A Kingdom's Expectations & A Shocking Revelation {Sequel}

Chapter 9

There have been changes made to some minor plot-points of the story, so if you notice deviations it may just be that.

Also! If anyone wants to comment a song that works well with this story, please do - I need to build up my playlist for it and it's sadly lacking. 

Enjoy.

There was one other matter that my father had inquired of me, a matter he no longer entrusted to my mother. "Rosalia..." he commenced his speech, appearing somewhat uncertain. I perused his features, curious as to why he faltered now. After talking for a great deal of time, his voice had flowed and had a certain strength to it. Now, he seemed unsure. Instead of pushing him to speak, I allowed him time to gather his words. 

"I am considering whether to leave your sister here, upon your mother and I's return to our home," he finally disclosed. My head snapped up in surprise - leave my sister with me, at the Kingdom? Though the thought filled me with some joy at Josephine in such proximity, I felt a little afraid at my little sister at Court. It was not always a kind place. 

"What brought you to this thought?" I asked him, avoiding his gaze. My hands trailed upwards, fingers wrapping around the emerald shoots of the hedge we lounged under. The twigs were brittle and snapped under my touch, tiny leaves scattering down onto the ground. It was a cascade of virulent green, dark and light shades propelled by the wind's influence. All too soon, the leaves ended their descent.

"Home does not seem to bode well with her," Father admitted, his head hanging low. Guilt coloured his tone, I could be sure of that - he had not been there when Josephine needed him the most. Neither had I. "Even with Zachariah Hartley imprisoned, she is aware of her lack of prospects and the daily reminder of what brought her to this stage constantly leeches upon her for forgiveness." 

Here, his tone grew stern and the anger fleshed out his syllables. My father might perhaps feel guilt for his abandonment of his daughter - but his temper would eternally rise up against the instigator of Josephine's ruin. Lacey Taylor. 

I felt not a whit of surprise that Mother continually beseeched her daughter to give her the mark of forgiveness, knew that she was too selfish to see that it would drain Josephine, these daily attacks. My mother was a weak woman. It had taken me years to see that - and my sister's life to be entirely destroyed. Too late.

"Distance from her would perhaps lift her spirits," I assented. My mother's name did not even need to be spoken for the both of us to understand. "But Father, you know as well as I, even at the glittering social life of Court - Josephine can never marry again."

The grim sentiment still haunted me, late at night when even the birds refused to litter the air with their calls, and settled down for the welcoming darkness. When Sebastian easily drifted into dreams, and I could only think of how my sister could never have the life I had - could never even have children to ease her burdens.

A marriage was for life. Nothing less than that would sate the promise.

"She cannot," Father conceded. His fingers laced together, then unlaced and re-laced. I watched the repetitious movements, drawn into their simplicity. It was a nervous habit of his, a trifle to engage his mind when they were cast into nightmarish pursuits. "But that does not mean she cannot be happy. And I believe that you, as her sister, will make her as happy as she can be." 

His words filled me with warmth, a fire within - but simply a spark. The sparks were easily extinguished when Josephine's situation arose in my mind once more. I could make Josephine happy, my father's words were true in that aspect. But, I could not give her a family of her own - or of little angel-faced children. I could not gift her the fruits of her own womb. I could not give her a man that would love her as Sebastian loved me.