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Forty Two
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Happily Ever After Forty Three
January 18th, 1686RPOVAs I sat inside the palace greenhouse, fragrant aromas filled my senses. I'd asked Dr. Olendzki if I could go outside and get some fresh air; being confined to a chamber, let alone a bed, had been like being a prisoner. Everyone had the freedom to roam about, but it seemed as if that had been prohibited for me. Luckily, Dr. Olendzki had allowed me to venture around; I would've lost my mind, if she hadn't.My fingers stroked a vibrant, red tulip that rose from the ground. It was a mirror image of the tulip Cesarevich Dimitri had given me on our first, official date. That night had been one of the most wonderful times of my life. The food, conversation, setting, kiss—everything had felt magical, as if I'd been experiencing a dream.A smile pulled at my lips, and I plucked the flower from most of its stem, putting it into my loose, dark locks. Since I had no idea where the original tulip was—I couldn't believe I'd lost that precious gift—I believed a replacement w
Happily Ever After Forty Four
RPOV The ominous, black walls of the dungeon glistened with moisture, filling the air with an unsettling dampness. Drops of water fell from the uneven ceiling, and my feet stepped in murky puddles, shielded by the thick boots that protected them. A powerful chill ran down my spine, unraveling my nerves as I marched to Tasha and Czar Aleksandr's cells with Yeva and Cesarevich Dimitri. A few prisoners stared at us, while we hurried to our destination. It was impossible to ignore their sunken eyes and sallow skin, and I peered into a passing cell, nearly fainting at what I saw. A grime-covered man was slouched in a stony corner, and maggots eagerly consumed his flesh, as he lifelessly gazed ahead. He was dead—deader than anything I'd ever seen—and I shuddered violently. What had he done to deserve this? When we reached the criminals, Czarina Olena, my family, and a few guards already stood before them. Everyone glared at Tasha and Czar Aleksandr with hurt and anger, but the only one w
Happily Ever After Forty Five
January 19th, 1686RPOVThe pale, morning sky greeted us while we waited in Red Square. Its fluffy, grey clouds released crystal-white snowflakes that fell to the earth with grace, but their beauty failed to maintain our attention. As we stood underneath the descending ice, our gazes locked on the empty stage before us. Hearts pounded incessantly and breathing seemed impossible.I gripped Father's hand with all the force I had, trying to keep my tattered emotions at bay. Even though Czar Aleksandr and Tasha were about to be vanquished, I couldn't help but picture how their executions were going to unfold. I'd never witnessed a death sentence before, and I was worried these ones were going to be awfully gruesome. Sleep had frequently abandoned me, last night, and I'd been a slave to my imagination, ever since.Hopefully, peace could save me.Surprisingly, Father wasn't bothered by my painful squeezing. I supposed he was too consumed by his emotions to notice, but I decided to loosen my
Happily Ever After Forty Six
RPOVCesarevich Dimitri led me to the royal palace greenhouse. The wintry air chilled my bare skin and bones, once we were outside; however, our linked bodies generated so much warmth, that the cold no longer crossed my mind. Silence surrounded us, as we walked, yet there was no need for conversation.Simply being in each other's presence was comforting enough.When we reached the delicate, glass building, he opened the frosted door and stepped aside to allow me entrance. I smiled at his gentlemanliness and strolled into the greenhouse, immediately graced with the euphoric fragrance of flowers. Cesarevich Dimitri grabbed my hand, after he entered, and took me further into the beautiful structure.As soon as we came across one of the larger, manmade lakes, he stopped a few feet away from it and clasped our hands. His chocolate-brown eyes bore into mine so deeply; I almost lost myself in their bottomless beauty. "My dearest Roza, I have something very important to tell you," he started,
Happily Ever After Forty Seven
RPOV—One Month LaterA raindrop landed on my window.I pressed my finger to the glass that separated us, tracing its path as it clumsily slithered down. It collided with other raindrops along the way; however, that only drew it closer to its fall. Before I realized it, my finger ran out of glass to glide on, and the raindrop vanished, now replaced by its brethren that fell from the depressing sky."Wouldn't it be wonderful, if we could disappear and be forgotten as easily as raindrops?"Startled, I jerked around and found Lissa standing in the doorway of my bedchamber. I began to relax at her presence, but then I noticed that her jade-green eyes were troubled, and she wore a black dress that starkly contrasted her pale skin. Something—someone—was bothering her, and I immediately knew the cause of her distress."Can I talk to you?" my ex-stepsister asked, fidgeting with the hem of her lacy sleeve."Of course. Come sit with me." Lissa wordlessly joined me on my bed and folded her legs u
Happily Ever After Forty Eight
February 20th, 1686RPOVEven though I'd been resuming my education for a month, it still felt strange being at Fairston Academy. Having a student's psyche seemed inconceivable—ridiculous, even. How could I bring myself to textbook reading and paper writing, when I'd experienced ordeals that were more life-changing and traumatic than other seventeen-year-olds' would ever be? I'd lost my mother. I'd nearly been murdered. I'd been raped. I was engaged to a prince.I'd outgrown an innocent life.All these thoughts flowed through my mind, as I walked with Lissa and Jill into the school's main building. Their sense of displacement was gone, and comfort filled their pale and slender bodies. Relaxation shone in their jade-green eyes, and for a moment, jealousy seized me.They were so fortunate to escape all the hurt I'd went through—to avoid all the suffering I was battling every day. Coming to school must've felt so normal and relieving to them. They must've felt like they had never left an
Happily Ever After Forty Nine - Forever Bound
RPOVRhea had all her belongings transported to her father's estate, over the past month, never bothering to visit us or inquire about our wellbeing. She'd made it perfectly clear that she was no longer a part of my family, but here she was, standing in the foyer of Mazur Manor with two sets of luggage by her side—luggage that didn't seem to be hers.Lissa and Jill froze at the sight of Rhea, once she came into view. Surprise and confusion swam in their jade-green eyes. "Mother…what are you doing here?" Jill asked. She noticed the suitcases and gestured to them with a pale hand. "Why is our stuff packed? Are we supposed to be going somewhere?""Yes, darling. Both of you will be coming to live with me, in your grandfather's manor." Before her daughters could even protest, she added, "I don't want to hear it. You're not living here anymore, and that's final." Her face held the hardness of stone, while her hands were tightly clasped in front of her frilly, bright dress.Rhea was determin
Happily Ever After Fifty - Epilogue
RPOV—Three Months LaterGetting married to Cesarevich Dimitri was surreal.Our guests had traveled from all over the world to see us legalize our love and rulership, but none of them captured my attention. The only person I focused on was my fiancé. His chocolate-brown eyes held so much passion and happiness, that my heart throbbed. I could easily spend the rest of my life gazing into them.Time seemed to slow, as we recited our vows. I was almost unable to say mine, due to all the emotion bottled within me, but I managed to endure, thanks to Cesarevich Dimitri's affectionate smile and handholding. I felt bad for talking in English—there were many Russian citizens in attendance—but when my husband-to-be gave his vows in his native language, that guilt faded away.Exchanging our rings followed, and my breath hitched. Feeling the ornate, piece of jewelry getting slid onto my finger made everything seem more surreal. My heart was somersaulting inside my chest, and I couldn't keep from sm
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