Father,
If there is any part of you that still remembers you have a daughter, then you will read this and not cast it aside like you did me.
I know what you did. I know you took his gold and gave me away without a second thought, as though I was nothing more than something to be traded. I have tried to understand it, I have tried to tell myself you had no choice, but I cannot make sense of it no matter how I try.
This place is not what you think it is. The king is even worse than what they say. I have seen things I cannot put into words, things that have not left my mind since I saw them, and I do not feel safe here. Not for a single moment.
If you ever cared for me, then take the gold back to him and ask for me in return. I am begging you, Father, do not leave me here. I do not want the dresses, the jewels, or whatever else you thought I would gain from this, I only want to leave.
Please… come for me before it is too late.
-Rosalind.
Rosalind stared at the letter she had written, reading over it again and again to be certain she had poured enough feeling into it, enough to make him reconsider.
As angry as she was at what he had done, she knew anger would not take her anywhere in this situation, it would only harden him further, so she had swallowed it down and chosen to beg him.
The letter seemed fine to her now, and she could only hope he would see reason in her words and come for her, she didn't care how he would manage it, she only wanted to be taken away from this place.
She folded the letter carefully and poured hot wax over it to seal it and pressed a stamp into it afterward.
Once she was done, Rosalind knew she would have to get the letter into the mailbox around the building, and that meant leaving later and not in the afternoon where she could easily be seen and questioned, where the letter might end up in the king's hands instead.
That was the last thing she wanted.
So, she remained in her room throughout the afternoon and into the evening as she ignored even the knock that came at her door. She pretended not to hear it and listened to the sound fade away, followed by retreating footsteps.
She was grateful that Alaric had not summoned her. He seemed occupied with matters of state, and that was working in her favor.
Later that night, Rosalind rose from the bed and walked toward the window. She peered out and noticed the servants beginning to put out the lights one after the other, signaling the end of the day.
This was her chance!
All she had to do was slip the letter into the mailbox and it would be delivered. She had to do it herself because she trusted no one else with it especially when the risk of it finding its way back to the king was so high.
She changed into a dark dress to blend into the night and pulled a black scarf over her head, her heart pounded against her chest as she moved toward the door.
She dragged the cupboard away from it and removed the lock, then she paused briefly, hoping the noise hadn't alerted the people around her.
When she stepped out, her hazel eyes swept across the corridor, and relief washed over her when she found it empty. It seemed like the other mistresses had retired for the night, and that was exactly what she needed.
Rosalind moved carefully, making as little noise as possible as she descended the stairs. She glanced back again and again to be certain no one was following her before continuing toward the door.
Unknown to her, a figure slipped from the corner as their fingers brushed lightly against the wall and their narrowed eyes followed Rosalind's movements.
"What is she up to?" The mistress wondered with a faint smile tugging at her lips. And she decided to follow.
If this led to trouble for Rosalind, then perhaps it might earn her favor with the king.
Rosalind's gaze settled on the guards stationed outside. They were positioned directly before the mansion, and she frowned slightly. Of course it would be guarded. Alaric would never make something like this easy.
Fortunately, the two men assigned there were barely alert. One was already asleep while the other one struggled to stay awake. Her eyes dropped to a pebble on the ground and she bent to pick it up, tossing it lightly at the one who slept before slipping behind a nearby pillar.
"Hm?" the guard mumbled, stirring slightly as he glanced at his partner with a frown before sleeping again.
Rosalind stepped out just enough to throw another pebble at him.
"Hey, cut it out!" he snapped, shoving the other man roughly.
"What the hell?" The other one questioned.
"I said cut it out!" The same man repeated. He was more irritated now as another pebble struck him, and soon the two of them were arguing, turning on each other in annoyance.
Rosalind didn't wait any longer, she took the opportunity and slipped past them quickly, her steps hurried but careful as she disappeared into the night.
She suddenly caught the sound of guards approaching. Their footsteps were heavy as the faint glow of torches flickered against the walls, and she hurriedly ducked into a nearby bush while holding her breath as she watched them pass. Her heart pounded wildly against her chest.
One of the guards slowed, his torch lifting slightly as though he had heard something, and Rosalind's breath caught in her throat. Her body went completely still as she pressed deeper into the bush. She was afraid that even the sound of her breathing would give her away, but after a brief pause, the guard turned and continued walking.
'That had been so close' she thought inwardly as she sighed in relief. She couldn't even imagine what would have happened if they had caught her wandering like this.
Not far behind, the other mistress followed Rosalind while keeping enough distance not to be noticed.
Rosalind slipped out from the bush the moment the path cleared and hurried forward while keeping her head low as she moved.
When she finally reached the mailbox she had noticed earlier that morning, she paused, glancing left and right to make sure no one was watching before slipping the letter inside. Rosalind didn't linger. She turned immediately and began to make her way back, her pace was brisk as though the longer she stayed, the greater the chance of being caught.
A moment later, the mistress emerged from her hiding place, her gaze lingering in the direction Rosalind had gone until she was completely out of sight. Without hesitation, she moved toward the mailbox and retrieved the letter and a smirk spread across her lips.
"How interesting" she thought to herself, clutching it in her hand before turning away with a different destination already forming in her mind.