Claimed By The Tyrant King

When the next day came, it was already time for the delegation to leave, and Rowan stood outside to send them off as they gathered before him. "Thank you for your hospitality, your majesty" Marek said, and the others inclined their heads in agreement.

"It is nothing," Rowan answered calmly. "I hope I get to hear from Merovia soon concerning plans to begin operations," he added.

"Definitely," Marek replied, and they shook hands as a formal sign of agreement between them.

Rowan’s gaze then shifted to Rosalind, and they exchanged brief bows, her lips carrying a faint smile, and at least this time it was nothing like before when she had left in anger.

Though she had not yet given him an answer after yesterday, he still held on to hope that things would work out between them, not knowing how, but simply believing that they would.

After that, they boarded the carriage, and he stood watching until they disappeared completely from sight before finally turning away.

Inside the carriage, Rosalind sat quietly as it moved away, biting her lower lip while her fists tightened slightly by her side. Marek noticed the change in her expression as he sat beside her, shifting a little closer. "You don’t seem happy to be heading home," he commented.

Rosalind turned to him and forced a slight smile, but Marek could tell it did not reach her eyes, and before she could settle into silence he added, "You don’t even seem happy today," which made her pout faintly before, without thinking, she rested her head on his shoulder, and he immediately wrapped an arm around her, gently patting her in quiet understanding.

He knew exactly what she was feeling, and he also knew she needed a shoulder to lean on, which was why he said nothing further and simply let her rest there.

Meanwhile Nathan sat opposite them, and watching Rosalind look so withdrawn only made it clearer to him that she truly had feelings for Rowan, not shallow feelings but something very deep, and in that moment he accepted silently that there was no place for him ever.

The carriage continued along the road in steady silence, broken only by the wind slipping through the windows, and by the time they reached the coast Rosalind had already fallen asleep, her head still resting on Marek’s shoulder.

They boarded the ship that would carry them across the sea toward Merovia, and for Rosalind the journey remained difficult as she felt increasingly unwell, while Marek stayed beside her the entire time without complaint. Eventually, after days at sea, they arrived in Merovia, and their carriage rolled through the kingdom’s streets, but Rosalind no longer carried the same energy she once had, as voices and movement around her passed like a blur until they finally reached the palace gates where Catarina and Hannah were already waiting, along with Rama who sat beside its mother.

After they alighted and stepped forward, servants immediately moved in to collect their luggage, and at least when Rosalind saw her mother she managed a small smile. "I heard the signing got done," she said, and Rosalind nodded.

"I’m so proud of all of you," Catarina smiled at them.

"Thank you, mother," Rosalind replied softly.

"I already had the kitchen prepare plenty of food, so let’s go and eat now," the queen said to them before they all proceeded into the hall.

"So what happened?" Hannah turned to Rosalind as they walked. "You saw him right, how did it go?" she asked.

"It... it went well," Rosalind answered quietly.

Hannah narrowed her eyes slightly, clearly unconvinced, but Rosalind only offered a small gentle smile and said nothing more.

As the days passed, Rosalind spent more time alone and avoided company, which slowly began to raise concern. "Where is Sophia? Has anyone seen her today?" Catarina asked.

Hannah, who was playing chess with Marek, shook her head, while Marek answered absentmindedly as he moved a piece, "She’d probably be in her chamber."

"What is wrong with her?" Catarina asked again, though more to herself than anyone else, because she had noticed her daughter barely ate anymore and was no longer as lively as before, and all of it had started after her return from Eryndor, which made her wonder what exactly had happened there.

"Marek," she called, moving to sit beside them. "Did something probably happen over there?" she asked him.

"What happened?" Marek replied, still focused on the game.

"I thought you promised to look after your sister over there" She asked with a frown and continued, "Now that she’s back, she’s sad and just staying alone, she isn’t like this," Catarina said, her voice filled with concern.

"Mother," Marek said calmly, "If you really want to know, you’ll go to Sophia..." he began, then added, "She was fine in Eryndor... I mean she often went out with the king and they had fun times together, but suddenly on the day we were to come back, she didn’t seem enthusiastic anymore..." Marek continued, before finally adding, "Do you think they broke up or something?"

Catarina gasped at that while Hannah murmured softly, "That’s bad."

"If they did break up, I’ll have to go see her," she said, and Marek nodded in understanding while Hannah also encouraged her to go.

Afterwards, she went to her daughter’s chamber, where Rosalind was going through letters in the cupboard.

Rosalind looked up, surprised to see Catarina step inside. "Are you alright, Sophia? We were really worried about you," Catarina said after a short pause.

"Worried?" Rosalind asked, trying to sound fine, though her voice lacked strength. "I’m fine," she added.

"You haven’t really been eating and you’re not spending time with everyone like you normally do. You’re just alone all the time. This isn’t like you," Catarina said, watching her carefully.

Rosalind sighed, and Catarina moved closer, standing beside her daughter. "What’s the problem?... You can tell me," she said gently. "You know I give the best advice?" she added, trying to lighten the mood.

Rosalind gave a small smile at that before it faded again. "... I’ve really thought about it."

"About what?" Catarina asked, now more serious.

Rosalind looked at her properly, noticing her mother’s concern, before finally letting it out.

She explained everything that had happened, and after listening quietly, Catarina asked softly, "Since he already expressed how he felt and even wants you in his future, what is holding you back?"

"I’m just scared of going back into something that could break me again," Rosalind admitted after a moment. "It’s not that I don’t want him... I just don’t want to lose myself in the process of wanting him too much," she said honestly.

Catarina studied her for a moment, then spoke gently, "You cannot let fear control you, Sophia... It’s okay to be scared, but don’t let it decide your life for you. What do you truly want, not what you are afraid of?" she asked.

Rosalind lowered her gaze slightly before answering, her voice softer now, "I feel like a part of me is missing when I’m not with him... and no matter how much I try to convince myself otherwise, I want to go back and be with him," she said quietly.

"Then go," Catarina said immediately, without hesitation. "But go because you choose him, not because fear is pushing you away from everything else. If your heart has already decided, then don’t keep fighting it."

"Then what about here?" Rosalind asked. "With you, father, Marek, Hannah... I don’t want to leave you all," she said.

Catarina smiled softly. "Silly child, you wouldn’t stay with us forever. You have your own life to live and your own future ahead of you, and maybe even your own family someday. But we will always be here for you. If your heart is calling you there, then you have to listen to it. I’ll support you," she said.

Rosalind smiled, her eyes misting. "I always give the best advice, don’t I?" Catarina asked lightly, and Rosalind nodded.

"Then you need to leave now. Don’t delay any longer," she said firmly.

Rosalind blinked. "Right now?" she asked.

"Yes, right now" she confirmed.

"What about father?" Rosalind asked quickly.

"I’ll explain to him... and I’m sure he’ll understand and be happy with whatever you choose."

"Marek... Hannah?" Rosalind asked again.

"Don’t worry about any of us. Just follow your heart," Catarina told her.

With that, Rosalind left immediately, heading back to Eryndor. This time, her heart felt lighter, more certain, because she was finally choosing what she wanted while knowing she had people supporting her.

****

When she arrived in Eryndor, it was night. She searched everywhere for Rowan but couldn’t find him, until the thought came that he might be in the tower. She went there at once, and as she got closer she saw him sitting alone, and the sight made her chest ache.

He turned as soon as he heard her. "Rosalind?" he asked in surprise.

She smiled softly. "I knew I would find you here."

"Rosalind," he said again, as he climbed down and walked toward her, stopping right in front of her while holding her gaze.

"I’m right here," she whispered gently, as if grounding him back to reality.

And immediately, he pulled her into a tight hug, holding her like he had been waiting too long, and she felt warmth flood through her again. He slowly pulled back. "I thought I would have to wait longer... I didn’t know you’d come back this soon."

She inhaled deeply. "I can’t wait anymore, Rowan... I don’t want us to be separated again. I don’t want to stay away again," she said softly.

"I also want to be with you and have a future together," she added, and his heart raced. "I love you, Rowan and I..."

Her words broke as he pulled her in and kissed her, stopping everything before it could continue.

He pulled back slightly, resting his forehead against hers as he looked at her, his voice low. "Did you come back because you want to be with me?" he asked her.

That was exactly what she was saying all along, Rosalind thought to herself, and she finally answered softly, "Yes."

A slow breath left him as he held her gaze. "Then I promise you, Rosalind, you won’t have any reason to regret making this decision," he said, his voice steady and sure.

"I won’t give you any reason to cry or hurt ever again, and I will be open with you. I will love you properly."

Rosalind’s eyes turned misty at his words, because they felt real, too deep to ignore, and her heart tightened as she tried to hold back the emotion building in her chest.

"I love you, Rosalind, and I want to live the rest of my life with you," he said, gently cupping her cheeks as he looked straight into her eyes.

"Me too," she answered without a trace of hesitation. There was nothing uncertain in her anymore, only the certainty of what she wanted.

He leaned in again, and Rosalind met him halfway as their lips connected in another kiss, deeper this time, more certain, as everything around them seemed to fall away. His arms lifted her without effort as he pressed her gently back against the pillar, while her arms slipped around his neck, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened between them.