Rose heaved the clothes into the washtub with a huff, water and bubbles splashing her. She let the clothes soak for a minute, then began the process of scrubbing the garments. The sun beat down on her back mercilessly, her only relief was the constant cool breeze. She did not mind the chore of washing Suzanna's clothes as it gave her the chance to work quietly and daydream.

Her thoughts drifted to Keira. All anyone knew was that the maidservant had been summoned to the throne room to face the King. Rose pondered what it would be like to face the judgement of the King. He was not known to be the most merciful of leaders. Rose frowned. She did not like that Keira had deliberately lied to her, but at the same time she did not want Keira to be heavily punished. Was it not enough that everybody would know she had lied to gain wealth? Keira must feel humiliated, Rose thought to herself.

"Working hard, I see," a voice said from behind her. Rose turned her head.

"Brianne!" She said, surprised. The healer stood nearby with her hands folded behind her back. Rose stood up and gave a short curtsey. "It is good to see you again! What are you doing here?"

"It is good to see you too, Rose. I was out on a short walk - I do not often have time away from my practice. I saw you and thought I might say hello."

"Have you been well?" Rose asked, out of curtesy.

"Of course. How are your injuries from the wolf?"

Rose beamed. "All better now. There is only one wound that is still closing, it must have been very deep."

Rose and Brianne talked for a few more minutes until Brianne gestured away.

"I should return to my clinic now. A healer can never spend much time away from their work," Brianne said with an amused expression.

"Is it hard for you? Never having free time because people always need you?"

"Once upon a time, when I was younger, I found it hard. But now it is my life, and I am at my happiest knowing that I am helping people."

"Is that why you became a healer? Because you wanted to help people?" Rose asked curiously.

"Aye. My brother was gravely injured when I was younger. I hated not knowing how to help him, so when I was older I took an apprenticeship with the healer of the town I was in. My parents were not happy," Brianne said with a short laugh.

"Why ever not?"

"They wanted me to marry and do the things a lady should, but my heart did not desire to live a life where I could not make a change in the world. Sometimes we must follow our dreams, even when everyone is telling us to go another way. The world may say there is only one option, but the world is not always right. We must go where we feel led, aye?"

Rose agreed and they said their farewell, but Brianne's words did not leave Rose's mind for the entire morning.

Rose finished cleaning the clothes and hung them outside to dry. She emptied the washtub then headed back inside to find Suzanna. She found her in the library with Princess Emily and Prince Liam. Rose entered the room and curtsied to the trio.

"It's the pretty servant," Emily said, pointing at Rose. Rose laughed and curtsied again to the young Princess.

"I am finished with the washing, my lady," she said to Suzanna.

"Excellent. I believe I have no more chores for you at the present moment. We are about to play a game of cards, you may join us if you wish," Suzanna replied. Rose was touched that Suzanna offered to let her join in a game with the three of them.

"You are very kind. However, I was hoping to visit the village today. If you do not need me I would like to go, with your permission of course, Your Highness."

Suzanna nodded her head. "Of course. You are free to go; I will see you this afternoon." Rose curtsied again and left the room eagerly. She hoped to visit Tilly's grave and perhaps look at the different market stalls.

Rose stopped by the servants' quarters and removed her money pouch from the chest under her bed. She slipped it into the pocket of her dress and then headed towards the exit of the castle. She left the castle doors and began walking towards the portcullis.

"Rose!" Someone called out. Rose stopped walking and looked around curiously. She could not see anyone she recognized. "Rose!" They called again, this time closer. Rose peered to her left and saw someone running to her. With a bit of surprise, she realised it was Keira. Keira reached her side and stopped to pant.

"Keira," Rose said, amazed. "What are you doing here?" What had happened with the King? Had Keira been punished? What if the King had been awful to her?

"I just left the throne room, I was going on a walk to clear my head. Where are you going?" Keira asked once she had caught her breath.

"To town. But what happened with the King, what did he say to you?"

"I will tell you. May I accompany you to the village?"

"Of course," Rose answered. The girls began walking along the dirt path that led to the village.

"I should tell you, first, that I lied," Keira began. Rose raised an eyebrow in response. "Prince Tristan never accosted me - as part of my punishment I have to help dispel the rumour." Rose frowned as she stared at the ground.

"Why did you lie? Everyone was so worried about you," Rose said. Keira bit her lip as guilt crossed her face.

"I know it was wrong of me to do. You see, the truth is my father is very ill. I am the only one who is able to work. I am doing my best to support him, but I was afraid... I lied because I thought that if I could secure the position of the future Queen then I would have enough money to ensure my father would return to full health again," Keira admitted. So she lied out of fear for her father, Rose thought to herself. "I am sorry I lied to you, though, I hope you can forgive me."

"I forgive you," Rose said immediately. "It is a shame that you lied to so many people and tried to dishonour the Prince, but I understand. You love your father. If I had a father I am sure I would have acted in a similar manner if he was unwell. I am glad you told me the truth - but what did the King decide?"

"He was not pleased. Oh, Rose, I was so intimidated standing before him. The King was going to strip me from my duties. He would have done it, too, but I cried and begged him to show mercy. I explained about my father," Keira confessed.

"And did that change his mind?" Rose asked curiously. Keira shook her head.

"No, not at all. He was very indifferent about my father."

"So you have been dismissed," Rose assumed, dismayed. What would happen to Keira's father now? How would Keira support him - it could be weeks until she found employment somewhere else. Would it be too late for him?

"Do you truly think I would be talking about this so calmly if that was the case?" Keira asked with a giggle. "No, I have not been dismissed. I would have been if it were not for Prince Tristan interceding. He pardoned me for my words against him." Rose's chest felt warm and fuzzy. Tristan was the most perfect, most wonderful and good man. He had pardoned a mere servant against the decision of the King.

"I am so glad, Keira," Rose answered with a big smile. Despite her lies, Rose decided she liked Keira.

"Me too. Instead of being dismissed I have to admit the truth to help stop the rumours, and my wage has been reduced for sixth months. But I do not mind, I should still have enough to help my father. The Prince is such a kind, noble man," Keira said with a sigh. Her eyes seemed to twinkle as she gazed dreamily at the sky. Rose frowned. Perhaps she did not like Keira that much after all.

"He is a good man," Rose agreed. A good, wonderful, marvellous, perfect, handsome man whom I completely adore. Rose sighed quietly. How unfortunate it was that she had fallen for the Prince. Then again, if Tristan would go against his father to help Keira... perhaps he would do the same for me. Rose shook her head. She was being silly; she could not ask Tristan to fight his father for her.

Rose looked up. The town was approaching them in the distance.

"What were you planning on doing in town?" Keira asked.

"I am visiting the grave of a friend," Rose responded quietly.

"Oh, I am sorry," Keira answered sincerely with wide eyes.

"It is okay," Rose said with a soft smile. "What are you going to do?"

"I thought I would visit my father. You could come too, if you would like. He gets lonely and likes to meet new faces."

"Oh, I..." Rose paused, trying to think of a kind way to refuse the invitation. A strange tugging on her heart stopped her. It would not harm her to stop and visit Keira's father. "I would love to," Rose finally finished with a smile. Keira grinned. "But you do not mind stopping at the grave of my friend, do you?"

"No, of course not. I would be honoured."

They arrived at the town. Rose stopped by a market stall to buy another bundle of flowers. Rose led Keira to the field of graves. Keira's face grew solemn as she followed Rose past the rows of grey stone. Rose led her to Tilly's grave. The stone was just as beautiful as she remembered. The flowers Rose had laid down were now withered and dry. Rose bent and brushed them away.

"That is a beautiful grave," Keira murmured as she bowed her head respectfully.

"The most perfect grave," Rose agreed, smiling as she thought of the effort Tristan had gone to for her. Rose carefully began placing her new bundle of flowers before the grave. "I miss you, Tilly," she whispered quietly. She stood up and ran her hand along the smooth stone. She stared at the grave for another minute before she looked away. "I am finished," Rose told Keira.

The girls left the grave and walked quietly away from the field of gravestones. They walked in relative silence as Keira led the way to her father's home. Rose daydreamed about Tristan and their conversation from that morning. She sighed blissfully as she thought over all the wonderful, kind things he had said to her. He had made it clear that he liked her. Her heart jumped in her chest; would he grow to love her, too? Oh, my Lord, I love him. Every time I see him I cannot help but smile. She sighed again, smiling as she thought over the way Tristan looked at her.

"What are you thinking about?" Keira asked curiously, with an amused expression on her face. Rose immediately dropped her smile and evened out her own expression.

"Nothing," she squeaked. Keira laughed.

"I do not believe you, but you do not have to share with me if you do not desire to." Rose smiled at the girl.

"Thank you, Keira. I confess, I do not often share my thoughts with others," Rose said meekly. Keira shrugged.

"It is no matter. But I shall say this: I have seen that look of love in people's eyes before. I hope it works out for you."

"S-so do I," Rose stumbled, surprised. Had she really been daydreaming with love in her eyes?

Keira led them through town, past the wealthier homes and towards the poorer section of the village. She entered down a street and paused in front of a house. It had no defining features and matched many of the houses surrounding it. It was one story and made of brick and timber. Keira knocked on the door and then opened it slowly.

"Father? It's me, Keira," she called. She was answered by a hacking cough that sounded throughout the house. Rose winced; it sounded painful. Keira stepped through the door and gestured for Rose to enter. Rose walked through the door and looked around. The halls were dark and dimly lit by candles. The small windows allowed little light to enter from the sun. "I am sorry, the house is not very extravagant," Keira said, shamefaced. Rose laughed quietly.

"I lived on the streets my whole life. To me this would have been heaven. It is a beautiful house, you do not need to be ashamed," Rose answered. Keira ducked her head and smiled.

"Thank you."

She led Rose down into a bedroom. Keira knocked lightly on the door and entered.

"Oh Father," she said. "You must try to keep warm." She gestured for Rose to come in. Rose entered the room hesitantly. There was a man on the bed. His cheeks seemed hollow, his eyes sunken. A light sheen of sweat covered his skin and his entire complexion was a pale, sickly white. Rose felt sorrow as she looked at the man. Keira walked forwards and covered him with more blankets, scolding him for not hiding from the cold as she did so. "You are looking a little better, that is good." Rose felt her eyes widen - this was looking better? "I brought my friend with me. This is Rose," Keira said as she tucked the extra blankets in. Rose smiled and curtsied to the man, bringing a shaky grin onto the man's face.

"Hello, sir," she said quietly. The man opened his mouth as if to speak, but instead another round of terrible coughing assaulted him. Rose grimaced - the poor man. Keira patted his back until the coughing fit ceased.

"Hello Rose," the man finally rasped. "It is nice to see a new face." He coughed again and Rose felt her heart pound in response. This man was terribly unwell - he should be with a healer, not alone in bed.

"How long have you been unwell, sir?" Rose asked.

"Call me James," he croaked out. Keira handed him a cup that was next to his bed. He drank for a moment and then handed it back to her. "A while," he finally answered.

"About five weeks," Keira explained. Rose's eyebrows shot up. Five weeks was a long time to be unwell with little recovery, if his current state was anything to go by.

"Should he not see a healer?" Rose suggested gently. It was not her place to order the family, but she was certain the man needed treatment.

"We cannot afford it," Keira said as her eyes filled with tears. "I am barely able to pay for the upkeep of the house, let alone for food and supplies. I would take him to a healer this moment if I could."

Rose frowned. Healers fees could be expensive. Her frown deepened when she realised Brianne had never asked her for payment when she was wounded by the wolf. She had not brought it up this morning. What had happened? It seemed unlikely that she would have forgotten to ask Rose to pay. Perhaps she had known that Rose could not have afforded the treatment and had decided to help her out of charity. Or... Rose immediately knew the answer. Tristan. Of course - it had to be him. He had probably paid for her. Rose's chest felt warm at the thought.

Another bout of coughing from James brought Rose back to the present. Rose had to help him, she could not leave knowing he was ill and in pain. Suzanna paid Rose a good wage and she had been saving for some time. Perhaps she could help pay some of the fee? Brianne was a kind woman, perhaps she would even consider reducing the fees in order to help James.

"You must take him to a healer. Do not worry about payment, I have an idea. We will figure out a solution but his health is the most important thing right now," Rose told them. Keira opened her mouth as if to protest, but Rose merely smiled. "Do not fret, his fee will be paid. Do you know where the healer Brianne lives?" Keira and James both nodded. "She is very kind and very skilled, James will be welcome there." Was it irresponsible of her to promise that James' fee would be paid? She was not sure, but staring at the man filled her with so much sorrow she could not help but want to assist them. Maybe Tristan would help her if she found she was not able to pay Brianne.

"You are very kind," Keira said in wonder. "I will hire a cart or carriage to take him up tomorrow, I do not think he should walk. Are you certain you know how to help us pay Brianne? I will be punished if we do not pay, the King will see it as stealing."

"I am sure. Brianne is my friend."

"Thank you, dear," James managed to say before he began coughing violently yet again.

"Here, let me make you some tea," Rose said as she raced out of the room. She found a pot of water already simmering in the coals of the fire. Rose moved the pot further into the flames and searched through the shelves until she found a container of tea leaves. Rose scooped some of the leaves into a cup and waited for the water to boil. When the water was bubbling, Rose carefully poured the steaming water into the cup. She stirred the leaves through the water, added a dollop of honey, and walked back into the bedroom. Keira was sitting on the side of the bed, admitting she had created a rumour and explaining what the King had said. James was watching her seriously. Rose gently laid the cup of tea on the small table next to the bed.

"I know I should not have lied, but I did not know how else to help you. I was scared," Keira finished. James cleared his throat and rested his head further into the pillow.

"I understand why you did it, but I wish you had not. You were very lucky for the King is not known to show mercy. If anything had happened to you I never would have forgiven myself," James rasped out. He reached over and took a sip of the tea.

"I know, I am sorry."

Rose and Keira stayed with James for about an hour. The time was mostly filled with Rose and Keira exchanging conversation, as it was difficult for James to speak. But Rose could see that James was grateful for the company, his eyes seemed to have more joy in them as the time went on. Rose eventually stood up and brushed down her dress.

"Time is passing and unfortunately I have to return to the castle soon, my mistress will be expecting me," Rose explained.

"Of course," James nodded with a single nod.

"I have truly had a wonderful time. Thank you for allowing me to visit you," Rose said with a smile. James beamed at her. "I will try to visit you when you are with Brianne."

"Thank you, Rose. It has been nice having your company. You have a kind heart, I am sure your parents must be very proud of you," James murmured before coughing again. Rose felt tears rise up, no one had ever said that to her before.

"Th-thank you, I hope so," Rose answered when he had ceased coughing.

"I will go with you, Rose," Keira said as she stood up. "I am sure Mistress Eudora will be wanting to talk to me." Keira bent down and kissed her father on his forehead. "Stay warm, Father. I will see you tomorrow morning." James gave them a shaky wave as they left his bedroom.

Rose and Keira walked in silence as they left the house. They walked through the town until they reached the market stall area. Rose was thinking about James' health when a flash of light caught her attention. There, on a market stall in the distance, she could see a small object glittering in the light. It was beautiful and Rose immediately knew that she wanted to buy it.

"You... go on ahead," Rose said to Keira, tearing her eyes away from the sparkling object. "I will see you later," she promised.

"Okay," Keira said with a shrug, "see you soon." She waved and continued walking back to the palace. Rose turned and walked to the market stall eagerly. She gasped in delight as she examined the beautiful detail on the object.

"That there," Rose said to the merchant, pointing to the object. "How much is it?"

She left the town a few coins shorter with the trinket tucked safely away in her pocket.

~~~
I applaud myself for updating so soon - only three days, wooo!

Any guesses for what the mystery object could be?
xx Divine Romance