The Royal Rose

Broken

"Why can't I?"

Rose woke up hearing an argument outside. She recognized the voices,so she kept her eyes closed trying to sleep for a little longer. But Alice entered the room, waking her up again.

"Why can't I? This is not fair.Everyone's invited then why can't I?"

Alice walked around the room, lost in her own thoughts, yelling loudly at her mom.

"Alice..." Rose yawned. "What happened?"

"I want to attend the Grand Ball but the servants aren't allowed."

Rose rubbed her eyes, and got up.

"That's not fair." She continued.

Rose thought for a moment, and then spoke. "Alice, can we leave the Palace without letting anyone know?"

"I think so. The servants go out for groceries all the time."

Rose smiled,"Then don't worry. You'll attend the ball, and I'll make sure of that."

"But my mother?"

"No one will recognize you.But we have to leave the Palace just before the guests arrive. Then we'll come back."

Alice nodded happily,"At 7pm then. Tomorrow evening."

Bringing happiness to someone's face would only increase her happiness. Rose wanted to make the Grand Ball magical for Alice. What if she was a servant? If every girl was invited, it should have included the servants too.

Rose had a plan in her mind,but she neeeded a little help from Alice. She needed someone to cover for their absence back at the Palace.

Next day, the preparations for the Grand Ball were complete early in the morning. The Queen approved of the decorations and the food. Everyone was looking forward for the glamorous evening, when Prince would chose his bride.

Every girl of the kingdom was excited except one.They longed to have a glimpse of the Prince, and Rose wanted to see Eliot once again. His face was imprinted on her mind, and her eyes waited to see his face again. Alice finished her chores earlier, and came to her room. Rose was already there, waiting for her. It was almost 6:30pm and half hour was left till the glorious event started.

"Where are we going?" Alice brushed back her hair.

"You'll come to know. We'll leave at exact 7pm when the guests will start arriving."

Rose checked her watch again,and looked at Alice.

"Let's start walking."

Alice was too excited for the Grand Ball, and she was trusting Rose with her wish.

Rose and Alice left the palace in the servant carriage, as the guests started arriving. The palace was lighted up like a Christmas tree, in golden lights. The servants have worked for weeks to decorate the Ball room. Alice stared out of the carriage,at the golden exterior of the Palace. The grand lights started shrinking as the horses ran along the road, passing through the dark forest.

Hansel, the coach man had agreed to bring them out of the Palace if they paid him. Rose promised him Jewels, and he agreed to the deal.

The both girls were silent, and the only voice they heard was the hooves of the horses.

Rose broke the silence, as it was bringing back bad memories to her.

"What if the Prince choose you?"

Alice laughed, "I don't want to go to the Ball for the prince. I'm already in love with somebody else."

"WHAT?"

"Yes, but I want to look beautiful tonight. But for him, not the Prince."

Rose shook her head in disbelief,"Who's the lucky guy?"

"I can't tell you." Alice smiled. "Not yet.Atleast, he deserves to find out first. Doesn't he?"

"He would." Rose smiled.

Rose gave directions, and they crossed through the dark forest towards the main city. It was the only carriage that was heading in the opposite direction.

The carriage stopped infront of the house, and Rose stepped out. She looked around, and then motioned Alice to follow her.

Rose picked up the one of the plant pot and found a spare key. Then she unlocked the door, and went inside.

"Where are we?" Alice gaped.

"My step mother's house."

Alice couldn't understand the logic but Rose took her to Megan's room. She opened her wardrobe, and took out 3-4 dresses.

"There you go. Choose anything."

"This is stealing." Alice shook her head.

"No, these are my things. My dad got me all of these dresses and Jewels."

Rose took out the jewels, and placed them on the bed. "These all belong to me."

Alice and Rose packed all the precious Jewels and dresses. Alice picked a diamond necklace from one of the drawer.

"No, don't take this. It's not mine"

"Come on, Rose. This is beautiful. Can I?"

Rose had to say yes, as she had promised herself to help Alice. What if fairy Godmothers don't exist? She wanted to act one for Alice. She wanted to repay them for their kindness and love.

They sat in the carriage, and asked Hansel to drive them back to the Palace.

Alice opened the bag of jewels, and palpated them again.

"These must worth a fortune."

Rose shrugged,"I think so."

"What if your stepmother finds out?"

"No one would check inside a Palace. Right?"

The moonless sky appeared darker as they moved through the dark forest, towards the golden lights of the Palace.

Suddenly the carriage stopped, right in the middle of the forest.

"Hansel?" Rose stuck her head out of the window."Is everything alright?"

She heard footsteps reaching towards the carriage door. Rose couldn't see the face, and before she could do anything. Somebody opened the door, and dragged Rose down from the carriage.

The grip on her arm was too tight.

Rose yelled,"What are you doing,Hansel?"

"Alice! Help me"

But Alice didn't move at all. She kept sitting at one place, frozen with a bag of jewels in her lap.

Hansel pushed her off the road, onto the ground. Her elbow hit the stone hard, and she screamed with pain.

To her horror, Hansel sat back on the carriage and started moving it.

Alice spoke aloud,"I'm sorry,Rose. The guy I love is Hansel. And we really needed money to run away."

The carriage started moving fast, leaving Rose alone in the middle of a forest. She couldn't believe that Alice had done this to her.

But trust is hardly broken by enemies, as it's always the friends first.