Ansel found the Golden Rose without trouble, he had noticed its sign swinging in the breeze coming from the lake on his way to the castle. 

He stopped in front of the poor, time-worn building, situated at the bottom of a narrow lane and leaning against the town's wall. Right next to it, a small arched gateway was made in the thick wall encompassing the whole island, through which he got a glimpse of the shimmering water of the lake, followed by a mouthful of humid air smelling of fish and the rotting wood of old boats, hinting at the nearby docs.

The King chose a perfect place for him, Ansel thought as he entered, the Golden Rose seemed to be as much out of place in his realm as he was. 

The inn was packed full of ragged individuals who did not fit anywhere else on this beautiful, perfect island. Their loud conversations filling the dim room hushed only for a heartbeat when Ansel entered, and they realised who he was. These people were not scared of him like the more proper citizens, those with... heavier consciences. These people were simple. Raw but honest. The things they did, and had done in their lives were all necessary. They did not cheat for pleasure, or harm others for fun. They did not have time for that, these poor souls were too busy struggling to survive. These people were the only ones who did not look at him as their inferior, a monster...

"Piper, welcome to my inn! Your room is ready, you can stay with us as long as you need. I'm Talia. Do you have a name by which I can call you?" The owner of the inn said, appearing in front of him suddenly.

"Ansel. Thank you, Talia." He smiled at the friendly, middle-aged woman from beneath his hood. It's been a long time since he met someone as cordial.

"I don't expect you to join us for meals, but should you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask." She said, making him understand that she, they, knew the legend shrouding those of his kind well. 

The 'dark angels' did not eat nor sleep. Their hearts did not beat and their lungs did not need air to breathe. They were not able to neither love, nor hate... They were Destiny's Pipers, appearing where she sent them, blindly fulfilling her wishes.

Ansel nodded silently and walked across the noisy room towards the wooden staircase the woman had shown to him. 

"Yours is the last room on the second floor... and... thank you, Ansel. We all appreciate what you do for us." Talia's voice trailed after him as he ascended the creaky stairs, noticing a rat or two scurrying away from him.

It was well after midnight, a long time after the last customer left the inn and Talia retired for the night, when Ansel jumped out of the window of his room, landing softly on the sandy beach skirting the lake, beyond the town's walls.

He sat on one of the damp white rocks scattered on the beach, and waited quietly, listening intently to the sounds reaching him from the town. When he was certain that most of its inhabitants were asleep, he took out his pipe.

Ansel chose a tune and started playing softly, letting the melody obliterate the soft splashing of water spilling over the beach. Soon he saw a long row of large, red-eyed rats emerging from a crevice in the wall, their black, fur-covered bodies and pink, hairless tails so close together that the creatures looked like a long, undulating snake making its way towards the water.

"Will they die? Do not kill them... please." A girl's voice coming from the darkness startled him. Ansel, too absorbed in his music, had not noticed her at all until she had spoken.

He finished playing the tune and put his flute away before he turned to her. The girl, clad in a long, grey, hooded cloak similar to his, was sitting on the beach nearby.

"This tune will not kill them, Princess. It will make them swim to the opposite shore and forget where they came from."

She nodded, satisfied.

"Before you said that you did not want me to do it, to make them go away... Why?"

She sighed, resting her forehead on her knees, "I don't want to marry the Prince my father chose for me. Once they are gone, I'll have to..."

"We all have our duties... Marrying a Prince does not sound too bad..." Ansel tried to cheer her up, realising that he, who was not supposed to have feelings, could... sense her suffering. Her... fear of this Prince.

She shook her head as she looked at him again, her eyes boring into his. 

"My father... sold me to him. The Prince is rich, but cruel, and I don't love him. I know I never will..."

"Princess..."

"Rose. My name is Rose. And I know you are Ansel. You play beautifully." She said, standing up and walking towards the arched gate in the wall. "I must go before they notice I'm gone. Good night, Ansel."

"Sleep well, Rose." Ansel said, watching her go. 

With a smile, he brought his flute to his lips again and as he played, a rose, as pink as the Princess' cheeks sprouted from among the cobblestones under her feet. He smiled when he heard her giggle and waved to her when she turned around to thank him, his rose in her hand.