XVI

PRINCESS ROSHANNE

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It was already late in the evening by the time that Alastair decided to visit her, she's still in her study finishing the last draft of proposal for the renovation of the waterbay market. There used to be a floating market there, one of their kingdoms tourist spots, but the flood last year had ruined it, and since the war, the council had been too busy to pay mind, Roshanne bit her lip, several letters had already been sent to them, people demanding they do something.

"I've heard you went to the temple of Imyrill.". It was the first thing he spoke now that he is standing by her side, he leans down to give her a kiss on her cheek.

"I talked to the Cardinal." She sets aside her plume and let the draft dry first. She looks up at him, he is still clad in his armor.

"And I heard you terrorize the king's slump again, butchering people as you please." He only smirks at her before leaning against her desk to look at her.

"I'm simply cleaning the streets... I wouldn't want it to be littered by criminals during your reign." She chuckles at his words. He placed his hand on her shoulder, and she held it rubbing his knuckles.

"There is a justice system brother, it was build and created for a reason. You can't just go around swinging your sword as you please." She reminded him.

" A justice system I cannot trust, unless it is your reign. There must be a changes sister." Roshanne smiled at him.

"Would you want me to make you my councilor of justice?" She inquires, she knows Alastair isn't just a knight, he has brain, he studies politics and history, he excell in his study in math and other things.

"No, I would rather be your councilor in foreign affairs." This made her furrow her eyebrow.

" I don't quite see you as a councilor in foreign affairs. My treasurer would suit you much better." She turns from him and fold the parchment on her desk and placed in on the basket that would be brought to the councilor of finances.

"You never told me last night what was really your plan." He spoke following her around the room as she returns few books from the shelves.

"And who's fault was that?" She asked him before turning to look at him.

"Well you couldn't blame me." He slowly approached her and put his hand around her waist. But before he could kiss her Roshanne placed her hand between their lips and spoke.

"I plan to make her Queen, because I will make her name me as the crown princess." She whispered to him, this made him stop.

"And how are you going to do that? Knowing it is only the king who has the power to do that." She smiles at him, shaking her head.

"I thought you studied history? Hmmm?" She removed her hand from his lips, when Alastair made the move to kiss her she pulled back.

"King Marcov, the 10th king, he was declared Heir by the Queen then, the wife of the king, his father." She told him.

" Yes... But the king was alive back then, he was just crippled because of an accident." She smirks and kissed him.

" Exactly... That's my plan." Alastair tried to deepen the kiss but she placed her hand against his neck.

" Do you get me now?" He nods finally understanding where her plan is going.

" You might as well asked for the help of his soon to be wife, it turns out your were right... She was sent here with a purpose." He pulled away from her giving her the space he knows she needed.

" Tell me what you found out." She demands.

"I heard her and her stupid brother talking, he was talking about what their father told Dae to do. He mentioned something about killing us." Roshanne brow furrowed.

" Did you confront them about what you heard?" Alastair shakes his head.

" Good... At least we know that they do plan on getting back on us." She told him pating his shoulder before she returns to her desk

" But just so you know... Lady Dae .. seems like she's not up to it... By the look of it, I think she is being forced." He stated, looking like he sympathize with her, which amuses her, Alastair doesn't sympathize with just anyone, in fact he doesn't care about anyone that isn't her.

"Don't tell me you like her." She teases him, making him scowl.

" I just merely feel pity for a girl like her... She has no one Roshanne, her family is using her... We are going to use her... And after this I'm pretty sure you're going to dispose her." He stated before walking away from her and taking a seat.

" Pity? Why would you pity her? She is... No one to you." She stated again, watching his reaction closely.

"I don't know, maybe it was the fact that the girl... Sees this world very simply. The time I had spent watching her during our travel from Lysos back here, she was... Just a girl, still a kid. If you know what I meant. She spent most of her time hidden in a tower, then when she stepped outside she was tossed in a place unknown to her, she was tossed into doing a duty that she has no idea. She often reminds me of what had happened to my mother." Roshanne's eyes widen, of course. Alastair would feel pity to the girl, her mother was in the same predicament, the only difference is, her mother wasn't locked in the tower, she was locked in a big mansion, and grew up alone, she had no idea of what the outside world looks like, not until the king sees her.

"You feel pity for her because she reminds you of your late mother?" She asked confirming what she had understand from what he was saying, Alastair nod his head.

"I understand. And I don't judge you for it." She sat in front of him and held his hand.

"But if it would make you feel better, I did promise Dae her freedom." He looks him in the eye.

"Something that wasn't granted to your good mother." Alastair nods his head, accepting the term she had offered to the young girl, the two of them fell silence, Roshanne hadn't think of that way, to be honest she just had seen Dae as a means to reach what she wanted, she really doesn't care about what would happen to her in the process, but now that she had seen how her brother cared for her, even if he doesn't admit it, makes her think of her future action, she doesn't want to hurt him, so she will be needing to take care of the woman at some point.

" She was hurt by the way." She raised her brow when he suddenly speak again.

"She was hurt by her brother again, he even threatened her." He added, Roshanne sighed and nod her head, she will have to heal her, she cannot have her father seeing she's wounded or something. She stood up and fixed her dress.

"I will see to it tomorrow, I need rest. Goodnight brother." She leaned down and kissed him on his cheeks before leaving her office.

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DAE

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She woke up the following morning earlier than usual, the sky had turned gloomy once more and she wonders why, yesterday the weather was just fine, she even had a good conversation with the queen that day because of the weather, they had tea under the weeping tree, and she told her of stories about her children. Which are fun to hear.

She sat up on her bed and wince, the bruise and the wound from her brother's nails have yet to heal, and by the looks of it, she thinks the wound is somehow infected, she told Neviska about it, they already cleaned it, but the wound still looks fresh and there is already pus around the wound, and it's starting to itch a bit. With a sigh she stand and went to the basin to watch it and try to remove it. She did successfully however she began feeling pain, a knock on her door startled her, and before she could grant entrance the door opened, and princess Roshanne enter.

"Your Highness!" She exclaimed in disbelief, this the second time the princess went to her room, the first was when she first arrived here and she accompanied her.

"Good morning lady Dae." She greeted her, Dae swallows and curtsy as best as she could. The princess seems impressed again, she approaches.

"I'm glad your up early today. Alastair told me about what happened yesterday with your brother. Do you mind if I take a look?" Dae stood still for a moment, just admiring the princess, she's wearing another fine dress, red and gold a usual, but still more elegant than the one she had worn the other day.

"My lady?" She repeats, Daw blinks and nod her head before letting her see her bruises.

"Tsk... It's already infected." She stated taking a careful look at it.

"Have you asked your servant to clean this?" Dae nods her head, the princess brow furrowed more.

" Your brother's nail must be dirty to cause such infection." She murmured before leading her towards the chair that was in her room, she made her sit down.

" Pray forgive me, this will hurt a little." She stated before pressing her hand against the wound, Dae wince but she didn't look away, she was mesmerized by the glowing gold light emitting from the princess hand, there was a tingling sensation, soon the pain subside and then it was gone, when the princess lifted her hand the wound and bruise was gone, her skin was back to how it was.

" Thank you." She murmured looking still at the skin on her arm, it was like magic she thought.

" How are you feeling?" She asked, Dae looks up at her.

"I'm feeling good." She answered, she remained staring, and although her Instructress already told her that staring is rude she couldn't quite help it, she's still mesmerized by the beauty of the princess... It simply otherworldly. Though her staring was cut short by the loud ringing of a bell, that Bell always rang early in the morning and she doesn't know what it meant, but it never cease to ring at the right time everyday. It was never late, nor early.

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Princess Roshanne

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" Tell me, do you pray?" She clasp her hand together in front of her and waited for Dae to answer her questions. Bell of the northern temple always rings at the right time, it indicates the time of praying for everyone. It rings every seven in the morning to indicate the early morning prayer, then three in the afternoon to indicate the afternoon prayer, and then again at 7 at night.

" No... No I don't." She whispered, as if she was embarrassed, Roshanne nods her head, she wouldn't be surprised no, after all her mother was a savage, and her father wasn't a believer either.

"But do you believe in Gods? You did tell me that your people pray to the Goddess of nature, to the God of the rivers the tree and the mountains." Dae licked her lower lip and fiddle with the end of her dress, she started to sweat, her lips slightly turning pale, she always look like she's going to burn whenever Roshanne had her attention on her.

"I... I grew up in a tower... The maids there don't speak often about gods except when they're...  Slandering me, telling me that the gods must have hate me. I tried to pray sometimes when I was younger, but... I don't know how." Dae elaborated, finally looking at her, eyes looking through her lashes while her head is a bit downcast, she looks like a Doe to her. Roshanne heard the bell ring again.

" Do you wish to pray? Do you want to learn?" She asked once again, stepping closer and removing some of her hair that got into her face. This seems to surprise her.

" I don't know what to say." Roshanne smiles, she placed her hand on her shoulder and squeezed a little.

" Ask for anything, you could ask for a son, you could ask for a daughter, you could ask for a crown." She leans down closer to her ear, her grip on her tightening making Dae wince.

" Or you could ask for the King's death. To save you from this damnation and give you the freedom that you always wanted." She then placed a soft kiss on Dae's ear to make it all sound the more sweeter into the girls ears. When she let go, Dae looks at her with  hopefulness, like her salvation depends on her.

" Would the sun gods listen?" Roshanne hummed and for a moment considererd her answer, she watched as Dae waited for her patiently, her mother always does this to her, she always makes her wait, always watches her squirm under her intense glare, and it felt good to have the same effect on someone.

"Maybe? Wouldn't you like to find out yourself?" Dae looks away from her and into the direction of the sound of the bell carried by the wind, the window was already opened at the moment, so when it blew it made Dae's hair dance, like a flame.

"Come, let's find out together." She stated before she took a hold of her hand and pulled her up, but before they could take another step,Dae pulled back.

"I...i'm still wearing my night gown." Roshanne looked at her, Dae's night gown isn't as scandalous as the other concubine, it's still decent enough to be worn in the temple.

"It'll be fine. Now come let's go." She guided her again, Dae remind quite and allowed her to be guided, only in the presence of the others did Roshanne let go of her soft hand. A hand she knew is unaware of hardship, and the cruelty of the world, a hand that had yet to be smeared by the evils of the world. Dae whilst being locked in a tower held a light in her like most children does, the light of hope of a better tomorrow, something Roshanne grew jealous of, as a child, she wasn't given that much time to enjoy freedom, her duty was already placed heavily on her shoulder.

She wasn't able to grow like a child, to feel undulated joy, freedom was scarcely tasted by her, and enjoyment rarely came, by the age of fifteen she has to travel from temple to temple, studying the life of a Sainte, as a child she was heavily disciplined, no time to play, just to learn the duty a princess should have, and possible heir should possess... Her train of thoughts suddenly stopped when she heard the final ring of the bell. The prayer will start in an hour.

"Come quick, we'll be late." She told Dae, walking more hurriedly. They made it to the temple just in time, but before Dae could enter she was blocked by the young priests.

"A whore is not allowed in the temple." One of them spoke, a pale young man, tall but lanky. He wore white robe, with sash carrying the symbol of sun.

"She is no whore." She spoke looking at the eye of the young man who dares to call Dae a whore. He did not speak and instead silently regarded Dae's clothes. Ah, no one had entered the temple before wearing a night gown but it wasn't forbidden either, when at night she finds it hard to sleep she would head to the temple with just her night gown, and none had dared stop her.

"Let her pass, I believe everyone has the right to witness the mercy of the Gods, would he not want for this estranged soul to find her way into his feet?" She asked again eyeing the young man. The temple and the royal families are allies, but since the ascension of the king they become at odds, and Roshanne as much as she is a devoted follower of the gods and despite being a Sainte herself, have hated the northern temple and the current Bishop. She'll Gladly relieved him of his duty and put his head on spike along with his loyal followers, the temple after all is not so holy now, tainted by the greed of men.

When the young man made no move Roshanne knew she had to take things drastically.

"The king won't be so pleased if he heard that his concubines had been shunned from the temple, the Cardinal won't like it either that you aren't listening to the Sainte's words. We wouldn't want any unnecessary spilling of blood in the guillotine would we?" Only then she sees his stoic face falters. His stance soften and finally allows her entrance, the king is a cruel man and does not care for holy followers, insult him and he'll have your head. When he finally allowed her entrance Roshanne watched as Dae visibly gawked at the wonder of the temple. Made of pure gold, forge with the fire of their dragons, in the middle of the spacious temple lays a pool where the golden blessed water is.

"Come." She motioned for her to follow her and she did, the other girls where already there, on their knees praying. Here in this temple, she is no princess, just a simple human being walking alongside her sisters and brothers. She knelt and Dae followed suit.

"What do I do?" She heard her ask before she closes her eyes.

"Call for their names if you know them, close your eyes and say whatever it is you desire, say whatever woe there is to banish, say whatever plead there is to utter and say whatever forgiveness it is you wish to cry. And they will listen." After that Roshanne clasp her hands together and prayed silently, the temple is silent save from the sound of the birds outside and the flowing of the golden water. She knelt there for hours not daring to stray her mind from the prayers she was uttering.

She had prayed many times in her life, she prayed for mercy, she prayed for salvation, she prayed for acceptance, she prayed for death. But none was heard. Some would already lose their hope but not Roshanne, as long as her hair glows, as long as she remains the only princess with the gifts of The Gods she will not cease to pray. Her Gods have not abandoned her yet, they still support her claim to the throne by robbing the king of his only son worthy of their blessings and the throne. Roshanne knew that she only needed to be patient enough to withheld the trials in her life. Sooner or later she knew she will have the crown and the throne.

Her breath falters and her prayers abruptly stopped when she felt soft hand gently pushing her hair behind her ears, she almost crack Open her eyes but held against the desire to see what  Dae was doing. She had completely forgotten about the girls existence for a moment.

When the bell rang signaling the end of the prayer, only then she opened her eyes to glare at Dae for disturbing her peace, but her gaze falters when she saw the look on the girl's face who remained still even though she's opening her eyes.

As a princess, Roshanne is used to the look of admiration of her people and subject, but she had not seen such a high admiration from them, they looked at her as a Sainte, but Dae, Dae looks at her as if she's a god who descended upon the sky to bless them, Dae looks at her as if she's capable of salvation herself and her eyes, those emerald eyes unlike anything else glows while she stares at her. it left her speechless it left her... Feeling lost for breath. They remained kneeling their just looking at one another.

"Your highness?" Roshanne blinks when she felt someone's hand on her shoulder, looking up she saw Eleanor. She quickly stood up and straighten her self before casting a glance at Dae.

"Do not... Disturb me again in my prayers lady Dae. Or you will come to regret it." She warned before walking away not daring to look at the hurt in Dae's face. She left her there kneeling.