IX

Princess Roshanne

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It had been two days since the accident between the bishop and lady Dae had happened, and the rumors of the lady Being brazen had circulated quick like a wild fire in mid summer, the Noble families were quick to throw insults, and the royal family had taken the burn of it. They were ridiculed for allowing an uneducated, brazen woman into their family.

She couldn't take quite a scandal, so she make quick work to put out the fire, of course by creating another scandal good enough to dissuade everyone's attention from the royal family... A young lord caught in the halls having an affair with another young lady whose already engaged, such revelation was scandalous, and although she did not enjoy gossiping, she must participate in circulating it in order for the issues with the lady Dae to be buried and at least forgotten.

She ought to scold the princess for such behavior, she shouldn't have done that even if the Bishop had insulted her... Well at least not Infront of many people. She didn't want to scold her like that in front of many people, but she isn't up for tolerating such behavior nor for letting it go, not when she is soon to be a part of the royal family and not when Roshanne is the head of the temple. But Bishop Admon didn't get away with it either, he had received a thorough lecture from her and had told him that it was never okay to insult a princess from another kingdom... A kingdom that is soon to became theirs.

She sighed and removed her reading glass before leaning back, the lady had not left her room for two days, she wanted to go to see her but decided against it, who is she to even get the attention of the princess? She wouldn't give her the pleasure of her visit. Though it ire her, as the lady should be attending to her, she has lot to learn. And delaying her studies won't sit well with her.

A knock on her door had distracted her from her musing.

"Come in." She called and the door opened revealing Neviska, a young servant she had assigned to tend and help the lady Dae. She called her to ask questions regarding the princess behavior, and her continues sulking in her room. Well if she is indeed sulking she had no rights to! It was her fault, Roshanne was simply disciplining her.

"You called for me your highness, how can I serve you?" Neviska asked her.

"Lady Dae, how is she? Is she still sulking?" She asked her, lady Neviska turns to look at her... Roshanne could see that she wanted to say something but could not decided whether she should tell her or not.

" Actually your highness, the princess had Fallen ill." She finally told her which had surprised Roshanne, sick? The lady was sick?

" If she is sick, then why didn't you tell me? Have you already called for a physician?" She stood up ready to call for Odette to order her to call for their royal physician but Neviska had spoken again stopping her from her track.

" I... I wasn't allowed to enter her room your grace, I was ordered by her brother, lord Frederick not to enter her room, he told me that he doesn't want me to get the flu as well, though I have already reasoned with him that as her servant, it is my duty to take care of her." Neviska had finished, Roshanne found it weird for a brother to take care of her sister and quiet.... improper, though she wouldn't want to judge. But that man, lord Frederick doesn't seem to be a man who cares for his sister. Roshanne had looked again at Neviska to ask more and then she noticed her looking like she's in pain.

" Oh for the love of Sol spit it out." She demanded making the woman jump. Neviska had nod he head and swallowed.

" Well... Earlier today lord Frederick left to go sight seeing with your brother the twelfth prince, prince Daylan. And I took it upon myself to visit Lady Dae... When I entered the room it was dark, the shutters were drawn shut. I greeted the lady, but she did not reply so I decided to pull the curtain to let some light in." Neviska paused for a moment and shudders.

" The princess was burning up, she was sweating profusely and was hazy, I pulled the blanket away from her to help her change and when I.... when I." Lady Neviska couldn't finish her words, Roshanne stood up and glares at her.

" Then what? Speak girl before I lose my temper!." Neviska slowly looked up at her.

" I couldn't find any words best to describe the awful situation the lady is in your highness... She was covered in bruise, she's basically turned blue and black from her shoulder below... I... I had never seen such horrible sight before." Roshanne didn't hesitate, she quickly left her studies, it didn't take long before she reach the princess room, there were knights stationed in her door but it wasn't the knights of Solvira, the red uniforms tells her that this is the knights of Lysos.

"Sorry your highness, but Princess Dae is not be disturb." They quickly blocked her way, she glares at them.

"Under who's command?" She demands them, the two knights exchange a look, and it was the shorter one who decided to answer.

"By the prince." It ire her that they dare to block her way.

"Move, I do not answer to the prince, I demand to see the princess." She commanded, but the knights made no move.

" Forgive us your highness we are merely follow-" She didn't let them finish.

" Your prince does not hold authority here, nor over me... I am the princess of the palace and you will heed to my command, if you dare stop me again I will not hesitate to feed you to my dragon... You wouldn't want to disregard the Peace treaty by denying me audience with the princess do you?" She threatened them, and it finally worked when they finally gave way, she pushed open the door, the room was dimly lit, there was only a small ray of light coming for the window, Roshanne moves toward the window and pushed the curtain open giving way to the light, and then she quickly went to the bed and saw Dae... Fast asleep yet clearly in pain, without much of a thought she pulled the blanket to expose Dae, a gasp escape from her lips upon seeing Dae's body, true to her word Neviska had indeed seen such horrible sight. The lady was only wearing a thin night gown, so Roshanne was able to see expanse of her body, battered and blue.

"Fuck...." She whispered putting her hand against her mouth... It would only be a miracle if the lady had made it out alive for two days. She touched her shoulder, but even with the slightest of touch the lady would writhe in pain.

"Who did this to you my lady?" She whispered, the only thing left unmarked by the beating is her face and hand, all that could be hidden by her dress had been hit so terribly. Biting her lower lip Roshanne held Dae's hand and began her healing. She closes her eyes and focused on the smooth energy flow coming from deep within her and then slowly transfered it to Dae, the room became even more brighter, her hair glows and slowly rose, dancing with the silent winds.

She could feel every throbbing muscle, every aching parts of Dae, she could feel her fractured bones. When she is healing someone Roshanne has the ability to know where their pain is coming from, and when she heals her, she could feel it all over her body.

She didn't know why she did it, she had never healed any people besides her own, she remembers riding Wildfyre and bringing her to the small village just outside the border of the Eastcartin, she remembers how furious she was at the news of that village being seized from their father's rule, after all the small village belongs to the family of Regalia, it is the place where she was born.

Wildfyre breathed her red flames at the enemies that day, many burned and perished along with the fire, but many were able to live through, although they were badly burned, their armors melted on their skin and makes them unrecognizable, a monster she might say. As a Sainte it was her duty to bestow blessings to those who are in need and those men needs her help, but she refused them, and instead watched them suffer... When she returned she was questioned by the temple of her actions. And her reply was simple... They are not her people and therefore she has no obligation. But the temple was against this thought, it was against their teaching, showing compassion to the enemies is one of their Gods work, bestowing kindness and love to those who does not deserve it is what their Gods had wanted... But Roshanne had promised herself, that she will not aid people who are not her own, nor pray to their Gods.

The irony of it all as she finds herself sitting by the side of a foreign princess and healing her, when she does not even belong to her people. Gritting her teeth Roshanne shook away that thought and instead focused, she was only doing it for her own sake, she needs this girl, she knows that she will be able to use her. For now she already knew that the king of Lysos didn't just surrender for the sake of peace, he had something up in his sleeve, from the reports she had gather she knows that man is too smart to just simply sent her daughter to the king willingly.

She watches as the bruise slowly fade returning to that beautiful brown color of skin, soon she felt the bones healing and mending and the pain, finally subsides. She watches as the color on the princess's face finally returns, and the look of pain in her face was finally replaced by that of tranquility and only then did Roshanne finally managed to breath in relief. If Neviska hadn't seen the princess's. Situation and hadn't informed her quickly, she might have died and Roshanne might have faced a worse condition. She would have all the reasons for her father's ire if that happens. She looks at the door of the room and her eyes squinted... What had made her brother do such act? What brought his wrath? Was it because of what had happened with the bishop at the banquet hall? But still! Why would he do such thing? If his sister dies it would cause so much trouble for them... It would forfeit the peace treaty and it would plunge their kingdom to another war. Was he not thinking?

"Bree?" She heard Dae whispered, was it a name she's speaking?

"It's me, the princess." She spoke finally looking at Dae's half opened eyes. A smile so soft graces her lips that it knock Roshanne's breath away from her.

"You came back." Dae whispered again, Roshanne did not dare speak and just watched as Dae reached for her hand and gave it a small squeeze.

"Father said you had run away." Was it a friend she's talking too? She just sat there looking at her waiting for her to speak again, trying to get to know who's she's talking about.

"Maybe you could take me with you?" She smiles again and closes her eyes.

"That would be nice..." There's something sad about the way she said it, something seems so broken about her. Roshanne took a deep breath and sighed. She pulled the cover over Dae and wipe the sweat that gathers on her brow.

"Rest... Tomorrow you'll feel better." She slowly stood up and walk towards the door, she cast one last glance at Dae before leaving. Once she's outside she cast a glare at the two soldier standing guard.

"You may leave your post, I will assign two Solvirian guard here to their job." She told them, the two did not move and seems to hesitate, and this ire her more than it should.

"Make me repeat one more word and I will not hesitate to summon my dragon and have her feed you as her lunch." And that threat was enough to make them move, they did not hesitate and left their post. Roshanne watches as they pathetically hurried leaving the place. She quickly summoned two guards to stand guard and left specific instructions not to let anyone else in except Dae's assigned servant. She will have a word with her brother about this. That incident could not happen again.

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Dawn have arrived by the time that the foreign prince had returned to the castle, he boasted with the twelfth prince and shower him with sweet words that made Roshanne's little brother swell with known pride.

"I thought he was stupid." Alastair told her as they waited for him to arrive at her office, he was with the two, he told her of how good a marks man the foreign prince was, and what brute strength he posses.

"He clearly isn't, he knows when to and how to make an ally. I could sense that he would want a place in court." She told him as she scan through the documents that was laid upon her desk. A knock on her door made her stop, she puts the paper down and removed her reading glasses.

"Enter." The door opened and the Prince Frederick waltz like the prince he was. His so full of himself, the way be carried himself ticks Roshanne to the point that she had to consider feeding him to the dragon or pushing him down the stairs.

"You called for me." He said with a wide grin before sitting on the sofa opposite her. Roshanne and Alastair exchange a look. Between him and Dae, he's clearly the Brazen one, sitting without getting asked to and refusing to address her. If that's how he wanted to play, Roshanne is willing.

"Yes lord Fredrick I called for you." She told him before leaning back to her chair, Roshanne did not miss the way his jaw clench at the title she gave him, lord, not even a Duke, not even a prince, but a lordling, he must remember that. After her sister married the king, that would be his title, Lord son of the warden of the east.

"Why is that I wonder." He hummed looking around the place.

"I hope you're not here to ask me for marriage, I am fluttered but I must say that I will decline, I am already a happily married man. Unless of course you're willing to ruin a marriage." sword was quickly drawn by Alastair and was pointed at him.

"One more insult from you and your tongue will be removed." He warned him. Roshanne chuckle at his audacity.

" No, I did not call you for an offer in marriage, trust me, I'd rather marry your limp consigliere then you, he seems more capable and more... Alluring." As she spoke the word she made sure to look him in the face and the burnt scar that clearly shows from his neck up to the side of his face, she doesn't know if it's from an accident or if he is one of the soldier that suffer from the war. But the insult thrown at him was so satisfying that he couldn't find another word to say.

" Put away your sword brother." She told Alastair who quickly does as she bid him. Her gaze returns to the arrogant prince.

"I summoned you here to talk about what you did to your sister." His brow furrowed upon the mention of his sister.

"I only ever did that to discipline her. That's what we do to wenches who forgets their places and embarrassed our family name." Roshanne never like it one bit, she was never a fan of men beating women, after all she's an advocate for men and women's equity.

"That wench you speak of would have a higher position then you in a few months. And she will belong to my family. Mind who you speak of." She warned him again, he only smirks and crossed his leg.

"Until she is not married to your father she is at my disposal, and I will discipline her the way I see fit... Princess." He drag the word princess as if it pains him to even call her that. She chuckle and shakes her head.

"A warning to you my lord. If something happens to her, let's say she died under your care... Remember that the fall of your family would be in your hand. Though I wouldn't care much... The sooner she die, the sooner I can incinerate you. Your kingdom will be nothing but ashes atop the dunes in the east." That warning was enough to make the smug look on his face drop, he quickly stood up, fixed his clothes and left without another word.

" Such an ignorant prince, how does one become a prince?" His brother asked her making her chuckle.

"What do you expect from a benighted kingdom?" She asked him back making him chuckle.

" Have you thought of an ally?" She looks up at him for a moment, they turned serious.

" A lot of noble families are still against me brother, but there is hope. I wish to have an audience with the Marchioness Eufreme, would you be a dear and deliver this letter to her for me? "She gave him a sealed letter, he took it and hid it. He kissed her cheeks before taking his leave. Roshanne watches his broad back disappear from her view before she returns her attention to the paper scattered on her table, it was letters collected from lesser Lords, proclaiming their support of her and the operation of rebellions to demolish her father's illegal businesses. she had been doing it for years now, slowly crippling his father's legs while he is busy with his war. He won't see what's coming his way.