My dear freedom

When she woke up, Roselyn went to Kathy's room to tell her goodbye one last time before leaving the house probably forever. Having to keep her secret from her family was bearable, but keeping it from her loyal friend, the only one who always supported her and sided with her, uncaring about the consequences. That was not something she could easily overcome or forget. When she met the miserable and wretched Kathy's gaze, she heard a hold tightening her heart. Roselyn ran to reach her and spread her arms wide to hug her tightly. Even if Kathy was clearly upset and sad, she still hugged her. Roselyn's eyes filled with tears, but melting into her embrace. She mindlessly let her fears run down her face, and since she couldn't be seen, she didn't bother wiping them off.

She kept her tightly close to her, like if she was concerned she would escape.

Then after several minutes she stepped backwards, smiling with the kindest yet saddest smile she could offer. Kathy's face assumed a red color because of the tears irritating her pale, sensitive skin.

"I will write to you. And think about you all the time." Roselyn said, taking her friend's hand and shaking it. After receiving the nod as an answer, she stepped toward the door's threshold to run once again to hug her one last time.

Kathy giggled and shared her hug. "Go now. Invite me at the castle when you'll be the Queen." She whispered.

Then Roselyn stepped out. Her family was waiting for her in front of the carriage. Her mother's face seemed emotionless. She was offering a smile but rather than a proud, radiant smile it seemed like a deceptive one, like the smile you offer to relatives when you receive a gift you dislike.

However, her smile was nothing compared to Sharon's smile. Rather than a decent smile, it was an annoyed one. Slightly curving her lips' corners up. Abigail instead smiled to her surprising happy. She was the first one to take a step forward to hug her. "I will miss you and your annoying speeches about being an emancipated woman. Who will deliver us moral lessons now?"

Her sentence loosened lightly her mother's facial empty expression and her smile shaped like a real one.

"Give justice to the Clayton family." Her mother finally spoke, smiling to her daughter and gently laying a kiss on her forehead. Roselyn smiled, but couldn't resist not to hug her.

She widened her arm, while hugging her mother, to indulge Sharon to join their hug, but Sharon remained where she was, turning her head in the opposite direction. "I will miss you, Sharon. I hope you can forgive me one day." Roselyn murmured gently, smiling to all her family and then finally stepped on the carriage.

"The King said that we shall change our destination. So I want to inform you that the travel will be quite long. He's already waiting for you there. If you have any further request, I am here to satisfy it, miss Roselyn." The man who was driving the carriage said as soon as it took off.

"May I ask what the destination is?"

"His will is to keep it reserved, as it might be a more satisfying surprise for you. Unless you'd prefer to know it, then your commands are my priority."

"A priority even to the King's intents?" Roselyn questioned puzzled staring at the window, staring at the carriage turn into the main street that brought out of the town.

"Yes, milady. He deliberately asked me to satisfy your desires before his owns."

"I like the idea of letting the destination undiscovered." Roselyn said.

She contemplated the view of trees rushing to her opposite directions, the feeling of unknown, of going to another place for the first time in her life without having to mind what dress suited best the jewelry she wore or what color to dress to look flattering according to her skin tone.

That was what she always wanted, and she finally reached it.

Roselyn felt tears ticketing her eyes unconsciously while joy wrapped around her heart, tears felt down her face. Her smile now became a laugh, as she couldn't believe what she was doing. The whole situation seemed so absurd but dreamy to leave her immersed in happiness. She wiped off her tears, realizing she was indeed crying with joy as her laugh boosted.

"Lady Roselyn, are you feeling Allright?" the coachman questioned, puzzled.

"I am. I am, never felt better!" She said. He smiled, reading the joy in her eyes.

After a few hours, the carriage stopped. The coachman went out to open the door; she stepped out but her pump caved into the floor, loosing almost her balance a familiar hand went to grab her.

"I suggest you, to remove your shoes." John's voice was heard from nearly. He took a step and smiled. Roselyn, holding the coachman's man on one side and the King's on the other one, kicked her pumps off, smiling, widening.

The coachman gapped mouth staring at her, as he's never seen a lady behave like that, and his shook was readable in his eyes. But Roselyn didn't care.

With her feet naked, she sank her fingers into that soft, warm bisque carpet. "turn around, Roselyn."

Hearing John's words, she turned around and her eyes were astonished at such a heavenly beauty. Sea's waves flow back and forth. Against the shores, they collapsed just to be recreated again. The color was crystalline and dedicated, of a lighter shade of the color that the sky sparkled. She ran toward it, lifting her skirt. The closer she got to the sea, the hotter the sand was becoming at the touch. When she reached the surface, she felt like she was walking into a cloud. She left her skirt fall down the water to spread her arms wide, relishing the side and the breeze that gently caressed her body.

She twirled around, smiling at the shore, brushing the water and watching it desegregating at the touch. Was that the taste of freedom? Was that what it feels like living without constraints?

Song suggestion: Malibu by Miley Cyrus