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[IrelandKiss]

As he did, Rosaria dropped all evidence of a facade. He smacked her hand away with such force that she lost her balance, being forced to grab onto the edge of a table to keep from falling to the floor. Derick roared at her, infuriated at what she had said, but Rosaria did not regret it. If the little Prince could not handle the truth, perhaps that crown did not belong on his head.

He screamed about regretting his choice to marry her, and he unknowingly struck a nerve in her heart. Rosaria rose back to her full height, though that still left her about a head shorter than him, and she stepped back from him as he did from her as she yelled back, "At least you were given a choice! At least you had the opportunity to say yes or no! My father merely walked into my bedchamber one morning, told me I was to marry you, and that was the end of it. So yes, Prince Derick. Yes, moan about how horrible this if for you, cry on about how unfair it is that you have been stuck with a shrew for the rest of your life, but do not forget that there are two victims made by this! You may be King, and my future husband, and so by law I am bound to obey you. But do not forget that I, too, am royal, and I believe it was one of your great British philosopers who penned the all-too approriate phrase: Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!"

With that said, and angry, burning tears swimming in her eyes, Rosaria turned and stormed from the library. She did not wait for his permission, nor did she wait for an announcement of her exit. Rosaria merely left. After she slammed the doors behind her, her ladies scrambled to get back into formation behind her, but Rosaria rounded on them angrily, "For once in your lives, leave me alone!" Then she ran. Rosaria did not pay attention to where it was, exactly, she ran to. All she knew was that she had to run. Run, as fast and as far as she could...

[Losing Our Very Existence]

Derick stood in silence as she yelled back at him. He bit his tongue from saying anything further, because otherwise, he’d say something he would never be able to take back, and that would be bad. When her tirade was over, he stood in silence and let her go, not even bothering to try to stop her. Let her run away! Let her ruin! He didn’t care. If she died, he wouldn’t have to worry about masking how he truly felt about her; the anger that welled up inside of him during their conversation finally released itself in a growl. Let her run away, and never come back. He wouldn’t let England be tainted by a childish shrew such as herself.

As calmly as he could, he walked from the library, yelling at lingering servants who were merely curious as to what must have happened to make the princess run off in tears. Maybe if he went for a ride later…yes. He’d just change out of something less formal to go riding off around the kingdom. Riding always helped calm him, especially with his horse- a dark steed with a white diamond on his forehead- named Twilight, that was his horse and his horse alone. He had trained it himself, and the horse only trusted him, that he knew of.

[IrelandKiss]

As she ran, Rosaria's dark hair began to come undone from it's sophisticated style. Tears were burning in her dark eyes, but she dared not shed them. Rosaria would rather jump from the Tower of London than disgrace herself in such a way as to be seen crying over the Prince.

Oh, the Prince. That impertinent, arrogant, impossible, absolutely hateful man! He did not even deserve that crown on his head of pompously dark hair! How she would just relish the opportunity to strike him. Or push him out a window. If she was, lucky, maybe she could do both. Rosaria gave herself comfort with these thoughts as she raced through the corridors and down staircases before finally finding herself outside in the warm summer air and heading for the stables.

A ride. Through the country. Yes, that would do it all just right. A ride on a swift, strong horse through the wide fields would clear her head and give her the energy she would need to return to this hell-hole. Rosaria raced inside and instantly her eyes fell on possibly the most beautiful stallion she had ever seen. Her own mare had had to be left in Spain, but this stallion was more beautiful than even that pure-bred Arabian. Rosaria approached him slowly, sniffing roughly and gazing at him teary dark eyes that pleaded with him silently to trust her. The horse snorted cautiously, blinked, seemed to search her eyes, and then extended his neck to her hand. Rosaria smiled.

In under ten minutes, Rosaria was mounted upon him and kicked her heels into his sides. They took off out of the stables, through the courtyard, over the drawbridge, and out into the free, open fields around them. It seemed like she and this stallion were meant to ride together.

[Losing Our Very Existence]

Ten minutes later, and Derick was on his way to the stables to retrieve his horse for a ride. His black hair blew gently in the wind as he made his way through the courtyard and to the stables. However, when he got there, he discovered that his horse was gone…He lifted a brow as he looked around in the stables again to make sure before he caught one of the servants off guard. “You! Stable boy, where is my steed?”

The stable boy turned to look at him with a frightened look before the young boy of about twelve years opened his mouth. “The Princess from Spain. She took it for a ride sir,” he stammered, looking down at the ground. Derick’s mouth turned down into a scowl as he faced the direction he assumed that she would have taken.

“How long ago?” he asked, but when the boy took too long to answer, he let out an exasperated sigh and continued. “No matter. I need a fast horse, now. I’m going after her…” Two minutes later, he was on a brown mare, that he had never even seen before, but the boy swore he was fast, and that’s all the prince had to go on. Digging his heels into the horse’s sides, he was off after the damn Princess who gave him an incredible headache.

It was bad enough that the woman was quick to insult him when she hardly knew him, but to also steal his horse without permission?! He could feel his anger rising, and when he finally found her, he knew that they would get into another argument. No matter, he’d keep his composure, and he wouldn’t allow himself to make a fool of himself out in public. He had an image to uphold.

[IrelandKiss]

She did not know how much time had passed since she left the stables with the stallion. All Rosaria was aware of was the wind in her hair, which had come undone from the wild riding over the hills and fields, and the feeling of might and power this stallion emitted with every stomp of his hooves. Rosaria, as they reached the peak of a hill, let go of the reins and threw her arms out wide, tossing her head back and releasing a cry of purest joy as they sailed over the top and then headed downwards at an increasing speed. She started laughing as they did, even after she lost her balance on him and toppled from the saddle.

Rosaria landed hard on the ground, and for a moment she thought she may have broken something. But being the tomboy she was, Rosaria could tell a broken bone from an ache, and she merely ached, so she rolled over onto her back, still laughing. The stallion had noticed her absence, and came back to her. He nuzzled her head, nickering at her slightly and gaining a giggle as he licked at her dark hair a little.

[Losing Our Very Existence]

After several minutes of riding, he saw two figures in the horizon, one being a horse-like shape, and the other on the ground. He sucked in a breath. Her parents would kill him if something were to happen to her, though he would be free from her. Shaking the thought from his head, he approached quickly, hearing her laughter. Wow, what a nice laugh she has, he thought, before he realized what he had just said. Wait, Derick, what are you thinking? She's the annoying woman who insulted you, and the one you were secretly hoping got seriously hurt or died so you wouldn't have to deal with her anymore...

As he got closer, he frowned even more, and dismounted the horse and walked over to her, and observed her for any signs of pains, or any major open wounds, but there was none. Sighing, he leaned down at the waist and smirked. "That's what you get for stealing my horse. I hope you had fun, because you'll never get to ride him again. He is my horse, and I don't let anyone else ride him; not even the stable boy takes care of him. He is truly my responsibility. However, I can see if I can get you one of your own if you want to ride one so much," he said simply, trying to be civil, and yet get the message across that he would not have her ride his horse again. He wouldn't back down to her..."Come," he ordered, offering her a hand to help her up, "You can ride the other horse back. Try not to fall on your back again. It makes your image far worse than you'd want it to be..."

[IrelandKiss]

Rosaria opened her eyes when a shadow fell over her, and she swore loudly when she saw Derick standing over her. He smirked proudly at her, telling her that she would never ride his horse again and she would do well to remember her place. He offered her a hand up, but Rosaria ignored it. Instead she pushed herself back to her feet on her own, brushing her long, thick, dark hair off her shoulders. Rosaria put her hands on her hips and fixed Derick with a look that clearly communicated her spirit had returned in full force.

"He may be your horse, but it does appear that he likes me as much as he likes you. As for my image, my Lord, I thank you for your concern, but on my back at your feet is a position you shall never find me in again," she said. Rosaria smiled sweetly at him, flipped her hair as she moved past him, and then mounted the house he had ridden here. She waited atop it for him to mount his stallion again, so they could ride back to the castle together. Best to keep up appearances. They were supposed to be a happily engaged couple. No harm in letting everyone believe that, at least for the day. Or the hour.

[Losing Our Very Existence]

Derick frowned when she refused his hand, and pulled it back. "Fine. I'm just trying to help you know...I don't understand why you have to be so difficult, Princess." Mounting his horse, he trotted beside his fiance and gave a slight smile, to show he was somewhat happy riding with her. Not that he much mattered what she was doing. Once they were back at the castle, and endured a lunch together (no thanks to his parents) he planned to abandon her with some sort of excuse to go do his studies or something. He had definitly had had enough of her for one day, perhaps an entire lifetime.

"Let's go," he muttered, signaling his horse to start again. He didn't make sure she was following, because quite frankly he didn't care; she didn't have his horse, and she was safe...for now. "I'd appreciate it if you let me know if you're leaving. If something were to happen to you, you know your parents would be sure to put me on their wanted listings. So, if you go for a ride, I'll send one of the stable boys with you to ensure your safety."

[IrelandKiss]

Rosaria was only half-listening to him as he talked. She was considering taking off into the fields again, testing his patience even further, but decided against it. She had troubled him enough for one day. Besides, she was getting hungry. A luncheon had been planned for them to share together in the presence of the entire court. A sort of... pre-celebration celebration for their engagement. Rosaria would certainly enjoy that.

He caught her full attention instantly, however, when he told her he was to send her out with a stableboy every time she went to ride. No... He could not do that. He could not! Riding was her one time to herself, without anyone else to disrupt her. Having someone else there, even someone as lowly as a stableboy, would be horrible... He might as well lock her in a gilded cage!

"You are mistaken," she said to him as calmly as she could muster, "I can protect myself just fine. Why endanger the life of a poor stableboy for a job that can be done perfectly well by myself? Believe me, the only danger you need worry about while I ride is whether or not I shall decide to take the opportunity to run away."

[Losing Our Very Existence]

He turned to look at her when she refused to follow his instruction, and listened as calmly as he could. Of course she would listen to him. She didn’t understand the full reasoning behind his orders. “I care not for the safety of the stable boy. I care for your safety. I assure you it is not so that you can’t run off. But merely a precaution incase you lose control of your horse and fall, and perhaps break a leg or something. What if you aren’t able to get help? What am I supposed to say to your parents when they ask? Oh, well, I allowed your daughter to go out alone, and she got herself hurt. But, don’t worry about it. Yes. That would go by really well with them, don’t you think? Anyway, I will not take no for an answer.”

He paused, and looked straight ahead at the path back to the castle. Sighing, he straightened his posture and cleared his throat. “My mother is throwing a ball for our engagement, and I need to know what you’re wearing, so that I can have a matching color in my ensemble that I will be wearing. And, even though you don’t like me, I would hope that you would be on your best behavior, and not make me and my kingdom look as foolish as you make yourself look.”

[IrelandKiss]

Rosaria glared at him from behind as she said, "You did not hear me. I can protect myself just fine. I have had plenty of broken limbs and bloody noses to know when it has happened again. My parents would not concern themselves over something so trivial as that. It would take something far larger to gain the animosity of my mother and father. Why, I daresay you would have to kill me with your own hands for them to truly hate you."

She steered her horse on a bit faster so that she riding alongside him. Rosaria threw him a daring look, smiled, and said, "And I may be a fool, Prince Derick, but a logical man could not deny that it takes a fool to know a fool. Either way, we are both fools made. Oh, and I will be wearing pink." With that, Rosaria jabbed her horse in the sides with her heels and sent the horse off at a gallop. She tore through the fields, her red skirts fluttering around her legs. Within minutes she had reached the gates to the castle. The guards opening them for her and Rosaria proceeded inside. It was noted by spectators that she entered without Derick, and Rosaria merely drew her head higher as she made her way towards the stables.

[Losing Our Very Existence]

Derick took a deep breath, and tried to make it clear as to why he didn’t want her alone. Truth be told, he felt awful for letting her go out on her own in the first place; he would never tell her that he felt horrible when she was on the ground, and he thought she was hurt…even if he did try to cover it up with a false emotion. No matter, he rode in silence, and kept his gaze forward until he felt her presence beside her. Glancing over as she started her next statement, he bit his tongue once more from saying something he’d regret, and when she rode off, he gritted his teeth and rode off after her.

When he reached the gates, it was clear that she had already arrived, because the citizens of England stood curious as to why they didn’t ride back together. He just wore a fake smile until he reached the stables, where he dismounted the horse and led Twilight to his stable, before heading back towards the castle to get changed and ready for his and Rosaria’s first public luncheon. Hopefully, she would be on her best behavior, and actually act like she had some sort of pull of affection for him.

[IrelandKiss]

By the time Derick had entered the stables, Rosaria was slipping out the other side. Her hair was still undone and her red gown was mussed, but she was to change soon anyway. She merely lifted the hem of her skirts and took off at a bit of run for the palace, smiling slightly at the small amount of freedom she had been given. When she reached her apartments, her ladies were waiting for her. They had set out the pink gown she had previously planned to wear, and in truth it was a gorgeous ensemble. One of her favorites. But looking at it now, Rosaria felt a plan forming in her mind. Prince Derick thought he was so much better than her. He thought he was her master. Fool man. Rosaria had no master. Best he learn that now, before they were forced into the marriage bed and he learned a cruel lesson.

"Ladies," she said with a slightly evil grin, "Put this gown away. I want my golden one. Go on, go on, do it quickly, my ladies! We must not keep his Majesty waiting."

[Losing Our Very Existence]

Truth be told, he hated the ensemble. The moment he had made his way to his room, and told his tailor that she was for sure wearing pink to the luncheon, he dreaded saying anything at all. Pink on a prince was not something that happened everyday, and was only done when he and his princess were doing something formal in public. Clearing his throat, he put it on without a word spoken -though he wanted to badly- as quickly as he could. It was mostly black, with a pink undershirt that stuck out at the ends of the sleeves on the black and gold jacket, and the collar. This was utterly preposterous…

Finally, he made his way to her room, knocking lightly on the door, not caring what she would say about his being rude and waiting at her bedchamber. “Princess, are you nearly finished? They are waiting for us to arrive. No thanks to you, we’re already late due to your running off with my horse. Come now, hurry!”

[IrelandKiss]

By the time Derick was yelling at her door, Rosaria was ready. She observed her reflection in the mirror for a moment, smiled in satisfaction, and then went to the door and opened it herself. She saw Derick wearing the pink undershirt beneath the black jacket, and it was all she could do not to laugh at him right there.

"Very dashing, your Highness," she said instead before looping her arm through his and beginning to walk down the hallway for their destination.