16 "I AM WEAK, PAPA."

ROSABELLA'S POV

Fuck! That stung.

I changed the cloth that was wrapped around my arm because my wound had bled through it.

I couldn't believe everything that had just happened today. It almost felt unreal.

The fact that he had squeezed the exact spot I was hurt, really did hurt. But I wanted to not care.

I really, really wanted to slap him in front of everyone.

"Your Majesty, how was the meeting?"

I looked up and saw all three of them waiting to hear from me.

"Well, if you want to know a short summary, then it was not enjoyable. I did get the Lormeian empire an equal division of the common powers."

Delilah and Lara looked at each other and Lara spoke up.

"And how the King? D- Does he look as good as the Mortales say he does?"

"Lara, that's no way to talk to your queen!",shrieked Mia.

I chuckled at their silliness.

"It's fine Mia. Hale, I- I mean the king, he was a piece of work. I mean, was he good looking? Yeah, I wouldn't say he wasn't. Was he muscular and the ideal type that women go for now a days? Yeah, that is true too. I mean, I couldn't deny it in my right mind with his broad shoulders, and muscular form, green eyes and high cheekbones. His brown hair were styled perfectly, and I really just wanted to glide my finge- W- What I mean is that he was attractive. But his personality was of a literal bastard, excuse my words. He really got on my nerves. Especially with his bright green eyes and-"

"Your Majesty, you are rambling."

I blinked at Mia, and looked away when I realized what I was doing.

"S-Sorry girls, it has just been a long day, and I really, really want to get over the day I just had."

They looked around and grinned.

"Then we have just the thing for you, Your Majesty!"

They began to leave the chamber as I stared at them.

"Oh, you want me to follow you?"

"Yes!", exclaimed Delilah.

I got off the bed and began to follow the three them. Mia was leading the group, while I walked behind them slowly.

"You are going to really like this, your Majesty!"

I chuckled at their excitement. They were a handful, but it almost felt like they were the only ones I could trust here.

We stopped in front of a stairway that I was seeing for the first time. I had already been in the castle for a week but I still didn't get any time to explore the place I called my home.

"Oh we are going to get into so much trouble if we get caught!", hushed Delilah.

Lara grinned and looked back at me.

"That's where most of the fun comes from."

They both broke out into quiet giggles, while Mia shook her head.

It almost felt like Mia was more a mother, less a boss to them.

"Your Majesty, I apologize for this behavior of theirs. They have just become a little too comfor-"

"No, Mia. Let it be. At least they make me feel more at home than anything else here."

Mia and I exchanged a smile, that made me feel like she understood what I didn't say.

Once we reached the top of a staircase that felt never ending, I looked around.

I couldn't, for the love of Daeg, guess where we were or what was to come.

Delilah and Lara stopped in front of a door that had a different design than any other door I had seen in the palace.

It had a 'no entry' board nailed to it.

Was going through that door wise?

"Come on in, Your Majesty!"

I took in a deep breath and nodded.

What could people even do if they found out if I was here?

After all I was the Queen.

Their Queen.

It was the royal balcony.

And it was gigantic one.

Someone could live here. Well not someone royal, because they would complain about the lack of space. But a common man would be grateful to live here.

I didn't even know the palace had a balcony.

And why would they keep it off limits?

I looked up at the sky, and gasped at how beautiful the night sky looked. If someone were to paint this, I would hang it on the wall above my bed.

The night was a special kind of blackness, the kind that wants only to hold the stars and help them to shine all the brighter. It was a warm black that hugged you no matter what, and within it's safety I could feel my own soul all the more clearly, that innocent inborn spark.

The stars reminded me of the dream I had this morning. It didn't even take me a minute to spot sirius.

Was this the universe's way of mocking me?

Hale was a changed man.

And he had changed for the worse.

I couldn't even imagine being in love with a man like him. A part of me hated him.

"Beautiful, isn't it your Majesty?"

I nodded.

But a bigger part of me hated myself for wanting him to be the man I fell in love with.

I couldn't expect that from him.

"The maids come here very often at nights."

I nodded, once again.

My mind still chanting his name.

Hale Underwood.

We had always played around with his last name. Attaching it with mine, and smiling about a future we both wanted but never got.

And look how fate played us.

We are, once again, on opposing sides.

Where one doesn't remember.

And the other can't forget.

"If you want, then we can give you a spare key to the door."

I smiled at Mia and nodded.

"I would like that, Mia."

She looked at the other two and signaled toward the door.

"We will be in your chamber, Your Majesty."

I turned around to nod, but they were already gone by that time.

"Why?", I whispered, hoping that someone would hear me.

"Why me?"

Fate was supposed to be your friend.

But it never failed to be my enemy.

Sometimes.

Sometimes, I wished I could erase my own memories. But I know better. I know I can't. That's the curse of having such powers.

You can erase someone else's memory and free them of the pain, but can never erase your own.

You can never be out of pain.

Your magic is a boon to others but never always a blessing to you.

"Why am I the only one you mess with, huh?"

My vision blurred but I tried to keep the tears in.

'Crying is for the weak.', the my father's words played in my heads.

"But I am weak, papa."

I am weak.

I can't even make my own people respect me. What was I thinking when I assumed that Hale would have admired me. He doesn't even know who I am.

For Daeg's sake, he hates who I am because of my identity.

That misogynistic son of a-

"Your Majesty, there is someone here for you. Should I bring him in?"

I quickly wiped all the tears that had managed to escape, and turned around. Hoping I didn't already blow my cover.

"Yes Mia, please do."

Who could be here to meet me at this time?

There is no one who would want to com-

Oh God no!

"Hello, Bella!"

That familiar face.

"Oh why that long face?"

I can't believe he had the guts to come here.

"Shouldn't you be a little happier to see your brother?"