Losing Our Very Existence
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IrelandKiss
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Rosaria opened her dark eyes and smiled. She lifted her arms up over her head of dark hair and steched langoriously, like a cat, relishing in the feeling of the silk sheets and the warmth of the sun shining through the wide window to her left...
Wait a moment... Her window wasn't to the left, it was to the right...
That was when the young woman remembered. She was not in her own bed, or her own castle, or even her own country. No, she was in England, in the English castle, in a bed in a room reserved especially for her, the Spanish Princess Rosaria. And the reason for this sudden change? Simple.
An arranged marriage. The very thought of it made her grit her teeth in anger. Rosaria knew that this sort of thing was only to be expected of the royals, but she had never thought of it happening to her. No, not to her. Not to her. Rosaria was supposed to defy her parents and run off with some handsome knight in a romantic elopement, like she read of in the books she loved to read. An arranged marriage? This had to be a dream...
Sadly, it was not. The twelve or so handmaids she had brought with her from Spain entered her room and curstied one by one, greeting her respectfully and asking how they could serve her this morning. Rosaria stared at them all for a moment before rolling over so that her back faced them.
"You can leave me alone."
Losing Our Very Existence
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Derick, with his raven black hair and dark eyes strolled through the halls of the castle, his hands clasped together behind his back as he paced back and forth. Today, he would get to meet his bride-to-be (thanks to his parents) privately. A meeting that he both looked forward to and dreaded. The princess was from Spain, and she didn't seem to like the idea of this any more than he did. There was just one major difference. He wasn't the kind of person to lash out about something so uncontrollable.Her name was something beautiful and elegant-foreign was a good term. Perhaps she carried those traits in her persona as well. He sighed, and stopped his pacing to stare out of one of the many stain-glass windows in the long corridor. It was a rose, made out of geometric shapes mostly of red and green, but also had blues and yellows surrounding the outline of the rose. He was to have the meeting with the princess, to get aquainted, so to speak, around nine in the morning, or when the sun reached the top of the orchard trees in the distance. Suddenly, a line of maids-from the girl's kingdom- made their way past him, towards the room that he himself had picked out for the young lady, in hopes to make her feel more at home. When they all had entered, and he heard her comment, he frowned a bit, then knocked on her door lightly.
"Princess, dost thou need any reminder that we shall meet in the grand library very shortly? Thy hopes are that thou art not late to such an important meeting as one with thou's future husband."
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Rosaria and all of her handmaids gasped when the knock came and the Prince's voice reached their ears. Rosaria had never seen him, but his voice revealed to her the... arrogance he carried. And she hated arrogance. Not to mention it was just indecent! They were betrothed, but until the wedding contract was signed he had no right to come to her private rooms like this! True, he did not enter, but it was still inappropriate! Her handmaids gave her shocked, horrified looks, and Rosaria returned the wide-eyed stare before turning a glaring eye on the door.
"My future husband would do well, sir, to remember that the wedding bands are not yet round our fingers. Until such time as they are, thee has no right to come to my private rooms. Now please leave." Rosaria spoke calmly and confidantly, making sure to emphasize her last sentence. She worded it as a request, but her tone very clearly communicated that she was not asking of him. She was commanding.
Her handmaids stiffled giggles at the tone she dared to take with the Prince, and this only bolstered Rosaria's confidance. She sat up further in her bed as she continued with, "As for the meeting in the grand library, do not worry thy pretty little head over it. I will arrive in a manner well fitting our positions, I assure thee."
Losing Our Very Existence
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Derick frowned at her answer. True, he was not yet her husband, and true, he didn't need to come to her private quarters, but it wasn't as if he had gone in and watched her undress or anything. He cleared his throat and stared at the door for a long moment before replying. "Well, thy apologies to the ladies of the room. Surely, thou dost realize I was only trying to help, and shant try it again with thou attitude as rude as it is toward thyself. No matter. I shall look forward to our meeting. Farewell, fair lady." And without waiting for a reply, he turned and stalked away. How dare that girl talk to him in such a manner? Had he not placed a roof over her head and showed her all the kindness he knew? Making his way to the library, he sent one of his many servants to go fetch a platter of breakfast foods for the lady, since she had slept in, and probably hadn't eaten yet. He, however, was up at the crack of dawn, reading, and studying as he usually did.
Sitting in his favorite chair, he grabbed one of the many books off of the shelf and thumbed through it, bored out of his mind. He somehow knew now that she was not anything to look forward to. In fact, he would probably loathe his parents now for setting him up with such a stupid, childish girl that thought it was fun to make fun of the person who nearly controlled the rest of her life by being king, and her husband. He smirked at the thought, of locking her up if she misbehaved. No one would think twice about it, because that was the way of society. He would only do it if she was truly out of hand, though...maybe.
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Rosaria's jaw fell open in shock at how he replied to her. Rude? Her?! He was the one who had dared to come to her private rooms such as he had! All of her handmaids reflected the look on her face, but by the time she moved her lips to reply to him she knew he had gone. All she could do was sit in her bed, her dark hair mussed and her cotton nightgown falling loosely on her slender frame.
After a moment, her gaping mouth closed and she lifted her chin proudly. Rosaria said not a word, but merely nodded to her handmaids, and they sprang into action. Two of them took her blankets and sheets and folded them back, taking her hands and helping her from the bed. Four of the girls went to her closet and pulled a fabulously beautiful red and gold gown from it, laying it on a table in preparation for when they would put it on her. One of the handmaids took the pitcher of water and poured it into the porcelain bowl for Rowena to wash her hands and face. Two of the women took her nightgorn by the hem at her feet, bid her raise her arms, and then slowly lifted it off of her. The remaining three stayed off to the side, holding hairbrushes and hairpins, powders and perfumes.
Within moments, Rowena was dressed and adorned as the princess she was. The red and gold gown fit her form snugly and accentuated the dark tint to her skin. Her thick black hair had been arranged into an elegantstyle up off her neck. There was a pendent around her slender neck made of rubies and pearls, hung on a gold chain. After she was washed and dressed, a light amount of dark powder was applied to her face to give her a more flawless look, a small amount of perfume was rubbed into the insides of her wrists, and just as she and her ladies were preparing to leave the room, a knock brought them all to an abrupt pause.
"Food for the Princess," a woman's voice called from the other side. Rosaria nodded to one of her ladies, bidding her to allow the woman in. But the princess took one look at the food arranged for her, and her nose wrinkled and she shook her head.
"Disgusting English food," she said as the woman was shooed from the room, "Tasteless, plain, completely average. These British must come to Spain, and then perhaps they will have some idea of what exactly "food" is." Her ladies giggled slightly, nodding in agreement before they all regained their composure and, with a nod from Rosaria, left the room and started in an organized procession for the library.
Losing Our Very Existence
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Derick waited as patiently as he could in the library, however, his patience was worn thin. "Where is that silly maiden?" he seethed, getting very impatient now. She was pushing her luck with him. That damn girl and her pride! He'd be damned before he'd allow her overrule him.Standing, he made his way over to the entrance to the library, his hands folded neatly behind his back. This was not going to turn out well for one of them, he could tell. No, this entire arrangement was a mistake.
Just as he was about to go fetch her himself, the prince noticed her maids coming toward the library, which could only mean one thing-she was also on her way. About time, he thought, rolling his eyes, and reassuming his position in the library.
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Rosaria walked with her maids down the hallway towards the library. As they walked, the courtiers they passed all stopped and bowed or curtsied to her in respect. Rosaria payed them no attention. She had been raised around this sort of treatment, and though at times it grew tiresome, she drew some comfort from it knowing that she was treated the same way here as she was at home in Spain. Rosaria lifted her chin a little proudly as they neared the library doors. The men standing at the doors bowed and then opened the doors, allowing one of her attendents to enter before the rest of them. Rosaria waited as the girl... Maria, she believed her name was... announced her arrival to the prince. Yes, Rosaria could walk right in if she wanted. He was her betrothed, after all. But it would not fit her. Rosaria was still a Princess, despite being in a foreign court. She had to be introduced as such. Just walking in without a formal announcement would be beneath her station. The courtiers behind her and her ladies began to whisper their conversations, but she did catch a snippet from one of the young women.
"I can't believe Prince Derick has agreed to such an arrangement. Now our plans for him are ruined, all because of some Spanish pig they have the nerve to call a princess."
Rosaria bristled at the words, but she did not react in any other way. She was just that. A Princess. And a Princess did not lower herself to such levels as to retaliate against a filthy gossiper. That was not how a Princess got her revenge. But that mealy-mouthed little snipe could be sure, Rosaria would get her revenge on her. In some way, she would.
Losing Our Very Existence
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Derick stood as Maria announced the arrival of the Spanish Princess, being respectful. He saw several of the servants present start whispers, and he brought up his hand for silence. "I request that only Princess Rosaria and myself be left, for a private conversation. Go now," he said simply taking a few steps toward the group, shooing them out. He didn't care if Rosaria wanted her girls there. He wanted a private conversation without other ears present. Having others around would start crazy rumors, not to mention he wasn't sure if he would be able to keep himself from growing angry. She was already late, and her comments this morning were not helping anything.
When they were alone, he made sure that the doors were closed securely before clearing his throat, and his eyes scanned her quickly. "Right, well, I suppose I should introduce myself officially. My name is Derick Joseph Robertson, Prince of England. I would like to remind you that I do not put up with silly little girls who are late to a meeting with their betrothed. I do not like waiting, and I did not appreciate your attitude this morning," he stated simply, sitting back down, and motioning her to a seat across from him.
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Rosaria entered the library and met Derick's eyes. She did not break when he sent everyone away, though she did have the power to override him. Her ladies were under her command, and hers alone. Only she had the power to make them stay or go. However, she did not object to him sending them away. They all hesitated momentarily before, seeing her consent in silence, they curtsied and exited in an orderly fashion. The great oak doors closed behind them, leaving her and Derick alone. Rosaria kept their eyes locked as he spoke. He introduced himself, speaking as though she were a child who barely understood the words he spoke. She smiled slightly, and even as he commented on her "attitude" her good humor was not doused in the slightest.
"Oh, believe me, my Lord. Yours was no more appreciated. As for being late, a Princess of Spain is never "late". Everyone else is simply early," she said, her voice carefully calm and soft-spoken. Let anyone who listened at the door believe her to be submissive and weak. Derick heard her words, and if the man had even an inkling of a brain he understood the meaning behind them. Rosaria was his match in wit and spirit. Perhaps even his better. She knew it and she made sure that he knew it as well.
Losing Our Very Existence
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Derick pinched the bridge of his nose at her retort, trying to keep himself calm and collected. She thought she had all the answers...Though her words were soft and light, they had a harsh meaning behind them. He knew that. "Then I apologize for allowing myself to be here at the time noted, rather than showing up fifteen minutes late. I do not like it when I am kept waiting, and though you may be a Princess of Spain, my lady, you must remember you are in my home and will abide by my rules. If we are to be married, as arranged, then you need to respect me as your fiance as well as future king of this country."
His dark eyes were sparked with challenge. There was no way that he was going to let some little girl push him around. Straightening his shoulders, he replaced his hands behind his back as he watched her carefully.
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Rosaria gritted her teeth carefully as he spoke. Her thoughts were not so controlled, but a deep breath helped her manage to calm them. Instead, Rosaria lifted her dark eyes to him and fluttered her eyelashes sweetly as she replied, in the same soft voice as before, "But I am giving you all the respect you deserve, my dear fiance." Rosaria kept her eyes locked with his before moving forward confidantly, approaching him where he stood and closing the distance between them. Eventually she stood so close to him that if she were to reach out her hand, she would touch him before she had extended her arm halfway.
Rosaria did just that. She reached up and laid one slender, dark hand along the side of his cheek. She gave him a loving look, full of shiny eyes and infatuated sighs, before she whispered - or perhaps she hissed it - "None."
Losing Our Very Existence
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Derick watched his fiance carefully as she approached him, watching her intently. He listened as she spoke, a small smile planted on his lips as he listened, until she hissed that he didn’t deserve any respect. He quickly flung his hand up and smacked her arm away, his dark eyes dancing with hatred. “How dare you! Do you not realize who I am? I am the Prince of England, and you, Princess, are lucky to have me as a fiance. You would still be a burden on your father and your country!” he retorted, taking a step back, but glaring at her all the while.
Her pride would have to be brought down greatly. She wasn’t fit to be any queen of any country, especially his. “I am almost through with my patience level, Princess Rosaria. I am not one to mess with. I am starting to regret agreeing to this damned marriage that your father and my parents have arranged, and I never regret my choices.”
