Chapter 6

"A mistake..."

My brain wasn't capable of understanding those words right now. I had just given this man, who I love with every fibre of my being, something sacred! My virginity was gone, and I had found it to be the most amazing experience of my life. Clearly though, it was not worth much to him. Everything that had just occurred seemed dirty in my eyes now.

I blinked back tears and forced myself to leave my bed and his warm embrace.

"Why are you still here then?" I tried to sound frosty as possible but my voice was breaking as barely restrained tears threatened to overwhelm me. I heard him walk towards me. I caught a glimpse of him in the mirror. God he was magnificent! I shook my head to force the thought out of my head. I would not think of him that way. Not now.

"Love... oh my Roza. Please understand-" his voice was filled with compassion and pain. I couldn't take it. He pities me on the outside, while in the inside; I know he's laughing...Princess Rosemarie - An easy lay. My shy and insecure side was in control of me now. I had to cut him off now, before the tears finally burst out of me.

"Leave me. I do not want your pity." I went and picked up my dress from where it had been dropped. Quickly, I pulled it on and tried to do the corset as the best I could. I.e. – not very well. Releasing an exasperated sigh I added something. "Tell your sister I require her assistance." Lissa and Viktoria, probably the only people I could trust here.

"Rose. I am not going anywhere until you understand why I am saying it's a mistake. It will only take a moment. Come here. I'll do you up." I looked at him in surprise. How did he know how to fasten a corset? He rolled his eyes at my surprise.

"I have 3 sisters. They required help sometimes." He maintained eye contact with me. Those beautiful brown eyes... filled with love, compassion, pain... and oh! His soul! So pure...I walked over to him. I would give him the chance to explain... those eyes really could make me do anything.

"Rose, I love you. It hurts to be apart from you. The only reason I regret our love making is the fact that we are unwed. And you could now be expecting a child." The words sunk into me slowly, and as my brain registered them, I began to panic.

"Oh good Lord! Dimitri! I am a princess! I cannot have a child out of wedlock!" Scenarios swirled around my brain as I tried to decide on what to do. I flinched at the thought of telling my father. Dimitri would be dead in moments. Marry Adrian? I flinched again. No, I could not marry that pompous, violent, arrogant man. I'd rather die. Dimitri grabbed my shoulders, forcing my attention back on him.

"Rose, I asked you before, and I'll ask you again now. Marry me. We can elope. Raise our children in Russia!" His voice was getting louder. He was excited by this idea, and my heart sunk as I knew I had to deny him.

"Oh Dimitri, I love you too. But we cannot. I am a princess, and I cannot disgrace my family, country or name. Please understand! I promise I will talk to my father and beg him to look upon him kindly, but please! Wait! Just a while! I will marry you one day!" I rashly promised something that may not come true. But in my heart, I would always be Dimitri's.

He looked up at me. He looked like he was in shock.

"You'll marry me?" the excitement in his voice was contagious. I decided to tease him a little.

"Well..." I began coyly, "you could always ask me properly..." meaning right here. Right now. Down on one knee. Instead he grinned.

"Oh I will Roza!" quickly he leant in and kissed me. "I'll see you later love. You need to get ready for the masque tonight, and I have a few things to organise..." here he winked at me and my breath caught. Mmm... Gorgeous lover of mine... I nodded mutely.

"I love you Dimitri." I spoke softly, but he heard me.

"As I love you." He kissed me again. "I'll be back later." He promised me.

"You better be!" I threatened mockingly. I was rewarded with his rich deep laugh.

"Good bye." He slipped out of my rooms and I was left half dressed with a dopey smile on my face. The dopey smile faded slightly as the door opened again. Lissa and Viktoria came in with kind smiles on their faces.

"Good time?" Teased Viktoria gently as she studied me clutching the gown around me. Smiling I nodded dreamily.

"Oh yes. Most definitely." The both laughed.

"Right... Viktoria could you deal with the sheets while I help Rose bathe?" Lissa spoke up. I smiled inwardly. Lissa was desperate for information.

"Yes miss." Viktoria was less delighted about the chore, and reverted back into the dutiful servant role as I followed Lissa into the bathroom. Then again, surely that was better for her than hearing about her brother's sex life? I would hate to hear about my brother's lives.

As soon as we entered the room, Lissa turned on me.

"How was it? What are you going to do now? Did it hurt? How big is his cock?" the questions flowed too quickly for me to give an answer so I just waited until she finished. Eventually, she ran out of questions and just resorted to staring at me frantically. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Liss, you start heating the water, I'll start answering your questions." She pouted but lit the small fire and began to pour water in.

"Well... it was amazing. So full of love, beautiful, he stole my heart and oh! Liss! I love him so much it hurts! I hope father does not force me to marry Adrian, because I just couldn't do it! Not now! Liss what am I going to do?" I had somehow gone from inadequately describing the best experience of my life, to asking for advice on how to deal with my father and my "official" fiancée.

Lissa shot me a sympathetic look. "I don't know Rose... I really don't. I'm sorry. But..." she hesitated.

"Liss?" I was confused; Lissa looked embarrassed now and was blushing a pretty pink colour.

"Well Rose... you see... your brother... Prince Christian has asked me to marry him. So... I know what you're going through. It's so much harder for me though as I am just a humble housekeeper and Dimitri is a royal advisor. And Christian is the first born! He has less choice than you!" I was frozen in shock. First of all, my closest friend had been involved with my brother and she had not told me. Injustice ranked through me. Secondly, she was almost in tears. She never cried in front of me. Or at all! She was so strong! Not as strong as me, but she was my rock! This was so different... Finally, my instincts kicked in.

"Lissa! Oh my Lord! I- I didn't know! But, I will try and help you! I promise!" Another rash promise. I was making a lot of them today...

"Thank you Rose! Thank you!" she collapsed in my arms, still weeping, but now her tears were full of joy. She had so much faith in me. I was scared I would never be able fulfil the mental image she had of me. But, I decided with new found determination, I would try my best.

The time until the masque flew by. All too soon, we were all dressed in pure white gowns with shawls that declared us as Queens. My mask had small golden stars embroidered on it. I was Queen of the stars. Lissa was Queen of the Sun. Viktoria was Queen of the Sunset, Mia was Sunrise and Camille and Carly were Queens of Moonlight and Twilight. We were all stunning, and smiling I led the way towards the great hall.

I paused at the entrance. The place was almost unrecognisable with a large structure set up in the centre of the hall. We, as pure graceful queens were to stay in the centre of the structure, while our champions were too rescue us from the evil villains below. I was sure it was not coincidence that Dimitri had been made a villain. He winked at me once we made eye contact and I almost melted there. As it was a blush rose to my cheeks as I remembered what had happened between us earlier that night. Forcing myself to look away, I looked up- into the eyes of my frowning father. He was walking towards me, and I froze. He reached me and I dropped into a curtsey before him.

"Father," I greeted him. I sounded faint; my nerves were beginning to take over. He leant over me.

"I have made my decision. Bring both men with you too my offices at dawn." His tone held no emotion, I couldn't tell what he had decided from his face or his voice, and the suspense and the fear was driving me insane. Arguing would not help my case though.

"Yes father," he walked away again, and as I looked up again, my eyes met the gleaming green eyes of Adrian Ivashkov. Well, wasn't it just coincidence that he was King of the stars?

Hello

I'm sorry I've not updated in a while! I got stranded in Scotland yesterday and as I was on my own, in the middle of the night... I was just a bit terrified lol. Good lesson to learn. Don't miss your coach! Lol

Anyway... last chance to vote in the poll! Thanks to everyone who has already! I appreciate it :D

Last thing... REVIEW! I love you all!

Now I'm going to go and nightmares of work. Again. I hate long shifts. :'(

DarkRomanceAddict