Rosemarie's POV
After delivering Rhea, Vasilisa, and Jillian's overwhelmingly heavy suitcases, I went upstairs to my bedchamber. My pale blue dress was dark from nearly being drenched, and the fabric irritated my skin, as if it was viciously glued to me. My poor stockings were ripped, my sturdy shoes were squishing with rainwater, and my beautiful hair was so wet and tangled that I just wanted to pull it out.
Sad and frustrated, I yanked off all my clothes and laid them out on my ebony bedframe to dry. I pulled off my shoes and sat them in an empty corner near my polished bookcase. The only things left were my undergarments—a solid, white brassiere with lace-edged bloomers. I quickly got out of them and grabbed a satin robe, one I hadn't worn since Mother died. It was colored a rich purple, and it actually used to belong to her. Sometimes, it felt like I could smell her scent, as if she was still alive and here with me.
Tears gathered in my eyes, but I forced them away and exited my bedchamber to take a bath. The wide hallway was dark and cold underneath my feet as I walked. The entire floor actually sounded quiet, and I smiled in relief because it meant that Father was at peace or my wicked stepfamily wasn't pestering me. Yet, when I reached the bathchamber, the ivory door was locked.
I waited a few seconds before knocking. "It's me, Rosemarie. I really need to take a bath, so can you please hurry," I informed nicely. My eyes didn't have any time to blink, for the lock clicked and the door opened to reveal Vasilisa, her angelic hair wet and pale green eyes furiously annoyed.
She scowled at me. "Go to another bathchamber. Can't you see this one is clearly occupied?"
Before my stepsister could close the door, I countered levelly, "I know, but you've probably been in here for a while, and other people need to use—"
Vasilisa raised a porcelain hand to interrupt me. Her gem-like eyes sparkled with interest as she stared at my robe. My heart instantly dropped. "Where did you get that?" she wondered, almost entranced.
I unconsciously caressed the material with my hands. "It was my mother's," I fiercely answered, hoping to rid Vasilisa's attention, but it only increased it as she saw how valuable it was to me. A devious glimmer dominated her gaze.
"Give it to me," she ordered.
Stepping back, I crossed my arms over my chest, really wanting her to leave it alone. "Absolutely not!"
She glared ferociously at me and immediately, I felt myself succumbing, weakening. Vasilisa came closer, leaning out of the doorway. "Give. It. To. Me," she pressed, taking advantage of my submissive state.
I was about to obey when I remembered that I was naked underneath. Surely, this evil girl wouldn't be so cruel as to take my robe and leave me bare. Right? Killing the doubt, I argued, "I have nothing on under the robe." She considered my words for a few moments, studying my body like some specimen. It almost felt violating.
Finally, she backed away…but held her ground. "Prove it," she taunted, a mischievous look crossing her pretty face.
Sweat beaded on my forehead while my heart thundered against my ribcage. Was she serious? I had just told her the truth; why didn't she believe me? I was no liar. Why would she do this?
Because she hates me and enjoys seeing me suffer.
The mental warring was so much that I just decided to dissipate the thoughts and physically answer her question. Closing my eyes, I opened the neckline of the robe just enough to show that I was indeed naked. Vasilisa gave a sinister chuckle, one that sounded identical to Rhea's. I shivered. "You can open your eyes now, you putrid prude," she coldly said.
Slowly, I did as she said then averted my gaze, too embarrassed and disturbed to look at her. However, I could still feel her villainously penetrating glare. "Give it to me after you take your bath. I want you to bring it to my bedchamber, understand?"
I nodded silently.
"Good. Now get out of my sight," Vasilisa hissed.
Without a word, I turned on my heel and sped to another bathchamber, hearing the door shout behind me as it was rudely slammed.
I sat beside Father in a sapphire-blue dress that had long sleeves and fell to my ankles. My hair was worn loose and hung in soft waves down my back. As always, no jewelry completed the attire, but this time, I decided to wear matching heeled shoes. Rhea sat on his left side with Vasilisa and Jillian sitting across from us. The three of them all had on ruby-red, emerald-green, and royal purple gowns littered with embellishments, their hair in all kinds of styles.
We were eating dinner—salad, soups, meat, and desserts littered the cherrywood table. I'd had to prepare the entire meal, thanks to Rhea, and now it was late into the evening and I was exhausted. No one else felt tired, though; they were just really hungry, and stuffed themselves like pigs. Or, more truthfully, I did.
My mouth was full of chicken as my stepfamily scrunched their faces in disgust. They stared at me expectantly for so long that Father tapped my arm and whispered, "Rosemarie, I know you're hungry, but please eat like a lady. You're repulsing them." Feeling ashamed and a little humiliated, I nodded and slowed my eating.
Rhea smirked before asking me, "You attend Fairston Academy, correct?"
"Yes, madam," I replied before I ate a piece of French bread.
She watched me closely in silence. Rhea shared a look with her daughters before saying, "You know, that's quite a prestigious school. I hear that the most privileged families enroll their children there." I looked up from my plate, curious with where she was going with this. Rhea stirred her tomato soup. "Do you find it difficult? Does it seem too advanced for you?"
Vasilisa gave a harsh laugh, nearly spitting out her clam chowder. "I think so. She rarely has excellent grades, and she's probably struggling to pass her classes," she bullied.
Father looked at me, his dark chestnut eyes wondering if it was true. Jillian chuckled while Rhea reveled in a triumphant grin. I felt so small…I wished I could just crawl into a corner.
Stabbing my salad with a fork, I said, "I'm doing just fine."
A worried look crossed Father's face. He touched my arm. "Are you sure, Rosemarie? If you're having trouble with school, you know you can come to me for help."
Jillian decided to add, "She also doesn't really fit in. Since very privileged kids go to Fairston, they naturally socialize, look wealthy, and act important. Rosemarie just wears simple clothes and only has a few friends." I sent her a hard look, which made her look down at her apple pie, light brown hair covering her face like a curtain. Though, I could see a smirk pulling Jillian's lips.
"Who are her friends?" wondered Rhea, still stirring her soup.
"Mason Ashford, Edison Castile, and Mia Rinaldi," Vasilisa quickly answered. Her pale face frowned and her jade-green eyes seemed to darken. "Their fathers are also lords, but they don't act like they should," she continued a disapproving tone.
Father sipped some red wine then tensed as he gave Vasilisa a chastising look. "It doesn't matter if they don't act like what their status implies. They're good people and they've been Rosemarie's friends ever since she was a child," he defended me.
There was a deafening silence after that and soon, everyone finished eating. I cleared the polished table without any help and thought about how I had just gotten degraded in my own home, right in front of my father. How dare they think that I didn't belong at Fairston and was too dumb for the courses—I was a great student and still dressed finely, just not as outlandishly as them.
My mind was fusing by the time I placed the dishes in the deep sink and washed them clean. They're not that perfect, themselves. They're just as human and imperfect as everyone else. Those bigoted, light haired, green eyed hypocrites!
When I finished, I clenched my fists and marched up the wrought, iron staircase. All I wanted was to fall asleep and forget everything that had happened today. I was so tired and felt so horrible…I wished that Mother was here. Once I reached my bedchamber, I closed and locked the door before heading over to the ornate bed. I lifted up the soft mattress and retrieved my red velvet journal with a gold lock.
The matching key was always hidden in my favorite book on the bookshelf. I ran over to it, removing it from the dark shelf and lifting the cover. It lay in a dent of cut out pages that matched its shape. I took out the gold key, put the book in its respective spot, then unlocked my precious journal.
Inside it were my memories and dreams—memories of all the times I'd had with Mother and dreams of becoming a princess, maybe even a queen. It had always been a fantasy of mine, beginning when I was only a little girl. Father used to take Mother and I to the kingdoms of Europe—England, France, Germany—to show us where royalty lived and what palace life was like. It had been absolutely stunning!
A few years ago, we had travelled to Russia. I witnessed the marvelous greatness of the czars—their architecture, achievements, and absolute power. Father had said that the Russian monarchy ruled with a strict hand to keep the country stable and successful.
Currently, the Belikovs ruled Russia, and from what I remembered, Cesarevich Dimitri, the only male heir, had to find himself a bride and become the czar, so his mother could retire from the throne. No one was sure about what had happened to his father, but some claimed that he disappeared…or perhaps even died.
Now that I was almost eighteen, I felt like I could have a chance at becoming his bride. I was beautiful, intelligent, and came from a great family. However, there were other girls just like me, from all different countries, yearning to capture his heart. Also, Rhea was probably going to do everything in her power to have Vasilisa or Jillian become Cesarevich Dimitri's wife.
Not to mention, I was getting treated like a servant in my own home and accepted it, even though I was a prominent lord's daughter. Cesarevich Dimitri wouldn't want his future queen to be someone like me.
I went to my bed and sat down, grabbing a quill from the ebony nightstand. I turned to a blank page and started making an entry, releasing the negativity I felt.
"September 27th, 1685
Today, Lady Rhea Dragomir and her daughters, Vasilisa and Jillian, moved into the manor after she married Father. I don't like them as my stepfamily—they treat me as someone below them and are controlling the manor, as if it belongs to them. They made me carry their luggage, cook a gigantic dinner, belittled me, and Vasilisa even took Mother's robe away from me and slammed a door in my face.
I wish that Mother was still alive so that I wouldn't have to deal with this. I don't deserve it, and while no one should be treated this lowly, they need to experience what I'm going through and learn a lesson. I hope that tomorrow will be better, but knowing them, that might not happen.
And knowing me, I will obey and attend to their every command, no matter how absurd or cruel.
Until next time,
Rosemarie Mazur (hopefully Czarevna/Czarina Rosemarie Belikova)"
I closed the journal and locked it, setting the quill back on the nightstand before placing the journal back under the mattress and the key into its hiding place. I went to my drawer and changed into a silk, white nightgown, then went to lay down. The purple and white comforter felt cold beneath me. My exhaustion was beginning to take over.
Yawning and curling into a fetal position, I closed my eyes and fell asleep, dreaming of what my life would be like as a czarevna or czarina of Russia.
Vocabulary: Cesarevich means "crown prince", Czarevich means "prince", Czarevna means "princess", and Czarina means "queen/empress" in Russian.
Rosemarie's POVFairston Academy loomed in front of us in all its Gothic glory. The sharp angles of the pinnacles and towers gave it a formidable appearance, emphasizing the gray-black pallor of the stone. Vasilisa, Jillian, and I exited the carriage one at a time and walked towards the school in our painfully heeled shoes. I held all of our totes and was lagging behind because of the large amount of weight. Vasilisa strutted ahead, her platinum-blond hair flying around her like a veil."Hurry up, Rosemarie," she ordered. "I can't go inside and look like an idiot who showed up to school without her things." Muttering curses under my breath, I walked faster, strengthening my grip so everything wouldn't fall.Jillian was slightly behind Vasilisa, her stature not as arrogant as her sister, but still fairly haughty. She seemed more average with her light brown hair, which was in a style that sat atop her head. However, she had the Dragomir eyes, and Jillian couldn't help having the snotty
RPOVAfter pouring out my heart and soul with sorrowful tears, I got off my bed—which was now a little damp—and took my journal from its place under my large mattress and got the gold key from the bookcase. The velvet material felt soft as I opened it and went back to my earliest entries, specifically the one when I had found out that Mother died.My hand mindlessly stroked the dry ink on the off-white page. I could feel the tears gathering again; however, I blinked them away and forced myself to read.December 28th, 1682Father is depressingly solemn this evening. He won't leave his private study, and I brought him dinner, hoping that he would let me in, yet he merely cracked the door open and took the plate of food wordlessly before shutting me out.The reason for his behavior is because Mother died today. She left in a carriage to run errands; however, she got lost and ended up falling into a deep ravine, where she was killed from the impactful injuries, along with the horses and c
RPOVPrince Adrian Ivashkov is here in England? From what I've heard, he was a scandalous scoundrel who did nothing but bed various women, smoke cigars, and drink. Finding out that he needed a royal girl to marry was a definite surprise—he didn't seem like the sort of man who'd maintain a long-term commitment to one lady.Vasilisa and Jillian squealed like blushing schoolgirls and jumped in excitement all around Rhea. Father moved away to give them space, wincing from their loud noise. I secretly rolled my eyes at my stepfamily and went to stand beside him. "They're immensely happy upon hearing his arrival," I noted unenthusiastically. "Did the notice say how Prince Adrian was planning on choosing a bride?"Father suddenly seemed tired. Slight wrinkles were engraved in his tanned face, standing out like cuts. "It said that his parents, King Nathan and Queen Daniella, will host a party for him. All maidens of at least noble blood are invited. He will get to know the girls and make his
RPOVThe sky was beautifully dark as I stepped out of the delicate carriage that had picked me up from Fairston Academy. Its blue-black hue seemed like the depths of the ocean at nightfall—frightening yet captivating. I struggled bringing my loaded, leather tote into the manor when a royal messenger suddenly appeared.I nearly jumped out of my dress as he walked up to me. The fellow appeared slight and awkward in his commoner clothes, his skin very pale and his eyes and nose too big for his face. He looked very goofy and young, however I put on a smile and ridded my judgments."May I help you, sir?" I wondered kindly.The royal messenger bowed, displaying a black satin hat. "Good evening, Miss Mazur," he greeted respectfully, his voice fairly high. He moved his small hands from behind his back and gave me something that resembled a package. "I've been sent by Prince Adrian to deliver this gift to you," he explained.My eyebrows rose in curious interest. The package felt fine and fragi
RPOV—Two Weeks Later"What do you have there?" asked Mia, her light blue eyes curious as she sat beside me on a majestic fountain, clear water pouring behind us. Her scarlet-red gown sharply contrasted the paleness of her skin and lightness of her blond curls. She smiled sweetly while waiting for my response.I tried to combat the blush rushing to my cheeks yet failed. Placing a dark strand behind my ear, I answered, "It's a gift from Prince Adrian." I held up the delicately wrapped box, the metallic ribbons falling away. Mia widened her eyes and squealed excitedly, bouncing like a little girl.She grabbed my arm, staring at me intensely. "He gave you a present?""Multiple, as a matter of fact," I automatically corrected."Oh my goodness, Rosemarie. Do you know what this means? Prince Adrian likes you, and he wants to be with you!" Mia exclaimed with such emotion, you'd think she was talking about herself. Suddenly, my friend shot up and twirled like a ballerina. "Prince Adrian loves
RPOVHer gloved hand lightly touched my shoulder, as if she suspected I was dead. I could almost feel her jade-green eyes boring into me—she was silent and lowly breathing for a long while. I was ready to turn over...until Jillian softly said, "Rosemarie, you need to get dressed. We have school, and we're going to be late if you don't hurry."Going to Fairston Academy was the last thing on my mind. Its Gothic architecture and art seemed to be a distant memory. I had been lying awake all night pondering my date with Prince Adrian—did it feel right or did it feel wrong; would I do it again; should I even go to his party? It was consuming me inside, and I knew I had to forget about it.However, not thinking about it would make me feel guilty. If I couldn't go through with our courtship, I'd have to tell Prince Adrian, and his feelings would be hurt. He wanted me to be with him so much…I couldn't just crush his heart.I rolled onto my side, staring at Jillian's chartreuse dress. "I'm not
RPOV—Two Weeks Later"Are you excited for this evening?" asked Lissa, running her nimble fingers through my dark, luscious tresses. I sat in front of my giant, full-length mirror, watching as she carefully and expertly styled my hair. Her jade-green eyes stared at my reflection expectantly, waiting for an answer. Silence hung around us as I was trying to think of what to say.Prince Adrian and I had still been courting over the past couple of weeks, yet I didn't think I was wholeheartedly into our relationship as much as he was. Prince Adrian had showered me with gifts, took me to multiple venues for romantic dates, and dropped me off at Fairston Academy and picked me up. Everyone now knew that I was his territory, and no one challenged him. He was making the message insanely clear.With Prince Adrian's party being tonight, I felt both reluctant and enthusiastic. My brain was demanding me to be energetic and absolutely interested in the entire event; however, my heart dreaded having t
APOVOnce all of the maidens left the palace, I went to an empty table in the ballroom and practically swallowed a glass of red wine. The bitter liquid raced down my throat, lightly stirring my stomach, bringing me a familiar and comforting burn. I could hear my mother, Queen Daniella, coming up to me, her heeled shoes clicking against the marble floor."Adrian, what's wrong?" she questioned, placing her manicured hand on the shoulder of my suit jacket. Her forest-green eyes were swimming with worry as they penetrated me. I sighed loudly, setting the wine glass down, internally wishing that I could just continue drowning myself in alcohol without any disruptions.I turned around to face her. "I'm stressed, Mother. How am I going to choose a bride in a month when there were countless maidens that came here tonight?" I demanded, running a hand through my stylishly messy, brown hair. She nodded in sympathy, moving closer to embrace me. I was too uneased to return the gesture, but I appre
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
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
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
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
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,
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
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
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
January 17th, 1686RPOVRhea stood at my bedside, penetrating me with her jade-green stare. I was incredibly surprised to see her here—I'd expected her to be halfway to England by now—even though she'd said she'd return. Countless emotions captured her wickedly beautiful face, but I couldn't place them. Did it pain her to see me like this? Was she internally dancing with joy and victory?"What are you doing here?" I asked, feeling confused. I sat up in bed, slightly wincing at the pain that shot through my body. Dr. Olendzki had been giving me effective pain relievers—they made me feel so fantastic—and the pain was nicely fading away each passing day.Rhea had the audacity to roll her eyes. My blood sizzled. "I told you that I was going to come back," she snapped, bristling with irritation. "You seriously forgot?" I couldn't believe this woman didn't have the consideration to be patient with me, after my grisly attack. If she was going to continue being rude, then she needed to get th