"I…" I begin, choking on my sobs, struggling to catch my breath. He looks at me, puzzled. "I don't want to die!" I cry out, thrashing and screaming. "Let me go NOW!"
He gazes up at me, holding me above him like a wild animal. "Why would you die? I'm here now, I'll protect you," he says, his intense eyes never leaving mine. "Soon, you'll be my wife. You can't run away, my lady." Cradling me in his arms, he turns and heads back inside. Despite my protests, he seems unfazed. He carries me upstairs to my room.
"I don't understand why you care so much…" I say looking up at him pitifully...
He gently places me on the bed, sitting me up as he carefully unwraps my bandages. His large, gentle hands tend to my wounds with great care. He replaces the old bandages with fresh ones, each motion thoughtful and precise.
"Of course I care about you. You're going to be my wife. Just because I'm not from a wealthy family like yours doesn't change anything between us," he explains. I avert my gaze, thinking bitterly, 'Wealthy family'—what a laugh…
He takes a lock of my long, black hair, almost as if mesmerized by it. He inhales the scent of it. It's strange, but for some reason, I don't mind. My skin flushes with embarrassment, and I feel a warmth spread across my face.
"You're perfect," he murmurs, brushing his fingers through my hair. "Everything about you is perfect—the color of your skin, the scent of your hair… I can't wait to marry you."
I gasp loudly, "Please do not say such things… It makes my heart beat faster" I turn my head to avoid his gaze, blushing heavily.
He begins to giggle at me, how strange…
"God, It is very difficult to resist a beautiful woman like you..." He sighs, I look up at him, confused.
"What do you mean by that? I'm utterly confused..." he pauses and starts rapidly turning red, what's going on? What does he mean?
"I-I" He lets go of my hair for a second and cups his face, "I didn't mean to say that out loud... How embarrassing, just forget it Rosaline" his voice shaking, "You're too pure for this world"
I stare at him, dumbfounded, I don't know what he means... I wish I did, "Why won't you just tell me!" I pry further, I don't like to lose.He looks agitated. Suddenly, the door swings open.
"Commander!!" a knight barges in, he examines us, "Oh, am I interrupting something?"
Ivan rushes up and dusts himself off, "No it's nothing" he lies, "What is it Elias?" he seems concerned, I feel forgotten once again…I'm nothing to him. Although I suppose it wouldn't matter, we were both forced into this marriage, father demanded it to marry me off. I mean, we're still fairly young so it wouldn't be terrible if he did…
"Well, The beasts are getting out of control, we need to hurry..!" He says, hesitating, "Maybe we should leave Lady Rosaline here?" Ivans face gets filled with anger, terrible anger. He harshly grabs the knight by the collar of his shirt, pushing him into the wall.
"Say that again, huh?" He threatens, suffocating him… "Did you just suggest I leave my soon to be wife alone after she almost died? What the f**k is wrong with you?"
"Please…" I lay on the bed alone, "Can you calm down…" He stares at me, up and down and then he lets go of him. He quickly leaves.
"Let it be known that she stopped your death, now go we'll leave in a few days, don't be impatient." he states, "Now go I must tend to Rosaline" he stares at me, my stomach starts to growl... I didn't eat yet. He looks at me earnestly.
'Oh right, you just woke up, you didn't eat yet" and In a swift motion he grabs onto my arms and lifts me almost as if I weigh nothing. He holds me into his arms delicately. He heads downstairs with me in his arms. How embarrassing... We go down the stairs quickly and he stops.
"Chef?" He asks
"Yes sir?" He answers back, "What is it?"
Ivan pauses, "My soon to be wife is hungry, can you make the lady something to eat?"
The chef nods.
He heads to a seat with me still wrapped in his arms, everyone is staring at us. I have never felt to hot, my face must be burning up, this is indeed humiliating. I guess my reputation is ruined before I even tried. He chats amongst the knight casually, like I am not within his arms like I'm a child. I am not incapable.
"Please" I whine, in a whisper.
He looks down, empathy within his dark brooded eyes. His face is exceedingly handsome, oh gosh I mustn't think such unpleasant thoughts, he could execute me it is best to remain distant. Although it is quite difficult when he's especially attractive, the shape of his eyes the way they look down upon me, the most alluring brown one has ever seen, almost black... His beautiful hair, gosh his hair... He is just absolutely gorgeous. One could wish. One could pray. But I can't, I shouldn't, I mustn't.
"Yes?" He says with his seductive voice, accent riddled within. I can't. I can't. My cheeks become tinted almost as if I was a red rose.
"U-uh I am h-hungry" I stutter... "So v-very hungry"
He looks at me kindly, "Well if you'd like you can have some of my food? Though it might not suit the tastes of a lady like you" I think to myself 'a lady like you' I suppose he doesn't know how I was raised... I guess it's useless to fight it. My father and I never ate the same food, he went crazy and started starving me. I was nothing better than a peasant to him, digging in the trash attempting to find something to eat, stealing from the kitchen. The chef would feel bad and feed me but when he got caught... My expression darkens.
"Lady, lady, lady?" He asks repeatedly
"Oh huh?" I pause "I would like some of your food, I am absolutely starving." Which is true I haven't eaten a proper meal for a very long time, just scraps. I look up at him pitifully, filled with hunger. "I'd be happy with anything" I say.
He laughs, "Alright my lady, let me feed you"
"HUH!" I scream out, shocked.
"What? I'm just doing my part?" He cuts up pieces of meat and shoves it in my mouth, wow how delicious it is, I've never had something so good in a long time.
I feel happy. For the first time for my whole life since my mother passed, I feel happy. He's really great... It feels like... A rainbow after rain, sunshine after a long winter. I feel so grateful right now even though I know it won't last. When I was young I always had a dream. I had a dream that a knight would save me, take away my sorrows and save me. I wish he could save me... Maybe just maybe...he can?