Chapter 12 CHAPTER TWELVE
ROSALINDA
Morning. 10AM.
I was rudely awakened, not by the gentle rays of the morning sun, but by the frantic whispering and rustling of my maids.
"What's wrong?" I asked, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My usually impeccable bedchamber looked like a storm hit them, with gowns strewn about and servants darting everywhere.
Immediately, they all sighed with relief as their eyes fell on me. "Your highness! Good morning!" They all bowed in unison.
I arched a brow at their sudden change of attitude and sat up. "What's wrong?" I asked again.
Emily who looked up with wide eyes rushed foward and placed her hand over my forehead, I swat her hand away, confusion overtaking me. "Pardon us your highness, we were worried...you overslept and-"
"Is that why you were worried and disrupted my sleep?!" I scoffed, my voice laced with disbelief as my eyes darted between all of them. "You're telling me you ruined my beauty night rest because I simply 'overslept?'
Emily, whose face was covered with guilt opened her lips to explain, but a familiar voice spoke up instead from the gathered maids. I turned to see Elina standing in the middle of the parted maids. "Good morning your highness," she said with a graceful bow, a smile was plastered on her lips as she looked up. "The maids were simply worried as it wasn't normal for you to sleep in for so long, kindly please forgive them,"
I folded my arms as I leaned back, resting against the headboard. "Doesn't make any sense."
She said nothing and turned to the girls. "Get your highness ready, now. There's no more time to waste."
Before I could protest, the girls began to scramble around, their previous panic now replaced with a determined efficiency. "You too Emily." Elina said, making Emily leave my side, attending to the other maids.
I was practically dragged from the warmth of my bed to the bath, where a perfectly warm mixture of lavender and rose petals awaited. I sank into the scented water, trying to relax, but the frenzied energy of my maids was infectious. Once bathed, I dressed in one of my simple, her royal gown- a soft periwinkle silk that felt light against my skin, adorned with delicate silver embroidery. My hair was swept up into a soft elegant braid, allowing a few errant tendrils to frame my face.
I sighed as I slumped onto my dressing chair, feeling like a prize doll being readied for display. Now, only Elina remained in the room, the other maids had scurried off to tend to their other duties.
"Where do those girls get their enthusiasm from? I'm envious," I groaned, adjusting a stray pin in my hair. The thought of facing another day of courtly duties, especially with Valerius now lurking in the shadows was exhausting.
Elina chuckled softly as she stepped closer, she began to adjust the neckline of my gown, ensuring it lay perfectly. "You need to look your best, your highness. Very soon, you'll be the wife to the future King of Shadowfen, and you'll bear the heir for both kingdoms. A lot lies on your shoulders, and alot rests on your composure."
I shuddered, the weight of her words settled heavily upon me as I leaned back into my ornate chair. "It's exhausting, Elina. This whole princess," I used my hands to gesture around. "The charade, the expectations, the constant performance....it's suffocating,"
"That's why you are not alone. Your choice of a husband, Prince Zade is prefect for you, and you have us too."
"That's the problem," I sighed as I stood up. "You all wouldn't get it," I walked towards the door then stopped. "I don't believe anyone could understand the unique burden of being a prince, constantly judged, scrutinized, always watched, always been told what to do and lastly...being torn between what I want and what I have to do." I looked over my shoulder to see her looking down at her feet, her shoulder slumped.
Exactly, none of you guys understand, you may envy the riches and fame I have, but I envy the freedom you all have.
I left my chambers headed for the dining, I was shocked, though I probably shouldn't have been, to see Valerius already seated at the massive oak table, looking far more composed than he had last night. But then again, he was royalty, and he deserved to be treated like one even if his father was a tyrannical bastard.
As I stepped closer, all the guards and servants in the vicinity bowed deeply, their silence a stark contrast to the storm brewing within me.
"Rosalinda," my mother beamed. "Sit."
I nodded and slid onto the chair next to Zade's. "Hey." I waved at him, he smiled back and leaned in, placing a peck on my cheek taking me and everyone by surprise. From the corner of my eye, Valerius shifted uncomfortably in his seat across us. I ignored it, focusing on the tantalizing aroma of cinnamon pastries.
The silence that followed was thick. The breakfast felt like an extended exercise in polite torture.
Valerius was the first to leave, followed by my mom, then my dad. Only Zade and I were left. I sighed softly as I pushed my plate aside.
"Aren't you hungry?" Zade asked.
"Actually, I'm full,"
"Would a walk soothe your nerves?" God, how did he know?
I smiled widely as I nodded. "I would love that."
He finished up quickly and took my hand, holding it tightly. For the first time I noticed Cyrus wasn't lurking around him, infact I hadn't seen him today at all. I was tempted to ask, but decided to bite back my tongue.
It would be weird to Zade that I'm concerned about his guard right?
After walking around the palace for almost two hours, Zade informed me that he had things to do and left. I wanted to protest and ask him to stay, but he seemed pressed and worried, so I decided to let him go.
I decided to continue the walk myself, unable to contain my emotions, I went back inside the palace, hoping to lose myself in the sanctuary of the library like I always did.
My journey stopped when I sighted Cyrus leaning against a grand arched window, staring out into the flourishing gardens. The morning light caught the strands in his dark hair, making him look almost ethereal. Just as I turned to walk away, hoping to avoid another human interaction especially with him, he called out.
"Princess Rosalinda," I heard him say, I paused and turned to see his head bowed. A gesture of respect I rarely saw from him.
"Oh?" I arched a brow. "That's weird...." The words tumbled out before I could stop them.
He chuckled softly as he raised his head, and for a fleeting moment Grayson's carefree face flashed. A bike formed in my throat, threatening to overwhelm me, but I swallowed it down with a desperate force, my nails digging into my palms to pull me back into the present.
No, it's not him. It can't be. He already confirmed it multiple times, he wasn't the one.
"Are you alright?" He asked, concern genuine and deep crossing his features.
"Yes," I nodded, my voice a little too high, a bit too strained. "I'll be leaving now." hell, why was I even announcing that to him? I shook my head, trying to dislodge the ghost of a memory and turned to walk away, needing to escape the suffocating memories that resurfaced.
Just as I headed up the stairs, I collided with something solid and warm. It was someone, but definitely not Zade. I took few steps back and frowned when my eyes met Valerius's piercing brown orbs.
"What are you-" I couldn't even finish the sentence as Grayson's face flashed again, killing my resolve. "Excuse me!" I harshly said as I brushed past him, taking him by surprise.
I couldn't deal with this.
I made a huge mistake by letting the son of the man who ruined my life into my palace.
And now both of my past were right in my face.
One had the face of a love I could never forget.
One was the reason why I lost that love.
Cyrus and Valerius.