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I slid on my shoes as I heard the soft knocking on my bedroom door. I opened it to find Bella on the other side. She laid her hand on her stomach, taking in a large breath as I greeted her. "My word, Bella. What made you rush over so quickly?"

She gave me a small smile and shook her head as I motioned her in, "No, my lady. Your mother stopped me in the hallway and told me to bring you to her chambers. She sent me urgently, and you know how your mother can be. She seemed in a pleasant mood today though."

I sighed, stepping out of my room and closing the door behind me. Bella fell into step with me. "Did she say anything about why I was needed so urgently?"

"She just sent me for you. Your mother doesn't tell me much of why."

I nodded and we walked down the hall in silence. Our shoes clicked on the floor and I felt the fabric of my skirts brushing against me with every step. "I didn't see you again yesterday evening, Bella. I'm assuming that means Captain Edward is home from the station?"

Bella gave me a smile and nodded, "He returned a day earlier than expected. I'm terribly sorry that I didn't come to greet you at the celebration, but I didn't have any news for you. I couldn't get anything from the members present at court."

"Not to worry, Bella. I wasn't asking out of anger. I hope Edward is well after the travel?"

Bella nodded and we continued walking. As we reached my mother's chambers, I dismissed Bella and told her that I wished to speak with her later about which gown to wear tomorrow for the ball to be held in Lord Royce's honor. Bella nodded, knowing that we wouldn't be speaking of dresses, and headed down an adjoining hallway. I tapped on my mother's door and heard her quiet voice allowing my entrance.

"Mother? You wanted to see me?" I called, stepping into her sitting room of her chambers.

She came into the room and smiled, pleased to see me after my performance last night, "My darling, Rosalie. You were wonderful last night. Lord Royce has upped the gold offer for your hand, and your father is meeting with the members of court to discuss it now. Darling, I feel that you will finally have a husband soon."

I smiled and took a seat. "I'm glad to have pleased you, my queen."

My mother scoffed and I looked up quickly to find her in front of me. "Rosalie, you have far from pleased me. You did the minimum of what was expected from you last night. Don't think that I was unaware of your absence for a period last night."

I looked down at the floor, folding my hands in my lap. I held my breath, afraid of why I was really called to her chambers. "My queen, please forgive me. I simply wanted a breath of air."

I heard the sound of her hand hitting my cheek before I felt it. I lifted my hand, resting it where she slapped me. The skin was hot to the touch, but my mother knew better than to hit hard enough to leave much of a mark. It would be too much of a scandal for others to know that their perfect princess was being hit behind closed doors.

My mother tied a scarf over my head to hide the redness of my cheek. She motioned for me to stand, and I did so without saying a word. "Go back to your chambers, Rosalie. Take Bella for a ride this afternoon and wear the green day outfit that shows off your assets in case the lord decides to join you. I want you in the ruby gown for the ball. You know how much better that one makes you look, and I will tell the women how much to tighten the corset." My mother finished speaking and left the room without another word.

I turned and went back to my room, not speaking to anyone else except a single errand boy that would summon Bella for me. I was tired of living in this hell.

Bella and I walked to the stables to get our horses. I had on the green outfit that my mother ordered me wear in case she checked up to make sure I listened to her commands. Bella went to the other side of the stable to get her horse, while I waited for mine to brought out. My horse, Cala, was a gorgeous white mare bought for me by my father. I froze for just a moment when my normal stablehand did not appear with Cala, but instead found Emmett bringing my horse for me.

When he got close, I gave him a small smile and muttered as he checked the reins again. "What are you doing?"

Emmett went through the motions to show my horse was secure as he muttered back to me, "Your stablehand is sick. They told me to bring Cala out."

I nodded in gratitude before Emmett assisted me onto my horse. I allowed my hand to slowly brush his as he stepped back from the horse. He didn't give another look as he walked back into the stable, and I found Bella coming around the side on her horse. I gave her a smile and we fell into step together, heading out for the trail that we always took.

Bella and I rode in silence, enjoying the nice spring day with flowers and small animals surrounding our riding path. When we reached a small clearing, Bella and I got off of our horses, letting them drink from a nearby stream. I caught her hand and looked around us quickly, "I need to speak with you, Bella."

She looked at me cautiously and nodded in understanding, "There's a blanket in my bag, Rosalie. If you would like, spread it out and I'll take a quick look around the clearing, but I believe that we are alone."

I nodded at her words and went to spread the blanket. I watched Bella move, looking like nothing but my friend enjoying the plants around us. She came back within a few moments and took her seat beside me. "Is everything okay, princess? I noticed your cheek after you returned from seeing your mother."

I nodded, "Yes, I'm sure you did, but that's not what I need to talk to you about. What I tell you cannot ever be repeated, Bella."

She nodded, glancing around us one more time. "You know I wouldn't repeat anything you say, Rosalie. I'm your confidant completely."

I smiled at her trust in me and lowered my voice further. "I will not be marrying Lord Royce. I am going to leave this place and change my name. The stablehand that you mentioned yesterday, his name is Emmett. I love him, Bella."

Bella's face went white as she listened to me, and she grabbed my hand tightly, "Rosalie, you cannot be serious. Your father would kill him."

I nodded, placing my hand over hers. "I know. And he knows. That's why you must never speak of it. I'm going to leave and he will be here. He doesn't know that I'm going because he would try and come too. I'm going to take Cala tomorrow night, after the ball and head east. There are many small villages there where with shorter hair and simple clothing, I could be anyone. Once father has looked and come up short, I will call for Emmett if he still wishes to have me without the gold and finery. He will be able to join me and father won't suspect a thing."

Bella listened to my words and let out a sigh after a moment. "And what of myself, princess?"

"My lovely friend, you have your husband. Nobody would suspect that you knew a thing. Edward will be home for a little while, and you will have him here to protect you should anyone try and bring you into it. Edward wouldn't let anything harm you. As for the ball, you and Edward will attend. You must be where others see the two of you. You will stay and dance together until the last song, where you will retire to your chambers and enjoy being married."

Tears gathered in her eyes as she listened to me, "And I'll never see you again?"

I shook my head, "I'm afraid not. But we will have the memories of the great friendship we share, and that will be enough to make me smile for my lifetime."

Bella threw her arms around my neck in a hug and whispered into my ear, "You are going to make it, Rosalie. And I know that he will come to you when you call for him. I will watch for him in your absence and make sure no harm befalls him."

Bella and I returned to the castle grounds later on, in much happier moods than before. I knew that she would keep my secret and help in any way I needed her to. She gave me a smile before leaving to take her horse in.

Emmett appeared at the door of the stable and came over to assist me down from Cala. I usually hated that they helped us down, but I couldn't deny loving Emmett's hands being the ones on my waist. I braced my hands on his upper arms as he lowered me to the ground and felt his muscles moving under his shirtsleeve. He set me on the ground and stepped away, taking Cala's reins as he did.

I nodded and gave a small smile, "Thank you."

"It's my pleasure to serve, my princess," Emmett said with a smile before turning toward the stable. My heart always fluttered at his smile, and I hoped that he would forgive me for going forward without him. I truly hoped that he would come in a couple months when I called for him.

Bella came around the side and looped her arm through mine, leading me for the castle. She leaned in close, lowering her voice, "Rosalie, I'm going to cover for you tonight, if you wish. You will be away for months without seeing him. Come here late tonight and see him one last time before you go."

I nodded, thrilled that she would do that for me. It's something I wouldn't have asked of her, but happy that it was offered. Bella and I returned to the castle and I called for a bath to be run as Bella went off in search of her husband.

The rest of the day went by uneventfully, but I didn't have to see Royce at all, so I didn't mind the boredom. Bella spent the afternoon with Edward, and I was glad to know that she was so happy with him. I wouldn't be leaving her alone when I went. I dozed off at some point on my bed, and fell someone shaking my shoulder in the darkness of the night. I sat up and found Bella perched on the side of my bed.

"Get up, Rosalie. Emmett is waiting for you. Edward and I are going to be absent for a stroll along the river's edge, you know how I love the stars. Emmett is at our home, and you are welcome there with him. Everything is laid out near the fireplace for the two of you. Enjoy your time along. Edward and I like being outside, so we might be awhile." Bella said with a giggle.

I gasped and laughed, "Isabella, that's naughty. Thank you, my friend." I threw on some dark, simple clothes and carefully made my way out of the castle toward Bella and Edward's small cabin.

I knocked on the door softly, and it opened quickly. I felt strong hands wrap around my waist and pull me in before swiftly shutting the door. Lips caught mine in a strong kiss and I wrapped my hands around his neck. Emmett pulled back and laid his hand on my face, "My Rose."

I smiled at his name for me and pulled him in for another kiss. "We have some time tonight, Emmett." I ran my hands along his arms and felt his hands at my waist. I looked up and found his eyes looking into mine. "Make me yours before they take me away, Emmett."

Emmett's eyes glazed over and he pulled me into a hungry kiss. When we broke apart, he laid his forehead against my own, "Rose, we shouldn't if someone knew-"

"Nobody will know except for you and I," I told him, cutting off his rebuttal. "I want for you to be the first man I'm with, Emmett. I want it to be something special with someone I love."

Emmett pulled me into a kiss and lifted me up, moving me toward the blankets laid in front of the fireplace. He laid me down and I pulled him closer, wanting to feel him pressed against me. His hand reached up to untie the laces on the front of my dress, and I pulled his shirt up and off of him. Emmett sat up to remove it, and my eyes glazed over at the sight of him. Hard labor at the castle made his muscles so defined, and I ran my hand down his torso. Emmett shuttered at my touch and leaned down to pull me into a kiss.

His hands made quick work of my laces, and my dress fell open to his gaze. He sat me up to remove the fabric, and I lifted my arms to cover myself, embarrassed by how he stared at me. Emmett's hands grabbed my wrists and he gently removed my hands from covering myself. "Don't ever cover your body from me, Rose. You're stunning."

I blushed and felt myself become wet between my legs at his words. Emmett removed the rest of my clothing and I tugged at the band of his pants. He stood to remove them, and my eyes widened at the size of him. I looked from his hardened length to the smirk on his face, "Is it going to hurt, Em?"

Emmett laid down beside me and placed kisses along my neck, "I'm going to be careful with you, my rose." His hand traced circles on my inner thigh, and I opened my legs to his touch. Emmett rolled over on top of me as his finger traced a line through my wetness.

I moaned at the feeling and arched my back as one of his fingers slid into me. Emmett's mouth caught mine in a passionate kiss as his finger moved in and out of my body. I could feel his hardness against my leg, and I bucked as he added another finger, kissing down my body. Emmett's lips caught one of my nipples and he sucked on it, flicking it with his tongue as his fingers did wonderful things to my body. He added one more and I moaned his name, and he breathed hard against my breast. His fingers moved faster and harder and I felt my body tensing around them. His lips at my ear nibbled and whispered, "Gorgeous, Rose. You're so perfect. You're mine, no matter what. You are mine."

I felt myself come apart at his words, and his name fell from my lips. He removed his fingers as I took deep breaths, and before long I felt his hardness at my opening. I looked into his eyes and saw nothing but love there. I knew he wouldn't hurt me as I spread my legs wide for him to enter me. Emmett pushed forward slowly and I breathed to keep myself focused on how good it felt and not the tinge of pain at being spread so fully.

Emmett captured my lips in a kiss and he slowed worked his way in and out until his whole length was inside of me. I moan loudly at the feeling and Emmett began moving, biting my neck. My arms wrapped around him, back arching in pleasure that he brought to me. Emmett's mouth was everywhere, kissing and sucking on me. My nails scraped his back, and he moaned my name. I felt myself come apart at the sound and Emmett followed soon after, releasing himself inside of me. We curled up on the floor together, his arms tight around me.

I felt Emmett's lips at my ear, whispering promised of life and love together that I hoped more than anything would become a reality.

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