Chapter 42
One Monday morning, Kingston and Louis were awakened by a faint sound coming from the bed.
The two men had fallen asleep on makeshift beds on either side of Roseline. Kingston slept on the right while Louis occupied the left. Even in their sleep, they remained close to her, as though unconsciously guarding and protecting her.
Two royals sleeping on the floor.
One was her husband.
The other was her brother.
A soft cough broke the silence.
"Kingston…"
The weak sound of her voice jolted both men awake instantly.
Sleep?
What sleep?
The moment they heard her voice, whatever exhaustion had kept them asleep vanished.
Both men turned toward the bed.
Roseline's eyes slowly fluttered open.
Then she immediately shut them again.
The bright rays of the early morning sun pouring through the windows were too much for her eyes after being closed for so long.
Kingston quickly rose to his feet and pulled the curtains shut, plunging the room into a comfortable darkness. Louis lit a lamp, allowing only a soft glow to fill the chamber.
Gradually, Roseline opened her eyes again.
The first thing she saw was her husband and her brother staring at her.
Their faces were filled with joy.
Pure, overwhelming joy.
The happiness reflected in their eyes was so contagious that Roseline found herself smiling too.
The feeling was mutual.
Although Roseline had been unconscious, she had not been completely unaware of what was happening around her.
She had heard them.
She had heard the discussions about the palace, the tension that had filled its walls, and her brother's plans.
She also knew about Kingston's restlessness.
How could he not be troubled when his wife had been unconscious for more than a month?
One and a half months.
To him, it must have felt like an eternity.
Louis carefully helped Roseline sit up while placing a pillow behind her back for support. Kingston immediately handed her a glass of water.
"Call the physician," Kingston ordered one of the guards stationed outside the room. "Tell him to get here immediately."
Before the sun had fully stretched across the palace, Roseline's chamber was already filled with visitors.
The family of the late Queen had occupied nearly every available space in the room.
It was impossible not to notice the love and concern they had for Roseline and Louis—the last living blood of their beloved sister.
Their presence alone spoke volumes.
They cared deeply for them. Perhaps even more than words could ever express.
For an entire week, Roseline was practically glued to her bed.
"Don't do this."
"Don't do that."
"Stay in bed."
"Rest."
Even when she felt healthy enough to jump around the entire palace, they refused to let her do anything.
Honestly, could somebody please tell them that she was well enough to run a marathon?
She had spent over a month unconscious! Her body had stayed rigid, refused to hear her command while her consciousness was trapped in, she could feel and hear all what was going on around her.
And now they are telling her to stay more in bed?
How much more resting did they expect her to do?
Could she cry to show her discontent? She was feeling very frustrated, angry, angry and angry!
She had loved the care, pampering and attention but now she need air. Fresh air. She wants to walk outside, touch the petals, bath in sunlight and walk the garden in evening glow.
Should I tell them I feel like suffocating in here? Will it be too much? Will it sound insulting?
Or maybe tell Louis I wish to follow him to the court room? Maybe that would convince them.
Unfortunately, it didn't.
Everyone continued treating her as though she might collapse at the slightest movement.
Finally, the first week packed its bags and left.
By the second week, Roseline was finally freed from the endless list of dos and don'ts imposed by the two men. By the her mother's family who had refused to leave her side since she woke up.
She was free!
So free that she almost considered singing and dancing through the palace.
But that would be childish, right?
...Right? Ah life is sweet when not bedridden. She didn't pray for it again. It was painful and lonely. To be in bed enduring pains upon pains with no one to hold on to
She would have been traumatized if no one was always beside her in the room then. Thanks to her family presence, she could fight her way out with their borrowed strength.
But now, the comforting presence is now about to choke with over pampering.
Finally freed, she need to celebrate it for two days. In her own ways.
Louis gradually began returning to his duties, though he still made sure to spend time with Roseline.
One day, he would attend to his responsibilities.
The next, he would stay with Rose.
It became an on-and-off routine.
Kingston, however, had his own plans.
He had started considering leaving the palace and returning home with his wife. After all, he desperately wanted some time alone with her.
Ever since they had arrived at the palace, there was always someone around.
Louis.
The physicians.
The guards.
The relatives.
Someone was always there.
But just when Kingston began thinking about finally taking his bride away, Louis's words poured cold water over his enthusiasm.
"She needs to remain within the palace walls for the next two weeks," Louis said firmly. "Don't do anything that could cause her harm. She can't leave the palace yet."
And just like that, Kingston's dreams of finally having his wife all to himself disappeared.
He could only sigh and accept his fate.
Meanwhile, Chloe seemed to have been completely forgotten.
Her father had chosen power over her freedom.
Rather than appealing to Louis or even begging for his daughter's release—which, realistically, had almost a zero percent chance of succeeding—he had done nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Perhaps he knew it was useless.
Or perhaps power simply mattered more to him than his daughter's freedom.
Either way, Chloe remained where she was.
During one of the days that Roseline finally regained enough freedom to move around and explore the palace again, an unexpected visitor arrived.
Chloe mother had come to the palace.