The Enchanted Rose (15 page)

“Tell me.” I wake with a start, my neck in pain from sleeping in the chair. I try to stretch it out, but it does little good. Madrid is still fast asleep in bed. I look up and realize it was the servant standing at the door who woke me. 

“Cook asked that I bring this to you.” She is holding a tray with two covered dishes on it. I smile, grateful for Cook. 

“Thank you.” I take the tray from her and set it on my desk. I lift one of the lids just to check and note that Cook did an excellent job with Madrid’s treat. I’m not complaining that she sent enough for me as well.

“Roselyn?” Madrid sits up, still sleepy. 

“Feeling any better?” I sit on the edge of the bed and offer her a smile. 

“Yes, thank you. What is that delicious smell?” She sniffs. 

“Cook made us a special treat.” I hop off the bed and bring the tray over. I offer her a plate and remove the lid as she grabs it. 

“Almond flan? Oh, how I could kiss her right now. And you.” She gives me a knowing look.

“Whatever do you mean?” 

“You are the only one who knows what happened, and Cook only makes something special like this when one of us needs it.” She laughs. It brings a feeling of peace over me, seeing her smile and laugh.

“You are right—I did go to Cook. She would have had their heads if anyone else had interrogated you like that, but where it was the queen, all she could do was make you comfort food.” I sigh. “And I am sorry. I realized too late that Jossa could be trying to get rid of you while I was away. I should have found out what she wanted before I left, or I shouldn’t have left at all.” A pain comes over me as I think about what Jossa could have said to her before I arrived.

“It isn’t your fault, milady. You could not have known, and the queen did not have to listen to you at all. So thank you for coming to rescue me.” 

“You are welcome. I will not stand by and watch anyone attack you like that.” 

“Thank you.” She leans over the plates and hugs me. I smile, and we continue eating our almond flan.

“I told Chavez the truth,” I tell her before taking another bite. 

Madrid seems to choke on the food already in her mouth. “You did what?” 

“I told him what I witnessed when following Jossa.”

She leans forward, eager to hear the whole story. So I start at the beginning, how I ditched Loran and ran into the forest near the river with Chavez in tow. 

“And Osric? Has he returned? Any word from him?” She looks at me with concern that I fully understand. 

“No word. The last I saw, the storm rages on. I just hope he returns before tomorrow.” I look out the window and see the dark purple-and-blue skies. As my eyes glance at the table, I see the rose. Almost all the petals are blood red now.

A knock on the door startles me. I go to answer it, but Madrid grabs my arm and pushes me behind her while she does it. She speaks with the visitor in hushed tones before closing the door and turning to me, a grim look on her face. 

“What is it?” 

“Prince Chavez’s parents are arriving in a few minutes. You are to be outside in the courtyard immediately.” 

As we stand outside, waiting for the carriages, I note that while the sky is overcast, the rain has finally stopped completely. 

It gives me great hope that Osric succeeded, but until he returns, I cannot rest easy. I feel so tempted to follow after him. They were going to the mountain. It would not be so hard to find my way there. 

But alas, I wait, because he asked me to. Because he promised me he would fix it as long as I stayed here and fixed this mess. 

A carriage and company of soldiers arrive through the gates and ride down the path leading to the courtyard where we stand. The carriage stops right in front of us, and a servant rushes around to open the door. 

Queen Amber emerges in all her crowned glory. Her light golden brown hair spills down her back, though some of it is pulled up in a fancy twist just below where her crown rests.

She stands before me, and unsure what else to do, I curtsy. Chavez saves me from any awkwardness by embracing her.

“Mother.” He kisses both her cheeks. 

“Chavez.” She returns the gesture. 

King Nicklaus steps down and joins the merriment, greeting his son with a strong handshake. Queen Jossa approaches Amber while my father greets Nicklaus, and they walk away, going into the castle while they speak as if they are long-lost friends. 

I realize that perhaps they are. I never thought to ask. It would explain why they are so determined to force us together. 

I look over at him, and notice the sadness in his eyes. “What’s the matter?” I nudge him with my shoulder, a very unladylike gesture, but I don’t care. Queen Jossa will just have to accept it. 

“How are we going to avoid the wedding? It felt possible before my mother and father arrived. With them here, the impeding wedding is more of a reality, and I realize there is not much we can do to stop it. We need a plan. We need to figure this out before it’s too late.” He doesn’t look at me. Instead, he looks toward the mountains. I follow his gaze. 

It doesn’t look so dark over there. Perhaps Osric has truly stopped it. “I need to check something. If I’m correct, I may have a few ideas.” I do not wish to abandon Chavez, but I must look at the rose. 

I run up the stairs, through the corridor, and into my room. The rose lies on the table, wilting and dying. 

Only a sliver of white remains, but it is enough for me. Our time has not run out just yet. Had it been red completely, I would give up now. My heart fills with hope and gratitude. This will be possible after all. 

I take one more glance at the rose before returning to the courtyard. Chavez hasn’t moved from where I left him moments ago. “Did you find what you needed?” 

“I did.” I look toward the mountain. Perhaps Osric is on his way here at this very moment. With magic saved, he has no reason to stay away. And with that thought, I turn around and attempt to open the door with my magic. 

The doors do not open, which has me slightly confused. If the storm is over, why do I not have powers? 

“And what is the verdict?” He turns around to see what I’m doing. 

“Chavez, are your powers back?” 

“What?” 

“The storm was wiping away all magic. I assumed that when the storm ended, my powers would return, but they haven’t.”  

He holds out his hand and pushes forward, concentrating on the doors. They swing open effortlessly. He looks at me, puzzled. “How are my powers back, but not yours?” 

“I don’t know.” The hope I felt begins to dissipate. Why isn’t my magic working? I might worry that Osric hasn’t succeeded after all, except that Chavez used his magic successfully. 

“Another part of the mystery we must puzzle out together.” 

I think back to the farm—Brenna. Could it be? Is it possible that I’m not who everyone thinks I am? 

“Your Highnesses, Queen Jossa requests that you both come to the dining hall for brunch,” a servant I have not seen before states with a smile.

I look to Chavez, who nods. I follow him into the castle, down the corridor, and into the dining hall. His family and mine, eating together as if nothing in the world is wrong. How can Jossa keep all these secrets for so long without being found out? 

I wonder if she’s really who she says she is. Why did she feel so threatened by those farmers? What is she hiding that is worth killing for?

And does the king know? Does my father—the man I thought was my father—have any idea? 

Am I not royal? Am I not Jossa and Inginio’s child? 

I take my seat and try my hardest not to think about it. But the more I try to ignore it, the more I think about it, and the more worried I become. What if this is all a lie? What if my life is fake? How am I supposed to handle living like this, knowing I’m not where I belong? 

And if my assumptions are correct, did I just watch as my real parents were murdered? 

Brunch is just as miserable as it was yesterday. Jossa smiles and laughs and is the perfect hostess, putting on a face of excitement for her guests. It makes me sick. I hardly touch my food, and with the merriment going on, no one notices aside from Chavez. 

We both look off and try to find an answer to fix this. How to stall a wedding? It doesn’t seem possible, especially as more guests begin arriving. Jossa would never suffer the embarrassment of canceling such a grand event with all her guests present.

The servants begin cleaning, and I look up to find Jossa leading Chavez’s parents away—to where, I’m not sure. But I notice the king going in the opposite direction. He’s my last resort. I follow after him.

“Father, might I speak with you in private?” I walk beside him, and he looks at me. 

“What is it?” He smiles weakly.

“Please call off the wedding. I can’t marry him, Father. Please don’t make me.” He stops and faces me. I fear he’s going to give me the same answers Jossa always has, but he looks at me sympathetically. 

“This is for the best, Roselyn,” he replies and continues walking. I feel my heart break. I had hoped for just a moment that he might be on my side.

I walk through the corridors with no real purpose. I don’t know what to do, so I wander. Raised voices behind a closed door draw my attention. I walk closer, standing just outside as I listen. 

“Please, call the wedding off.” It’s Chavez.

“Why would we do that? This is a good match, Chavez. Please do not do something you are going to regret later. Princess Roselyn is a fine young lady, and not many are as lucky to have someone like her,” King Nicklaus argues. 

“You are right, Father. She is a fine young lady, but I do not love her. You two married for love. How can you expect less for your child?” 

“Please do not say such a thing. This is not less. You have expressed no interest in anyone else, and we believe it is high time you got married. You need an heir; you will need a queen. Roselyn is a perfect fit.” 

“Except that she does not love me. She is in love with someone else. I could love her—you’re right. But I will not be the reason she does not get to be with the one she loves. Her heart is not her own, which means while I may be able to learn to love her, she will never love me.” 

“That is between you and her. She has known about this arrangement long enough to know all too well not to fall in love with someone else,” Queen Amber retorts. I stifle the gasp that threatens to escape me. 

“I’m sorry you feel that way. But I won’t do this to her. I will find a way around it. That you can count on,” Chavez replies before the door opens. I step back, but I’m not fast enough, and Chavez collides into me. 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overhear. I was just wa—” 

“Come on.” He grabs my wrist and pulls me along with him. I have to run to keep up, but I go, curious as to what he is going to say. 

He leads me into the gardens. Once there, he sits down on the bench and drops his head into his hands. 

“I’m sorry, Roselyn. I truly am. I don’t know what to do. There is no way for us to stall. I promised you I would try and I can’t, and I’m sorry.” 

“It’s not your fault. You’re not the one who arranged it. You’re not the one who refused to change it. We just have to keep holding on. We can’t quit believing that love will win.”  “What if we just say no?” he asks.