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Twelve - Not All Changes Are Bad
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Happily Ever After Thirteen - When Broken Things Mend
RPOV"How was the outing?" Lissa wondered, coming over to stand beside me. She wore a flowing, pale blue gown that emphasized her porcelain skin and had long, lacy sleeves. Her slender waist was smaller due to a corset, and white gloves covered her delicate hands. Straight, platinum-blond hair fell down her back like a waterfall. As always, Lissa was angelically beautiful.Yet, it countered her expectant stare, her desire to know my answer. My heart was palpitating underneath my ribcage—its beat filled my ears as sweat gathered on my forehead and in my shirt. How could I possibly tell her that Cesarevich Dimitri taught me swordsmanship? She wouldn't approve. It was against everything we were taught..."Rose." I looked up from my hands, meeting Lissa's curious and concerned jade-green gaze. "What's the matter? Why can't you just answer my question?" A soft laugh escaped her, but it quickly ceased, for she fell serious. Lissa drew closer to me. Her voice was barely a whisper. "You didn'
Happily Ever After Fourteen - Defying Tradition
RPOV—One Month LaterCesarevich Dimitri's silver sword narrowly missed my head as I ducked late. I could hear the sound of pure metal swiping against air, and my heart thundered in my chest while I laboriously breathed. His dark brown eyes pierced mine, and sweat poured down both of our bodies as if we were melting. Strands of lighter hair were plastered to his face. "Focus, Rose," he demanded.Nodding, I quickly recovered and gathered my strength, gripping my sword in my hands. The ornate hilt felt warm and slippery underneath my skin, but I imagined that the blade was as cold as ice. Cesarevich Dimitri and I circled for a while, until he found an opportunity and swung at my open side; however, I saw it coming and blocked, pushing his sword back."Good," he commented, his intense gaze brightening and lean body relaxing. Then, it darkened and he fell back into the instructor's mindset. "But I know you can do more than that, Rose. Take advantage of your potential." I nodded, then conce
Happily Ever After Fifteen - The Sunday Bunch
RPOVThe Russian royal palace was ornately beautiful—colorful, patterned architecture starkly contrasted against the gray, cloudy sky. Similar to the Protestant Church of Fairston Academy, its structure seemed formidably majestic with all its sharp angles, smooth curves, looming height, and enormous area.My family and I arrived at the wrought, iron gate, where stoic guards stopped our bumbling carriage from proceeding. I could hear their robotic, heavily accented voices demand, "State your business," to the coachmen. After the coachmen explained our presence, the guards wordlessly opened the gate, which uttered a low creak. The horses' hooves clopped along the ground as the carriage rolled forward.As we rode to the palace on the long pathway, Lissa clutched my arm. Her slender body emanated excitement. "I can't believe we're actually going to have brunch with the royal family of Russia! Isn't this wonderful?" she gushed, her pale skin turning happily red.Jill smiled, her pretty, wh
Happily Ever After Sixteen - With Love Comes Misery
RPOVTense silence hung between us, poisoning the atmosphere as if it were a toxic chemical. Tasha led me down an abandoned hallway, her silver gown gliding against the marble floor in the softest fashion. As my eyes stared at her dark haired head, I couldn't help but gulp. What on earth did she want to discuss with me?"So, Rosemarie," Christian's aunt slowly began. "I've been noticing your behavior around Cesarevich Dimitri and vice versa." Instantly, my body grew cold, and my heartbeat seemed to slow. Tasha stopped walking and turned to me once we reached the end of the hallway. Her ice-blue eyes pierced mine knowingly…I was certain a hint of jealously was present.I couldn't find my voice for several moments. All the while, she simply stared with the most penetrating gaze. "What are you suggesting, Lady Ozera?" I squeaked out, knowing her answer all too well. I glanced down at my hands as time progressed; they were pale.Tasha pretended to wonder, closing the distance that separat
Happily Ever After Seventeen - Pursuits Of Happiness
RPOVThe wintry, cold morning brought a poignant feeling upon me—white, fresh snow was falling to the earth in sheets, and the dark trees were extremely bare, their gnarly branches resembling a witch's claws. Weather like this made me feel dead and hollow, as if I was a ghost lurking within a human form. The Russian children playing outside, laughing and running without a care, couldn't even uplift my spirits.Why had Mother's demise occurred during this season? It was supposed to be a time of happiness, reunion, and love. However, every time winter arrived, I couldn't help but think of sadness, emptiness, and pain.I recalled Father advising me to always hold the positive memories close to my heart, but how could I when the negative ones dominated my thoughts? That had been my excuse, and quite naturally, he grew so tired of hearing those words that he had ceased trying to fix me.For the most part, I did mend myself. Yet, that small voice inside my head, hidden deep within my consci
Happily Ever After Eighteen - Rising Darkness
DPOVAfter the carriage disappeared from view, I walked back to the palace. It was no longer morning, and temperature was warmer than before. However, the sky remained cloudy and gray, and fresh, white snow fell to the cold ground. My family was waiting in the main hall, chatting as the royal staff tidied the dining room.When I reached them, my mother strolled up to me, reaching up her fingers to flick away snowflakes stuck in my hair and on my suit jacket. While she did this, I asked her in Russian, "Have you seen Tasha since I've been outside? It's been a while since she missed breakfast." Even though she wasn't a high priority in my life anymore, I still had concerns for Tasha. Our history was long, and no matter what happened, I would continue to watch out for her.My mother's dark brown eyes met mine, innocent. "No, Dimka. I haven't," she replied back in Russian. Her hands then went to straightening my hair and attire. "Do you have any idea why she hasn't been present?" she ques
Happily Ever After Nineteen - Love Will Prevail
January 6th, 1686DPOVThe ballroom was nicely coming together. It was early afternoon, and event planners were bumbling throughout the majestic room, making sure that everything was in place for my family's annual ball. I could honestly say that I looked forward to this every year—I took joy in reuniting with people I hadn't seen in a while and meeting wonderful maidens from all over the world.A small woman in a sophisticated dress came up to me, a notebook and quill clutched in her aging hands. She had graying, polished hair tied into a tight bun, and her eyes darted anxiously. "We're making significant progress, your excellency, but I'm not certain if we'll finish in time," she swiftly began in Russian.I surveyed the area, taking in the exquisitely clean, marble floors; silver chairs neatly positioned at round tables covered with pure white tablecloths and adorned with wintry centerpieces; light drapes against the commodious, glass windows; an open dance floor; crystal chandelier
Happily Ever After Twenty - Lost At Sea
APOVA stout, middle-aged crewman ran into my quarters, out of breath and riddled with panic. It took me a while to realize that someone had intruded on my romantic interlude with Sydney, until she squealed and hastened in covering up her naked body.I climbed out of bed and grabbed my shirt that was on the wooden floor. "What is it that you want?" I demanded, bristling with annoyance. Whatever it was, it had better be good enough to interrupt an intimate evening with my wife.The crewman didn't respond—he was adamantly focused on Sydney's bare form, his wide eyes glazed with lust. I slapped him across the face, causing him to yelp and rub his cheek. "Don't you ever look at my wife in such a way," I growled. "Answer the question, you perverted bastard. I haven't got all night."He swiftly recovered, but words refused to leave his mouth for several moments. He was quivering all over, and a sheet of sweat broke out over his feverish flesh. I was beginning to grow insanely worried, so I
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