CHAPTER 241: DISGRACE

The celebration continue, the king had a warm smile on his face but he was feeling quite upset. This time Rosalind action really annoyed him, although nobody dared to talk about it openly, he could guess that a few people must be laughing at him behind his back.

Those greedy rebels would have more reason to mock him and continue rebelling. He was looking at lord William when Walter walked over and whispered to his ear.

The king frown, he got up and left the celebration hall with Walter. At the side hall a messager was waiting for him.

"What did you say?" King Edward asked. Cold aura surrounded him making the messager to shiver.

"We found out that two days ago, Lady Rosalind went to visit the former queen and stayed a long time. The people around the formal queen are loyal so we we are unable to get more information about the visit but I heard the queen upon learning of lady Rosalind action, had abandoned her plan to come for the royal celebration to visit her at the monostary but lady Rosalind had refused to see her like everyone else," the messager replied.

King Edward frowned, he knew that Anastasia did not need to lie about everything that happened to scare away Rosalind but he still felt very unhappy to hear this news. He was a king, when had woman ever become scared of marrying the king. It’s should be their great privilege to marry him.

The king was still frowning about this report when another messenger arrived.

"Your majesty," the new messenger bowed not hiding his surprise to see the king outside the hall.

"You were supposed to keep an eye on lady Rosalind, why are you back?" Walter asked when he recognized the new messenger that arrived.

"I have an important report.." the messenger took a deep breath. It’s was obvious that he had riding fast to report the news..

"What is the matter," king Edward’s voice got colder. He could tell by the man’s expression that whatever he was about to say was not good news.

The messenger shiver hearing the king’s voice. He wished he was not the one to bring such news to the king.

"Your majesty, about an hour ago... Lady Rosalind finally came out of the room. It was time for the evening service so no one was allowed to stop her..."

....

Flashback Monastery an hour ago

The chapel bells tolled softly, their solemn rhythm echoed through the stone corridors and the quiet cloisters of the monastery. The air was cool and scented with burning incense and the faint aroma of evening roses that bloomed along the old stone walls. Candles flickered in their brass holders, casting golden halos across the worn marble floor.

Rosalind stood at the threshold of the chapel, her figure cloaked in a plain, dove-grey robe. Her hair, once styled with care and ribbons of courtly elegance, now covered with a white scarf. There were no jewels on her neck, no gold on her fingersonly silence, and a deep sense of stillness that had eluded her for years.

A few nuns stood quietly within the chapel, their heads bowed as they chanted the soft, melodic tones of verse. The Mother Superior, a serene woman named Sister Elitha, stood just by the altar, waiting.

Rosalind’s steps were slow but steady as she walked toward her.

Her heart thudded in her chest. Not with fear but with clarity.

The moment she stepped through the chapel doors, she felt something she hadn’t known she’d longed for so desperately: peace. No eyes watching her every move, no heavy crown waiting to be placed upon her head, no cold halls filled with whispers and expectations.

Only the presence of something greater, quieter, deeper.

Anastasia watched her with her heart in her throat. She was worried that Rosalind would regret such decisions.

"Do not worry, after the first oath she would be sent back to reconsider her decision," the girl from earlier said to Anastasia seeing her look as though she would get up and interrupt the situation any moment.

"You are ready?" Sister Elitha asked, her voice warm and low.

Rosalind nodded, tears brimming at the edges of her eyes. "I am."

Sister Elitha extended her hand, and Rosalind placed hers over it. She was guided gently to kneel before the altar, the soft hum of chanting wrapping around her like a blanket. A small white veil was placed over her head—a symbol of her intention, not yet a full habit, but a first step.

"In the presence of the Almighty," the Mother Superior began, "and in the company of our sisters, do you, Rosalind of House Williams, freely seek the path of our Lord. To dedicate your life to his service?"

Rosalind bowed her head. "I do."

A single bell rang out above, signaling her vow.

"Do you have any unfinished business with family and love once or perhaps there is a sin you wish to confess and be forgiven before you join the service of our Lord and Savior?" Sister Elitha asked.

"I wish to ask my father, Lord Williams to forgive me. I have not been obedient. I could not marry the king, I fear for my life. I would rather spend my life serving our Lord than risk dying at the hand of a mistress. For this, I ask my father to forgive me..." Rosalind was still talking when she was cut off by a voice from the congregation

"You shall find no forgiveness as you have stood before the altar of the Lord and accused a just man,"

Rosalind turn to look at the man spoke she did not know his name but from his outfit she guess he was someone from the king.

"Sir! I have accused no one, I simply seek forgiveness from my father," Rosalind took a deep breath and answered.

Sister Elitha was not surprised by the turn of events after all, Rosalind is the bride to be of the king.

Other women run away with their lover, Rosalind is the first to rather become a nun than a queen.

"His majesty is a devoted man, just in his way. Although he previously divorced the former queen, but this is not against our beliefs as he had never shared a bed with her. The formal queen is in good health but you accuse him base on baseless rumors. This is unjust. How can you serve our Lord with such a conscience?" The man asked. He wanted to say that the former queen was prideful and impatient but seeing her sitted he was afraid that she would stand up and defend herself. He heard that the queen was very out spoken not easy to deal with.

"Baseless!" Rosalind looked genuinely surprised. "The formal queen was poisoned by the mistress, yet she was left unpunished. The divorce was granted by the high priest, would he help the queen cover up her bad behavior? Even a blind man can tell that her life must truly be in danger for her to abandon the glory of a queen to live a common life," Rosalind spoke very fast. "I was also foolish to believe the baseless rumors going around that the former queen was prideful and impatient, if my younger sister had not warned me to be careful I would have directly jumped into the fire. Then I thought about how similar my situation is with the formal queen, our mothers are dead. There is a saying that with a stepmother comes a step father. If the royal palace really has all this glory why has such a good marriage fall on either of us? My family was already in talk with Duke Kevin for marriage, why would my stepmother allow me to marry the king instead?" Rosalind asked questions after question.

She had been thinking about how to help clear Anastasia’ name. This man questioning her had given her the opportunity to speak and also put the blame of her decision on her stepsister.

"This is just a coincidence..."

"Then, why does the king not marry lady Amber? I heard the queen mother has a verbal agreement with her mother?" Rosalind asked. No matter how one looks at it, it felt deliberate. After all, Amber was known to be the pampered daughter of her father.

The man wanted to say something else but someone signal him to hold his peace.

"Sister Elitha, I owe on one expect my father. I am willing to serve and follow the Lord for the rest of my life," Rosalind declared.

"Then you must go back and seek forgiveness from your father before you return again. The doors of the monostary are open to you," sister Elitga patted her back.

Rosalind remained kneeling long after the others had risen, her heart finally unburdened. For the first time in her life, she had made a choice that was entirely her own.

And in that sacred silence, she felt not like a runaway bride, but like a woman reborn.