Rosalynn

"I never asked for this.. hmph." Rosalynn crossed her arms and sunk into her throne. She was a princess who was handed a full basket of responsibilities when she turned 16. Her father never returned from the war and her mother passed away when she was little. Her stepmother, on the other hand, was a mean, awful person who ended up being exiled from the kingdom. Ugh, why did this have to be her burden?

Every day Rosalynn would wake up and pace in her room trying to figure out a way to get out of her duties. "I'm sick!" she'd exclaim, practicing in her ornately designed mirror. "No, no.. that wouldn't work. They'd have the physician here in minutes and he'd rat me out." Sighing she'd tap lightly on the countertop. "Oh, I know! My dress isn't clean!" .. She knew this one was definitely a lie AND would get her handmaids in trouble. Rosalynn didn't want to get anyone in trouble. "Nooo, that won't work either." She sunk into her vanity chair and stared herself into a trance. Finally, another flash of "genius" would cross her mind "My crown is missing!" she exclaimed loudly in excitement and gasped. Covering her mouth quickly with her hands she was certain she said that one too loud. She sat staring at the door waiting to see if anyone would come bursting through. After a few minutes of silence and no guard response, she relaxed and slumped back in her chair. That one would cause chaos and eventually, they'd find it. Besides, you can rule without a crown. Rolling her eyes she'd let a sigh out and sit waiting for her girls to come cheerfully bursting in to get her prepared for yet another day on the throne. Every single day she'd try to get out of her duties and every single day she'd grown numb to it. She just wanted to be the young girl she was and not handle all of this unneeded responsibility.

After another failed brainstorming session as if on cue, the handmaids came storming in ready to prepare her for her full day. Her attendant, a short stuffy man with a polished appearance started to rattle off her meetings for the day. Rosalynn just rolled her eyes. "Your highness," he said clearing his throat for her attention. "You will be taking citizen concerns from morning until mid-day followed by a meeting with another potential suitor from the isles." "Charles really? I don't have time for this, I've told you I don't want to be wed right now" her voice was filled with annoyance as her maids chitter chattered around her preparing her hair and face. "Princess Rosalynn, as the royal of our nation, it is not for you to decide. We need you to continue to strengthen our relationship with neighboring nations and keep our citizens safe and happy. It is only a meeting, you must go," Charles puffed his chest out and straightened his small spectacles, his voice stern in a fatherly tone. "Ugh, fine I'll meet him. But that's all." She stood after being yanked up like a ragdoll for her final fitting. "Good my highness, I'll go prepare the royal chamber hall for your citizen visitation hours." Charles smiled curtly and turned walking out of the chambers, his schedule rolled and tucked underarm. "We're done, we're done!" The handmaids cheerfully exclaimed, backing away from Rosalynn excited for her to see the final look. "It's.. beautiful girls. Well done" She smiled cheerfully at them, relief poured over their faces and they skated out of the chamber, speculating about who the suitor was. Once they shut the door, Rosalynn slumped back in her chair and gazed over to the family portrait with her once complete family. "I didn't ask for this, father... I just didn't ask for this."