My dear Rosabelle

She walked into the prince’s quarters, her hair a mess, her dress soiled in dirt and dust, her dignity nonexistent. Being a servant for the royal family was easy on neither her confidence nor her image. A ruby red envelope sat softly on the prince’s pillow. It was curious. She picked it up and read her own name in loopy handwriting. Rosabelle. Slowly, she undid the seal and unfolded the letter, and the rest was history.

Day 1

Rosabelle,

My hand shakes as I write you this letter. I cannot even begin to imagine the sort of wrath I would face if my father knew what I was doing right now, but I don’t care. You need to know. From the moment I saw you for the first time, I have been deeply smitten by your presence. Your soft eyes give a tunnel to your broken soul, and there is nothing I want to do more than to piece it back together. I watch the way my mother and father and my siblings speak to you, and then I go back to my quarters and cry. They treat you like a laboring animal on whom they can strap their heavy burdens to without a word, and I cannot take it. I want to fix it for you. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes upon, more beautiful than all of the women at my father’s galas combined. I know it is unconventional, but I simply cannot hold back my feelings any longer. Please write me back whenever you see this. I’ll be waiting.

Best,

Prince Ronan II.

Your Royal Highness,

I’m shocked to receive your letter as I’m sure you expected. I appreciate the kind gesture, as well as the respect you’ve shown to me throughout the last few years. As much as I am flattered by your carefully crafted words, I must object. You’re an amazingly charming man, and I undeniably share your feelings, but without this job I have nothing, and I can’t risk losing it in the event of some scandal. I hope you can continue to treat me with dignity even at the hands of my rejection.

Sincerely,

Rosabelle

Day 2

Rosabelle,

Thank you for writing back so quickly. Although I am disappointed with the response, I knew from the time my eyes glossed over the words ‘your royal highness’ what its contents would be. This is the problem. While I don’t place any blame, you see me as a higher power. A superior. In reality, I am neither. I am merely an imperfect man, one who was born into a position of power that was never earned nor asked for. Since it was obviously unclear in my initial writings, let me clarify one thing; I am ever so deeply in love with you, and I am willing to go to great lengths to make it work. If you lose your job because of our love, I will find you another. One that is better, where you are treated with the loyalty and care you deserve. Better yet, I will marry you, so that you never have to work another day in your life. If fear is the only thing holding you back, let us be scared together. Think about it.

With love,

Prince Ronan II

Prince Ronan,

There, is that better? Your offer is intriguing, but how can I be sure that you’ll keep your word? I’ll restate that it seems we both share the same goal. That being said, you make it sound easier than it truly is. We cannot just run away together. There are other factors at play. Once you figure those out, I am happy to reconsider.

Sincerely,

Rosabelle

Day 3

Rosabelle,

I am delighted to hear about your reconsideration, although I still wish you’d address me as a friend rather than a figurehead. To be honest, I wasn’t sure you would even bother to read my last letter. I realize that I may have come off shockingly blunt, and that it is possible I didn’t think through every possible factor of my desired arrangement. However, after a good night’s sleep and some deep thought, I have a new offer. Rosabelle, if my father doesn’t wish for you to love me, I give you my word that I will leave the palace forever. I have money of my own. It belongs to me and my father cannot touch it. We will build a life together somewhere far away. In the mountains, or on the beach. We can have children. One, or three, or ten. A dog, or a cat, or both. Whatever you dream, that is the life I will build for you. If you would like further assurance, I hereby grant it to you: I, Ronan II, give my life to Rosabelle. I will follow her wherever she goes, whether that be out of the palace or out of this world. For as long as I live, I will provide her with everything she needs and more. Signed, Prince Ronan II.

So there it is. I just signed my life away to you. You still do not need to take my offer, but if you wish to, meet me in my quarters tonight at eleven o’clock. I hope to see you then.

Fondly,

Ronan

Ronan,

Okay.

Sincerely,

Rosabelle

Day 4

Dearest Rosabelle,

Last night was incredible. I have never enjoyed myself so very much. You are a wonderful woman. You speak so eloquently, your tongue a haven for my fractured being. The feeling of the curves of your body on mine is something I never could have dreamed of. Thank you, and I mean that sincerely, for giving me the opportunity to love you. It is something I will never take for granted a day in my life. I already saw a difference in your demeanor this afternoon. The broken hollows of your eyes have started to brighten. I wish deeply to brighten them further. Please come again tonight. I will be waiting.

Love,

Ronan

Ronan,

I enjoyed as well. You make me feel human in a place where I’ve been dehumanized, and that in itself is a talent. For that, I thank you as well. Unfortunately, I am on kitchen duty tonight, so I will not be able to stop by your quarters. Let’s try for tomorrow instead.

Thanks,

Rosabelle

Rosabelle,

Nonsense. I just spoke to your boss and had the schedule changed. Yours is now wide open for tonight.

See you then,

Ronan

Day 10

Ronan,

You’re the greatest. In just a few short days, you have transformed my life. I haven’t been this happy in a very long time. You show me light in this dark world, light I don’t see anywhere else. I didn’t think such light existed until I started spending my nights next to you. I won’t lie, I live in constant fear that we’ll be discovered. I trust you wholeheartedly, but we keep a dangerous secret, and I can’t bring myself to feel safe with that. This in no way diminishes my love for you, I hope you know that. It’s only that love is a dangerous game, especially when it is forbidden like ours. Just this afternoon, your sister, Lilah gave me a strange look in the corridor. I’m probably overthinking it. Your family has always looked at me weirdly. Like I’m a disease. Or a parasite. Something unwanted, something otherworldly. But things are different now. A look like that could be the first hint that our secret is out. Please, Ronan. Humor me and look into it. Make sure Lilah doesn’t suspect us.

Thanks,

Rosabelle

Dearest Rosabelle,

I’m scared too. Don’t worry, I don’t take your doubt personally. We both have so much to lose, but I think all that does is show our dedication for each other. If our love can survive a bumpy road such as this one, it can survive anything. About Lilah—I wouldn’t overthink her expression too much. She’s entered her teenage years, and she’s been acting different lately. Nevertheless, I agree that making sure it’s nothing is important. I’ll talk to Lilah this evening over dinner. I hate to do this, but since our system of communication is slow and unreliable, I’d advise you not to come by my quarters tonight. We’re better off staying on the safe side. Sleep tight my love.

Love,

Ronan

Day 11

My dear Rosabelle,

I missed you last night. My bed felt vacant without you in it with me. The good news is that Lilah is totally clueless. I asked her all the right questions, believe me, and I dug as far as I could without blowing our cover. We’re safe. We’re undiscovered. And I can’t wait to spend tonight with you in my arms. Eleven o’clock as always.

Best wishes,

Ronan

Day 15

Ronan,

The birds sing louder when you’re around. It’s like the world around me changes when I feel your presence. It’s truly a remarkable thing. Every moment we’re not together feels like a day. Every hour like a year. I clean all day and I look like I’m working hard but I’m not, I’m not because I’m thinking about you and waiting for the short hours of the night when I can touch you again. I never knew my heart could feel such strong love towards a single individual. My parents died when I was young. I grew up in a home with nobody to love and nobody to be loved by. The feeling inside my chest right now is new and wonderful, and I didn’t think I’d ever feel it. Furthermore, you’re no longer just a lover but a best friend as well. You make my laugh harder than anyone else I know, and you don’t just hear me speak but you listen. You listen, and that’s something so unique for a girl like me. I don’t know what I would do without you. See you tonight. Eleven o’clock.

Much love,

Rosabelle

Dearest Rosabelle,

You are my sun, my moon, and my stars. You are the oxygen that keeps me breathing, the food and the water that keeps me alive. What I mean to say is this; you are my everything, you are the best thing in my life, and I would be unable to exist without you. Bringing you into my heart was the best thing I’ve done with my life thus far. It’s my proudest accomplishment, and I dearly appreciate you being a part of it. Words can no longer express the extent of my love for you, so I am going to end this letter here. I hope to be able to better show my feelings when I’m with you in person tonight.

Lost for words,

Ronan

Day 20

My dear Rosabelle,

I want to leave this place. I’m finished. I’m not sure how up to date you are with the news, but my father declared publicly yesterday that he wants to find me a wife by the end of the month. I am broken down and defeated, and the only way out of this horror is for us to leave. Run away with me, Rosabelle. Remember all of those nights we’ve spent discussing the future? Our cabin in the mountains, far away from all of this. With your consent, I will speak to my father tonight. My hope is for us to leave first thing in the morning with his wishes, but in the worst case we may have to be ready to go tonight if he is not supportive. Pack your things. Say your goodbyes. If all goes well, I’ll be there at your door at seven am sharp tomorrow morning. If not, I’ll come straight from my father’s office to get you before I make a run for it tonight. We won’t have much time in that second scenario, so I need you to be ready for anything. I’m looking forward to the day we no longer have to communicate in writing. I love you, Rosabelle. I wouldn’t choose another soul to run away with other than you.

See you soon,

Ronan

Dear Ronan,

I’ll follow you wherever you take me. And I love you more.

Be careful,

Rosabelle.