Even the most Beautiful Rose has been through the Dirt.

Grace Windsor

*That evening…*

“Well, Prince Durham. I hope to see you at a later date.” I smile my sweetest smile but I can hear Annabel snickering behind me.

“Yes.” Prince Durham bows, much lower than I would curtsy. Then he takes my hand into his and kisses my knuckles. He smiles and turns to the door behind him, our guards quickly open the door and bow.

I turn around and my dress spins with me. “Oh god.” I say and Annabel laughs, grabbing my hand.

“Well let’s go.” Annabel leads me to my bedroom with one hand and lifts her dress with her other as to not trip. As soon as we get into my room Annabel closes and locks the door. “Did you like him?” She asks as she walks over my bed to sit down next to me.

“Well, I liked him--he was a bit of a flirt but that was fine. He was nice but--” I stop mid sentence and Annabel turns to face me.

“But what?” Her light eyes search my face for something.

“I felt no attraction to him at all, at least not romantically.” Annabel’s eyes go big but look down, away from me. “Annabel?”

“Yeah, sorry--was just thinking.” She says but still refuses to look at me, which makes sense because we both know she wears her emotions on her sleeve.

“What is it?” I grab her hand which makes her recoil, “Annabel, is everything okay?”

“Yes, I jus- I just miss my mother.” That is obviously not what she was thinking.

“Annabel, tell me the truth.” I hold her hand in both of mine and she finally looks at me.

“I have never had a crush on a man.” She says, looking into my eyes.

“Well that’s normal. Neither have I.” I smile and she hugs me, “But I-” There is a huge bang on the door and it opens, despite it being previously locked. “Mother. Two visits in the past 5 years. How bad have I been?” My mother has locked herself in her room, only to come out at meals which she doesn’t speak during.

“Did he like you?” She doesn’t ask how I feel, god- Ever since Elenore died it’s as if she doesn’t care.

“Seemed to, now is that it?” I stand but continue to hold Annabel’s hand.

“You girls get to bed soon, Durham will be here tomorro--” My mother looks at Annabel’s and my fingers interlocked. “Annabel, I need to speak to my daughter for a moment. Would you please go to your room.”

“Yes ma’am.” Annabel squeezes my hand a final time before releasing it and running out of the room.

“Grace.” My mother starts as soon as the door slams shut behind Annabel. “Don’t get any closer to Annabel than now, that family is poison.” What is she talking about?

“You were best friends with Elenore, what are you talking about?” I take another small step towards her as she stares at me with her nearly white iris’.

“Just be careful, dear.” She grabs my chin which makes me whip my head back away from her. “They will end up hurting you in the end.”

Hera Windsor

*8 years ago…*

“Hera, please think of my proposition.” Elenore tells me as she puts on a necklace that perfectly matches her light eyes.

“Elenore-- I--” I pull out the letter from the pocket in my dress. “I want to speak to you tonight.” I fold the perfect paper back up and put it into the pocket once again.

“Is everything okay? Hera?” She had told me, long ago, but I have treated her like dirt because of it, that won’t continue. She needs to know.

“Yes, just please. Tonight in my chambers.” She blushes but nods nonetheless.

A few minutes later we are walking into the Thorn kingdom’s palace. Elenore stands to my close right, close enough to hold her hand but I don’t, I can’t.

“Hera-” Elenore yells as she jumps behind me, I turn just in time to see Elenore’s heart punctured.

“No-” I bend down, ignoring the guard tackling the man with the gun and the screams. “No- No- No.” My hands and gown get completely covered in her blood.

“Hera-”

“We will get that gown clea-”

“No- The gown will NOT be cleaned.” I screech and refuse to stand, even with Ardon and Lee grabbing at me. No- No- No-