Chapter 32 CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
ROSALINDA
Just when I thought it couldn't get worse, it already did.
Zade had just admitted that he rather watch an innocent man die than to do the right thing.
I know it was bizarre to just jump into conclusions.. But was that really the only way?
Should Cyrus die just for peace to reign? Was no one going to investigate the truth?
What was the connection between Valerius and Cyrus?
Why is Valerius suddenly interested in getting rid of Cyrus?
Why is no one doing anything?
Why does everyone seem so scared?
The truth was right in front of them, like a broken puzzle ready to be investigated but everyone is just ignoring it.
This was no longer about the fact that Cyrus reminds me of Grayson. I can't sit back and watch an innocent man die!
Never!
Talkless of a man who had risked his life to save me.
I felt so sick to my stomach that I barged out of his chambers without a word, he didn't even bother to go after me which I was grateful for. I didn't want to talk to him, not after what he had just admitted.
When I got to my chambers, my hope for a moment of peace was shattered when I found my mother sitting on my bed, her face pale in the evening light.
"Evening, Mother," I said dryly, closing the door behind me.
"We need to talk," she said, her voice unusually somber.
"About what?"
She said nothing and parted the space next to her on the silk duvet. "Sit down first, Rosalinda."
I sighed, my body feeling like a lead but accepted her offer. I sat close to her, rubbing my knees with my palms. "What is it?"
"I know you believe Cyrus is innocent," she began.
"I know he's innocent, mother," I replied through gritted teeth. "It's not a belief. It's a fact."
"So do I."
The shock hit me like a physical punch. I looked up to her, my eyes wide. "What? If you know that, then why aren't you saying anything? Why is he in a cell with only less than seven days left to live?"
"Because Valerius is tricky," She said, her hands trembling on her lap. "Without hard, undeniable proof, we can't sentence a foreign Royal guest like him. And we can't just free Cyrus without making our kingdom look weak. I can't make your father ignore evidences placed in front of him,"
"Why is it so fucking hard to get rid of Valerius?!" I snapped, standing up. "I knew from day one things has been trailing me, a whole lot of mess I don't understand. But there's something else...something huge that no one is telling me. It's killing me, mom!"
"Rosalinda, I-"
"Something isn't right!" I yelled. "I can feel it in my bones. Tell me the truth mom, and I mean it. Right now."
"Rosalinda... I'm so sorry," she said, standing up abruptly but she wouldn't look me in the eye. "But the less you know, the safer you are. This isn't a child's play. And I can't risk your future for something like this,"
"What is it that I can't know?!" I screamed, the frustration finally boiling over. "An innocent man is being sentenced to death for something he didn't do, and you wany me to remain calm? To just play princess? Are you guys monsters?!"
"Rosalinda!" She gasped, her hand flying to her heart. "How dare you?!"
"This isn't even about Grayson anymore," I cried, the name slipping out before I could stop it but I don't care anymore. "Why don't you and dad care about anyone else but yourselves and your fucking reputation?! Why is everyone in this family so self centered? What does Valerius have against you all that makes you crawl?" The tears were now streaming down my face, hot and angry. "Mom...what's happening?"
"Everything we did...was to protect you from the horrible truth." She said, her voice was broken, but it didn't offer the truth. All it did was to increase my curiosity. "As my daughter and the future Queen, I can't allow you to wallow in such business." With that, she turned and walked away, her silk dress hissing against the floor.
I stood in the center of my room, alone. The protection felt like a noose. My mother knew he was innocent, my father was playing the rigid King, and Cyrus was rotting in the dungeon while the devil slept in our palace.
I suddenly felt sick, a deep hollow nausea threatened to take over. Whatever they were protecting me from was far worse than the fire. All I knew was, I wasn't being shielded, I was being kept in the dark so I wouldn't see the skeletons in their wardrobes.