The palace is officially in chaos.
Everyone was frantically searching for James and every time Rosalie opened her mouth to insist that he was safe, she'd quickly shut it after receiving a glare from some concerned person. After an hour or so she decided to retire to her bedroom for a shower.
She'd just put on a long silk nightgown when she heard a commotion outside of her door. She jumped when it burst open suddenly, revealing a red-faced King.
"Father, what's wrong?" She couldn't remember the last time he'd been to her room.
"Where the hell is he?" The King bellowed, deep and angry.
Rosalie held back a sigh. She'd already told a thousand other people. "I don't know. But he's fine."
"Fine?!" Her father roared. "Rosalie this isn't one of your stupid little pleas for attention! He's not like you! He's missing!"
"He didn't tell me where he was going!" Rosalie yelled back. She'd never risen her voice to her father before. "I'm sure he'll be back soon, can you all just calm down?"
"Calm down?" Her father took a few steps towards her, but Rosalie held her ground. "He's all I have left in this world Rosalie! And he's gone!"
Something inside of her broke. "All you have left?!" She repeated his words. "I'm standing right in front of you! I'm right here! Look at me!"
"All I see is a foolish little girl whose stupid antics are going to get her brother killed." He spat.
"You're a liar." Rosalie seethed. "I know what you see when you look at me! It's all anybody can fucking see!"
"Rosalie-" The King warned.
"You see her! My face is a constant reminder of her and that she's gone!" Rosalie continued.
"Stop it! Now!" Her father stepped even closer. They were screaming at each other now, so loudly she was sure the entire kingdom could hear.
"That's why you can't stand to even look at me, isn't it? Because my face is a constant reminder that she's dead!"
The King reached out so suddenly Rosalie didn't even see it coming. She was already on the ground before she realized that he's backhanded her so hard she could barely feel the pain where her hip had struck the ground from her fall. She could only register the sharp stinging on her cheek and the ringing in her ears.
"You'd better hope he comes back alive, or else." The King seethed before promptly exiting her bedroom, slamming the door behind himself.
Rosalie didn't know how long she laid there on the floor. Eventually she sat up, leaning against her bedpost. She didn't know what to think. Never in her life had anyone laid a hand on her, not even her father. Sure, he'd neglected her, but he'd never physically abused her.
Until now.
The realization was sobering. Not only did she have a neglectful father, but he was now abusive as well. Rosalie considered her options for a moment before she realized that she didn't really have any. What were they going to do? Turn the King in to child protective services? Arrest him?
She jumped when the door to her bedroom opened once more. "Where are your guards?" Kace asked, concerned. She watched as the confusion of his face turned to shock when he registered her appearance. He rushed towards her. "You're bleeding! What the hell happened?"
She reached up, touched her cheek and, sure enough, when she pulled her fingers away they were red. "Can't even feel it."
"Who did this?" Kace's blue eyes turned stormy. "I swear I'll-"
"Careful." Rosalie warned him. "Treasonous words against the king are punishable by stoning." That wasn't true, of course. They hadn't stoned anyone in hundreds of years. But Rosalie was famous for using humor to hide her emotions.
Kace's brow furrowed for a moment before a sick understanding showed on his face. "Your dad did this?"
Rosalie ground her teeth, unable to come up with a witty response, torn between being too pissed and too ashamed.
Kace was stunned silent for a moment. That's a first, Rosalie thought, usually he won't shut the hell up.
Kace disappeared into her bathroom before he returned with a damp washcloth. He crouched in front of her, gently wiping away the blood before pressing the cloth to the cut.
Rosalie winced but didn't say anything. Kace was looking intensely at her face, so Rosalie looked down.
"I'm sorry." Kace told her after a few minutes.
"Sorry for what?" She whispered. He didn't do anything.
"That this is your life." He responded.
YOU ARE READING
Crowned Upon
Romantik"You really are the most beautiful girl I've ever seen." He skimmed his lips down the line of her trembling jaw. He pressed the blade closer into her throat. "It's a shame I have to kill you." ________________________________________________________...
