She is teaching Bethany so Bethany can teach the children when she leaves." Rosette smiled." Why wouldn't Fenris find her a good match here? She is obviously happy and growing well." Maximo questioned.
" The only reasons I can think of are that he wants her to live in his home country, Tore is a good friend. He is afraid for her safety. She has been threatened, poisoned and most recently held at knife point by the Ivrea faction." Rosette explained. " I would fear for her safety if it wasn't for the facts that she is alive and the threat has been removed." Maximo commented. " I agree but no one can change Fenris' mind, we have tried. Rosalina cried and screamed when he told her." Rosette explained. Just then Princess Rosaline approached and bowed. " Your Majesty, May I speak with you." she asked the Queen. " Of course, your highness." the Queen answered. " I will speak with you later." Maximo said and walked away. " Your majesty, I have to ask, now that I have seen you and King Edmund together in person, Why do I look like you with his eyes?" the young Princess asked. " Oh, Well.. Why do you think that is?" The Queen asked unsure how to broach the subject. " Well, Father says it is because you are his sister and mother is the King's sister. " Rosaline answered. " Why do you not believe that to be the reason?" Rosette asked. " My brother and sister look like mother and father. I am the only one that looks like you. Also, I have heard whispers that mother was not pregnant when I arrived. They said that a great ship brought me as an infant." Rosaline explained. " Come with me." Rosette took her hand and led her over to the table.
" Edmund, Rosalina, Bethany, Queen Bethany we need to find Maximo because we need to talk." Rosette said. They all got up and followed the Queen. Maximo saw them before they reached him and he led them into the castle. The court was confused at the abrupt departure of all of the Royal family at once. Once inside that Queen's apartments with the doors shut she asked everyone to sit.
" I understand you all may be confused as to why I have called you all together at this moment." she started. They all nodded in response. " Well, you all know that I am always truthful and I do not hide things, especially from my family." no one spoke. " Let me start by apologizing, I have lied to those closest and most dear to me. What I have done almost broke apart my family and cast doubt on what is true and right. Edmund I told you that our last child was a still born daughter. I was afraid of how you would react and everything was spiraling out of control. When a healthy daughter was born I had faith that a strong, healthy son would soon follow. Our daughter I sent to be raised in Alcantara by my brother and your sister. She has grown into a wonderful young lady and she sits right here in front of me." Rosette explained and faced Rosaline. They were shocked at the revelation. Rosaline smiled at her birth mother. " Why would you send my child away without my permission?! Why would lie?!" The King yelled questioningly. " Edmund, I understand your anger. I did it out of fear. I knew that you wanted a son and another daughter would have broken your heart. I couldn't do that to you again." Rosette admitted. Rosalina sensed the tension and anger rising. She stood up next to her aunt.
" This is a shock and Edmund I can see that it has upset you. However, think of what was happening to Rosette. She had lost so many before and you kept pushing for a son. Two of your mistresses gave you sons, only one of which still lives. So you started to blame the lack of heir on your wife. She went through more pain than you did or even could imagine. The decision to send her child away I am sure ripped her soul apart and lying to you broke her heart. She did send the child to a loving home that she knew would allow her to grow. Just look at Rosaline, she is beautiful and healthy." She explained. Edmund looked to the golden-auburn haired princess and couldn't help but smile. " Alright, maybe you are right. Rosette, my love, I am sorry I got so angry. Maybe you made the right decision. What will we do now?" he asked. " Well all you have to decide is whether or not you want to claim her. I have contracted a good marriage for her." Queen Bethany announced. " To who?" Rosette questioned in surprise. " The Prince Rhys of Iona. He is two years older, very handsome and says that he wants to get to know her before they marry. He made it part of the contract, if they do not get along he would not force her into a marriage she would not be happy in." Bethany explained. " Thank you, sister." Edmund responded " Thank you, Bethany, for finding such a good match. Finding a loving husband is very important." Rosette hugged her sister-in-law. " I just had to think of what you would want for her." she responded. " Edmund, do you want to tell the court or do we want to leave things the way they are?" Rosette asked.
Everyone looked to the King. He thought for a moment, " Yes, we will announce the existence of our daughter. We will tell them that she was sent away for her health and that we said she was still born just in case she did not survive. " He announced. " Edmund, you do not have to take in this shame." Rosette said. " Yes I do, love, it is my fault that you felt it necessary to take such action. I made you feel like you failed with having children. I was not there for you when you needed me most. I allowed myself to be blinded by tradition and never thought about you. I left you alone to grieve and blame yourself while I took those other women to my bed. I celebrated the births of those sons by those others and flaunted them in front of you. I made you feel ashamed and worthless. I take this in because you made a decision that I know had to have been the hardest you ever have because of my actions. What you did, did not almost break our family. That was my fault. You should not feel ashamed, you will be praised for making sure we have the children we have." he explained as he approached her. He cupped her face in his hands, " You are my love and your demonstrations of strength make me love you that much more." he said and kissed her. She smiled through her tears. They parted and the King offered his hand to Rosaline, she took it and he pulled her into a hug with her mother. " Since we have all of this straightened out , how about we return to the party, before too many rumors start." Rosalina suggested. " I agree." Princess Bethany said. " They all left the palace smiling. They rejoined the party amongst the whispers. Edmund stood in front of the table and hoisted his cup. The court began to hush and turn to the King. The musicians stopped playing and those on the fringes came closer to hear the King.
" Thank you all for attending this celebration of the births of the princesses and our prince. The Queen and I are happy and praise God for this miracle. However, we have another reason to celebrate. When the Queen and I lost our last child before the miracle it hurt us and the Kingdom deeply. I have to report today that that was a deceit. Our daughter was not stillborn. She was strong but we feared not strong enough. We sent her away in hopes that in another place she would survive. We have been informed that she has grown strong and beautiful. I had the Queen say that the child was stillborn to save us from more heartbreak if the child did not survive. I could not look at the Queen in the eyes knowing that I made her give her child away. Now I am proud to introduce the court to our second born daughter, Princess Rosaline. She looks just like her beautiful mother and we welcome her home with all our hearts. We thank the King and Queen of Alcantara for taking her in, raising her as their own and helping her grow strong and intelligent. We have also been informed that soon she will marry the crown prince of Iona, if they prove a good match." He announced. " Here, here." The crowd yelled collectively and lifted their cups to the King. He sat back down next to his Queen.
The festivities continued as did the whispers. They heard snippets of the conversations. Most mentioned the Queen being so brave and strong. Some said that the King was cruel to have treated the Queen like he did when he had forced her to send her child away and to claim that it was still born. Very few seemed to be under the impression that it was all a lie either that it was not their daughter or it was the daughter of one of his mistresses or that it was all the Queen's idea to send the child away and lied to the King. The latter still believed that she had lied about her marriage with James. The King leaned over to Rosette, " It seems most believe I am a monster and you are a great saint." he commented. " I still feel guilty for my actions." she admitted." Do not feel guilty for doing what a true mother would have done to protect their child. Even God can not fault you for sending your child to a place to grow healthy. Besides, she lived with your brother and my sister. She was still within the family." he responded. She smiled with her lips but her eyes were still as. " I can see the dark clouds in your eyes. I forgive your lie, I do not fault you in any way. I promised a long time ago to be the sun to chase away any dark clouds that cover those blue oceans. I will keep that promise. I want those eyes to shine again." he said. The clouds slowly started to thin but the guilt remained. " We will work on it." he smiled. They stood and approached Princess Rosaline, " Would you permit a father a dance with his daughter?" he asked, offering his hand. " Of course." she responded taking his hand. He led her to the middle of the field and whirled her around.
" Do not blame your mother. She truly did what she thought was best for you. I pushed her to make such a decision. She does love you." he begged. " I do not blame either of you. You had expectations that were instilled in you all of your life. You were blinded and could not see that maybe you were being given a sign it was time for changes. My mother with all her heart had to protect me and you. She chose a course that gave me a wonderful life and soon a great marriage, I hope. I can see how much she loves you and I hope I will love my husband just as much. I hope that I have a sliver of the strength she has." Rosaline responded. " You are wise beyond your years. I have no doubt you will be just like your mother and you will have a marriage that will echo through the ages." he smiled at her looking into eyes that mirrored his own. The afternoon wore on and guests started to depart.
The monarchs and their families gathered together and talked amongst themselves. Rosalina and Rosaline talked endlessly about what they had learned and what books they had read.