The Tale of a Princess Fallen from Grace

Chapter Two

Rose wished that she could be anywhere apart from in Aubriemia. If it were up to her then she would still be tucked up in her spacious room in Alluvia, undisturbed in the mellow quiet. Her mother had forced her to come to Aubriemia to celebrate Prince Josiah's fourth birthday in the Queen's place, which was going to be a big celebration next week. If Rose did not come, her mother promised to finalise a marriage contract between herself and the insufferable Lord Keely. Rose could not let that happen, so she had to agree, and her mother was under the weather and did not want to be weakened through travel, so Rose was guilt tripped into going.

Her mother was not a bad woman, but she was desperate for her last daughter to marry. People had been whispering about her for years wondering why she was not already married. Most women - especially beautiful Princesses - were married by the time they were eighteen, and yet Rose's twenty-fourth birthday had just passed her. People were starting to wonder if there was something wrong with her.

Even Rosilabeth's older brother Gabriel was getting married, and it was often joked that he would remain single as he was very shy and could hardly talk to a woman, and paired with him being studious and not a part of the army he was never very popular with the ladies, who flocked over his older brothers. Knights and soldiers were viewed as dashing and handsome, and were a magnet to every young woman. Gabriel was a loving, sweet man though, and his beau Lady Yvonne was very lucky to have him as a husband.

Rose had met her little niece Kinnette yesterday who was already a year and a half old, and determined to keep up with her big 'brother' and his rowdy friends. She was very sweet looking and almost as dark-skinned as her mother, although her hair was fair like her father's.

Josiah was so big now; definitely not the chubby little baby Rose had last seen. He was as thin as a twig with bundles of energy, and according to Nijah, things were always getting broken with him around. His big green eyes filled Rose with pain, as it was like looking into a reflection of her own, but he could never know the truth.

Rose was watching him playing in the courtyard with the sons of powerful Lord's and parliamentary figures - the future rulers of the land. Of course, they had little idea of what the responsibility bestowed upon them meant at such a young age. She was not meant to be spying on Josiah like some sad old lady, but she would rather do that then listen to Nijah's sister's drone on about nothing. Rose had chosen the perfect seat in the conservatory so she could look out onto the courtyard shaded by numerous palm trees and climbing wild red roses, and watch her son for a few precious moments.

Mariam, Jemila and Caliana were all exotic beauties and overindulged Princesses. They each had long thick dark hair, deep cocoa flawless skin, and wore bright neon headscarves and shapeless gowns. They also wore distinctive Aubriemian makeup, which included painting red dots upon one's face, and drawing artistic patterns upon one's hands. Although it was very different to anything Rose was used to, she thought it was all very beautiful and impressive.

Mariam was a year younger then her at twenty-three, and was married and already expecting her third child. Jemila was twenty-one and wed with a new baby, and Caliana was eighteen and fretting terribly as she was yet to find a husband. She was the only one still living in the castle now as her older sisters lived in luxurious estates a carriage ride away.

Rose had tuned out of the conversation for the most part, as she found gossiping about the latest scandals and drama to be rather dull and boring now. Caliana's high-pitched voice was annoying her to no end, as she kept needlessly worrying about her future husband. She had an excess of time and was being rather silly, but Rose did pity her. Once upon a time, they were the same person.

"What if I never find anyone though? If I turn twenty-two and am still single I shall positively die!" She exclaimed dramatically, making Rose flinch, as she was already a couple of years older than that.