I know people had been wondering, why does it sound like the setting is in the 19th century and the 21st century at the same time, for some reason I thought it made sense, but from your point of view it must be different. I hope this chapter makes it clearer, and sorry for the confusion.

"I don't get it, I just don't get it," my father bellowed. I rolled my eyes.

"Maybe if you listened to the whole story you would understand?" I stood there with both of my arms strait against myself. I had snuck in my window and put on a long sleeved sweater on over my dress. I hated wearing dresses, but I had to because if I didn't I would be rebelling.

Our stupid little country decided that while the rest of the world progressed, and changed we would just stay behind and act like we were still in the freaking 1800's. We had to wear dresses, and we had to get married at a young age, with arranged marriage might I add. We adapted some important stuff that the king liked. Pharmaceutical drugs were a necessity of course, and then the drinking age had been put in place, and our country was just so corrupt it was impossible to be happy.

I walked out of my room, knowing what was already waiting for me.

"Rosemarie Mazur! What in the world has gotten into you?" My father asked.

They were in the kitchen waiting for me. My mother was sitting in one of the kitchen chair with black bags under her eyes, and reddened eyes. She looked horribly distressed. I looked up to my dad who was standing behind her rubbing her shoulders.

"What do you mean?" I asked playing dumb.

"You are lucky Adrian told you were safe because if he hadn't there would be a search party looking for you right now," he said.

"What did that big-mouthed idiot tell you?" I asked.

"He didn't say anything he just said that he couldn't tell me where you were, but that you were safe. Rose, where were you?"

"I was somewhere, I'm seventeen years old, and I can have some privacy can't I?" I asked looking for some milk to drink.

"Yes, you can Rose," My mother got up from the chair, her voice cracking, "but you have no idea how worried I was, what if my little girl got hurt? We love you Rose the least you could have done was tell us that you weren't going to come home." She stepped closer to me as I was frantically looking for anything to eat or drink, but finding nothing good. "Was it him?"

"What?" I asked shaking my head questioningly.

"Were you with that guy?" She asked desperately.

She clutched my bad arm and I winced in pain. I groaned in pain shook her hand off of my arm. I turned away from them and scrunched up my face tightly trying not to yell out in pain. I could feel the tears gathering in my eyes and tried to blink them away. It felt like it was burning, and freezing at the same time. When I finally blinked my tears away I turned around.

My parent's were looking at me expectantly.

"I'm seventeen, I don't have to tell you were I was or who I was with, it's my business not yours." I turned around ready to head to my room when my father said, "Rosemarie!"

I turned around and looked at him. "What is wrong with you? Do not ever speak to me like that. Since you don't want to tell me here you were, you are grounded." I rolled my eyes again. "And I don't mean you are staying home, no I mean you are coming to the market with me."

I opened my eyes wide and said, "You cannot be serious."

"I am."

I looked at Mom for support and she sighed.

"Maybe she can come to the shop with me instead, and maybe I can talk it out of her." She took his hand in hers and I saw the strongest man I know turn to putty.

His face softened and his eyes lost their demanding gloss.

He looked down at her, and asked, "Are you sure?"

She nodded.

I turned around and walked into the bathroom.

I showered quickly, careful of my wound and dressed hurriedly.

I walked into the kitchen and my father was already gone. I looked at my mother and she was glaring at me.

"What?" I asked defensively.

"I don't know what's wrong with you, but you need to get over it. I don't think you get it though; you don't have to tell me what you did or where you were, but never talk to your dad with that attitude ever. I only had him calm down because it was the first, and I hope the last time you have ever done that."

I walked out of the house and headed to the shop with her following me.

I got to the door of the pink shop that said Janine's Dresses on top, and waited for her to unlock the door.

I walked in and looked at the clock immediately, it read 12:48. I had about and hour and some to kill with my mother great.

"I'm sorry," I said quietly. "I'm angry, that you guys don't trust, but I shouldn't have been so disrespectful to Father."

My mother walked up to me, and put her arm around me. She hugged me tightly.

"I'm just really, really stressed about the whole not engaged thing," I lied.

"Rose, we love you, and it is ok that you aren't married, or engaged, we just want you to be happy. So I am taking you off of your punishment." I looked at her, and smiled. "Go out, find your friends, hang out with them for a while, but don't get caught by your father."

I thanked her and bolted for the door, making a mental note to be back by two to see Dimitri.

I walked directly to the bookstore knowing that the whole gang would be there.

When I walked in I saw them all huddled together at one of the many tables. No one was at the checkout desk so I figured Mason was back there too.

"I don't think so, but maybe." I heard Mia say as I approached them.

No one noticed me.

"Yeah right Mia, it's really cute, but I think it'll survive." Eddie put his arm around Jill.

"What are you guys looking at?" I asked as I got closer. They all looked up at me suddenly, scooted to the side so I could see the object on the table.

I gasped as I looked at the whimpering puppy on the table. It was the most adorable little thing I had ever seen in my entire life. It was all black, with sleek hair.

"Oh my goodness, what's wrong with it?" I asked. It was shivering and whimpering in obvious pain.

"I don't know," said Eddie, "I was on an errand from your father when I decided to pop in here, it was outside of the door, and I almost stepped on it. I picked it up, and brought it in here, but we are too scared to touch it."

"You guys are such wimps," I stepped closer to the itty bitty little thing, and pet it.

It seemed to calm to my touch, so I picked it up.

I started examining it. I looked all around it, until something sparkled in his foot. I looked closer, and realized it was glass.

"Does anyone have tweezers?" I asked.

Mia quickly ruffled through her purse and handed me a pair of tweezers.

I told Mason to hold the dog as I pulled the tiny shard of glass out.

I puppy started calming down. I put him back on the table, and he got up on all fours. He walked across the table limping on his right hind leg.

It stuck its cute little tongue out, and started wagging his adorable little tail.

"Awww," all the girls said in unison.

"Well, I better head back before Abe kills me," Eddie gave a Jill a kiss, and walked out waving goodbye to everyone else.

"I better get back to the front desk in case someone wants to buy something," Mason said.

"What are we going to do it?" Jill asked.

"Someone should keep it," Mia replied.

"Rose should keep it because she was the one that got the glass out of its foot." Jill picked the puppy up and passed it to me.

I took him, and cradled him in my arms.

I looked at the clock above the front desk. 1:26

"I have to go guys, I'll see you later." I walked out with the puppy still in my arms. I couldn't wait to show Dimitri.

I got to the dress shop, and saw my mother tending to a customer. She saw me with the dog, furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

As soon as the customer left she asked, "What is that?"

I smiled and pet it between its ears, "It's the new addition to the family."

I put it on the floor and it limped its way to my mother. It rubbed up against her foot, and she laughed.

"Ok, we can keep it."

"What are we going to name him?"

"It's not a boy," she said simply.

"Yes it is."

"No it's not, it has nipples."

I took him, and sat in a chair. I examined her, and realized she was right.

"Ok, so what do we name her then?"

"How about Basil?" I considered it then nodded, Basil it is.

Then, I waited, and waited, and waited, but he never came. I couldn't stop thinking about why he hadn't come. It was eating at the back of my mind, and I was worried sick.

He's fine, my inner voice told me, something must've come up.

"Rose," my mother said, taking my mind off of Dimitri, "can you take out the trash?"

I got up, and handed her Basil taking the trash out of her hand.

I circled around the building, and went to the alleyway in the back.

As I approached I heard some high pitched giggling. "Stop," another giggle.

I stopped just around the corner, and listened.

"If we get caught I will get in so much trouble, Nikolai," the girl whispered.

"We won't get caught, I promise," a male voice said.

"I love you, Nikolai, so much, and I just wish we could be together."

"I love you, too Viktoria, I hate keeping us a secret, but I will if it's the only way I can e with you." Nikolai said.

I decided now would be a good time to throw the trash out, and put a face to hose voices. I rounded the corner and saw the two lovebirds kissing.

I cleared my throat, "Sorry to interrupt, but I have to get back there." I pointed to the dumpster behind them.

They both whipped their heads in my direction, and Viktoria's eyes grew wide. I walked passed them and threw the bag in the dumpster. I walked back to the beginning of the alleyway, and turned around.

"Don't worry," I said, "I won't tell anyone."

I left, but couldn't stop thinking about how the girl- Viktoria- seemed familiar.

Before I walked into the shop I saw a boy walking into the shop next door. I walked into the shop, and saw that my mother was making a kissy face at Basil, and laughed.

"Oh, good, you're here." She handed me a paper.

All villagers meet at the town square a 4:00, it read, for a message from King Apostle.

The first thing that ran through my mind was Dimitri; I thought something was wrong with him.

I looked at the clock; 3:52.

"Let's go then, it's almost four."

We grabbed our things and followed all the people headed to the town square. We found my dad, and waited for the king to arrive.

I was biting my nails nervously when two carriages arrived at the makeshift platform.

I saw Viktoria scurry to the carriage in the back and open the door facing away from the crowd. No one noticed because King Apostle and his wife got out of the carriage in the front, and stepped up to the platform.

A very pregnant girl stepped out of the second wagon, followed by another girl, and then Viktoria stepped out.

I gasped as I realized where I recognized her from. Dimitri, she was a younger girl version of him.

"Are you ok?" My dad asked. I nodded.

A little boy was the last one to step out of the second carriage.

A third wagon pulled up, and a girl with raven black hair, and ice blue eyes stepped out. She had a scar running from her eyebrow to her chin. She was beautiful either way. She looked into the wagon, and smiled at someone inside.

Dimitri stepped out and walked beside her, not touching her, but still pretty close.

"Good afternoon, Villagers," King Apostle Addressed us. "I am here on this fine day to announce something very important to me, and my family, as well as you."

He paused as the family aligned themselves behind the King, and Queen.

When they were done he continued, "I am here to announce the engagement of my one and only son, none other than Prince Dimitri Belikov."