Prince Rayko watches the encounter with Duke Alastair and Lady Rosanne from afar. He felt this intense feeling in his chest, yet he didn't understand why he was feeling this way. He shook it off, heading the opposite way out.
"Well, if you please excuse me. Sir Alastair, I have someone important who is waiting for me." Rosanne said politely, giving the taller and masculine male a curtsy. Before she could walk out, Alastair gently grasped her wrist with a slight smile.
"Would it be alright to walk you to your destination?" He asked, tilting his head to the side slightly.
Rosanne removed her wrist from his grasp, nodding moderately, "It would be a pleasure." She said calmly. They walked side by side, making their way out of the building. A smile grew on Rosanne's face as soon as she saw her older brother, Joseph. Her pace quickens as she jumps into her brother's arms, hugging him tightly.
"You did great, little one," Joseph said proudly, hugging her small frame firmly.
"I learned from the best, after all." She let out a small giggle.
Joseph released himself from the hug as he patted her head gently, "There is something I need to tell you, but before that, we can talk on the way home. Thank you, Sir Alastair, for escorting my sister." He said, shaking hands with the man with platinum hair.
"Anytime, Sir Joseph. I hope to see you again, Lady Rosanne." Alastair said warmly. Rosanne gave him a smile in response before getting in the carriage as Joseph followed behind. Soon after, the carriage slowly starts moving to the location.
"What do you want to speak to me about, brother?" She asked with complete curiosity.
Joseph sighed long before responding, "It is too dangerous for you to participate in the war between Gantric and Alynthi. Father, Prince Rayko, and I decided not to take you with us. Also, you have other duties, and you will be a Regina. Did you forget? You have to partake in the contest."
Her brows furrowed at the words coming from her older brother's mouth; a once visible smile turned into a frown. "Brother, as you know, I can go with you guys. Please, I don't want to lose you or your father. What if something bad happens?" She asked with a worried expression.
Her brother shook his head, "If it means to take my life away to save our kingdom and you, then so be it. I'll do it again and again. It is not your duty to fulfill but mine, Rosanne. Do you understand? Your current duty is to be a Regina and do your best in the contest. Father and I are rooting for you, and so is King Theodore. It is a final decision; I'm sorry, little one." He apologized.
They had finally arrived home, and the maids and butlers welcomed her back. Before she could walk upstairs, someone managed to block her from doing so, and she looked up only to see an angry female face, Yasemin.
"Listen, brat. I know what you are planning, and give up. Prince Rayko will never look at you. He's mine, so back off." She said with a smirk before pushing past Rosanne.
"What makes you think you have the decision to claim Prince Rayko? He is not an object you can call him, so please refrain from slandering His Highness' title, or consequences will fall on you." Rosanne responded calmly before heading to her room.
As she entered her room, she could hear Yasemin yelling from the top of her lungs; a grin grew on Rosanne's face. "She's more stupid and immature than I thought. Well, she is young, and I'm old at heart." She mumbled to herself.
She exhaustedly plops onto her bed, nuzzling her face against the fluffy white pillow. "Ugh.. so tired, let's take a little nap." She said lowly. Hours passed as Rosanne finally woke from her nap; it was now almost midnight. She rubbed her tired, bambi-like eyes as she sat herself up, staring off into space.
"I should get changed." She mumbled as one of the maids came in right on time.
"My Lady, shall I help you change into your gown?" The maid asked. Rosanne nodded in response before getting into her nightgown; after that, she fell asleep. The sun finally rose, alarming Lady Rosanne to wake from her slumber. Slowly, she sat up, stretching her arms out tiredly.
Three maids entered the chamber, giving a low curtsy in sync, "My Lady, it is time for your bath." They said with a respectful tone, heads hung low as if they were afraid.
Rosanne gave a soft smile. "Ah, yes, thank you. I haven't gotten the names of your three since you guys are new... Right?" She questioned with a soft voice.
The girl with the short green bob and freckles planted all over her face stumbled through her introduction. "A-ah yes, My Lady. My name is Meredith, and I will work hard to watch over you."
The taller maid with the burgundy wavy locks and a sharp nose responded, "It is an honor to work under you, My Lady. I am Jennifer, and I am at your service."
Last, the nervous maid with dark brown hair that stops at her shoulders fidgets with her fingers, "I am Ophelia; it's an honor." She said anxiously, not lifting her head.
Rosanne tilted her head, staring at Ophelia from head to toe, "You used to serve under Lady Yasemin. Is that correct?" She asked.
Ophelia nodded her head quickly, "Yes, My Lady." She responded.
'It is another scheme of Yasemin's. Well, let's play along.' Rosanne thought to herself.
She then got up from her mattress before heading into the bathroom to bathe. After bathing, she got fitted into a dark blue velvet dress that compliments her frame and collarbones, with a slit on the side revealing her pale right leg. There she sat in front of the mirror as Jennifer styled her long blonde hair into a beautiful bun before applying a little makeup.
"What about putting on these earrings and necklace, My Lady! This will go well." Meredith said excitingly. Rosanne smiled, noticing Meredith had gotten comfortable with her, nodding in agreement. Meredith slowly puts on the Angara blue sapphire silver necklace and matching blue earrings. Today, Rosanne is attending a party for Yasemin's coming of age.
"Where is the present I prepared for, Lady Yasemin, Ophelia?" She asked.
Ophelia quickly hands Rosanne a black velvet box, "Here it is, My Lady." She responded. She let out a slight hum, taking the box into her hands as she opened it, revealing the rarest pink jewel bracelet, the jewel that came from the dragon in the enchanted forest. However, Rosanne quickly noticed this was a fake, not the bracelet she had gotten for Yasemin. It was evident that this was Ophelia's doing for Yasemin's scheme. Rosanne slowly closed the box with a smile plastered onto her face before heading to the party's ballroom. She slowly entered the room, and everyone had their eyes on her, whispering to one another that she was a devil or a spoiled bitch.
"Oh my god, isn't that Lady Rosanne?... Look at her thinking she's all that." The others whispered.
She smiled softly before slowly walking towards Yasemin, who was in a group with other girls her age, "Lady Yasemin, congratulations on your coming of age." Rosanne said.
She handed Yasemin the velvet box, "Here is a present for my beloved sister." She said softly.
Yasemin smirked, knowing what was inside; she slowly opened it, revealing the bracelet, "Oh my god! Thank you so much for this rare bracelet, but wait. Isn't this fake?..." She whispered the last sentence enough for the girls to hear.
Rosanne tilted her head, "Are you questioning my sincerity? It's real, professionally made for you; like you said, it is rare. Made from the dragon's blood." She said, faking a hurt expression. When Rosanne was heading to the ballroom, She knew what Ophelia would do if she had her hands on the presents, so she made two bracelets in case Ophelia would betray her. She changed the bracelets out before entering the room. One of the males with glasses came closer to look at the bracelet.
"Well, if you don't mind, this is one of my good friends, Sir Phillip, who knows a lot about authentic jewelry," Yasemin said with a smirk. Rosanne nodded her head as she watched the boy studying the bracelet.
"Oh! It is real, amazing!" Phillip exclaimed.
Yasemin gasped in shock as she secretly glared at her, and Rosanne responded with a grin, then a curtsy, "Will you please excuse me? I have other matters to attend to." She said. Rosanne slowly walks away as she accidentally bumps into someone's shoulder, losing her balance before shutting her eyes for the impact. But nothing happened. She felt a firm grip on her waist as she slowly opened her eyes to see Sir Alastair with a smile plastered on his face.
"It is good seeing you again, My Lady." He said with his deep, manly voice.
Rosanne quickly removes herself from his grasp, giving him a low curtsy, "I do apologize for bumping into you... Once again, Sir Alastair. It is nice to see you as well." She said with a soft tone. The door showed two people entering: Prince Rayko and a girl with jet-black locks and a pretty, innocent face that anyone could fall for.
April... the girl that framed me for killing her sister.
She came from a poor old village and made Prince Rayko fall head over heels for her. All I have to do is avoid them, and my life or my father's and brother's life won't end like last time.
The new girl in town...