The Right Love with the Wrong Man ((closed))

Rosalie would never say that Alan hadn't hurt her when she had found out the truth. He had lied to her about who he was. She was hurt and never imagined that one person could feel so much pain without actually being struck. The betrayal was something that would run deep in her memory for a very long time. She wanted to forget him and all of this new pain he caused her. He had wronged her in every way.

With all the pain and hurt she felt from him she couldn't deny that her heart was still beating for him. It was illogical in every way that they had fallen in love. How could it even be love? They didn't know each other and obviously one had been lying. Despite that reality Rosalie knew that what she felt to her core was love for him even with this stinging betrayal.

"Married? Even if there was a way to work this out I do not believe we could be married." Rosalie hadn't realized her lie until she had spoke it aloud. Alan had lied to her this whole time but she could see how sincere and in pain he was. She knew the only way to stop this was to lie right back to him. She felt comfortable in thinking that he would still come after her as the pain stuck fast to his heart. Alan would need to move on even if she never did.

Rosalie knew she couldn't fall in love with someone else. She was madly in love with him and even was finding the forgiveness in her heart for what he had done. At the same time she wanted to curse his name because he had ruined her and stolen her heart away. No other man would ever get Rosalie's affection or attention the way Alan had had it. He had ruined her and she would never recover from it.

Many people talk about soul mates or their other half. Rosalie could feel the depth of those words now only they seemed to go deeper. Alan wasn't her other or better half, he was her whole. Without him now she would crumble away into a bleak abyss while leaving behind a shell that could feel nothing for no other man.

Why were they so cursed as to be from such different worlds? Why must people be harsh towards the idea of allowing a high class, royalty even, marry someone from a much lower rank? It was all unfair. What had Rosalie or Alan ever done to cause Fate to give them such a cruel hand?

His words stung her bitterly even though she knew he was right. Why should they set themselves up only to have more pain? Even if they met in secret it couldn't last forever. He would have to get married and Rosalie could never live with herself as his mistress no matter how much she loved him. Rosalie had morals and she wouldn't break them for love. It seemed now all she had left were her morals and standards.

His strong testament and the conviction of his words rang deeply through her soul. He was right. Neither one could ever forget these three blissful days. She knew that she would never forget him. Even as they both got older and he was married off and perhaps even having children to take over when he got old she knew she wouldn't forget what they had together. It had been a beautiful thing despite it being cloaked by a lie.

Rosalie opened her mouth to say something in reply only to find she had nothing more to say without giving them a painful false hope. She bit her tongue and watched him desperately as she saw the pain mirrored in his eyes. Why did they have to experience such an extreme and undeserving feeling?

His face was contorted and she could see the regret clear as day. In this moment she knew exactly how he felt and felt herself whither away and die as he turned from her and walked back to the palace.

Rosalie was sure she no longer had a heart. She gasped in pain. It was as though someone had brutally slashed at her chest only to cut out her heart and separate it from her.

"I will never love anyone the way I fell for you, and you'll never be far in my thoughts." her vow was whispered to the flowers and only they could hear them. If flowers could talk perhaps they would have mercy and relay the message to Alan the next time he came out into the garden. It would've been those words that would give him hope despite the odds. Alas flowers do not speak and the vow full of so much emotion that Rosalie whispered out would never be delivered to the one person who deserved to hear it.

Life lost its meaning after that for Rosalie. She cried herself to sleep that night and every night after that. It was as though someone had stolen her smile and kidnapped her laugh. Her deep blue eyes that had been so full of life and merriment had dimmed as though her soul could no longer bear to live inside of them.

The words that fell upon her ears were barely understood. The only thing she had left in the world was working for Madame Denley in her dress shop. The clients quickly learned that speaking to Rosalie would get them no where. The only one that seemed indifferent by Rosalie's behavior was Georgia.

If Rosalie hadn't been so shattered she might have found anger with Georgia for ruining the one thing in life that she had found to be her own. Georgia hinted all the time about Alan and the courting that was going on. Rosalie was a little jealous but not enough to get a rise from her. She doubted Georgia's words to be fact. Georgia was good a spinning a good and believable story. Alan would never court Georgia.

The pain that Rosalie lived with every day didn't seem to dull out like she had originally thought. She thought Time at least would be on her side and slowly numb away her heart ache. She must have been a fool because every day was as though she tried to work with a knife in her heart.

Rosalie had forgiven Alan for his lie as she began to understand more and more that how ever impossible it had been, they had really fallen in love. She could understand why he had done what he had done to her. He had merely wanted the chance to be with her even though he had known somewhere in his subconscious that no one can live forever in a lie.

When Rosalie finally found that understanding she could feel a Time start to work on her heart. She was able to realize that no matter how short her fairytale had been she had still been able to have it. Even though her heart ached and she had thought more than once about running to the palace and begging him to find a way to make things work she had finally found a small peace inside of her.

Rosalie's heart was an open wound but it was starting the slow process of healing. She knew it would never be the same again but she found she was grateful for the experience. It was better to have been able to love so willingly and innocently in that short time than to never know how it would have been.

As Rosalie began to come back more to herself Georgia had become more persistent in insisting on the stories about her courtship with Alan. Rosalie had learned to tune this out when she did fittings for Georgia until the official royal announcement was given that Alan and Georgia were arranged to be married and that the union would be official within six months during the spring.

The day Rosalie heard was the day that she woke up from the pain only to realize what the announcement meant. It was the day she decided to put her miserable and depressed self aside and fight for Alan. Even though she would never be next to his side as his bride or queen she knew she wasn't about to let Georgia have this. This was the one thing Rosalie refused to watch happen. Even if it was another woman Rosalie promised herself that she would be okay as long as it wasn't Georgia standing next to Alan.

Damien watched Alan lie there in his bed, the only movement being his shoulders shaking slightly. Was the prince crying? He knew better than to pursue it. Alan would want to take this on his own- and Damien was quite sure he knew exactly what had happened. Though he had tried to warn the prince, he couldn't help but feel sorry for him, and perhaps even a bit guilty. I should have tried harder to warn him... He thought, and forced himself to tear his eyes away from the dismal scene.

Time passed, and the Alan the world knew was dead. He left behind a broken, walking corpse that perormed all of his royal duties, however, it was clear that Alan was not there. Even the queen, who usually barely took notice of him, once made a comment about how he looked so lifeless. Indeed, everyone could clearly see something was wrong.

His blue eyes, windows to the sky on a bright sunny day, the color of laughter and happy memories, had become no more than a shroud. They seemed darker, in a way, but mostly, they were flat. A curtain had been drawn behind them such that no light of emotion was allowed to shine through. Even his expressions had flatlined, becoming monotonous. If he ever smiled at all, it was a mirthless image, painful to see.

Alan's heart was in nothing anymore- he knew the pieces of it still lay in the garden, where he had left it that day. Since then, he hadn't so much as stepped foot in the garden. There were too many wonderful memories there, and he couldn't stand it.

Then came the funeral. The king died, ill in his bed, as everyone expected. And, as expected, all eyes turned to the prince. Now that it was curtains for the king, it was Alan's show. But he could not perform without a supporting character...

So the casting director was called in- his mother. She came to him late in the evening, trying to act maternal and comforting as if she had done so all his life. Alan was unaffected by it, as with many things. "Alan, I have the most wonderful news for you!" She began with a smile, speaking to her shell of a son. Alan stared blankly at the wall with his dead eyes, his mouth set in a hard line. Not expecting a response, the queen continued. "You are going to be married, in six months!" She clapped her hands together, portraying the doting, loving mother excited for her son's wedding. Alan did not move. "It's Georgia- you remember Georgia, right?"

Georgia. Of course he remembered Georgia. They had met a few times in the past, all memories that Alan would quite like to erase permanently. She was utterly contemptible in Alan's eyes. And yet, she was to be his wife.

What could he do? His heart would ache, if he still possessed it. He would have to marry her, and she would be his queen. The thought, simply sickening. Alan had no desire to be king anymore. All desire for anything seemed to be gone. He was merely going through the motions of living his life, of 'moving on'.

Still more time passed. Georgia was brought to the palace a few times, to get used to her future home. Each time they met, Alan seemed even worse than he had been before. He refused to speak to her. Though she was a bit put off at first, she recovered rather quickly. After all, she would get to marry the prince, even if he wasn't any fun anymore...

A few more nights, wrought with falsely pleasant dreams and very little sleep. Damien seemed to have his own things to worry about, so in the morning, they would have matching bags under their eyes. One such morning, the lookalike twins trailed in to the dining hall, Alan taking his set and Damien standing dutifully behind him. The prince ate robotically, each movement carefully practiced and mechanical. After Damien's turn, they walked back to their room together and almost simultaneously fell onto their respective beds. Damien had pulled out the locket and was absentmindedly toying with it again. Alan had buried his face into his pillow again, shutting out the world. Though he didn't say so, it wasclear to Damien at least that he was thinking of Rosalie. The guard had a sort of secret hope that they could be together somehow, Alan and Rosalie- at least then perhaps the prince would be less sulky...

For the first time in weeks Rosalie actually looked like there was still a little life inside of her. She had woke up early that morning and did her best to make herself look presentable. She would've been excited at the thought of seeing him if she hadn't been reserved to what lay past this meeting. Nothing was for her and this would probably be the last time she could come to Alan. She knew that they were both set on different paths but secretly wished that a bridge could be built between them.

The morning was clear and bright. It almost seemed to taunt Rosalie as she walked through the crowded streets. She kept herself focused on making it up to the castle. She took every step as though it were her last. Every time she lifted her foot she felt the deep desire to turn around and run away. She didn't want to face him. How could she? She was still lost in love and was rather afraid that perhaps he had become indifferent towards her.

Before Rosalie knew it she was standing at the palace gate. She stared passed it and up to the palace. The large building was much more daunting and frightening as she stared at it. She had to go in and say something! She wanted to run away and abandon this silly notion she had in her head. Rosalie couldn't though as she knew fi she didn't do this now then she would regret it dearly.

"What is your business at the palace?" the gate guard asked in a rather bored tone as though he were tired of the same post for so long.

"I am here to speak with one of the royal guard." Rosalie said with more confidence than she felt. She had barely spoken a word over the weeks and she found it strange to be using her voice in such a commanding tone.

"Oh really?" he eyed her a little skeptical.

"It is urgent business, please may I enter?" she pleaded as best she could without trying to seem forced.

The guard continued to eye her for a moment before he decided she wasn't a threat. "Aye," he sniffed and opened the gate.

Rosalie walked inside and up to the palace door. She stepped inside after the butler answered. She was left to stand there as a servant had been sent away. Rosalie knew she would never be allowed to see Alan if she had asked for him. She hoped that the message would be clear to Alan, or at least to Damien if he wasn't with Alan.

The servant walked briskly through the palace until he finally came to the prince's chambers. He knocked politely before opening the door and cleared his throat. Inside was the prince and his personal guard. They both looked exhausted though the prince looked just as dead as he had the past couple weeks. No one knew what had happened to him as many servants were sure it wasn't the death of the king.

"A young woman has come to speak to you Damien. She is from the city and says that this is urgent." The servant spoke clearly.

"She said to tell you her name is Rosalie."

Alan did not move as he heard the door open; nothing anyone could say could interest him anymore. All they ever said now only served to upset him, to push him further into the deep pit of depression in which he currently languished. Ah... it's for Damien. Alan didn't have to pay any further attention, and yet, he felt oddly curious. A tiny spark of his playful side reignited within him. Was his dear guard having a romantic rendezvous?

Damien had sat up, equally curious as to what young woman would be calling on him. He couldn't help but feel his gaze trailing over to Alan. He hoped it wasn't for him. He hoped it was a certain someone coming for Alan instead. But would that serve to hurt or help? He couldn't be sure. Seeing her again may only hurt Alan more...

Damien was right. For when the butler stated the young woman's name, Alan's eyes shot open.

Rosalie.

Impossible. This couldn't be happening. Why would she come asking for... 'Damien' again? They had decided to stay apart, to forget everything. Of course he could never forget her, but... She must have come on business. That had to be it. Yet, no matter how he tried to convince himself that nothing had changed to save himself from thr inevitable disappointment, he felt a flicker of hope.

Rosalie had come and asked for him...

Alan jumped up from the bed, showing a vitality he had not possessed for months. Though he still looked slightly worn and tired, his eyes were just a little brighter, the curtain behind them thinning. "Could you direct her to the garden, if you please? For some privacy. These are important matters." Alan instructed the butler. "Of course, master Damien." Perfect- it had worked!

Alan went out to the garden, a few servants casting looks of surprise in his direction, at seeing him up and about. He moved with a bit more spring in his step- at least now he wasn't dragging his feet across the floor, as he always did. He entered the garden for the first time in what seemed like ages.

He waited, though not for terribly long. I cannot allow myself to become excited, it must be nothing... Truly, he was eager simply to see Rosalie again, to be graced with her presence, bask in her beauty.

...And then she was there. Rosalie. The dove, the rose, his love. Rosalie.

Suddenly all of the emotions he had tried to keep buried for so long were bursting out to the surface. He still loved her, even after all this time. Absence and the passage of time could never change that. They had created something eternal, undying, and it sprang to life now.

As much as Alan wanted to run to her and embrace her, to hold her close and kiss her and know everything was alright, he knew he couldn't. What if she had only come on business, and their relationship was still decidedly gone? He didn't want that- oh, how he wanted her to tell him that she still loved him, as he did her, and things could go back to the way they used to be.

"Rosalie..." At first, all he could do was say her name. That beautiful, wonderful name. Yet, in those three syllables, he poured out all of the sorrow and pain he had endured for those months without her, and all of the love he still felt for her now. Could she hear it? Or had she, like he had, shut out reality and the rest of the world so she could forget everything? Perhaps that was only wishful thinking on his part, and she had successfully moved on, found someone else.

But what if it wasn't wishful thinking? How could he let her know how he felt without hurting her more? Perhaps he already had...

A smile tugged at the corners of his lips, and his eyes brightened just a little more. Here was Rosalie, his impossibly perfect Rosalie, just as beautiful and wonderful as she had looked when he last saw her. By comparison, he must look a mess, he thought wryly. She had a sad look about her, as well, and yet she was still flawless in his eyes. He loved her, and he wanted to make that sadness go away.

"The royal guard is here." Alan said, beginning to smile even more. Rosalie had that effect on him. He hoped he could make her smile too, and he wouldn't be simply a source of memories she wanted to erase. His tone bore the lightest traces of his old joking manner.

Rosalie felt rather impatient as it took a while for the servant to return. Her eyes were hopeful as he walked over to her and gave her a small and respectful bow. "I am to direct you to the gardens." He told her. Rosalie felt the hope spark up inside of her. The message had gotten through and she would finally be seeing Alan after so long.

The servant led her to the gardens before he turned and left her. Rosales didn't have go too far before she was finally standing before Alan. He looked just as terrible as she had felt since they had separated. As she looked him over she forgot why she was there as happiness filled her up completely.

He said her name and it left no doubt within her that he had been suffering just as much as she had and that he still loved her. The thought breathed life back into her shattered heart. She could see the corners of his mouth start to turn upward and finally create a smile as he told her the royal guard was there. After so long of living in pain and forgetting how to be happy she was shocked when she was smiling back effortlessly.

For a moment Rosalie just stood there and stared at him. The more she gazed upon him the more she knew that she couldn't walk away from him again. The whole reason that she had forced herself to come see him had gone out of her mind as she took a couple steps toward Alan. She finally stopped right in front of him. After a moment of hesitation she reached out and touched him to make sure that this wasn't some cruel dream.

After she was satisfied this was real and she wouldn't wake up at any moment in pain she let the smile take over her face. "Oh Alan," she whispered his name softly as she stared up into his eyes. Her own eyes that had been so lifeless and dull before shined with renewed hope as they stood close to one another.

There were so many things that Rosalie wanted to say to him. She wanted to confess how much she did love him. She wanted him to know how much pain she had been in since they had parted ways. She wanted to tell him that she couldn't leave him again. She needed him to know that with every part of her heart and soul she was his forever. He needed to know all of this and yet the words were caught in her throat.

Rosalie finally did the one thing she knew that would let him know all of that without having to say anything. Rosalie pushed away all of her fears and worries in that moment as she leaned towards him and placed a kiss on his lips.

The kiss was electric. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Rosalie knew that statement to be true as she felt her tattered heart start to race inside of her chest. She put all of her pain and longing into the kiss as she tried to express to him just how much she loved him. If she could she would move mountains for him.

Perhaps this had been a bad idea after all. This meeting with Alan and giving him this kiss sealed the deal for her. For the rest of her life all else would be dull and senseless to her in comparison. Of course perhaps this had been the right decision all along as she now knew she could not be without Alan any longer. No matter the cost she had to find a way to be close to him.

As the heated kiss ended Rosalie stared up into his sky blue eyes with the emotions racing through her own. She remembered her original reason for coming to see him. As much as she wanted to push Georgia out of Alan's life she knew that she had used that to convince herself to go even though it had not been the real reason. Secretly inside of her destroyed heart she had wanted this last chance to see if the love she thought she had had been real.

The love was as real as the ground she stood on or the air she breathed in. It was a force to be reckoned with.

"I'm still in love with you," she whispered softly.

Rosalie came closer and Alan was sure his heart stopped. There was no way to suppress the hope blooming in his chest in that moment. Just being that much closer to her was breathtaking. Perhaps she did still have some feelings for him- desperately he wished them not to be of hate or remorse.

She touched him then, her fingers ever so gently brushing across his cheek, and his eyes fluttered closed for a moment. Her touch sent pleasant shivers down his spine. Here he existed in the presence of this heavenly being, and then had been blessed by her touch. As if that one tiny gesture wiped away all of the pain that had gripped him for the past months. She is here... Rosalie is here. He turned his head slightly so that his lips barely brushed the inside of her wrist, without meaning to.

Suddenly her lips were against his, no hesitation, and no remorse. It took Alan a moment to register the fact that it had been Rosalie who made the first move. She had kissed him. Though at first her lips were gentle and tender, the kiss quickly escalated to something more.

He could feel everything. Without words their emotions connected, and Alan knew that she had been in just as much pain as he had all this time. He could feel her sorrow, her regret, her anger, her loneliness- everything. He wanted to console that, and so he poured his love into their kiss, showing her how he was willing to do anything for her, how he loved her and wanted her and needed her. She was everything to him.

Their arms were tight around each other, their bodies pressing close, as close as they could be. It was almost more emotional than intimate, as they could share how they felt more freely, without words, this way. Alan thought that just then, her kiss tasted better than any of his half-faded memories. He didn't want to stop. He couldn't.

When they finally pulled away, Alan could sense the regret with which Rosalie did so, similar to his. Neither had wanted the moment to end. But then, Alan thought, maybe now they would get the chance to have more of them. The air was thick and heavy from the intense outpouring of emotions; the roses around them were blushing red.

"I never stopped loving you." Alan replied to her, smiling as he hadn't in an eternity. Still they held each other close, their faces only a few breathless inches apart. Both seemed quite eager to close that distance again, to make up for all the time they had been apart.

"Rosalie..." Her name, music. "I need you." It was the simple truth. While Alan had narrowly survived it this time, he was sure that if she left again, he would die. He would do anything for their love, for them to be together. This he swore to himself.

Rosalie thought her heart was going to burst as he confessed he had never stopped loving her. It meant the world to her to hear those words come in utterance from his mouth. She had dreamt so many nights of hearing those words come from him only to wake up and lament over how false the dream had been. She couldn't believe how long she had allowed herself to suffer now that she was with him. She knew that she had to be with him. There was no one else for her and she knew there was no one else for him. This was no longer a matter of politics but a matter purely from the heart.

When he spoke her name and told her that he needed her she searched his face for the honest truth. She stared at him good and hard for a while. She could see the conviction of his words burning within his eyes and had no doubts that he would move mountains to keep her. It made want to burst with happiness to see the look in his eye. He loved her and he couldn't be without her. She understood how he felt so completely. She needed him as much as he needed her.

"Then you should promise to never let me go," she whisper softly to him as she pleaded to him with her eyes. "Promise that you will always chase after me when I run and pick me back up when I fall even if you were the one to push me." Rosalie needed to hear it from him. She needed to know that he wouldn't let her go again. She wouldn't be able to handle any more pain caused between them. It had already hurt and scarred her enough once already.

What were they to do? Rosalie forced her mind away form the thoughts. How could they be together? Everything had already been arranged for him to marry Georgia in the upcoming months. They might have had a chance if the arrangement hadn't been made. Now that it had been made and was announced there was no real possibility that Rosalie would be accepted over Georgia. Georgia was what the people were expecting.

"Don't let me lose you again," Rosalie spoke in a frightened voice as she gazed at him with fear in her eyes.

Alan was completely overcome with emotion. He was filled with the strange sensation of wanting to laugh and cry at the same time. Finally, he could be here with Rosalie... any thoughts of what they would possibly do in the future were subconsciously set aside to revel in the present moment. How could they still be together? They would end up running in circles, the same situation as before. Yet, he was possessed by an even stronger conviction than that of before, and this time he wouldn't let it end in sadness or loneliness. This time they could find a way to be together and to be happy.

For a moment, Rosalie only stared at him. The smallest flicker of fear passed through his heart- did she not believe him? How could she not? No... she had to. He loved her so much it felt like his chest was going to burst with the feeling. Couldn't she see that?

But his fears dissolved into nothing as soon as she spoke again. "Of course I will never let you go, Rosalie." Alan squeezed her a little tighter in his arms, bringing her closer so that his lips were by her ear. "I don't want to ever do anything that would make you want to run away, or would cause you to fall. But I will always care for you. Anything you need me to do for you, I will do without question. If it will make you happy and protect you from harm, then I would do anything."

He pulled away slightly so he could look at her again; her deep blue eyes were wrought with fear. Alan felt his chest tighten up. He wanted to be able to comfort her, somehow, any way he could. He never wanted to be a source of worry to her. "You have no need to worry about that," he spoke softly, tenderly. "You never lost me- you will always have me. My feelings for you will never change, no matter how the distance between us does. Trust in that."

Gathering her hands between his, he brought them up so he could kiss them. Even though she was a dressmaker, her hands still felt soft and gentle. Ah, how he had missed this...

"Will you also come to visit Damien tomorrow?" Alan asked, smiling. "If you do not promise me that, I will not be able to let you leave..." He chuckled, and kissed her forehead. Finally, he was beginning to feel a bit better. Rosalie's presence had already begun to heal him- just a few magical moments were slowly eroding the pain that had built up over months. He hoped she would not have to leave too soon... he wanted to spend more time with her, be it seconds or hours or days... anything.

The words that came out of Alan's mouth made Rosalie's heart sing and she could feel the pain in her heart start to ebb away slowly as he continued to promise that he would do everything that he could for her to make her happy no matter what it was. It was such a security to hear him speak in such a way. She believed that he would keep his word. He would do all in his power to keep her.

Rosalie found great comfort in his soft spoken promise. It eased the fear that was lodged in her heart and she felt herself suddenly begin to relax. She felt immensely better knowing he would always be there for her and that she would never lose him. She had a deep sense of foreboding that things were going to go sour again very soon but she dashed the thought aside. All she wanted to do was focus on him in that moment and how they were going to try their best to make this work between them.

How could it not be obvious? They were so seemingly made for one another. Despite the obvious difference in their class and rank in society it didn't matter. There was no resistance between either of them. Rosalie had doubted his sincerity in the beginning but seeing him now with such distraught eyes convinced her fully and completely that he had suffered as much as she had and he had been in as much pain as she.

She closed her eyes as he pressed his lips to her forehead and felt a silly sort of smile come to her face. She didn't doubt he would keep her there until she promised. She didn't doubt he would keep her there regardless.

"Of course I will, and I will visit every day if that is what you ask of me." She fluttered her eyes open and allowed a radiant smile to grace her lips. "I am so sorry for all the pain that I caused by my silliness. Though I am rather grateful as I know just how I do feel about you. I promise you that will never change for me either," she told him confidently as she didn't let her eyes waver from his.

Rosalie ended up staying with him until the very last minute before she had to leave. She didn't want to part from him as it was glorious to be reunited with him. It had been obvious the time spent between them had hurt them both deeply. It was also rather obvious that it had caused their hearts to be pulled even closer to the other. It was terrible for Rosalie to leave him. She almost hadn't. Alan had been doing a very convincing job of asking her to stay with him when the mood had been interrupted with the announcement of Georgia.

The whole reason Rosalie had gone to Alan hadn't even been thought about the hours they spent that evening. When reality struck them Rosalie dashed away before a proper goodbye could be given but was able to whisper a promise to see him the following day. She regretted having to leave so abruptly without even stealing a small kiss. She knew that she couldn't stay with Georgia to find out about them. Georgia was bent on tearing the two apart even though in the long run it would be her fault for pushing the two together so closely.

As Rosalie rushed from the castle as discreetly as she could she was unaware of the pair of eyes that followed her rather curiously.

The pair of curious eyes that had followed her moved from the shadows. He had to investigate who she was as she was all too familiar to him. He had seen her before. He knew her. It had been a very long time since he had seen her but there was no mistake. The young woman who fled the palace was definitely familiar to him and he needed to make sure.

The following day the young woman came back to the palace with bright eyes and an enthusiastic smile. The man who had observed her the night before quickly stepped forward to meet her.

"Excuse me, may I speak with you for a moment?" he asked her curiously as he gave her a polite bow.

Rosalie stopped instantly and stared at the man who spoke out to her. He seemed vaguely familiar, almost as though he were from some forgotten dream, but she shook the feeling away.

"I am late in meeting someone, I am in a great hurry." She bit her lip. She was afraid to be late. After spending those long and lonely months she was eager to go back to Alan. The best part about the afternoon was that Georgia should be occupied with her family and not meddling at the palace.

"This is a very urgent matter, can you spare me a few minutes?" he spoke clearly but with some urgency.

"I suppose, what is the matter?" Rosalie tried to not sound too annoyed as they stepped to the side.

"First let me explain why I am here. I am Prince Tristan from the Louvre Kingdom. My family and kingdom have been at war with many of the surrounding kingdoms. Today I am here to help negotiate the long bitter spell that has lasted between us. Do you know why we have fought so much?" he asked her with hope shining out from his face like the break of a new dawn.

"I knew that often the men would be sent away only to return not too long after. Though I must admit I do not know why the kingdoms have been fighting." Rosalie said. What was the point in him telling her this. It seemed frivolous and she wanted to be done quickly so she could meet Alan. She did not want him to think that she was not coming to meet him. She had made a promise to him after all.

"Exactly, not many people knew why we have fought. You see there was a princess that belonged to this family but she disappeared when she was very young. For a long time we have searched and tried to find out her kidnappers. We have believed that she was taking to start a war. So we gave everyone war. It wasn't until recently that we realized she might have simply wandered off on her own. She was a very curious princess and loved exploring. I suppose one day she simply went too far and didn't know how to come home." As he told this part of his story his eyes grew heavy with emotion.

Rosalie felt sympathy for him as he seemed truly in despair over the loss of this little princess. She wondered why such a young child would wander away from their nurse maid. When Rosalie had that thought she saw an image of a frog flash through her mind and wondered what that was about.

"So you have come to stop the fighting then?" Rosalie was a little intrigued by this story. She wished it would have a happy ending.

"I have, and my other brothers have been sent out as well to negotiate peace. We regret all the suffering we have caused." He looked away very sadly and Rosalie had the impulse to wrap her arms around him.

"Why are you telling me this?" she was confused.

"What is your name?" he had dodged her question.

"Rosalie, why?" she narrowed her eyes feeling suspicious.

"Ah, Rosalie, that is a beautiful name and fit for a princess." The hope had returned to his eyes and he seemed almost excited.

"I am sorry, but I am very late now and I have to go. I do hope that you are able to find your princess one day." Rosalie smiled politely, curtsied her best, and then quickly dashed away from him without letting him say another word.

Prince Tristan watched her rush passed him and knew that after so long of missing his younger sister he had finally found her at last.

Rosalie was rather perturbed by her strange encounter with the odd prince. She thought about it until she finally came to the garden entrance. She stopped and stared for a moment before she took hurried steps in and looked around wildly for Alan. She hoped that he was either still there, or he hadn't arrived yet. She hated to be late and hoped that he would forgive her for her behavior.