The Rose Chateau

by Rebecca Monaco

  “Less convincing isn’t it?” Alexander asked.

  “I don’t know. It’s shorter, but he seems to still be trying,” Corinna said and replaced the letter in its seal. She noticed the address on this one was written in a feminine curl. The king had not written it. It must have been one of his mistresses writing for him.

  “He uses fancy words and well thought rhetoric to distract me, as he uses it to distract the people. He isn’t trying to help me at all. He’s convincing the people of Paesaggia that I have died so that they will accept a new heir to the throne should he manage to conceive one,” Alexander explained, tone gruff but bite-less. “Read the newest.”

  “I really don’t think I should,” Corinna said, folding her hands in her lap. Alexander glared lightly but then halted himself and replaced it with a deep frown.

  “Please read it,” he stressed. “Even I don’t know what it says.”

  “But it’s from your father,” Corinna said.

  “Exactly.” Alexander crossed his arms about his chest and stared Corinna down across the table.

  Their eyes locked. Alexander’s were apprehensive, his eyebrows tilted down and his forehead beginning to crinkle. Corinna’s were melancholy, accompanied by a slouch of her shoulders and a deep breath. Neither moved from the stare. The shadow of a bird danced across the floor in the light of the windows. Finally, Corinna let out her breath in a sigh and reached out for the top letter.

  The lettering on the front of soft and graceful, but not the curly writing from before. The envelope felt course to Corinna’s fingers, and she dropped it as soon as the letter was free of it. The script inside the folds was also not that of the king but matched the soft hand that was on the front of the envelope. A new woman. With a deep breath, Corinna prepared herself for what she was about to read.

  ‘Alexander,

  Seven long years have transpired since your unfortunate escapade. Today, on your birthday, I reminisced about the times in which you were a boy. It occurred to me that perhaps you have truly passed on from this world. A grieving sadness is found in me whenever I think on your childhood, and it wonders me why I should feel as such if you were still with us. Perhaps you, as your uncle before you, have perished within that small palace. Perhaps I have been long without a son and heir and have simply failed to notice. I apologize for my weak observances of you these past years and promise to reconcile them in the future.

  The kingdom is in a state of possible confrontation with the Northern peoples of Cavalleres. As forces and resources are soon to run sparse, the monthly deliveries to the palace by Sir Ellis will be halved and, should I not receive a reply soon, may be ceased altogether, as I see no purpose in furnishing an empty house.

  If you still live, my son, a direct reply would be well worth your while. A king never dawdles in matters of state. Farewell.

  Your Father’

  There was a deep silence following the reading in which Corinna reread the letter to herself and Alexander appeared to deflate.

  “Cavalleres,” Corinna murmured. Her eyes widened, and she sat up straight, staring at the word. “Alastar is from Cavalleres. If Paesaggia goes to war with them, Alastar might…”

  She didn’t finish her thought out loud, but her mind refused to stop. Alastar would more than likely be dragged home to fight in the war, his duty as the son of a duke. Alastar would be pulled into a battle and, though he looked strong and undefeatable, Alastar might die. Alastar and hundreds of innocent soldiers could die.

  “Father has no quarrel with a good war,” Alexander grunted. When Corinna looked up at him, the prince was staring off at the floor where the edge of the window light was becoming blurred by an overcast sky. “He loves peace, but a battlefield has always been his playground. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s blowing the conflict out of proportions to make a war seem necessary.”

  “Not only that,” Corinna said, “but he’s using the war an excuse for abandoning you.”

  Alexander slowly moved his eyes away from the rug and up to Corinna’s face. The young sorcerer folded the newest letter in half and set it on the table. Then she leaned on the wood and frowned.

  “He’s convinced the people that you are dead, and now he’s trying to convince himself. He’s going to use any excuse to stop feeding you, and then you might… we all might truly die here,” Corinna explained. Alexander set his arms on the table and leaned on it as well.

  “I realized a long time ago that he was trying to figure out how to get rid of me,” the prince confided. The table wasn’t large, and with them both leaning on it, they were radically close. “What I’ve been trying to decide is how to spoil his plans. Especially since you arrived, Corinna, I’ve been thinking that the best way to beat him is to break my curse and return to the kingdom alive. And now with this war, I could bring an end to it before it really begins.”

  “That is a very good plan,” Corinna said and smiled up at the beast. He seemed almost human this close up, not very scary at all. His teeth were still sharpened, but they didn’t seem as long, and Corinna could pick out a lot of Alexander’s human features through the façade of the wolf. “But how will you get around your father?”

  “Well that’s why I have you here,” Alexander said and leaned in as though to tell a secret. His voice dropped to a conspiring whisper. “You have more bravery than a hundred knights, Corinna, and with your insight, I will be able to stand strong against my father and wit him out of his ridiculous scheme.”

  Corinna felt her face heating up. That was some compliment, and with Alexander’s eyes bright in her sight and closer than ever, Corinna was urged to believe it. Her chest echoed harshly and made her catch her breath. Alexander was close enough that they were mixing air, and at such close a distance, it was hard to recognize Alexander as a beast. He seemed much too human, much too normal, much too close.

  Alexander was leaning closer, and Corinna felt it was going to be a kissing moment. What would it be like to kiss a beast? Would it feel hairy or soft? Would it be akin to kissing a horse or a dog? Alexander was human underneath, so did it matter? And did Corinna want to kiss him or –

  “Alexander!” Isabelle’s voice called out from the door followed by heavy pounding. “Sir Ellis has arrived and demands to speak with you immediately- oh!”

  “My lord, this is a matter of great importance.” Sir Ellis’s voice took over, and Belle could be heard grunting in displeasure.

  “Come in,” Alexander called, and he was pushing himself to his feet. His long fingers snatched up the letters and reorganized them into a pile. He was just tying them together when Sir Ellis pushed the door open and hurried inside.

  The knight paused to regard Corinna sitting on the floor by the table and then Alexander as the prince replaced the letters in his desk. He hesitated only a moment and then decided Corinna was of little consequence. He stood tall and bowed deeply.

  “My lord, I have grave news,” he said. “The king has fallen ill.”

  Alexander grew tense at the mention, and Corinna felt something bubbling in her throat. Then, without reason or cause, Corinna coughed harshly into her hands. Both Alexander and the knight turned to look at her.

  “Are you alright?” Alexander asked. Corinna nodded and waved her hand to dismiss any notion otherwise as she regained control of her breathing. Alexander frowned and then looked back at Sir Ellis. “How badly off is he?”

  “When I left him yesterday, he was taken to bed, sire. He could hardly keep down a meal,” the knight explained. Corinna swallowed heavily and furrowed her eyebrows at a strange metallic taste she found. “Michael cannot explain it. It was so sudden, and there seems to be no cause for it.”

  “Perhaps he has been cursed by a witch,” Alexander suggested, almost smug. “Is he calling me back to the castle?”

  “No, sire. It was simply believed that you should be aware of the situation. If he passes, you are the only heir. Curse or not, the court is prepared to crown you should the king fall
,” Ellis said.

  “Oh?” Alexander raised his eyebrows in an expression of stunned curiosity. He pressed his lips together thoughtfully. “Well that is certainly a curious turn of events. I suppose they want to know if I would accept.”

  “Of course.” Ellis nodded in jerky motions and faded into the image of a statue as he awaited his prince’s answer. Corinna discretely cleared her throat.

  “You can tell the court that if my father should fall into serious condition, they should send for me so that I will have time to learn myself in the current issues and way things are run. Then, should my father die, I will take up the crown and rule as king… and remind them that I do not need permission from them to do so. I am the only rightful heir,” Alexander said.

  “Right away, sire,” Sir Ellis said and bowed once again. He seemed antsy, like a bundle of energy waiting to unfold.

  “Would you like to stay for dinner?” Corinna spoke up, rising to her feet. Ellis looked uneasily at her, as though Corinna were the cursed one and not Alexander.

  “Yes,” Alexander agreed. “Stay over tonight and leave in the morning, Ellis. It’s about to rain.”

  And though Alexander spoke calmly and wisely, something about him felt like a threat. He smiled, and every pointed tooth in his mouth caught the candlelight. Ellis grew flustered and bowed his head.

  “Yes, that’s probably for the best,” he said. “I do need to calm myself down before trying to navigate the forest.”

  “You may take up residence overnight in any available room on the second floor,” Alexander said. “Go find one you like and then head down to the kitchens when you’re ready.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you very much.” Ellis turned to Corinna and bowed his head again. “Good evening to you both.”

  And with that, he was gone from the room. They were alone again, half way across the room from each other. Corinna frowned and waited for Alexander to speak. The prince dropped his hand onto his desk and turned his back on Corinna.

  “I guess the fates are on my side,” he said. “My father is dying.”

  “He’s just sick, Alexander. He’ll pull through.”

  “I don’t care if he dies, Corinna,” Alexander said. “I just need to focus on breaking my curse.”

  “Liar. You do care. This is your father we’re talking about,” Corinna tried but Alexander cut her off.

  “I said I don’t care!” he growled. Corinna gripped her fingers together and glared at Alexander’s back. She knew Alexander was lying. Alexander still cared about his father, at least a little bit. He wouldn’t reread the letters if he didn’t.

  Corinna grunted and walked to the door. She saw Alexander look over at her, but she didn’t look back as she left the room. She rushed over to her own room and slammed the door behind her on accident. Alexander could fool everyone else, and maybe he could even lie to Corinna, but there was one thing he couldn’t lie to.

  The farm girl ripped the magic mirror from under her pillow and hurried back out of her rooms. She wasn’t giving Alexander a chance to grow complacent in his room or decide to go down and prepare for dinner.

  When she ripped open Alexander’s door, she saw the prince hadn’t moved from the desk, but he was now sitting in its chair. Alexander’s head snapped up almost as fast as the door flew open. Corinna caught it so it wouldn’t hit the wall and then closed and locked it securely behind her.

  “I thought you were mad at me,” Alexander grunted.

  “I’m aggravated, and I needed some backup,” Corinna said, closing the distance between herself and the prince. “Look at this.”

  Corinna held out the mirror, reflective side facing Alexander. As soon as his eyes landed on it, Alexander hissed and jumped to his feet, knocking his chair over. Corinna pulled the mirror back to herself and knit her eyebrows together.

  “It’s not a rabid dog, Alex. It’s a very special mirror, and I want you to look into it for a minute,” Corinna said and snatched Alexander’s wrist up.

  Alexander resisted and tried to pull away but just ended up pulling Corinna closer instead. Corinna grunted with exertion as she managed to close Alexander’s hand forcefully around the twisted handle. Alexander was still trying to look away from it, but Corinna didn’t need him to look yet.

  “Just watch, will you?” Corinna asked impatiently. She held gently to Alexander’s wrist and took a deep breath. With hopeful confidence, she waved her hand over the reflection of Alexander and, just as it had for Niviene, the image wobbled and shifted from that of the beastly Alexander to a view of a grand bedroom. It was splashed with globs of blood red like Corinna’s old room, and seemed to echo out the sound of a king’s death.

  There in the ostentatiously large bed in the room with a slightly balding man laying on it. His hair was salt and pepper and receding in a U shape. He wore his nightgown and was pale, but he did not seem ill. He was sitting up tall and barking something at a pair of knights that stood before him.

  Alexander took in a sharp breath and pulled the mirror slowly toward his face, similar to the way Corinna had when she had first seen the magic of the mirror. However, Alexander did not cradle the mirror. In fact, after realizing what he was seeing, Alexander snapped his fingers open and let the mirror fall as though it had poisonous fangs.

  Corinna grabbed the magical looking glass quickly before it could shatter on the floor and held it tightly to her chest. She glared at Alexander.

  “Careful,” she said. “But see? You do care about your father.”

  “It’s a magic mirror,” Alexander growled. “What is that doing in my house? What consequences come from using it?!”

  “Nothing,” Corinna said, raising her voice to overpower Alexander’s. “It is a mirror that can show you whatever you most desire. I … It was given to me by a friend several months ago. It’s not dangerous, I promise.”

  “So why did someone give it to you?” Alexander asked, still keeping his distance.

  “I don’t know. Take a wild guess,” Corinna said and sighed.

  Alexander frowned and thought. Then his shoulders slumped and he sighed too. “So you could see your family.”

  “Exactly. And when you held it, it showed your father.”

  “It must have malfunctioned.”

  “Alexander!” Corinna groaned and held the mirror up to reflect the blonde. Corinna frowned and tapped the reflection. “He banished you. He left you. He hurt you…. But he’s still your father. He’s the only one you will ever have. Can you not even admit you still care about him?”

  Alexander looked in the mirror at his own reflection and seemed discontent. Corinna watched him closely; every shift in weight, every wrinkle of his nose, and every breath taken in or let out was noted. Corinna had already known one man who lost faith in his father. She didn’t want Alexander to lose his as well. Then the prince reached out and slipped his fingers back around the handle, taking the mirror from Corinna. His father reappeared in its surface.

  “You know, he’s always been about work… but until my curse, he never forgot to train with me or study with me. He always found time to do something with me, even if it was simply to eat dinner together. But he was all about pride and public image. I was too, but being a beast…. It makes you rethink your standards. When everyone you know turns their backs on you and can’t even admit you’re the same person you were before, you begin to realize what hatred and discrimination can do to a person.” Alexander touched one of his nails to the image before him and wrinkled his nose.

  “So how did you end up here?” Corinna asked. “Did your father already own it or did he buy it for you?”

  “This was once my uncle’s house. He was medically unwell in his mind. He caused a lot of problems for my father early on in his reign, so my father had this house built and kept my uncle here under daily watches to make sure he didn’t hurt anyone, including himself. He died during the plague, but for separate reasons. When the curse happened, the house was free, so he had it cleaned up
and sent me here. Although, it was partially Morgana’s idea as well,” Alexander admitted. The image in the mirror must have changed because he was tilting his head now and squinting at it.

  “Morgana? But your father kills sorcerers.” Corinna took a step forward to try and see into the mirror, but Alexander moved it away and set it down on the desk. Now it only reflected the ceiling.

  “Morgana appeared a week after Morgause. She claimed to know a way to limit the curse’s power. I wasn’t supposed to hear their conversation, but it was hard not to with my new senses. She told my father the best thing for me would be to leave the prying eyes of the city. She could move my rose tree with me and care for it so it wouldn’t wither. Father was already looking for a way to move me out, so he accepted her offer. Morgana has kept my roses beautiful, but until you mentioned it, I had no idea just how important they were. It appears she has been saving my life.” Alexander stepped away from the desk, his eyes on the mirror. Then he turned and moved to lean on the back of the nearest couch, his arms supporting his weight.