(480 years ago)
[Rosina's POV]
"Are you ready, milady?" I asked Ms. Leone who stood in front of the mirror staring at herself and tiding her dress.
"Yes, Rosina" she answered.
I walked towards her and helped her with her dress.
"What do you think? Will he like this?" she asked me in a concerned tone but with a blushing face.
"Sure, milady," I answered, "Who wouldn't?"
She smiled and started walking towards the door.
Ms. Leone Gerad, the only daughter to His Majesty. He loved her more than any jewels and country. Not only his majesty but also the entire court admired her for her beauty, her intelligence and what not. It almost felt like the diamonds she wore didn't make her glow, but she made them.
"Don't call me with so much respect," she pointed, "Call me by my name."
"That may be comforting to you, but I cannot," I replied, "You're a Royal member. I don't have the right to call you by name."
She sighed and continued walking towards the door, but she suddenly was off-guarded by a noise which came from the window.
It was him, the love of her life.
A fair skinned man with a little brown eyes and black hair.
His name was John Mason. Like Romeo, he was hanging by the window.
She walked up to him and helped him to get inside the room.
"Are you an idiot?" she asked him, "If someone would have seen you..."
"I would die," he interrupted her speech in a mocking tone, "God, you look beautiful."
"Really?" she asked.
"Look at you, Lovebirds." I said as I giggled, "I wonder when will you talk with his majesty,"
"Oh! I am ready, but she isn't." he said as looked her in the eye.
"You both don't know what it means to be a Royal Mistress," she answered.
"Leo, you don't have to so rude." he said to her.
"Yes, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Its just that..."
"Its understandable, milady," I said respectfully, "Next time, I shall choose my words wisely."
It was obvious of me to apologize, as it was a pretty big thing to happen.
John was a mere workman with no princely status and for him to have a relationship with her highness was definitely forbidden.
Now, the question remains: is how did Ms. Leone fell in love with this guy.
It so happened that when she was 10 years old, she was stuck in a situation wherein an unknown boy helped her out. She didn't know his name or his address but just had a bronze bracelet of him.
It was a rather foolish thing to do, but she searched for him. In all the kingdom, and after a lot of efforts she found him. It was 8 years after the incident that she found him. She thanked him for his kindness, even though he didn't remember any of such incident. He eventually did and then they both started meeting each other and became close friends and from that they became something very important for each other.
But even if their love is genuine, it's quite impossible for them to get anything bigger than just lovers.
And why do I say so?
Because even if His Majesty accepted it, the court wouldn't agree to this. They will never agree to this.
Neither the court nor the other Royal families will.
As we were talking, we heard a noise out of the room.
"What's that noise?" asked John.
Ms. Leone rushed towards him and started pushing him out of the window.
"Are you ready?" asked Lady Adley as she opened the door.
It was Lady Adley. She was wearing a V-neck purple maxi, which was specially woven with golden thread.
She was stunned as she saw John holding Mrs. Leone's hand.
She was outrageous and called the guards in.
I tried explaining her, but I never succeeded and how could I? She saw him and her. There's no mistaking that.
The guards took me and John with them, leaving Mrs. Leone and Lady Adley together and alone.
We were being taken to the courtroom.
"Do you know how the execution works?" asked one guard.
"Am I going to execute myself?" asked John as he had a firm belief that he was going to die. Not only him, but also I had the same feeling.
"'Cause if I did, then this will not be an execution but a suicide. So..." he said as he realized something.
"Oh! So, that's your bloody master plan. Get me out of this," he said as he struggles through the bonds of the guards.
It was somewhat clear that the guards were just trying to embark on fear, but this idiot. I don't know what to say.
"How come her highness fell for this guy?" one guard asked himself.
"Donkey, he is." the other replied.
"Hey, who you calling donkey?" asked John.
I didn't know what was going to happen. Everything now was now dependent on Prince Joseph's decision.
Yes, Prince Joseph. His Majesty was outside the provenience for some work.
Prince Joseph Adley was not only a tyrannical ruler, but he also lusted for Mrs. Leone.
After hearing this, the least possible thing was banishment from the kingdom.
And it happened we were banished from the Kingdom and Mrs. Leone was asked to pretend as this never happened.
This was not good, and I knew that milady wouldn't happy without that Idiot.
So, the only way to help her was to ask for someone's help.
I went to one of the trusted Knights of the Kingdom.
Sir Arthur Clarence. Known for his valor and righteousness. I knew he would help us.
He agreed to help us and so drew out a plan.
It was said that John was to be traveled across the border with guards around him. It was clear that Prince Joseph had planned an execution from him. It was to be done when he leaves.
Our aim was clear that we just had to delay his journey so that Mrs. Leone has time to reason with her father, who will come from the same route afterwards.
Sir Arthur used his chariot and blocked the road. Standing fast, he looked straight in the eyes of the guards. That sheer glare was enough to make them lose their courage.
He started walking straight towards John. As he was walking he was blocked by a guard,
"Is this the respect you show me, soldier?"
"Sir, I respect you a lot. But these are Prince's orders. And also this man tried to....."
"Are you married?" Sir Arthur interrupted his speech.
"Yes," he replied with a surprised face.
"Do you love her?"
"Yes, I do,"
"Then you should be banished too?"
"Huh?" he raised his head as he tried to understand what Sir Arthur said.
"By doing this, we tell our people that loving someone is a crime." he argued, "Tell me is it or is it not?" he asked everyone standing there. No one had an answer.
He sighed and pulled his sword out.
"I, Arthur Clarence ask you to either draw your swords and fight with me or submit yourselves to me,"
No one had the guts to go head on with him.
So they did what they had to do. They kneeled in front him.
Our plan worked.
Ms. Leone had a word with His Majesty and then he agreed for their marriage.
To honor his daughter's marriage, His Majesty personally asked the workmen to handcraft five couple watches which were to be one of their kind.
They made it and he distributed them within the five royal families of the state.
**********
(Present Day)
[Kyle's POV]
"That is so cliché," Staci pointed out as she finished reading.
Well, it is. But I will not lie this particular letter has made curious and doubtful.
"Tell me something," Staci asked Robert, "Is this the reason why Gerads are now the lowest aristocrats?"
Robert Filman, he is the manager and the head of this Museum. He was the one whom we bump into. Not exactly we but the watch. When he first saw it he was a lot surprised and took us with him to have a private talk.
At present we are sitting in his office where he gave us a piece of paper. It looked like a diary entry. It was of someone named Rosina.
"Hm—" he nodded, "You're certainly right. After King Edward accepted the marriage, there was nothing the courtroom would have done. But..."
"What?" I asked.
"They laid some conditions. First was that John had to become a Gerad and never would interfere with the kingdom's matters. Second, that he had no right to become the king as he wasn't any prince. He accepted these, but in subsequent years after King passed away. Prince Joseph used his power and successfully diverted public's opinion against them, which led to the downfall of the Geards who once were the renowned kings of the kingdom."
I wasn't shocked to hear that. That was to be expected.
"How did this story not come out?" Staci asked.
"That is as you said," he quoted, "That is so cliché."
He smirked and continued, "People tend to hear stories of braveries and tragedies. That was one of the reasons why Shakespeare was so great. They don't like happy endings. You don't
"How did this story not come out?" Staci asked.
"That is as you said," he quoted, "That is so cliché."
He smirked and continued, "People tend to hear stories of braveries and tragedies. That was one of the reasons why Shakespeare was so great. They don't like happy endings. You rarely remember them. Because they are not painful."
We all agreed to what he said. But it was still not clear why he was telling this to us.
So I asked, "Why are you showing us? Isn't this supposed to be one of those secret things?"
"Oh! This isn't," he replied swiftly as if he knew I was going to ask him this question, "Besides, your friend seems to get some idea."
We both looked and Jason as he jumped off the chair he was siting.
"She said something about watches, right? Then this watch is a real one?" he asked Robert.
"Yes," Robert answered.
"Which means now it is very much clear that she is real." he turned towards me, "Kyle, we need to find her." he said with complete determination.
Robert was rather shocked to see the level of determination in his eyes. Not only his eyes, but also his actions.
Seeing that, he commented, "A word of advice," he said as he grasped our attention, "Don't go behind that girl. If still want to then be prepared for the worst outcome."
It sounded like a warning.
We were stunned by his speech.
Jason stood up and walked out of the door. He was silent. It was clear that he didn't agree to Robert or was going to listen to him.
We ran behind him.
"So, what do we do now?" Staci asked with a sense of unconformity.
"We find her," I said as I took the picture which Jason was holding in his hand.
"Whatever it may be. Now, I am curious to know who this girl is."
My answer delighted Jason, and his face glowed like a moonflower.
"He said John was asked to become a Gerad, right?" Staci pointed out, "Maybe, this is the reason why Sophie considered herself as long relative."
"Yeah. Maybe." I replied as I inspected to the picture.
"See, I found something," I said as showed them the picture, "The train number. Its blur, but we may work it out, right?"
"Yeah, sure." Staci said with confidence, "I have someone in the rails who can help us."
"Great!" exclaimed Jason.
"Hey! Where were you guys? We were looking for you in this freakishly large museum," said Carol as she walked up to us.
Yeah, we didn't tell them where we were going. So, I figured they would have concerned.
"They didn't let me touch his sword," said Mark with a downcast face.
I guess this guy has different issues of his own.
"So, you all are comin' got Kyle's?" asked Carol.
"What? Another night stay?" I asked with a concentered look.
She nodded.
She definitely has made that her own territory. It worried me that they would wreck my house this time.
Everyone accepted the offer, but surprisingly the least busy guy declined it.
"I can't. I have some work I need to finish." said Mark with a rather vacillating look on his face.
I think I know what is going on his mind.
"Sir?" asked one of Robert's subordinates, "Shouldn't you have told them about that?"
"I believe she is out there somewhere. That's what my gut says." he replied.
"But Sir, they are so determined. I doubt they will..."
"They will. Don't worry about that," Robert interrupted.
"But what is your motive behind this?" he asked.
"To not make this one a cliché. This one should be a memorable one." he replied.
He stared at the window and said, "I think the tale's going to repeat itself."