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6
ROSALIE
“I’m sorry to bother you, Your Highness, but you have a visitor to see you down in the library, your sisters are on their way,” Jane, one of our staff, tells me, rushing into my dressing room.
Who the hell is visiting us when they know we are on our way to Friendsburg for the Summer Ball? Reluctantly, I get up from the vanity where I was putting the finishing touches to my makeup before I slip on my heels.
“Who is it?” I ask Jane, curious to know who could possibly be important enough to demand our time in this moment.
“It’s Valerius,” Jane whispers as she nervously looks around the corridor as if saying his name would summon him to her.
What the hell does he want?
Anger bubbles in my veins as I reach the top of the grand staircase and hold up my dress as I carefully walk down them. I hate descending stairs in heels as I always think I’m going to trip and snap my neck as I tumble down; it would anger a lot of people if I did. At the bottom, I turn left and head down another corridor toward the library. I can hear Valerius’s evil laugh before I step into the room; my sisters must already be here. I suck in a deep breath, straighten my shoulders, plaster on my bestPrincessface, and walk into the library. The room falls silent as I enter, and I notice my sisters sitting silently together on one sofa, relief washes over their faces as they see me at the door.
Henrietta and her team have worked their magic for us tonight, creating some of the most stunning evening dresses I think we have ever owned.
Magnolia has gone for a gorgeous, classic red evening dress that shows off her insane hourglass figure. The color pops against her creamy alabaster skin, raven-colored hair, and bright blue eyes. She looks like a sexy Red Riding Hood.
Then there’s Skylar with her blonde hair and olive complexation. She has the same blue eyes as Magnolia. We all do. It’s a family trait. Skylar looks like a fifties bombshell, dressed in an ice-blue dress that dips low, showing off her ample cleavage. Only Skylar could get away with such a daring dress, she’s the most confident of us all. I stop inside the threshold of the library, taking in the scene.
Valerius is sitting in our father’s favorite chair, smoking one of his cigars as if he already owns the place, as if he’s already king. My eyes fall to the nearby marble bookend and thoughts of smashing it against Valerius’s head flash through my mind. Then I notice two handsome men dressed in black sitting off to the side, their eyes are dark as night as they look me over. One of them noticed my murderous gaze upon the bookends and gives me the smallest of headshakes, telling me to not even think about it. Then realization hits me, and I remember exactly who these two men are—Dante Carandini and Enzo Moretti, his sidekick. What in the hell are they doing here? I turn back and see Magnolia’s eyes have fallen to the floor, refusing to look at them.
“Rosalie, you look like a vision.” Valerius grins as he gets up from my father’s chair and stalks over to me, giving me a kiss on each cheek.
I try and hide the flinch at his touch, but I don’t do it quickly enough, earning me a scowl from him. “The prince will be very impressed with this dress, my girl.” He smirks, then turns his back on me and heads back to the chair.
The prince won’t be impressed that I did not inherit my sisters’ bombshell looks, their curves, or large breasts. Instead, I got a slim body with average boobs, but I do have great legs, or so I’ve been told. I did inherit the Moore family’s blue eyes—the one thing I have in common with my sisters. Henrietta created a shimmery yellow evening dress, which pairs well against my tanned skin. She then gave me a daring split up the side of my dress, to show off my legs while I walk, knowing they are my best asset.
Skylar holds out her hand for me to come and join her on the sofa and I take a seat beside her.
“Have we passed your inspection?” I ask Valerius, disdain dripping from my words. Skylar squeezes my hand in warning.
His dark eyes narrow on me, and his hand tightens around the edge of the armchair, knuckles turning white as he holds his rage back.
I look over at where Dante and Enzo are sitting, and they don’t look impressed with my talking back.
Screw them.
“The three of you all look beautiful,” Valerius begins. “Your father would be proud of the women sitting before me.”
Why do I feel like there’s a but coming?
“But …”
And there it is, the real reason he is here.
“I came to remind Magnolia that she is already engaged, so she shouldn’t be getting any ideas about the prince. I’ve already written to the king explaining the situation and he has graciously let her attend as your chaperone.” Valerius smiles as he takes a puff of his cigar.
He did what? I turn and look over at my sister who is still refusing to look anywhere other than at something utterly fascinating on her dress.
“Is that why Dante is back? To remind my sister of her obligation?” I ask. Skylar squeezes my hand again, silently asking me to stop poking the bear, but I can’t.
“Yes,” Valerius answers honestly, “his time abroad is over, and he has obligations to attend to at home.”
I look over at Dante, and he doesn’t look pleased at all about being back in Aegina. I don’t blame him; he’s had a taste of freedom and now he’s back in his gilded cage. But maybe this is a good thing, something that Magnolia could exploit; she could find out his true feelings about his father. Because if he has as much hatred toward him as we do, then he could be a great ally for us or for my sister, he might protect her against him.
“Obligations like marrying Magnolia?” I state.
