The Enchanted Rose by Konstanz Silverbow Read Free Book Online Page A

does not deserve the lack of pity my father and mother have shown her. It feels as though my blood is boiling, on fire as rage courses through me. How is it possible that Nadi has been treated so poorly? 
    I circle around, watching faces go by, people wandering about while they go through their daily routines. 
    Few stop and look at me. Some just glance my way before continuing. Madrid stays still, looking at the ground. 
    “What has happened to this kingdom, Madrid?” Nadi’s place of business isn’t the only one boarded up. I throw the wood on the ground and grab more. 
    “I do not know, milady. But I think we have seen enough for today.” She grabs my arm. “Roselyn, we cannot help everyone at once. Let it go. Speak to your father and find out what is going on. Right now, I feel we should move along before word gets back to the queen.” 
    I look at her, the worry showing on her face. I glance around and realize there are two guards nearby, one of whom is now glancing at us.  
    “You’re right.” I look at the wood lying at my feet. “She can’t know. I can only imagine the suffering these people will go through if she sees the damage I have caused, the scene I’ve made in front of the people.” 
    I grab Madrid’s hand and make a dash through the crowd. The guards are close behind. I can hear the clanking of their armor with every step. I hope they’ll keep their mouths shut about my stop between the seamstress’s and the castle, but threatening them, commanding their silence, is something Jossa would do. And while she may be my mother, I never want to stoop to her level of control. Sometimes I honestly wonder if she is my mother at all. As for my father, I cannot base my judgment on much.
    Rarely do I see him. Rarely is he in a state of mind where my words could get through to him. 
    It causes me to worry. Could Jossa be in such a hurry for control that she would hurt her husband? Perhaps poison him to a mindless state? No. I can’t think like that. My mother wishes for power, but she would never harm anyone for it.
    If that were the case, she wouldn’t feel the need to send me off to another kingdom to live out my days with a man I don’t love.  But if that’s the only reason she is forcing me to marry Chavez, it doesn’t make sense, because she would get the same result if I were to marry Osric. 
    Something isn’t right—that much I know, and I am determined to figure it out. The kingdom is falling apart, and the woman demanding control isn’t doing anything to save it. Why? 
    My head hurts, trying to think this through. I pinch the bridge of my nose as I walk, hoping the throbbing in my skull will go away. 
    “Milady, I believe you’ve been in the sun too long. Perhaps you should lie down.” I nod and follow her to my quarters. There, I fall into bed, pull the covers over myself, and fall into a fitful sleep. 
     
    It feels as if a vise is squeezing my skull. Even the faintest of sounds causes the throbbing to intensify to an almost unbearable degree. But I continue forward, Madrid right behind me, as I march toward Father’s study. 
    I ignore the guards standing on either side of the doors and burst through them, pushing them open more with magic than my two arms. A few papers dislodge from the desk, fluttering to the floor. A part of me feels sorry for making a mess, but it is not my primary concern at the moment.
    “Roselyn, I did not expect this visit.” Father jumps up from his chair and walks around the desk, embracing me. 
    I stiffen, not expecting it, and now unable to move my arms. “Father,” I begin. He cuts me off before I can adequately protest. 
    “Yes, yes. Please have a seat.” He drags a chair to me. “What did I do to deserve such lovely company?” 
    While I sit, he drags another one across from mine for himself. I look around and notice that Madrid did not follow me inside. 
    “Are you aware of the people and the state they are in? Nadi, the