5. Rosalina
Rosalina
We have nicknames for each other, Heidigog and me.
I call her “Heidi.”
She calls me “Rosalina.”
I don’t know where she came up with it, but it’s pretty. I like when she calls me Rosalina.
My name is Rosalina.
That sounds nice.
I’m sad when Heidi goes away, because then I forget.
I don’t want to forget this name. It feels important.
I should write it down.
There are a few things in my room, things the Prince of Thorns didn’t give to me. They are not special, just boring things that I had before my true life began.
But I think one of them was a book. A book with paper. I can write the name Heidi gave me on the paper.
I walk over to the wardrobe in my room. The bag is stashed behind all my beautiful new dresses.
I pull the leather satchel out and dump the contents on my bed.
A heavy book falls out, along with a pen filled with ink, a jar with some stinky cream, a hideous gray cloak, and a ridiculous stuffed toy of a lion with wings. Why do I have these things?
Men gave me these items. My stomach roils. The idea of anyone besides the Prince of Thorns fills me with disgust.
I grab the pen and open the front cover of the book.
What was I doing with this again? Writing something down.
Well, bother. Now I’ve forgotten. It must not be important, because the only thing important is the Prince of Thorns, and I would never forget him.
I’m about to close the book when my eye catches on the flowing script. The Complete History of Autumn’s High Rulers.
No interest to me. Yet…
My fingers flip to the back of the book, to the final entry, searching the name. Niamh.
Hmm. Was I expecting to see something else?
I slam the book shut and quickly start shoveling everything into the bag. My hand lingers on the stuffed toy.
How silly. A winged lion. Perhaps the Prince of Thorns would find this sweet. Heidi certainly will. Maybe I’ll keep this out. Just this one thing.
I lay it on the bed, right by my pillow.
Rosalina.
The name pops into my head all of a sudden.
Ah, right! That’s what I wanted to write down. Heidi’s nickname for me.
It really is too important to forget.