Dynasty

Chapter 2

Rosalina's Pov

"This isn't right Miss Rosalina, please don't do this."

I shook my head at Greta as I pushed past her, absolutely nothing was going to change my mind.

"I'm done living like this, I can't stay in this castle anymore. I can't continuously be told where I am and am not permitted to go. This isn't the way for someone to live Greta, it just isn't."

My feet shuffled against the forest floor, I could barley see where I was going but I continued along anyway. The night grew darker and darker around me, I hadn't the slightest idea of the time but I knew I had to stop moving soon. For hours I made as much distance between myself and the castle as I could, the temperature dropped with the light and I was slowly freezing to death. I secured my shawl tightly around my shoulders, the woods were far more terrifying than I thought, as night fell that terror grew. Every step I took I contemplated turning around and apologizing to Greta and even Edwin. I thought about genuinely marrying him and having a son who would take his place in the future as ruler of England. But I mostly thought about my mother, when news finally reaches her, just as Greta said, she'll be heartbroken. I'll be the failure of the country.

"But Miss, when your mother finds out she'll be heartbroken. What if something happens with her while you're away, you can't just come back and see her. Please, Miss Rosalina, I really advise against this."

"I know what you're trying to do Greta and it will not work. You're trying to use my dying mother as a reason for me not to leave, it's like a bribe except the offering isn't yours to give. I know my mother is dying, I know she is ill, but it's not going to stop me."

"And Edwin, he will go mad once news of your disappearance reaches him. He will not stop at anything to secure your rescue and return."

I looked down at Greta, she was frightened but I was not, "then you ought to tell him I'm in no need of rescue."

The sky finally turned black as the night hit. The stars were bright in the sky, the moon, my only source of light now that the sun was gone, lit up the forest enough for me to be able to somewhat see what was ahead of me. The air was frigid and with every exhale my breath clouded in front of me before disappearing into the air.

The guilt was heavy on my chest. I wondered what was going to happen to Greta, she was terrified of what the guards would do to her but I didn't care. I left her there, the only person with any idea of my whereabouts and I left her alone to fend for herself. But on the other hand it was her job to serve for me, she was offered free room and board in my castle, well my old castle, to assist me, she was nothing but a servant to me. A peasant with a connection to the royal family.

That castle was a vial place and the least amount of emotional ties I kept with that place was for the better. I left to live my life and to no longer have to worry about an entire country of people, a psychotic arranged partner or rules of how I should and shouldn't behave, I was free. I was finally able to make my own decisions, I was able to fend for myself.

Around what I assumed to be midnight I found a tree which seemed to be safe and cleared an area on the ground to sit on. It was absolutely freezing, I felt as if my bones were permanently numb. My lips trembled as I curled into a ball, tucking my knees in under my dress. Never in my life had I been this cold.

"You're free now, Rosalina, you're free." I muttered to myself as a few tears ran down my cheeks, I had to pull myself together, I had to.

Yelling. A loud, nearby, yell of my name. My eyes shot open as my name rang through my ears. Slowly I stood up and looked around, I struggled to move because my body was practically completely numb, with every deep inhale and exhale my breath was visible even in the darkness of the night. This couldn't be happening, not now, I just managed to escape, I couldn't go back.