|🌴| Shipwrecked Princess |🌺| A Novel |🌺| Complete |🌴|

🌴 Chapter Thirty-Five 🌴

It was a little past midnight, everyone was asleep save for the few midnight staff and guards patrolling the palace grounds. The full moon was glowing brightly in the sky, giving the only source of light. The stars twinkled like the sand that sparkled on the beaches.

Rosalya looked up at the clock on the wall chimed softly as the hands reached 1 am. She closed the book she was reading and sat it down beside her. 'Nothing like passing time by getting lost in a good book.' She thought as she walked over to the coat hanger and grabbed the clock off it.

She checked in on her parents and then sister, making sure they were all asleep. She could hear her father's soft snoring, she could see her mother had an eye mask on, and her sister, her face buried in the pillow. It was nice to have them back, but she knew she only had them for a few more days. Her mother would be returning to her kingdom and leaving her alone here.

She shook her head and sighed, she had stayed up later than she ever had, just anxious making sure that they wouldn't wake up. That was the last thing that she needed to happen. She was in no mood to explain her reasons or even find an excuse. She knew nothing would suffice them, not even the truth, and that was the last thing she needed.

She took a deep breath and opened the door to her balcony and took a deep breath, taking in the cool night air. It felt refreshing to her as if her troubles were slowly melting away. She closed it softly behind her and leaned against the door for a few moments, just lingering in the peace.

She never really took the time to just enjoy the day before, before she had met Essa and befriended her. Now, every night she would sit on her balcony and look out over the kingdom, the vast sea, and enjoy the quiet time. She knew that after she was married she would never get time like this again.

She shook her head and walked to the edge of the balcony, placing her hands on the railing she leaned over. "Oh goodness!" It was a long way down and that made Rosalya dizzy. 'I have such admiration for Essa being able to make this look so easy.' She thought, taking a deep breath.

She climbed over the railing and held on tightly looking back. 'Okay, three balconies until I'm on the ground. Each one, a little bit bigger than the previous one so if I can time it just right I can land safely.' She reminded herself of the plan she had come up with. She might have been having second thoughts about attempting this way.

She held on tightly as she climbed down, letting her feet dangle in the air. 'Don't look down.' She told herself but looked down and squeaked. 'Just let go.' She took a deep breath and let go. She dropped onto the balcony below and lost her balance, falling onto her bottom. "Ouch." She mumbled.

She looked up at the closed curtains and her hands flew over her mouth. 'I forgot there are people in these rooms.' She held her breath as she continued down, going from balcony to balcony. Each time it got a little easier, but it was still nerve-wracking that she might wake someone up.

Once on the ground, she sighed, relieved that the hard part was over. 'Now, to the greenhouse.' She headed towards the greenhouse, following the path she knew all to will. She was glad that the moon proved her the light she needed to find her way.

She slowly opened the doors to the greenhouse and slipped in, closing them behind her. She knew she had to be quiet because Jayme was asleep and maybe even Essa. "Essa? Um, Essa are you okay? It's Rosalya. I'm sorry if I'm bothering you but I need to talk to you. It's urgent." She whispered, creeping around the greenhouse, trying to locate the island girl.

Essa's eyes slowly opened at the sound of someone's voice. At first, she thought it was a dream, that the voices were of those on the ship that had been calling her name. She sat up and realized that it wasn't in her dreams but there was someone in the greenhouse calling her name.