Regicide

15. Loss

I know Rose well enough to know what she would do when she finds out I'm not in the castle.

She was probably informed by Andrew that I've been booted. Then maybe as time passes by she'll say that she has to go to town to buy some things. Or some other excuse just so she can find me.

By now, she should be in town, frantically looking for me. It's a slow day; not a lot of people are in the village today. This will make it more easier for us.

We pass the Punish Center and I look at the bloody guillotine. Lawrence has made his executions with this contraption more than he has with the Hanging Platform.

In the center of closed shops I spot a certain maid. We walk over to Rose when she immediately sees us.

She walks over to me and hugs me as tight as possible. "Oh, Cecelia! I couldn't find you in the castle... They told me you weren't allowed inside anymore... " she said with a puzzled expression.

"That's right. Do you have any idea why I'm kicked out?" I ask with the same confusing look.

"No. I tried to get a reason from anyone but they either said they didn't know or it was just the King's order."

"What do we do?" I ask.

What if he found out about my plan?

"Let's just all calm down." Marcelina said. "Rose, here's what you need to do; try to figure out why she was removed from the castle. You don't need to ask anyone, just try and figure it out by yourself if you need to."

"All right, fine. Shouldn't be a problem..." She mumbles.

"And don't worry about me, Rose. I'll be staying with Marcelina until I get back." I inform her.

She looks relieved when I tell her. "Oh, good. I was afraid you would end up all alone in some alley." She looks at Marcelina with a smile. She returns one followed by a light laughter.

I didn't know that would make an inside joke between them...

"Anyways, I think I should head back. The guards would start acting more suspicious of me if I don't return yet. I already spent minutes trying to find you." Rose gives me a final hug and a kiss on the forehead.

"I'll try to meet you again tomorrow." She starts walking back to the castle with a smile and a wave.

"We should probably head back to the house as well, Cecelia." Marcelina said.

When we return to the shabby house we say goodnight and I spend my first night away from home. Sleeping on Marcelina's old bed wasn't that bad. It was smaller than my original bed. I sunk into the mattress once I lied down on it. But it was more comfortable once I was adjusted. Especially with the dress I already had on. I didn't have any nightgowns or spare clothes.

Why would I? I didn't know I would be staying in someone else's home without knowing that I was going to stay longer than I thought.

The next morning I get up and find out that Marcelina has woken up much early. She's in the living room and seems like she is preparing to leave.

"Marcelina, where are you off to?" I ask groggily.

"I'm heading off to work." She said.

"You have a job?" I ask. Apparently, there is still a lot I need to know about Marcy.

"Well, yes. I need to have one in order to support myself." She says it like I didn't know. I was just wondering what she works as. "I work as a clerk for a bookstore, in case you're wondering. It's a very boring job. All I do is rearrange the shelves and write down who checked out each book."

"That's it?" I ask. Marcelina doesn't really seem like a person who would work in a boring bookstore. I figured she would have a more exciting job.

"Yes. But that does not mean I am a bookworm. In my opinion, I think reading is a dull activity. It's the only job I could take since everyone thought it was an 'appropriate' job for a woman." She rolls her eyes.

I nod in understanding. "Well, I hope you get a much better profession in life."

She sighs. "I hope so too. Anyways, I should go. If you're hungry there's food in the kitchen. And you can go to town by yourself today. Maybe you should try to talk to Rose. I don't know if she'll be there once you get there but just wait for her until she is."

I have to go back to town...

"I'm not sure I feel comfortable going back to the village. People are already judging me. And when they see me walking out of someone's house, rumors will spread like wildfire. Maybe they already are!" I said, worriedly.

"Then borrow some of my clothes. Disguise yourself if you're that insecure." She says with a playful smile. Then she's off to work.

I eat what's in the kitchen which was warm and sweet pastries. It wasn't exactly a meal fit for a Royal, but it was still delicious. After I ate I went into Marcelina's bedroom to search for clothes that I can borrow. It wouldn't be right for the princess to be seen in town all alone while people walk by.

If disguising myself will help me avoid suspicion from the village, then it'll be the only best solution there is. I need to talk to Rose someway.

I open the wardrobe that I spotted from across the room and was presented with only a few outfits. I chose an attire that doesn't seem to be used a lot. It's a black and blue dress with laces you were to tie in the back. The silky dress looked a bit loose from the sleeves but it felt fine on me.

A different dress still isn't enough to make me invincible.

I look back into the wardrobe and find a grey hooded cloak; most likely used for the cold weather. I put on the cloak and pulled the hood over my head.

Now this is enough to make me invincible.

I head out the door and into town with the hood covering my eyes but not enough to blind my vision.

I walk straight ahead to town but no one seems to be around. It must be a slow day again but it's barely morning. I should take this as a good thing; I can wait for Rose and find her easily again.

I turn the corner to see people gathering around in the center of town.

Another execution.

I don't wish to stick around this time. I want to go back to the house and come out after the execution is done, but that just sounds cruel. That's just another life taken by the person I'm suppose to get rid of.

I slowly walk towards the center without having any thought to what I'm about to see. I don't see Lawrence anywhere so that would mean Marshall and Marvin have chosen a victim. But instead of using the guillotine, I see them on the Hanging Platform with Marvin holding the lever with both hands. He seems very eager to pull it.

My heart stops when I see who Marshall is placing the rope over.

It's Rose.

This isn't happening, I try to convince myself. This isn't happening!

I try to get closer to her and gently push people away to get through. She spots me in the crowd and we make eye contact.

Marshall stands next to his brother and points to Rose. "The crime you have committed is treason- you have betrayed your Leader, maid! And by order of the King, you have been sentenced to death!"

Rose is still looking at me. There is no fear in her eyes. She only gives me one last warm smile.

Before I realize it, Marvin is already pulling the lever. The floorboards underneath Rose move away like magic, and down she falls.

A tear slides down my face at the sight of my loss.