Rose

Chapter 3 : Aetheria

Unknown POV

ONE MONTH LATER...

"She's at Blackmoth estate, west of here at the edge of the city. It's heavily guarded so beware of the patrols. I have someone on the inside who could sneak you in through a secret entryway without raising any alarms that would only make the mess that much harder to clean up. No witnesses, no loose ends. Once you provide proof that the b***h is dead you'll get the rest of what you're owed. Don't f**k this up !. "

" Shouldn't be a problem just make sure you're person gets us in with no problem and the rest should be a breeze. "

" don't underestimate her guards, their leader is formidable, the best swordsman in the kingdom."

" Then you're going to need ten of him to stop me. "

***

Rose POV

Even though I've been here for a whole month and no word from Raymond and the palace, I've grown to like this place. I've taken it as an escape from royal life being here is not as bad as I thought it would be. Luckily I have a new physician taking care of me in the time being, he's much more effective than Angus and much kinder a lot kinder. Heavens knew nog to bring Angus here I would've killed him myself . HE DID SOMETHING TO MY BABY !!!!. Sadly I only keep thoughts like that to myself I wouldn't want rumors of the queen's madness going around.

I've shifted my interests to the constellations, I spend most of my nights in the observatory gazing at the stars and learning about the worlds beyond our own, it's just so interesting !!! The different stars and planets the surround our own. All that undiscovered land. I hope after learning more about our own world someone discovers a way to explore the new worlds in the future. I've also started to learn new languages like Spanish and Italian, I've always wanted to learn but never had the time to royal duties and all ; not that I had to do much but anyway... I've grown closer to my staff, they've been with me through my worst episodes and I feel as part of getting better and distracting myself from my current issues I take the time to know the ones that have taken time to help me through this difficult time as much as most might not know this. Pepper, as I expected, is not from Zanthos in fact she's from a distant land on the other side of this continent she mentioned the name but it was just too complicated to remember, funny enough it didn't sound complicated but the spelling itself had me doing cartwheels in my head. I always suspected she was suspected she was foreign there were times she would come back to work months a time a shade darker than usual considering it's mostly cold in Zanthos. I wanted to ask why she moved but I couldn't help but noticing how uncomfortable talking about her hometown made her uncomfortable. Not wanting to pry I dropped the subject.

Jasper and I speak a lot more now, he tells me all these amazing stories about his childhood and what it was like during the reign of King Silus, Raymond's father and how the kingdom was in a much better situation before his ascension and I must say, for someone who cares about how his subjects view him, he doesn't seem to do much to show that he cares. Hunger and theft has increased in the lower ring of the city where the less fortunate reside. I tried to address the issue but that only seemed to anger him. He doesn't like feeling like his ability to rule is being questioned that's one of his many bad qualities I've grown to accept in the short time that I've been with him " Stay in a woman's place " he told me . I haven't brought it up since but my heart does go out to them though, I will have to make a note to go down to the city to at least spend the day with them, let them know someone in the palace is with them.

I myself know what it's like to be in need. Times were not always rosy before my father became king. So unlike Raymond I'm coming from a place of experience. I've lived it. Living in such conditions pushes one to do the unthinkable, anything to survive and make it to the next day no matter the cost and that's what he fails to understand, motivation that stems from something like that can soon turn dark.

I find myself slowly missing my palace life but that soon dies down when I remember all those gossips I had to entertain in the queen's court. Dreadful ! No motivation or plans to do anything meaningful with their lives. As much as I couldn't stand them i must admit, the banter was kind of interesting.

Although it was nothing compared to my home... Aetheria. We are a closed off nation, mostly nature and wild life we don't have tall structures, we also aren't as industrialized as most nations, our only connection to the outside world is trade. Other than that we depend on Mother Nature to provide. Back home, women have a voice, a choice, a seat at the table. We were one we take care of each other ; one with nature. Providing for her while she provides for us. I fight the tears back as I look out of the library window into the night sky, if I'm not in the observatory then I'm here reading and gaining more knowledge. Another thing I miss about home is that we are an intelligent people. Education is a fundamental part of our culture and taking care of our planet. In gaining knowledge you know how to take care of the planet you've been given, another quality the women at court and I do not have in common.

I wonder if my father ever thinks of me, ever since I married Raymond he hasn't spoken to me and as much as it hurts, I know somewhere deep down he still loves me... I hope. How we left things the last time wasn't ideal because I was thrust into marriage as an arrangement to strengthen trade relations between the two peoples, when he told me about it, I was furious!! Words were exchanged, and things were said things I wish I could take back. I never wanted to get married at such a young age. I always wanted to travel the world and explore the places not mentioned in texts, or illustrated on Maps.. I always imagined marriage, and children would eventually come later on in life, but seeing as though I am the youngest and all my siblings are either committed to other people or already married, I guess I had no choice, even though I hated Raymond at first, I grew to love him, his land and his people my duties to Aetheria had to come first. Although sometimes I felt the love I had for him and his nation wasn't returned if Angus wasn't an example... I roll my eyes at the thought of the old dog.

" MY QUEEN !!! ". Im snapped out of my thoughts as I turn to Pepper who's standing at the door. I swear she always comes at the worst possible times, although I can't help but notice how frantic she looks and the urgency in her tone. Something is wrong. " what is it ?!".

" we need to get somewhere safe the manor is under attack !!!"