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Of Shadows and Roses

Chapter 1: The Show Begins

I had told them that I didn't want this marriage, but they did not listen. It was not like I had nodded when they first asked me. I kept saying "no", "never" and "over my dead body". But my parents were becoming too forceful day by day, slowly taking away the things I cared for. They forbade me from meeting my friends, from taking part of the trainings, and even going so far as to not allow me from using my magic.

But no more. They would regret putting their personal agendas first before the feelings of their daughter.

Rosette Aldrich, first princess and the most eligible woman in the kingdom—the loveliest of the six royal daughters. Reduced to becoming the wife of the enemy's son, a Crown Prince and said to be a savage, a brute and a cruel person all in all. I could understand if such a bad reputation was merely hearsay, but the fact remains that my parents had decided to sell me off for their self-righteous gains!

They told everyone that it was to end the century-long war, but I was aware that they did not actually want peace, but additional power to invade the unconquered kingdoms down South. They were going to use me as a tool and I could not accept that.

"Your Majesty, they are here," a knight announced to my father.

"Brilliant," he flashed a grin, "Let us welcome our future in-laws warmly!"

My mother smiled, obviously delighted. She sat straighter, turned to me and said, "I trust that you will behave accordingly, Rosie."

I smiled back, and I knew it was believable because I saw their faces light up. "Of course, Mother. I had said yes long ago, remember? I have since accepted my duties to our people."

As if.

My father let out a hearty chuckle. "She truly is the best daughter in Orion! The kingdom is very lucky to have you as its princess indeed."

My lips curled up as I bowed my head, golden curls swinging down my shoulder. "You flatter me too much, Father."

"It is true, dearest. You're the kind of daughter any parent could ever ask for." My mother looked at me so warmly that for a second I felt bad for what I was about to do, but I shrugged the guilt off, telling myself for the thousandth time that I did not deserve to have my fate written by the hands of others.

I leaned in to my mother beside me. "My sisters would not be happy to hear that, you know."

The enormous double doors of the Grand Hall flew open, causing us to rise from our seats. The king and queen stood on either side of me, and we readied ourselves to greet the other set of royal guests for tonight.

I would not lie if I said I wasn't nervous. Our kingdoms had been at war for generations, and this was the first time that the royals of Cygnus stepped into our palace.

A man and a woman marched in, both wearing crowns of glimmering dark jewels in contrast to our own blue ones. Knights in black and violet livery strode behind them, alert and wary.

The king and queen of Cygnus arrived in front of the feasting table, bowing at the same time as us.

"King Andor, Queen Celeste," said the king of Cygnus, "it is a great honor to be able to meet you at last."

"You are our beloved guests for the time being." My father gestured to them. "I hope that you have a wonderful stay here, and in turn we can finally set aside our differences, King Kieran and Queen Sylvia."

The two beamed brightly. Queen Sylvia's dark eyes slid to me. "And you must be Princess Rosette. My, the rumors have failed to describe just how beautiful you are. I hear you are capable of Light Magic?"

"Only the basics of the basics, Your Majesty," I replied, choosing to be humble but in truth I was luring them in to a pit they could not crawl out of.

Hearing my words, the queen of Cygnus seemed intrigued, delight glinting in her eyes.

"I must agree with my wife, my son will be ecstatic when he meets you," King Kieran said.

"The Crown Prince Kairo, right?" I smiled sweetly, pushing down the venom swirling in my chest. "Why is he not here? I thought Orion and Cygnus had made an agreement to have a dinner with their princess and prince present."

King Kieran and Queen Sylvia's bright faces faltered at the direct question. My mother nudged me with her elbow and muttered under her breath, "What's wrong with you? Don't be rude."

Queen Sylvia cleared her throat, composing herself. "I can understand if the princess is thrilled to meet Prince Kairo, but I must apologize since he will have to join us later in the evening."

"Hmm, is that so?" I said, making a disinterested expression.

Beside her, the king of Cygnus appeared particularly worried. Perhaps he thought there was a lesser chance of the prince appearing. I couldn't blame him, since he probably detested this arrangement as much as I did.

My father released an awkward laugh. "Come now, we can wait for the boy to come. Have a seat, you two. Dinner shall begin shortly. Why don't we talk first while we wait?"

Indeed, the atmosphere cleared up once we had all settled onto our chairs. The candles on the candelabra flickered underneath the moonlight that streamed in from the stained glass windows, the cold night breeze brushing my neck as it blew in gently.

It had been twenty minutes and the prince had not made an appearance. Too bad, I was considering being patient enough to let him witness the show. But I couldn't sit idly any longer. Besides, the king and queen of Cygnus were starting to fidget and my parents were also feeling the suffocating air as they ran out of topics to talk about.

I began by putting my elbow on the tabletop, planting my chin onto the heel of my palm. Then I grumbled, "Why's he taking so long? That prince should be here by now, riiiight?"

Everyone's eyes widened, while my parents' mouths basically dropped to the floor.

The people of Orion knew me as the graceful, elegant, soft-spoken and well-mannered princess they loved and adored. That was true, of course, for I loved to please people by acting like how they wanted me to act. But it was genuine, parts of me I could show. A princess, prim and proper and courageous when need be.

But for tonight, I am none of those things.

Queen Sylvia raised a finger. "U-uh, if you'd excuse me, Princess—"

I let out a very loud sigh unbefitting of a nineteen-year-old girl, and much more to a princess. I slouched against the chair, tossed my arm back to let it hang. "I'm dying of boredom in here!"

My mother pinched my leg. "Are you out of your mind?" she hissed.

Meanwhile, my father was straight up speechless. Never in his life would he have expected that his daughter would act out like this. King Kieran, however, looked very unamused. Good, just the reaction I wanted.

Without hesitation, I lifted my legs on the chair. I saw how the knights collectively swiveled their heads the other way. Next, I put my other arm up on my knee.

The rulers gaped at me, a grave disbelief printed on their faces.

"What? Is he coming or not?" I raised my brows. "Or else I'm bailing out. All right, I'm bailing out."

With none of the elegance they believed I had, I launched to my feet and turned my back on the feasting table. The plan was a success, and thanks to Prince Kairo, the dinner was completely blotched. Not only would my parents suffer great humiliation because of me, they might also think that I'm not suitable to be wedded off.

"Rosette! Where in the Goddess' name are you going?" my father growled, not caring for formalities anymore. "Get back here this instant!"

I looked at him over my shoulder, saw that he had risen and planted his hands on the table, his features distorted with rage. I tried not to look at my mother who was about to faint. "I'm tired of playing your games, Father. I told you, didn't I? I don't want to get married to a man I do not know, nor have I even seen once in my life."

Mother gasped. She was grey as ash. "B-but, Rosie… you already said yes."

I smiled sadly. "Oh, Mother, it was a lie. You were all getting annoying with all the marriage this and marriage that. A princess gets tired too, so I had no choice but to agree for you to stop nagging at me."

I headed for the window, the wind caressing my cheeks softly. The moon was bright, the stars shimmering in a vast sheet of nothingness. Ah, it was a perfect night for an escape.

I reached into the pocket of my gown, felt the coldness of the crystal sphere wrap my fingers. I held out the magical item, put my feet on the ledge and began to climb the window.

"What are you doing, Rosette?!" my mother screamed, their chairs dragging against the floor as they stood.

"Guards, stop her!" my father shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Goodbye, Mother, Father." I smiled sadly at them for one last time.

I saw the guards scrambling their way toward me, so I dropped the sphere and it exploded, shrouding the whole Grand Hall in thick white mist.

I jumped, grabbing the rope that was tied on the window just this morning. I would not have them catch me, for I had planned this escape for months.

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