Separated

Part VII: Rosaline

"So...I guess you inherit the throne soon," I said, breaking the long silence.

"Well, I'm not quite sure yet. I have to choose by tomorrow."

"Wait, you get to choose? I'm forced to take the throne!"

"Wow, that sounds awful. At least you might have a decent queen."

I laughed out loud at that comment.

"Decent? She's tyrranic and miserable. She won't let me have anything or even leave the castle grounds!"

"Well, it makes sense." He (I think that's what they were called, based on the forbidden books I read) said it matter-of-factly.

I realized he was right. The way I argued with him resembled the way me and the Queen always spoke to each other.

We stared into each other's eyes. Instinct was telling me we were meant to be together. Not like love, but something else.

"What is it called when you have another girl that's related to you?" Fredrick asked me.

"A sister," I replied. "And yours?"

"A brother."

Then a bell went off in our heads.

"There's no way..." I said in disbelief.

"Unbelievable."

"Why would the kingdoms separate? It doesn't make sense anymore!" I said with realization.

"Indeed. If we were meant to be together, Why keep us...and the rest of these citizens who have a sibling, or even a lover or spouse, on the other side...away from each other?"

"Maybe our mother and father got into a fight."

"But why separate male and female for it?"

"I don't know. Perhaps for some sexist reason. But I have a feeling we can do something about it."

"But what can we do? We're just an  underappreciated princess and prince!"

"We may not be the king and queen, but we still have some power..."

An idea came to my mind.

"We could secretly cause a revolt against each of our kingdoms with the commoners!" I suggested.

"Yes, but not all of them may want to," Fredrick replied flatly.

"How? Aren't they tired of being separated from their...lovers or spouses?"

"If they are, the revolt could easily get out of our control and cause more destruction than either kingdoms can handle!"

"Good! Then our parents can pay for the problem they caused!" I yelled.

"But that's not rational!"

We stood in silence, our eyes piercing into each other's. I broke away.

"I'm sorry. You're right. I shouldn't have been so harsh on you."

Fredrick smiled. "I'm sorry, too. I had no right to be harsh towards you, either."

Just as we finished our apologies, a light shone from the end of the room in front of me. As I saw the silhouettes of guards, I quickly extinguished the flame from the torch, grabbed Fredrick's wrist, and ran to the other side of the room.

"We're trapped," Fredrick realized when the other side's staircase opened up, the rhythmic footsteps of guards heard from the top of the stairs.

How did they figure out the secret staircase so quickly?

The royal guards from the other side seized hold of Fredrick. I fought to let him go, but Suddenly the Queen's guards stormed in on one side, her following shortly behind, and the King on the other side. The Queen seized hold of me, her eyes I felt stabbing my back in disappointment and betrayal, but not surprise.

"Guards! Take Rosaline back to the castle!" my mom said to the guards, who advanced to seize me. As soon as the guards took hold, I saw the Queen and the King looking at each other with resentment, but the King had something else hidden in his expression, almost like longing. They both turned their heads and didn't look back as they began to escort us back to our own kingdoms.

Before they made it out of the secret room, I looked back to find Fredrick looking back at me. He smiled slightly, as if to say,

"We'll meet again soon."
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