The memory came back like a wound being reopened.

Fresh. Sharp. Unforgiving as she began to tell lily what had happened.

The grand doors of the dining hall had opened with a slow, echoing creak, revealing a room Rosaline had not stepped into in ten years.

Light spilled from towering windows, cascading over polished floors and a long table adorned with fine dishes and glittering cutlery. Everything looked the same.

As though time had waited for everyone.....except her.

Rosaline stepped inside, her heart racing uncontrollably in her chest. Her fingers tightened slightly against her gown, but her eyes searched only one place.

Him.

At the head of the table sat the King.

He definitely looked a bit older but he seemed to be doing well with the way he look right now... though age lines had began to show on his face.

Her father.

For a brief moment, everything else faded.

"Father...."

The word slipped out before she could stop herself.

Hope had spoken before caution.

She moved forward, her face lighting up with an emotion she had long buried. It was instinctive... natural... the longing of a child who had waited years for acknowledgment.

But the reaction she received.....

Was not what she had imagined.

The King’s expression hardened almost immediately at the way she conducted herself.

"That is improper."

His voice was cold. Detached.

Rosaline froze.

"You will address me with the respect befitting my position," he continued, his gaze sharp. "You have been away too long and seem to have forgotten your manners."

The warmth drained from her face.

What was this?

Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

Slowly....mechanically....she lowered herself into a proper bow.

"My apologies... Your Majesty."

The title tasted foreign.

Bitter.

When she rose, her eyes shifted slightly....to the woman seated beside him.

The woman who had messed up her life.....now she was seated in her mother’s position elegantly,

Queen Vivienne.

Rosaline forced herself to bow again, lower this time.

"Your Majesty."

A soft, almost amused smile curved Vivienne’s lips.

"Oh, don’t be too harsh on her," the Queen said lightly, placing a gentle hand over the King’s arm. "She’s been away for so long... it’s only natural she would forget palace customs."

Her tone was warm.

Understanding.

Kind.

But Rosaline saw through it.

Every word dripped with something artificial, something calculated.

Still, the King’s expression eased immediately.

"As you say," he replied.

Rosaline felt it then.

That invisible thread tightening around her chest.

He would listen to her.

Agree with her. Follow her. No matter what.

Has he forgotten that SHE was his daughter.....the child of his first and original queen?

She swallowed quietly and took her seat.

The meal began.

Dishes were placed before her....rich, carefully prepared, far more extravagant than anything she had eaten in years.

But Rosaline barely tasted a thing.

Silence stretched between them.

Heavy and Uncomfortable.

Her fingers rested lightly against the table, waiting....hoping....for something.

A question.....A word,.....Anything.

How have you been?

Did you suffer?

Did you miss home?

But nothing came.

The King ate as though she were simply another noble guest seated at his table.

A stranger.

Then, finally....

He spoke.

"You have returned for the sake of the kingdom."

Rosaline looked up quickly.

His tone wasn’t warm.

It wasn’t welcoming.

It was... purposeful.

Measured.

"As a princess of Everbloom," he continued, "you have a duty. One I trust you will not fail."

Rosaline straightened slightly.

Despite everything....despite the coldness, the distance.....something inside her still wanted his approval.

"I won’t fail you, Your Majesty," she said quietly.

The King gave a small nod.

Then....

He continued.

"There is a matter that requires your cooperation. A marriage has been arranged between you and the Duke of the Dagon Empire. This union will secure peace between our lands."

The words landed like a blow.

Rosalind blinked.

Once, twice.

Her mind struggled to catch up with what she had just heard.

Marriage...?

To the Dagon Empire?

Her voice came out softer than she intended.

"...Is that why I was brought back?"

Silence.

The King met her gaze.

And in that look....

There was no denial.

No hesitation.

Just quiet confirmation.

If not... then what else would it be?

Something inside her broke.

Not loudly...not dramatically.

But slowly and painfully.

Like glass cracking beneath pressure.

Her fingers tightened slightly against the table, her breath catching as the truth settled deep into her chest.

She wasn’t brought back as a daughter.

She was brought back as an asset.

A sacrifice.

And just as that realization began to sink in.....

Pain struck.

Suddenly....

A sharp, burning sensation exploded across her hands.

Rosaline gasped, jerking slightly as hot liquid soaked into her skin.

Tea.

The teapot had slipped.

The maid beside her dropped instantly to her knees.

"Forgive me, my lady! Please forgive me!" she cried, trembling.

But Rosaline barely heard her.

The heat.

The sting.

It grounded her, dragged her violently back into reality.

Before she could react, the Queen’s voice cut in smoothly.

"Oh dear... how careless," Vivienne said, rising slightly. "Go and have that treated at once. And change your clothes. We can continue this discussion later."

Her tone was gentle.

Concerned.

Perfectly composed.

The King nodded immediately.

"Yes. See to it."

Just like that.

No question.

No hesitation.

Rosaline stared at them for a brief second.

Then slowly.....

She stood.

"My apologies," she whispered, her voice barely steady.

And without another word....

She left.

Dragging her lost soul out of there as their voices faded in her head and her eyes became blurry with unshed tears and before she knew it... tears streamed down her face but she was too sad to mind anyone seeing her like that and all she wanted was a confined space

Her room.

End of Flashback.

"My lady... it’s alright... please..."

Lily’s voice pulled her back to the present.

Back to the room.

Back to the pain she couldn’t hide.

Rosaline’s shoulders trembled as she cried quietly, her injured hands resting helplessly in her lap.

Lily knelt in front of her, her heart aching at the sight.

"It’s going to be alright," she murmured, though she knew those words alone weren’t enough.

She reached for the ointment quickly, her movements urgent but careful as she began treating the burns.

Rosaline winced slightly but didn’t pull away.

The physical pain was not enough to overshadow the emotional own.

Her tears continued falling silently.

Watching her like this.....

Something dark flickered in Lily’s chest.

Anger.

Sharp. Protective. Unyielding.

How dare they.

How dare they treat her like she meant nothing?

Lily’s hands tightened slightly before she forced herself to remain gentle.

If this is what the palace is...

Then maybe.....just maybe,

That marriage wasn’t the worst fate.

At least there... she might be valued.

Respected.

Safe.

And Lily made a quiet decision.

Wherever Rosaline went.....

She would follow.

Always.

She finished applying the ointment and gently guided Rosaline down, letting her rest her head on her lap.

"There now..." Lily whispered softly, stroking her hair.

Slowly... gradually...

The trembling stopped.

The tears eased.

Silence settled between them.....quiet, fragile, but no longer suffocating.

After a while, Rosaline sat up.

Her eyes were still red, her face slightly flushed....but she looked calmer.

"Thank you," she said softly. "For staying... for not treating me badly."

Lily blinked at her, almost offended. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"There is no world where I would ever let you suffer alone," she replied firmly. "I will always be here."

Rosaline’s lips curved into a small, genuine smile.

Then...

Her gaze shifted.

Toward the mirror.

And suddenly.....

Her eyes widened.

"My face!"

She shot up instantly, panic replacing her earlier sadness.

"It’s all red—!"

Without another word, she rushed into the bathroom.

Lily stared for a second.....

Then burst into laughter.

The sound filled the room, light and warm, breaking the tension that had lingered.

Moments later, Rosaline returned, her face damp but refreshed, her expression slightly embarrassed.

They both settled again.

And just as calm returned.....

A knock came at the door.

Lily moved to open it.

A maid stood outside, holding a carefully folded gown.

"My lady’s dress is ready," she said. "You are to prepare immediately. The Duke and his entourage will arrive shortly."

Lily took the dress and nodded.

"We’ll be ready."

The door closed.

Rosaline exhaled deeply.

"...It hasn’t even been a full day," she muttered. "And they’re already trying to sell me off."

Lily turned to her, her expression gentler this time.

"Maybe... it won’t be so bad," she said carefully. "It might be better than staying here."

Rosalind didn’t respond immediately.

But she didn’t argue either.

"How do you think the duke would look?" Rosaline suddenly asked.

" Quite alright I think....." Lily answered thoughtfully as she also wondered how this duke would look.

" Let’s just hope he isn’t old and ugly, okay?" Lily said as she moved to get things done and ready.

Preparation began once more.

A bath was drawn.....filled with rose petals and lilies, their fragrance soft and calming, wrapping around Rosaline like a quiet embrace.

The water soothed her.

Eased her tension.

Even if only for a moment.

Afterward, Lily carefully styled her hair...pinning the long white strands upward, shortening its length while shaping it delicately into soft, floral patterns. A middle part framed her face perfectly, enhancing her natural elegance.

The gown followed.

A soft yellow dress.....light, graceful, almost radiant.

"At least they gave you something decent," Lily muttered.

Rosaline gave a faint nod. "Of course they did. They have an image to maintain."

A façade.

Always a façade.

Then....

The distant sound of horses filled the air.

Both of them froze.

"They’re here..." Lily whispered.

A chill ran through Rosaline’s body, goosebumps rising along her skin.

Lily reached for her hands instinctively.

"You can do this," she said gently.

Rosalind nodded....

Then winced.

"Ah...."

"The burns!" Lily said quickly. "Sorry!"

She reapplied the ointment carefully before reaching into a small box.

From it, she pulled out a pair of delicate white lace gloves.

Rosalind blinked. "What are those for?"

"To hide the burns," Lily said, slipping them gently over her hands. "And... they make you look even more like a princess."

Rosalind smiled softly.

"Thank you."

She paused.

"Where did you get them?"

Lily hesitated for just a second.

"...They belonged to your mother," she said quietly. "I kept them... when we were sent away."

Rosaline’s breath caught.

Emotion welled up again.....but Lily immediately shook her head.

"No tears," she said firmly. "You’ll ruin everything."

Rosaline laughed softly and nodded.

"Alright....I won’t cry Tonight and ruin your efforts."

Lily smiled.

"Tonight... let your mother’s glove be your mother in another form. So go out there and show them who you are."

Rosalind inhaled deeply.

Then nodded.

Together, they walked toward the court.

The doors stood tall before her.

Massive.

Imposing.

When her name was announced, the doors opened slowly.

And there.....

At the far end of the grand hall...

She saw him.

Standing alone.

Dressed in dark, refined attire, his presence commanding the space effortlessly. His hair fell in dark strands, framing a face that was... striking.

Unfairly so.

He had to be the one.....she thought as her eyes widen a bit.

For a moment.....

Everything else faded.

And all Rosaline could see.....

Was him.