteries and other public places.If someone finds that the owner of the coat of arms is not virtuous, he can freely file a complaint with the person in charge of the meeting and apply for the disqualification of the knight.The officials of the conference will make a judgment after hearing the case and disqualify the guilty knight.This was also known at the time as "the stain of the family voice" or "the stain of the coat of arms".Once disqualified from the competition, the knight's reputation will be greatly damaged.

However, like the page boy rule mentioned earlier, it's mostly just a formality.

The Capulets came very late, and in just three days, this session of the Knights Tournament will officially begin.All the participating knights had already arrived in Rome, and all kinds of flags were hung on the windows on both sides of the street, colorful and lively.The busiest time is only two or three days before the start of the race, when horse dealers are busy selling their horses, while grocery merchants dress up the knights and their horses in splendid attire.Countless buskers and comedians have sprung up from every corner of the streets and alleys, and there are also mysterious women from gypsies who divination for the ladies who are full of thoughts.Whether it is the upper class or the lower class, all the people will be in it.Rome at this moment is a colorful festival of singing and dancing, trysts and quarrels, and wild betting by gamblers on games.

Rosie and Juliet watched with relish, stopping from time to time to pick out novelties from the vendors.

"This is beautiful." Juliet reached out to pick up a creamy white ribbon with golden branches and leaves from the booth, and looked at it carefully.

"You have a good eye." The clever peddler hurriedly smiled and flattered: "This ribbon is made of high-quality material, and the pattern on it is also very fine. Have you seen the tangled vines on it? It means bringing good luck, if a certain knight master receives this, then, hehehe—" The peddler rubbed his hands and didn't finish the rest of the sentence.

In ancient Europe, one of the concepts of knights was to fight for the glory of the woman they liked.Therefore, during the game, the knights' spears must be tied with a gift from his favorite lady.It may usually be a silk scarf, a veil, or a ribbon taken from the lady's dress.

Juliet's face turned red, she lowered her head embarrassingly, and clenched her ribbon-wrapped hands tightly: "I want it," she asked in a low voice, "How much?"

"It's very cheap, only six coppers!" Seeing the business opportunity, the peddler became more enthusiastic: "Isn't this lady coming to pick one?! If I buy another one, I can give the two of you a discount. How about a copper coin?" He yelled anxiously: "This must be the cheapest, I can assure you, no one on this street can have anything as good and cheap as mine!"

After finishing speaking, he looked at Rosie expectantly with a look of "buy it, buy it, buy it quickly!"

Juliet then turned to look at Rosie eagerly.

The corners of Rosie's mouth twitched, she raised her hand and rubbed her temples: "Then what, it's still not working, I think I just..."

"Forget it" before she could say the words, someone tugged her sleeve lightly.Juliet got a little closer to Rosie, and she could clearly see the shyness and anticipation in Juliet's eyes: "Buy it, Sissy." Her voice was thin and weak: "Just stay with me."

Rosie looked at her in silence for a while, raised her hand to stroke her hair, and followed her will to pick out one of the many ribbons.

The peddler took the promised ten coppers from Rosie with a smile on his face, and Juliet carefully placed the ribbon she had chosen close to her body.Seeing Rosie looking at her, the little girl blushed again, and hurriedly tried to shift her gaze with a guilty conscience: "Well... where shall we go next?"

Rosie said nothing.She turned her head and thought for a moment: "How about the Pantheon?" She asked Juliet: "I think it's beautiful there."

Juliet nodded quickly in agreement.

Rosie casually wrapped the ribbon she just bought around her wrist, and tied a bow: "Okay." She said, "Let's go."

There are always so many people in the Pantheon, and this building that remains from the ancient Roman Empire has attracted people's attention both before and now.When the meeting was approaching, the entrance of the Pantheon was even more crowded.After rejecting a few troubadours who insisted on chasing after them to chant poems, Rosie wiped off the sweat that didn't exist on her forehead, and once again began to look around aimlessly.

She was looking up at the high dome of the Pantheon, when Juliet, who had been silent by her side, suddenly pushed her slightly, signaling her to look in a certain direction ahead.

"Sissy, look at the man in front." She whispered in Rosy's ear, "Is he the one, uh, man who took your hand and helped you get off the carriage last night?"

On the same night as yesterday, Alco De Niro's hair was neatly combed back and tied firmly with a black ribbon.He was wearing a white linen shirt and black trousers, with a saber tied around his waist.Several people dressed as servants posted papers with family crests near him, and they should be servants of the De Niro family.

The sunlight outside fell on his cheeks intermittently due to the shading of the building, so Rosie and Juliet were shown a handsome profile like a sculpture.Perhaps it was because of his particularly keen senses as a knight, Alco De Niro raised his eyebrows on his exposed side face, and looked sideways in the direction of the two of them.

Unexpectedly found a familiar figure, Alco De Niro was startled for a while, and then smiled.He turned his head and said something to a servant who was beside him, and walked towards them.

Rosie wanted to hide subconsciously, but it was obviously not a wise choice at this moment.So she collected herself, stood where she was, and smiled slightly at the other party.

"Good day." Arco De Niro stopped a few steps away from them, and bowed slightly to them. "I didn't expect to see the two young ladies here. God really favors me."

"Good day." Juliet and Rosie immediately returned a salute to him.After that, Juliet turned and walked away on the pretext of wanting to look inside the Pantheon.Before leaving, he gave Rosie a slight push and winked at her.

Rosie glared at her quietly.

I don't know if it was a deliberate arrangement by the other party or a coincidence, but the servants who were busy not far away also disappeared.After Juliet left, only Rosie and De Niro stood opposite each other.

When the other party didn't speak, Rosie just looked down at the corner of her skirt.Just looking at it, her gaze uncontrollably drifted to the saber on the opponent's waist.

The silver blade of the sword shone like a real sword used for combat.But the gauntlet on the handle is unusually gorgeous, more like the style of decorative sabers common to the aristocrats.

——So is this a real sword or just a saber?

Seeing Rosie staring at his sword probingly, Arco De Niro raised the corner of his mouth and smiled: "Are you interested in my sword?"

"Hmm." Rosie replied vaguely.She also understood that her behavior was a little impolite, so she nodded a little embarrassed to the other party: "I took the liberty, sorry."

"You don't need to feel about it." Alcor simply took the saber from his waist and held it in front of Rosie: "Because I don't feel offended in any way."

Rosie smiled at him, and reached out to take the saber from his hand, but Alcor took a big step back exaggeratedly.

"Oh no, please don't do that." He said to Rosie, who was staring at him with wide eyes inexplicably at the time: "Please let me do this kind of thing--the slender hands of ladies are Shouldn't be holding anything heavier than a vanity case, let alone touching these savage weapons."

...oh she forgot, chivalry.

Shaking off the goosebumps all over her body, Rosie raised her hand to pin back a strand of slipped forehead hair.She pursed her lips and was about to say something when she felt her hand was gently held.

...What is this for?

Feeling the unbearable slender wrist in his palm, Arco De Niro lowered his eyes.He lightened his grip on Rosie's wrist, but did not let go of her hand.The big palm with thin calluses stroked her palm all the way, and finally stopped at her fingers, gathered and clenched again.

"As I said just now, you didn't offend me in any way." Arco De Niro's voice suddenly lowered: "But next, I beg you to forgive my offense."

"I noticed that ribbon on your wrist, it's beautiful."

"So, I have to ask you a question regardless of etiquette." He paused, and then continued: "Excuse me, I have the honor, can I get a gift from Miss Catherine?"

With a twinkle in his brown eyes, he looked at Rosie gently: "Then, I will swear to fight for her honor."