Rosalina sat watching the fire die down. Lionel's attack and Owen's words replayed in her mind over and over again. Tears began to roll down her cheeks. The flames withered and only the embers glowed in the darkness but the lady did not move. It was not until the room was pitch black save for the moonlight streaming in through the window that Rosalina left her seat and went to her chambers. She fell upon her bed not even bothering to change.
To herself at least she had to admit that she was afraid. She was afraid of what they might do to her and what would happen if she was not there to protect her family. She cried softly into her pillow until she was just too exhausted to continue and fell asleep. That night her dreams were fearful and dark.
She was alone in her chambers and Lionel attacked her again. She managed to get away and ran through the palace. She could not find the King, The Queen, Lady Lucinda or anyone to comfort and save her. The only people she saw was the Ivrae family. She ran into the throne room and found Josephina sitting on the throne wearing her aunt's crown. She stared at the woman who was smirking at her. Then the scene changed and she was on a scaffold tied to a wheel. The Ivraes were all around her each holding a different torture instrument. Each started taking turns cutting and beating her flesh.
She woke up in a cold sweat and felt hands on her arms. She failed to remove the hands, then she heard a voice, " Rosalina! Rosalina calm down, it's Lucinda." Lady Lucinda tried to wake her and calm her down Rosalina's eyes grew large as she focused on the woman in front of her. When she realized who was there she collapsed in tears into the Lady's lap. " What is the matter, Novia?" Lucinda asked. " I can not pretend anymore that I am not afraid. I can not get Lionel's attack and Owen's words out of my head. Those events keep playing over and over again. I keep saying that they do not scare me and that I can handle anything they can put in my path. I try to put on a brave face but I am terrified. I am scared of death and I am afraid of what will happen to Aunt Rosette and cousin Bethany. Edmund will suffer most of all. How can I protect them with such a target on my own back?" Rosalina cried. " You can not take all of this responsibility. You are too young to be worried about so much." Lucinda said.
" I know but I love them and want them to be safe and happy." the young woman responded. " I know, Mi Hija. But you also have to respect the danger that that puts you in. You have an entire family wanting you dead. You did not ask for any of this but it is real and they will not stop. I know that you want to show them that you are strong but they are determined. You know that the King and Queen will protect you with everything they have. Once you actually tell the King." Lucinda explained. " I know, I know that the King must be informed but I am still afraid to tell him. I do not know if he will think that we are just trying to stir up problems or will he get so mad that he starts yelling. I just do not know if I am ready for his reaction, what ever it may be." Rosalina cried. " I see that you are afraid but no matter his reaction you can not keep this from him any longer." Lady Lucinda argued. " I know I have to tell him because he needs to know and I promised Aunt Rosette last night." Rosalina admitted. Lucinda hugged the young Lady. " Do not worry. I am sure you will have justice." she said, stroking the girl's hair. Rosalina continued to cry for a while longer. The Queen entered the chambers and found her niece crying in Lady Lucinda's arms. " What is it?" she questioned. " Our brave little lady is a bit more afraid than she had been letting on. I roused her from a fretful sleep. She confessed that she is very afraid of what the Ivrae family will do to you, the princess and the King. She is also afraid of what they want to do with her. She is also still afraid to tell his majesty about what has been happening." Lady Lucinda explained. Rosette nodded and approached the bed. Lucinda let the crying girl go. She stood and allowed the Queen to take her place.
Rosette sat down and gathered her niece into her arms. " Do not worry about what may happen. Once we inform the King this will be resolved. Edmund will not be angry with you, he will protect you. If he gets angry with me I will handle it." Rosette comforted. " I do not want him to be angry with you for anything. You have done nothing wrong. I am afraid that he will be mad and defend them or just not believe a word we say." Rosalina admitted. " Sweetheart, If Edmund gets angry then he will be angry. Just remember his promise to you, to always protect you. I will always be here to protect you as well." Rosette responded. " If we do tell the King and he does believe us, what will happen then?" Rosalina asked. " What do you mean 'IF' we tell him? We are telling him today after his privy council meeting. I have already arranged an audience. I do not know what he will do or how he will deal with the Ivrae family. He will have to decide what he will do," the Queen answered. Rosalina pulled back and looked up at her aunt. Rosette wiped the tears from the redhead's cheeks. " I guess that he has to know no matter how he responds." Rosalina conceded. " Good, let's get you dressed and then we can sit before the fire and wait." The Queen suggested. " Actually, if you do not object I would like to take a walk in the gardens before we talk to the King." Rosalina said. " We could walk in the gardens for a little while." Rosette agreed. " I just want to walk alone and clear my head." Rosalina protested. Rosette had a look of concern on her face but knew that it would do Rosalina no good to be locked up. " Just be very careful and I want you to take Lady Lucinda with you." Rosette commanded.
" Yes, Aunt Rosette." Rosalina smiled, Rosette smiled back and kissed her niece's forehead. " I will leave and let you dress." The Queen said and left the room.
Rosette called to have Josephina Ivrae to be brought to her right away. She sat in front of the fire and waited. Lady Rosalina joined to other ladies with the Queen followed by Lady Lucinda. Rosalina sat on a stool in front of her Aunt. Rosette brushed through her long red hair and braided it down her back. When the Queen finished Rosalina bid them goodbye and left with Lady Lucinda for the gardens. Just as Rosalina left the chambers Lady Josephina entered. She stopped at the doorway and bowed to the Queen, " Your Majesty." Josephina said with her head down. Rosette looked at the young woman with contempt. " You sent for me, Your Majesty?" Josephina questioned. " Yes, Lady Josephina, I wish to speak with you. Please sit." Rosette responded. Josephina stood and keeping her head angled to the floor walk over and sat beside the Queen. Josephina looked into her lap waiting for the Queen to start the conversation. Rosette dismissed her other ladies while she decided how to approach the situation with her niece. " Lady Josephina, my household has been disturbed. You wouldn't know anything about that would you?" The Queen asked. " I am afraid I do not know what you speak of, Your Majesty." Josephina answered still refusing to look at the Queen. "You expect me to believe that you are unaware of the actions of your father and brother?
I have my doubts that you are let in on every plot to try and destroy my family. I know what it is that is hoped to be gained by deposing me." Rosette explained. " I do not know of any plot to hurt your family." Josephina defended. " You are one of the key players in the scheme to take the throne that I reside and to steal my husband away from me. Now is not the time to claim ignorance. I was awoken two nights ago by a strange feeling. I left my bed and entered my sitting room. I found Lady Lucinda frantically searching for Lady Rosalina. I went searching for her as well. I found her crying in a dark corner. She informed me that your father entered her bedchamber and attacked her. He held a dagger to her throat and told her that if she did not stay out of his way he would slit her throat and throw her corpse in the river. Before leaving her he allowed his blade to tear the skin of her throat. Then last night at the feast that my husband held in my honor, your brother took an opportunity while dancing to threaten her life again. Now a young girl who is like a daughter to me has been crying herself to sleep, having nightmares and fearing for her life. A young woman that does what she can to be kind to everyone around her and make everyone smile, even when they do not feel like it. She has no ill will towards anyone. Still, your family has seen fit to try and break her spirit and try to take her life. Not only is she fearing for her life but for the lives of her loved ones that live within these walls." Rosette explained. Josephina finally looked to the Queen with shock in her eyes. " I see that some of this may be a bit of a surprise. However, you can take a message back to your family from me. You can threaten my life and my position on the throne. But, leave my niece alone.
She has done nothing but to make the palace a warm and inviting place. She is a sweet young woman who just wants a happy family and to make her mother proud. If you want a fight, bring it to me. Rosalina is far beyond any of you." Rosette commanded. Josephina did not know what to say. She knew that her father had been plotting against the girl but she did not know exactly how bold her father and brother had become. Josephina was fearful, she knew that if her father succeeded in his threats she would suffer for her part, even if she disagreed with the actions of her family. "Do you understand?" the Queen asked. "Yes, Your Majesty." Josephina bowed her head. "One more thing, I hope that you have the stomach for a fight because I will not shrink into silence. Edmund is still MY husband. I fought for seven years to survive hoping he would rescue me from my prison. He fought those same seven years for his father to allow our union. I will not back down and I will keep my husband and my position or die trying." Rosette warned. Josephina's eyes grew wide. She had never imagined such a voice or words could ever come from someone so regal. "You may go," the Queen Commanded. The lady rushed from the room.
Rosalina walked through a corridor and was pulled into a closet. Lady Lucilla tried to open the door but it was locked. She heard Rosalina screaming, Lady Lucilla ran back to the Queen's chamber, just around the corner, and told the Queen what happened. The Queen followed Lady Lucilla, with guards following, to where Rosalina was taken. They found her unconscious in the corridor. The guards picked her up and returned her to her bed in the room just off the queen's sitting room. Then they sent for the king and doctor. Lady Lucilla sent for Rosalina's personal healers. Edmund arrived to find the Queen crying and trying to wake the girl. " What happened?" he demanded. "Oh Edmund, she went for a walk in the gardens with Lady Lucilla. They were on their way back when she was grabbed and pulled through a doorway. The door was barred before Lady Lucilla could get to her. Lucilla tried to get to her out but could not so she informed me. Edmund I know we should have told her before but she begged me not to." The Queen sobbed. " Should have told me what?" he asked. " For the last couple of nights she has been receiving death threats." Rosette admitted. "Why would she not want to tell me?" he questioned. " She was afraid that if I told you it would cause a fight between us. The night before last Lionel Ivrea attacked her in her bedchamber. He put a knife to her throat and told her that if she didn't stay out of his way he would slit her throat and throw her body in the river." Rosette explained. " Are you certain it was Lionel Ivrea?: he asked. " Rosalina told me herself." The Queen was interrupted by the arrival of the doctor and three women that were there the night before. The King and Queen left them to allow them to work.