"Rose dear, I've arranged for you to meet your future husband." Mr. Copper, Rose's father revealed as the family was calmly eating dinner in their cozy little cottage. Rose blinked and dropped her spoon in her porcelain bowl filled with pumpkin stew.
"Husband? " She squeaked in disbelief. Mr. Copper continued without missing a beat.
"Yes, his name is Robert Lawrence, an esteemed knight in the Royal Army. The wedding will be held in a month's time."
Rose turned to glance desperately at her mother, her almost undone braids slapping the right side of her neck.
"Rose, we've talked about this before and made the preparations."
Her nonchalant expression changed as she gazed fondly into the eyes of her daughter.
"Oh, you're just growing up so quickly my darling." Rose refused to believe this.
"But, why?"
's smile disappeared as she took a deep breath.
"Rose, you know my seamstress shop has been barely keeping us fed for the past few months."
"So this Robert Lawrence is the solution to your money issues, huh? Marry your only daughter off to keep the family business afloat, classic." Rose growled, a certain poison in her words.
"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?" Her hazel eyes shone with rage.
stood straight up at his daughter's words and banged his fist on the table, spilling his soup and causing a miniature earthquake.
"I'LL HAVE ENOUGH OF THAT, YOUNG LADY! YOU WILL BE MARRIED NO MATTER WHAT! YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE FOR YOU! WHY, YOU WOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE IF IT WASN'T FOR US, STARTING FROM THE DAY FOURTEEN YEARS AGO, WHEN YOU WERE BUT A WHINING INFANT, AT THE EDGE OF THAT WRETCHED FOREST!"
His eyes widened in regret as he realized the information he had let slide. Rose's vision clouded over as she whipped her hair back and forth in confusion.
"H-how?"
tried in vain to calm her raging daughter and placed a hand on hers.
"It's not that way, dear..."
Rose 's hands flew up as she now stood, rising to her full height, looking as menacing as a teen in a dirty blouse and skirt could.
"But it is that way, mother...Or should I even call you that."
Rose's mother opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out.
"Adopt the helpless little girl you found at the border, why not? It is the right thing to do, after all. You never really wanted me after all."
Rose sped to the front door and swung it open with a force greater than what a girl's strength should be.
"My REAL parents didn't either!" And with that final accusation, Rose slammed the door closed and was gone.