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"I'll be seeing you again in three months." Trinity shook Samuel's hand, sending a flood of crimson to his face.

"Bye bye Sammy!" the twins engulfed him in a hug.

"Goodbye to you all." Samuel waved, before turning to me, "Farewell, Rose."

"Adieu, mon cher ami." I hugged Samuel tightly before he boarded the carriage.

As the sound of the carriage clattering down the paved road faded into the distance, the servants returned to the castle, save Alice, Trinity, Fran, and I. The four of us made our way to the garden, chatting. I was happy to be able to call them friends, they were the closest ones I'd ever had, save Samuel, of course. My lips twisted into a smile when I remembered that in Samuel's absence, I was permitted to discuss his relationship with Trinity.

"So," I began, turning to face her, "It is indeed sad that Samuel had to go. What exactly do you think of him, Trinity?"

"Of Samuel?" she asked, while Fran, who understood what I was getting at, tried to conceal her excitement, "He's very kind. We're friends, I think."

"Handsome, isn't he?" Fran interjected innocently.

"Why... I suppose he is. Why do you ask?" Trinity frowned.

"No reason. Though I do think the two of you would make quite the couple." Fran remarked, straightforwardly.

"C-Couple?! Why in God's name would you say such a thing?" Trinity cried, a steady blush creeping up into her face.

"Ah, I knew you regarded him as more than a friend." Alice smirked.

"What are you - I don't - That's-" Trinity took in a deep breath, calming herself, before continuing, "That's preposterous."

"If you insist." Fran said smugly.

The chime of the large city clock tower rang out, and I parted from my friends, making my way to the drawing room, where the King had requested we meet at noon. I arrived to find the King awaiting me, seated rather impatiently at the piano.

"Your first lesson, and you show up ten minutes late." he clicked his tongue.

"I was out at the gardens." I answered making my way over to the piano "So, this is to be a daily thing, then?"

"Indeed it is, and I expect that you will arrive on time from now on." he said, before smirking mischievously, "Unless you want to be punished?"

"Punished? How so?" I asked, before the realization dawned on me, "Non, non, nevermind."

The lessons did become a daily occurrence, and I had to wonder what it was the King was getting out of them. He wasn't toying with me, for the most part, anyway. It would seem that he only wanted to spend time with me. The reason why, I could not decipher. A few weeks past and I already saw a vast improvement in my skill. Of course, a critique with any sense would call my playing a trainwreck, but I was coming along. In fact, things were beginning to look up around the castle. I'd begun to grant Anne some time to herself, by watching the twins for her. Each day I'd teach them how to bake something new, and they enjoyed the activity immensely.

Samuel's return was steadily drawing nearer, and we exchanged letters nearly every week. Fran, Alice, Trinity and I were growing ever closer, and Anthony was ever the audacious gardener, keeping the yard extravagant as the winter slowly melted away into spring.

"Hey Anthony!" I greeted my friend as I passed by the gardens one brisk morning.

"Rosalie!" he returned, overly cheery.

Ever since the snow had melted and the ground thawed, Anthony has been the happiest I've ever seen him, the man was truly obsessed with gardening.

"How are you? I haven't seen you about the palace lately."

"Oh, I spend the day outside, after all, I've got all the castle grounds to cover before April." he said, wiping some perspiration from his forehead.

"Really? Do you need help? I'm in no way a gardener, but if you need it, then-"

"No, no. That's quite alright Rose, I enjoy my job, it's not at all a taxing profession." he smiled, "How are your lessons coming?"

"Well enough..." I trailed off, knowing I was severely lacking in skill.

"And how is the King? Have you two made amends?" he continued.

"I suppose." I said, knowing it was a lie, for deep down I still bore hard feelings against the King for his actions that night.

"Rosalie you are a terrible lier." he laughed, shaking his head.

"I'm not-" I was cut off by the sound of the bell ringing, signalling that I was to meet the King.

I rushed through the halls, hoping to make it there before the King. When I at last arrived at the room I was out of breath, as I twisted the doorknob, and pushed the door open, to find none but the King, seated at the piano.

"Dear, the key to arriving on time is to make your way here before the bell, not when it sounds." he said, "I can't imagine how you were ever a successful soldier, being late all the time."

"Haha, can we begin?"

"We may." he nodded his head, gesturing that I sit beside him, "Play the song we practiced yesterday."

I breathed in, gently placing my fingers on the cool black and white keys, and starting. As per usual, I only made it through the first four bars before messing up as the quarter notes turned into sixteenth notes. I looked to the King, my drive to play faltering. How would I ever become a good player if I could not complete the simplest of tasks?

"Begin again." he said sternly.

And I did. And I did again. And again, each time failing at the fifth bar. I sighed exasperatingly, glaring at the King again.

"Were you never taught as a child? Did your mother play? Your father?" the King asked, causing my heart to skip a beat, "Oh, I'm so sorry Rosalie, it slipped my mind."

"That's alright." I said, looking at the piano to avoid the King's sympathetic gaze.

"What happened to them, if you don't mind my asking?"

"How should I know? They didn't care to leave a note when they abandoned me in a gutter." I said, before gasping, realizing what I'd just said.

"They left you? You were an orphan?"

"No, I... Forget what I said. Please." I said, meeting the King's eyes.

"Rosalie, please, I want you to trust me, to talk to me." he said, placing a hand on mine.

"In case you've forgotten, your highness," I spat, pulling away my hand, "That didn't end so well the last time."

"I'm sorry, Rose, I didn't mean to hurt you."

"But you did, and those who lose my trust never earn it back." I stood from the seat, "Besides my past matters not."

"It does, and I've asked for an answer." he stated firmly.

"And I've refused to give one. Can you not find it in your cold and cruel heart to grant me this one decency?! You've taken one of the only things I had left, my freedom, just give me the courtesy of keeping my dignity." I shouted, as the King rose from the seat.

"You're right, it matters not. Well, to me, anyway. And, let me make it clear, that I will not tolerate this kind of speech from you any longer. Treat me with respect, and I shall continue to allow you to live here, or rather to live at all." he spoke softly, and I could tell I had offended him, "Return to your room."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" I began but he cut me off.

"I don't care what you meant or did not mean, keep in mind that you are nothing but a toy to me, nothing that can't be replaced."

"And yet time and time again, you keep disproving that statement." I shook my head, making my way out of the room without sparing the King a second glance.

A month past slowly, and the King and I did not exchange a single word. We didn't even look each other when we happened to pass in the hall. It was miserable. I still had my friends in the palace, but I found myself growing more and more depressed as the days inched by. I wanted to speak to the King, to apologize, but I couldn't. He was beginning to inquire into my past, something no one had ever been told about. I couldn't trust him with it, my one weakness, my one vulnerability. So long as I stayed away from the King, I would be safe.

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