The Flower of Ryder

Has a letter arrived for me?" Rosalina asked, looking up from the history book

"No, my lady," Jenna said, folding the towels

"I wonder why he hasn't sent a letter?" Rosalina said to herself, worrying 

"My lady, you have to remember he's a knight of the kingdom. It's not going to be easy," Jenna explained 

"I know, but he should've received the letter by now. I'm just worried. What if something happened to him," Rosalina bit her thumbnail 

"None of that negative thinking, my lady. Sir Ryder is a strong man, he wouldn't let anything get in his way for you," Jenna said, confident 

"You're right, Jenna. I'll send another letter," Rosalina stood up from the chair and walked over to her dresser to get paper 

"I'll get a flower from the garden," Jenna left the room

When Rosalina wrote a letter to her lover, Ryder, she always includes a flower to let him remind of her that she sprays her perfume on it and wraps a ribbon on it.

'Dear my love…'

•••••••••••••

"Father, you asked for me?" Rosalina opened the door, poking her head in after knocking and gaining his permission 

"Yes, close the door and take a seat," Her father said, motioning to the couches 

Rosalina walked in, closing the door behind her and walking over to the couch, sitting down. She patted her dress and watched her father walk to the couch. He set a wooden box on the table.

"What is that, Father?" Rosalina asked, eyeing the box

"It seems were being threatened," Her father sighed

"By who?" Rosalina asked, worried 

"Rosalina, is there something you'd like to tell me?" Her father asked, leaning back in the couch

'Oh god! Did he find out? How? Who told him?' Rosalina shook in fear and looked down in her lap.

"Rosalina…," Her father drawn out 

"I'm so sorry, Father!" Rosalina apologized, falling to her knees and bowing her head to the ground, "I didn't think I would fall for him, but it happened and I'm sorry you had to find out this way. But, I can assure you he is well known, so please don't banish me from seeing him," 

Rosalina stayed on the ground, her eyes blurred by the tears brimming them. She just hoped her father wouldn't banish her from seeing him.  

"Who is he?"

"Please don't harm him when I tell you his name. He means everything to me," Rosalina plead 

"It's the knight, isn't it?" 

Rosalina jolted her head up to look at him, "H-how did you know?" 

"It's quite obvious. He even asked for my audience," Her father said, standing from the couch and stood in front of her, "Get up, Rosalina. I'm not punishing you," He held his hand out to her 

Rosalina placed her hand in his and he helped her up. He walked her to the couch and she sat down. 

"Can I ask what's in the box?" Rosalina asked 

"Open it. You'll need to know what happens when your threatened," Her father instructed her

Rosalina hesitated, but reached for the box, and slide it over to herself. She let out a breath as her hand hover over the lock.

"Rosalina, you don't have to open it, but you have to learn of the society we live in," 

"It's fine, father. I do need to learn as I'll be a wife of a well known man," Rosalina stated 

She carefully opened the box. Her eyes landed on a paper and a rose resting on top of it. She took the rose out and examined it. There was a ribbon wrapped around it. She placed to the side and grabbed the paper, unfolding it. It was a letter.

'You may not know who I am, but I know who you are. I lurk the shadows so I'm not found. I don't speak to no one, but it seems I must as the woman I admired is taking pity on a weakly, old knight. Don't worry, my dear, I'll help you, so just think of me, my love. ~ L.'

Rosalina placed the letter on the table then looked at her father, "What should we do, Father? He'll hurt Ryder or me," 

"That won't happen. First, we'll need to get in contact with Sir Ryder then we can speak of the rest. But for now, if you leave the premise, you'll be taking two more guards with you," Her father stated, grabbing the box, rose and letter

"But, that will make him feel satisfied since he'll see we're scared of him," Rosalina retorted 

"No, it won't. Now, don't you have a lesson to get too?" My father asked, standing from the chair

"Oh yes. See you at dinner, father," Rosalina stood from the couch, kissed her fathers cheek and left the office

••••••••••••

"Rosalina, your father asked for you," Jenna announced, walking into the room

"Let me fix these paper and then we can go," Rosalina didn't look up as she was double-checking the papers

It's been a week since the letter. It seems the stalker was from the shadows as they left another letter the next two days and stole a handkerchief of hers. It seemed like they were willing to expose themselves to get close to her. 

Once Rosalina was done with the papers, her and Jenna left to her father's study. She knocked on the door, opening it when she heard her father say enter. She closed it behind her and walked to the couches, but stopped when she saw a familiar figure sitting on the couch.

"Ryder?" Rosalina walked closer to him

Ryder turned his head to her, a smile resting on his face. A smile arose on her face, but hide it as she took a seat beside her father. 

"Can I ask why I'm here?" Rosalina asked 

"Me and Sir Ryder have been talking about the situation, you're being stalked and we have been deciding what to do," Her father explained 

"Have you decided what we should do?" Rosalina asked, looking between her father and Ryder

They didn't speak, so Rosalina took this opportunity to express her thoughts, "If you aren't telling me as it'll harm me then that is just foolish. I do not care if I'm harmed as I know Ryder and you will protect me, so please use me as bait,"

"Rosalina-," Ryder protest

"Ryder, they want me. Not you, or my father.  So, I need to be in this decision," Rosalina stated

"Rosalina, what if something happens to you and we can't bring you back to life? What will you do now?" Her father asked 

Rosalina stayed quiet as what her father said was true. She had so many things she wanted to accomplish and experience, but she wouldn't be able to do anything if she was gone.

"Lord Bexley, I don't think it was necessary to scare her like that," Ryder stated, looking at Rosalina

"Sir Ryder, she is my only child and I can’t let anything happen to her. Do you want to see her injured or six feet in the ground?" Lord Bexley asked, narrowing his eyes at Ryder

"Father, I understand what you mean, but they want me. They wouldn't dare to harm me," Rosalina stated

"Rosalina, we'll talk about this later, but Knight Ryder, I'll let you speak to my daughter in private," Lord Bexley stood, he kissed her forehead and left the room

"What did you- Mmh!" Ryder planted his lips on hers, savoring the moment 

Rosalina closed her eyes and kissed him back, reminding her of the times, they snuck out together to explore and be together. She pulled away, her hands resting on his chest.

"You shouldn't be doing that, Ryder. We could get caught easily," Rosalina breath out

"Well, it's hard, Rosalina. I haven't seen you in a month and five days. It was tormenting for me, so I just needed to reassure myself that you were real," Ryder pecking her lips

He sat on the coffee table, holding her hands in his, "I asked your father about a proposal I have and he gladly accepted it,"

"What proposal?" Rosalina asked, confused, but her heart racing thinking he was going to propose to her

"You know there's a ball coming up for the Princess's 19th birthday and I wanted to ask if you would be my partner for the night and for other nights as well. I want to show everyone that were each others significant others," Ryder said, Rosalina could see he was nervous 

"Ryder, of course I'll go with you and for other balls and events. I'm yours and only yours as your mine," Rosalina placed her hand on his cheek and softly caressed it

Ryder leaned into her hand, letting a sigh out and a smile appeared on his face, "You, my flower, are an angel who fell from the heavens and I'm glad to be called yours," 

"Why are we both sappy?" Rosalina giggled, "But, that's what keeps our relationship entertaining,"

"Is that now? I know other ways, our relationship could be entertaining," Ryder grabbed her hand that was on his cheek and placed it close to his chest which made her come closer to him

Rosalina eyes widened when she knew what he was talking about.

"Oh, um, Ryder. Y-you do know that we can't do that… again," Rosalina blushed as she remembered

"And why not, my flower?" Ryder asked, taunting her

"B-because we have to follow the rules. We-we haven't made an appearance together and we haven't gotten my father's approval," Rosalina splutter out, trying to forget the vivid memories 

"Rosalina, my flower, you know we don't follow the rules. Even I got your father's approval and were going to the ball together, so why do you look ashamed?" Ryder asked, worried 

"I want to do this properly and safe. There's a stalker out there who wants to take me away from you and my father, so we can’t be reckless anymore. They probably knew of our secret outings," Rosalina stated 

"And why would you think that?" Ryder shifted closer to her, "You know I wouldn't let anything happen to you, right? I would lay my life down for you,"

"I know you would, Ryder," Rosalina gave him a smile, but dropped once she explained, "I never told you this because I didn't want to get you worried, but I felt a presence when we were out together. It was when we went to the market, I could just feel eyes staring at me and when I would look, there was no one. Even with that letter the person wrote, I now understand what they mean by they lurk in the shadows because they couldn't be found," 

"Rosalina, why haven't you told me this? This whole situation could've been solved long ago," 

"Ryder, do you think this can be solved easily? No, it can't. This person has been watching me my whole life and I didn't notice until my relationship with you. That's probably the main reason they started to act out since I'm in love with someone else besides them," Rosalina stated 

Ryder let out a chuckle and pulled her in a hug, "You always seem to amaze me, but there could be a possibility that we can see them at the ball. They wouldn't want you out of their sight,"

"I do hope it works, but I don’t want you to be in harm's way," Rosalina leaned her head in his chest

"My flower, I'm a royal guard. If I can defend a country, I can defend you and your father, so don’t worry," He kissed her forehead

At the end of the day, Ryder and her father spoke once again while Rosalina thought of a way to find her stalker. The three of them had dinner together and Ryder left afterwards. The next few days, Rosalina prepared for the ball while worrying about what would happen.

••••••••••••

"Rosalina, you are so beautiful," Lord Bexley said, as she walked towards him

Rosalina could see tears welling in his eyes, "Oh father," Rosalina hugged him as she felt like crying as well

"You are becoming a woman and I don’t want to let you go. You're my daughter, who I'll protect and cherish until my last breath, but it seems I have to let you go since you need to start your own life and family," Lord Bexley said, rubbing her back

"Father, I'm not leaving you. I'll still visit you once I'm married. But as of right now, I'm not married or engaged, so I'll still be with you and don't think I would ever forget you," Rosalina hugged him tighter

They stayed in each other's hold until a maid came to tell them that Sir Ryder was here. They left the study room, but her father pulled her back. 

"Here, this was your mother's," He handed her a brooch of a red daisy 

"Oh my," Rosalina awed, she examined the brooch and tried to put it on her dress, but couldn’t 

Her father helped her put the brooch on. He stepped back and took her in. She looked just like her mother. The brooch was a legacy memento. It was passed down to Rosalina’s mother when she married her father. 

“How does it look?” Rosalina asked

“Perfect,” Lord Bexley said, “Now, we should get going before Sir Ryder thinks we stalled on him,” He lent Rosalina his arm, Rosalina hold onto his arm and they left to the living room

“Sir Ryder, sorry for the wait,” Lord Bexley apologize

“It’s fine Lord Bexley. This is a very important ball as I heard the Princess will meet her betrothed,” Ryder said, bowing to the both of them

“Well, that is very interesting to hear, but we should get going before were late. I won’t hear the end of it with Lord Ross,” Lord Bexley sighed, walking ahead to the door

He left Rosalina there as he wanted the two lovers to greet each other. Rosalina smiled at Ryder and crutised. Ryder grabbed her hand as she stood back up, and kissed the top of it. 

“You look gorgeous,” Ryder complimented her

“Aren’t I always gorgeous?” Rosalina asked, walking ahead to the front door

“You are everyday, but you seem more gorgeous today. I’m afraid to let you go to the ball as your stalker might be there,” Ryder stated, walking beside her

“I guess you’re going to have to stay by my side the whole night,” Rosalina stated, arriving at the carriage

Ryder helped her into the carriage. She sat beside her father and Ryder sat in front of them. And they were off to the ball.

---------

“They really outdid themselves,” Lord Bexley said, taking in his surroundings as they entered the ballroom

“Today’s a important event. Princess Joliana is going to finally meet her partner,” Rosalina said, staring at the bouquets of flowers

“Come, let’s say hello to our accquinates,” Lord Bexley said, Rosalina followed him and Ryder did also

Ryder was introduced as Rosalina’s significant other. Both of them were happy and filled with pride to be called each other’s significant others. They continue to converse with other people, but they would go get drinks and eat some snacks to soothe their thirst and hunger.

Soon, the princess made her appearance. She welcomed everyone for coming, she later meet with her betrothed and they had their first dance together and the first dance of the night. Once they left the floor, other couples went off the floor and danced.

"My flower, can I have this dance?" Ryder held his hand out to Rosalina

"Why yes," Rosalina placed her hand in his and they walked to the floor 

They danced as they talked, laughed, and gave each other kisses. They didn't care about any other in the room except for them, but someone was watching them carefully from afar.

"Do you want something to drink? I'm a bit parched," Ryder lightly touched his throat 

"I can come with you," Rosalina said

"It's fine. You look so intrigue with the dance, so I'll be right back," Ryder kissed her forehead and left

Rosalina let out a sigh as she watched the couples dance. Just how can they keep dancing. There was a tap on her shoulder, she turned around and was faced with a mask. The man asked for a dance and she agreed as she wanted to dance this song even it wouldn't hurt to dance with another man.

They danced slowly to match up to the beat, but there was a nagging feeling inside her as she danced with the man. He would make light conversation, but she couldn't stop looking into his eyes. Something was off with him. 

Rosalina couldn't dance with him anymore as her feet ached and she didn't feel safe with him.

"Excuse me, but I would like to seat down?" Rosalina stated, backed away from him and bowed 

But the man grabbed her arm, pulling her back to him, "You're not leaving me for him," He blurted out 

Rosalina was about to speak, but was pulled away from him. She knew it was Ryder.

"Give her back," The man demanded, stalking towards them

They walked back as he walked towards them, but the man stopped when a voice erupted.

“Have you no dignity or heart, Rubert? Today is your sister's birthday, but you decided to cause an outburst,” King Loke stated

“B-but Father, he took her away from me. He knew I loved her, but he kept her hidden from me,” Rubert cried, pointing to Rosalina

"Rubert, she is not your deceased fiance. Now, let's get you out of her," 

The king went to his son and took him away before apologizing to Rosalina. The stalker was the prince who went into hiding after his fiance passed in a carriage accident. 

"Now, we don't need to worry anymore," Ryder kissed her forehead