Chapter 13 CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ROSALINDA
"Do you have to go?" I whined, my voice sounded far more petulant than I intended as I strolled behind Zade. It's been a few days since Valerius's rather dramatic arrival, and unfortunately Zade had to leave, back to his kingdom. I knew he had been away from some time, but I needed more time with him. Just when I was able to slowly, painfully push Cryus and Grayson out of my mind- he had to go.
Typical, just when I actually started to relax, the universe decided to fuck with me.
He let out a deep breath and turned to face me, his blue eyes softening as he reached out and held my face between his palms, his thumbs caressing my cheekbones. "I have to, Rosalinda. I've been far away from home...for too long,"
"Can't I follow?" I asked. The thought of being left, especially now with Valerius filled me with a strange dread.
I know I asked him to stay, but I still didn't feel comfortable with him around.
He frowned, a tiny line appearing between his brows. "We aren't properly engaged, my love. I need to go back and relay the progress of our relationships to my parents," he then chuckled, a low warm sound that made my heart flutter but also made me confused.
"What's so funny?"
"Who would have believed that I, of all people, would capture your notoriously heart?" There was a playful arrogance in his eyes, but also a genuine affection that always managed to disarm me.
I blushed and leaned into his touch. "I know right," I laughed then pulled away slightly. "You'll be safe, right?"
He let go of my face, leaned in and pecked my forehead. "I'll send letters everyday. And soon, we'll be together. Married. Then I'll never have to leave you."
"I can't wait."
His eyes widened then relaxed as his smiled widened. "Neither can I."
\-
It was hard to watch Zade go, his royal caravan making its way out of the palace gates, his figure on horseback slowly shrinking. But what I hadn't believed, what utterly blindsided me, was realizing that watching Cyrus go was even harder. He was behind Zade, of course, bound to his Prince. As I stood in the cavernous hallway, peering through one of the high arched windows, watching them leave, my heart ached with a pain so sharp it stole my breath.
A deep, unsettling realization washed over me, chilling me to the bone. Could it be? Was I not just holding onto my past, clinging to the ghost of a boy who was no more.. Or was I in love with another man?
I was betrothed to Zade, I accepted him, he was a future King, a man who genuinely cared about me and I to him too. Yet, the pang I felt watching Cryus ride away was more painful.
My head spun with the sheer of audacity of my own emotions.
What kind of outrageous, catastrophic disaster is this?
Suddenly, I felt the air shifted. My first thought was my father or mother, coming to offer some platitude about Zade's departure, but instead I turned to see Valerius walking towards me. My breath hitched as he stood less than a foot away from me. His good eye was observing with an unnerving intensity.
"Princess Rosalinda," he bowed. "Good morning."
"Hello, Prince Valerius," I replied, my voice betraying the turmoil that raged within me.
He looked down and turned to face the window, his gaze now locked on the outside world. "I'm no Prince anymore," he said, taking me by surprise, I looked up to see his brows furrowed, his lips pressed in a thin line. For a moment I saw a flicker of pain cross his features but I chose to ignore it.
"You're born of royalty," I replied, looking at Zade whose figure was now a dot in the distance.
"Not anymore...not with my kingdom in such disarray. I can't even go home, so why shall I still call myself a Prince?"
"Even as much as I hate you and your Kingdom for all the bloodshed," I retorted, unable to resist the urge. "I can't deny that you're of royalty. And by right, still a prince, atleast until you're dethroned, which, let's be honest wouldn't surprise me given your family's track record,"
He turned to face me, and smiled. A smile that sent a shiver down my spine, it wasn't a comforting smile, but a calculating one. "You're right," he said, nodding his head slowly. "Your kingdom and the Shadowfen are more than lucky to have you as their...leader,"
The corners of my lips twitched. He was playing with me, testing the waters. "Hmph, I suppose."
He leaned in closer, invading my personal space more than he already was. His scent- musky and minty filled my nostrils. "What troubles you, Rosalinda?" His voice was softer, so soft and filled with concern that could sway anyone but definitely not me.
"Nothing," I lied.
"You're lying," he retorted, his voice still calm. I turned to see him and for a moment, I was shocked, utterly shocked. He looked genuinely confused, it was so hard to tell if he was taking it. His brows were furrowed, his eyes were fixed on me with an almost hypnotic intensity.
But I was no fool. No matter what mask he wore, no matter what semblance he adopted. Valerius wasn't to be trusted. Not for a second.
"Are you calling me a liar?!" I snapped.
He shrugged and leaned back, his shoulder slumping. "You are troubled, and you know it,"
"And if so...why do you care?"
"Because I do and because I can."
I stayed still and silent, refusing to give him anything more. My heart was pounding so fast I feared it would explode.
I wanted to push him away, but something held me captive in his gaze.
You both used to be friends years ago as children, Rosalinda. My subconscious kicks in.
I sniffed as I wiped away the tears that threatened to spill. "We aren't friends anymore Valerius," I choked out. "So don't act like you care,"
"I do..." I heard him sigh. "I know my dad...I know both I and my dad fucked up and I had forgotten all about our friendship as kids but you...when you pleaded for me.. You reminded me of our past and-"
"I didn't do that for you to do this!" I yelled, my hands curling into fists.
"That's not what is!" He yelled then calmed down by taking deep breaths. "That's not what I'm doing Rosalinda. Yes, we used to be friends... Not close friends but atleast we had our moments a few times," he then inched closer. "I'm just saying that I know you a lot more than you think,"
I arched a brow and folded my arms across my chest. "Oh, really?"
"The last time I saw such a look on your face was ten years ago."
My heart hammered as he stared down at me. My carefully constructed composure shattered, I whipped my head away, staring out the window. "What are you-"
"Tell me Rosalinda," his voice dropped to a low whisper. "What would you do if that boy was still alive?"
"What are you doing?!" I yelled as I stared into his eyes, but he remained unfazed, instead he backed me up against the wall, his eyes never leaving mine.
"Well, you haven't answered my question. Would you sacrifice everything if he was alive?"
"And if I said yes?"
A flicker of something unreadable flashed across his face but he masked it up by frowning, then leaned back. "Unfortunately for you, he's dead."
"I-"
"Because I made sure he died that day."