Simina found an old jar in her aunt's house and put her flower in it. She figured that since it was an enchanted flower, it didn't need any water. She set the jar with the flower on her bedside table and stared at it for the rest of the night.
The next day, she was disappointed. Working at the castle now was boring since Nar was away. She thought about him often. Simina missed him. Every day, she would pick up her flower and hold it for a few minutes. He was different now. He wasn't like that cruel prince she'd met at the beginning. Nar was kind and sweet. He'd only been hiding that part of himself because he was afraid the same thing would happen to her like with his father. Nar wasn't evil; not at all.
One evening, Simina forgot to close her bedroom door, which she usually closed right before she picked up her flower. This time, she didn't. Gloria appeared in Simina's doorway when she was holding it, thinking dreamily about Nar. Simina didn't hear her approach because she was too focused on her flower. Gloria's eyes narrowed as they landed on the extraordinarily beautiful black rose. Gloria had never seen a flower like that before.
Gloria's mouth sloped into a frown. She hated that someone like Simina owned something that beautiful. Her jealousy and hate for Simina boiled over. She hated how pretty Simina was, how she always got what she wanted, how the Prince looked at her, and how he always chose her. Gloria suspected that Simina liked the Prince and wanted to marry him. She didn't want that to happen, considering Gloria liked the Prince and she wanted to be rich.
"Where did you get that?" Simina heard Gloria's voice snap from her doorway. Simina jumped, startled, and looked to see Gloria. She played dumb.
"Hmm? Get what?" Gloria scowled.
"You know what. That, right there, in your hands." Gloria pointed at the black, sparkling rose.
"Oh. Nowhere." Simina shrugged, gazing back at the rose.
"Let me see it," Gloria demanded. Simina held the rose closer to herself, feeling possessive.
"No," Simina denied. She didn't want to let anyone touch her flower, especially Gloria. This rose meant a lot to Simina, since it was from Nar, and he was special to her. Gloria grabbed at it.
"Give it," Gloria ordered. Simina yanked it out of her reach.
"No!" Gloria didn't want Simina to have anything nice if she couldn't have it too. Gloria lunged for the rose, but Simina didn't jump back in time, and Gloria caught the rose by the stem. She managed to snatch it right out of Simina's hands. She held it like she was about to break the stem.
"Nooo!" Simina cried, reaching for it to get it back from Gloria. Gloria held it out of her reach with a sneer.
"Give it back!" Her heart waned, a waterfall of panic flowing over her. Tears brimmed in her eyes. Nar gave that to her! She wouldn't let Gloria have it! It was hers! Hers!
Gloria sniffed it and grabbed a petal between her thumb and forefinger. She smiled maliciously at Simina. Simina didn't like the way Gloria held her rose. She held it dangerously like she wanted to destroy it.
"Tell me where you got it," Gloria demanded to know. She wanted one, too. Simina thought up a lie. She'd destroy it if she told her that she got it from the Prince.
"I...I picked it from the woods. It's a wildflower," Simina lied. Gloria gave her a nasty grin.
"Liar. Tell me where you got it, or I'll tear off all the petals," Gloria threatened. Simina's heart leaped in her throat. This rose was somehow connected to the Prince's life; she didn't know how it might affect him. Gloria grabbed a fistful of petals.
"Fine! The Prince gave it to me!" Simina confessed. Gloria's face contorted into something nasty and ugly.
"What? The Prince?" she scorned. Her face was paper white, before turning cherry red. Gloria looked about ready to explode. Simina grimaced. Gloria's hand loosened on the petals.
"I told you, now give it back!" Simina reached for it again, but Gloria still held it away from her. It took all of Gloria's inner strength not to rip off every petal, break the stem in half, and throw it to the floor. She wanted to, but resisted. Instead, she settled for just throwing it on the floor.
"Fine! Take your stupid, ugly rose! I don't want it anyway!" Gloria threw it down and stomped out of Simina's room in a huff. Once she was gone, Simina rushed to the rose and gently picked it up off the floor, cradling it. She checked it over. It looked perfectly fine, unmarred, and unscathed.
She sat on her bed with it, stroking each petal gently. Just because it was an enchanted flower didn't mean it couldn't be destroyed. Simina then decided that she had to hide it somewhere Gloria wouldn't know. Gloria would ruin it if she got her grubby little paws on it when she wasn't around.
A few minutes later, while Simina was finding a place to hide her rose, Olivia entered. She knocked on the door frame to get her attention. Simina spun around, scared that Gloria might be there again. She breathed out in relief once she saw it was only Olivia.
"Hey, I came to tell you that supper's ready," Olivia told her. Simina nodded.
"Okay, thanks. Be down in a sec," she replied. Simina expected Olivia to leave, but she didn't. Olivia saw the black rose.
"That's a pretty rose," Olivia complimented, gazing at the rose with admiring eyes. Simina gulped.
"Thank you." She hoped that Olivia wouldn't try to do the same thing as Gloria.
"Can I see it?" Olivia noticed Simina's reluctance. "I promise I'll be gentle." She decided that Olivia sounded genuine and handed it over. Olivia was very careful with it, unlike Gloria. She smelled it and smiled.
"It's really pretty. Where'd you get it?" she asked nicely. Simina twirled her skirt around.
"Nar gave it to me," she told Olivia. Olivia smiled.
"That's so romantic." She swooned and gave the rose back to Simina. As Olivia left, Simina rolled her eyes. She went back to finding a good hiding spot. Since she couldn't find one, Simina just settled to put it safely in her top dresser drawer, where she kept all her belongings.
Simina's first letter came a few days later. While she was sitting on her bed reading one of the books Nar had let her borrow, Aunt Lyda knocked on the door. Simina looked up from her book.
"Come in," she called, voice a light jingle. Aunt Lyda entered, holding a sealed envelope in her hand. She handed it to Simina.
"This came for you," Aunt Lyda said. Simina took it.
"From who?" she asked, looking at the handwriting. She didn't recognize it.
Aunt Lyda shrugged.
"I don't know. Maybe someone from home?"
Simina shrugged and didn't respond. All of her attention focused on the letter. Her aunt left the room, and Simina eagerly tore the envelope open. She opened a piece of paper folded into thirds with words scrawled across it. The handwriting was a flowing, elegant script with fancy cursive and swirling letters that looped. It read:
Dear Simina,
How are you? I hope you are well. I hope to settle this dispute in a month, but things aren't looking too well. So far, the King of Azaria is refusing negotiations because I am a Prince and not a king. I tried to explain to him that I come on behalf of my father, since he is too ill to come himself, but he refuses to listen. I wish to refrain from using brute force. My deepest apologies, Simina; I don't wish to concern you with my troubles. I only wish to have someone to talk to, like you, for instance, where conversation comes naturally. No one here in Azria likes to talk about anything but business and diplomacy. It bores me, and I wish beyond the stars to see you, to speak with you. I often think of you, and will wonder what you are doing while in the middle of a court session about trade negotiations, where the Judge looks like an overgrown rat who drones on and on. Pardon me, I know that is rude and I shouldn't say such things; it isn't princely.
Nonetheless, you occupy the majority of the space in my mind. I constantly try to envision what you could be doing, what you are wearing, what you look like, etc. I wish to know, so please, if you decide to write back to me, tell me in every detail what you've been up to. Meanwhile, I'll be guessing your endeavors from here. I already miss you. If you want to write back, I urge you to please give your letters to Matilda; she will know where to send them.
Sincerely,
Prince Nar.
Simina smiled to herself and giggled at the part where he called the judge an overgrown rat. Meanwhile, she was thrilled that Nar wrote, just like he said he would. She was also thrilled beyond the bits that Nar missed and wanted to see her. She found it sweet. Eagerly, Simina rummaged through the drawers in her bedside table, found a spare ink pen and piece of paper, and began to write back to him. She wrote:
Dear Prince Nar,
It flatters me to know that you miss me and think about me. I think about you often too. The castle seems to be much more boring and empty without your presence of prestige. I am less dapper, so why do you waste time on such a mere peasant as myself? Don't answer that question. I am afraid to hear the answer.
But regarding other matters, I am sorry to read about your troubles in Azria. If I could help you, I would, but I doubt they'd listen to a peasant girl such as myself, a mere trifle of what those higher-ups consider less than nothing. I will leave you to guess the details of my actions. I will not tell you.
I will only tell you this. A few days ago, my spiteful cousin, Gloria, almost viciously destroyed the rose you gave me. Most days, I like to hold your rose and admire it while I think of you. Gloria came into my room that day and saw me holding the rose. She demanded that I let her see it, but I refused. The third time she tried to take it from me, she succeeded. She asked me where I got it. When I wouldn't tell her, she threatened to rip off every petal and break the stem in two. So I told her and afterward, she threw it on the floor.
I don't know what I would have done if she'd destroyed it. That rose is a treasure to me, dear to my heart. Again, I thank you for it. It lets me feel connected to you on a much deeper level. I miss talking to you too, and ever since I came here, you are the only one who talks to me and I enjoy talking with. You are my only friend here, and now that you are gone, I am dreadfully bored. The only entertainment I have is reading and cleaning the castle. By the way, have I served a proper sentence yet for stealing your horse? I impatiently await your return.
Sincerely,
Simina.
Simina found an envelope, folded her letter, and sealed it within. On the back of the envelope, she wrote Prince Nar, not knowing exactly where in Azria he was. When she went to the castle the next day, she gave her letter to Matilda, just as instructed. Impatiently, Simina waited for a reply. She didn't get one until a week later. This one read:
Dear Simina,
Why did Gloria try to destroy the rose I gave you? Luckily, I have made good progress on this dispute. They are willing to listen and finally negotiate with me. However, they are proposing the topic of marriage since the King of Azria has a daughter, the princess. I've only met her once, and her name is Amelia. She's attractive, young, nineteen years old to be exact. I think she's too young, I am twenty-one. She seems nice enough and pretty, but she has buck teeth and looks like a beaver. And besides, my interests lie elsewhere. I don't want to marry her. I hope the King doesn't suggest that as a truce between the Royal Families. Princess Amelia is too polite; she's not natural. She's nothing like you at all. This dispute should be settled within the month. Then I shall return.
Stay well for me. I can't wait to see you again. This place bores me. Take good care of my rose. I also want you to know that it matters not that you are a "peasant." I do not care about such things or such labels. Why label yourself as a peasant when you can be so much more? You mean much more to me than just that. Please, write back to me as soon as possible. Your letters are my only entertainment here.
Your friend,
Prince Nar
P.S. I do hope you are still using that crystal I gave you.
A troubled feeling settled in upon her at his letter. Simina didn't want him to marry Princess Amelia. She didn't want him to. For the first time, jealousy reared its ugly head as Simina became envious of Princess Amelia because she was a princess and Simina was not. So quickly, she wrote back:
Dear Prince Nar,
Oh Nar, why must you fill your letters with so many woes? I don't want you to be troubled. And please, please, for the sake of Zormon, do not marry Princess Amelia. But who am I to tell a Prince what to do? It's your decision, not mine. I hold your rose close to my heart every day, reminding myself of you, the only thing that makes me feel close to you.
Gloria only tried to get rid of it because she is jealous of me. She is jealous that you have given me your attention when she views me as a mere peasant girl, someone below her. I hate how she looks down upon me. I wish to return to my home on the Left, where I was a wild child. I was free there, free to be improper. I'd run through the woods, tear my dresses, climb trees, and skin my knees and legs. I'd play in the mud, dirty my clothes, and then splash in the stream, which irritated my father when I tracked mud throughout my house. Then I'd read, read, and read to no end. Some days, I'd ride my horse Winona and never stop riding until the sun began to set beyond the trees. Take me back to those days, take me back. I wish to return there and stay.
But Government Officials made me leave because I wasn't married yet at the age of twenty and my father hadn't raised me right, so they sent me here, where my life is a struggle. I love my aunt, but I can't stand Gloria. Olivia is fine. My life was simple when I lived on the Left. I didn't have any problems. Now, I do. I don't want to grow up. I never want to grow up. I never ever, ever want to marry, and no one can make me. I just want to live and be free. Write back to me as soon as you get this.
The Girl Who Never Wants to Grow Up,
Simina.
P.S. Yes, I have been using the crystal to channel. I practice every day.
She sealed her letter in an envelope and gave it to Matilda the next day. Later, she received a letter from her father, Gregory, and eagerly opened it to read it.
Dear daughter Simina,
How have you been? I've missed you so much. It has been dull here without you, since I've had no one to fuss at for doing mischievous things. I've taken good care of Winona for you. How are things in Winterville? I want to know everything you've been doing. Don't leave anything out. Write back quickly.
Your Loving Father,
Gregory.
Simina responded quickly to his letter and told him about Winterville and what had happened. Just like he said, she left nothing out, including the Prince, whether or not he believed her. She sent it off once she'd finished.
Finally, a month had passed since Nar had left, but Simina hadn't received any new letters from him. This upset her. She expected to see Nar at the castle, but he wasn't there. Simina thought he'd be back since he said he'd return after a month. When he didn't, Simina checked on her rose. It looked normal and there was nothing wrong with it. There were no signs of wilting. Then Simina got a letter. She opened it up and read it:
Dear Simina,
Okay, so what do you want to hear first, bad news or bad news? All right, bad news it is, then. I'm afraid I have to stay longer than expected. As I predicted, the King offered me Princess Amelia's hand. When I refused, my progress disappeared. I am failing at this diplomacy thing. I am sorry, my lady, I have to stay longer; he is threatening war, threatening to take over what will be my land. Hopefully, I can think of something to fix this. But marriage is out of the question. I do not want to marry Princess Amelia. I told them I was already betrothed, which, of course, is a lie, but my interests lie elsewhere. You can't marry someone when you're in love with someone else, can you? No, you most certainly cannot.
Well, I do have some good news. I'm bringing you back something I hope you'll like. It's a surprise, so I won't tell you what it is. But I'll be gone longer, just a few more months. Hopefully, I will see you soon.
Your friend,
Prince Nar.
For the next few months, Simina wrote and received letters from Nar. The more she read them, the more she fell in love with him. He'd write sweet things to her, telling her how he missed her voice, personality, beauty, and her. Nar joked about marrying her, or Simina thought he was joking because surely a Prince wouldn't want to marry a peasant girl. Once, in a letter, he wrote:
"I dream and wish for my lady, who lives far from me. There she waits for me, but I don't want to return to her unless I know she feels the same way for me in return. Do you, my lady? Don't hold it against me when I say this, but I must. I have fallen in love with you, Simina Gorchev, the peasant girl of Autumnville. If I do not return alive, I'd like to know if my affections are returned. Write back as quickly as you can, my lady, my love.
Love,
Prince Nar.
When Simina read that, she fell to the floor. Literally. She, too, was in love with him, but didn't want to confess it on paper or out loud, not quite yet. She didn't know how to respond or what to say, so she didn't write anything back.
Embarrassment overwhelmed Simina for loving someone, especially a Prince. How could she express her feelings? This emotional territory was unfamiliar and uncomfortable; she had no clue how to take the first step in order to breach this divide. The chasm of emotions was way too deep for her to handle, and she ended up crying several hours later.
Simina read and reread Nar's letter, wanting to love him but not knowing how. Her tears landed on the page, blotching the ink, so she put the letter down and cried silently into her pillow, wishing for Nar's return.
A few days later, Simina was intently watching her rose. Suddenly, the glow around the rose started dimming, and it slowly started wilting. One petal fell and fluttered down to the floor. Simina's eyes widened, and her heart started pounding. She began to panic. She didn't know what that could mean, but she knew that it couldn't mean anything good. Simina ran out of her room and charged out of the house. She needed to see Matilda. She was worried.
Simina borrowed a horse and took off for the Dark Castle at a gallop. At the pace she was going, it didn't take her long to get there. She busted through the great castle doors and looked around the foyer.
"Matilda!" she shouted. She ran up the stairs. Simina looked in each room.
"Matilda!" she called again, urgency filling her voice. Matilda heard Simina yelling from the kitchen and ran down to meet her in the corridor.
"Simina? What are you doing here? Your work is done for the day," Matilda said. Simina shook her head, about to cry.
"No, I'm not here about that."
Matilda was confused.
"Then what?" she asked.
"I think Nar is in trouble. A petal fell from an enchanted rose he gave me. It stays alive as long as he's alive," Simina told her. Matilda looked serious. She believed Simina; Simina didn't have any reason to lie to her.
"Matilda, if you know where he is, then you have to tell me," Simina pleaded. Matilda nodded.
"Follow me. The King will know what to do." Matilda was able to remain calm under pressure while Simina was not.