The Forgotten Princess Rose-Chapter 227

"Oh, Zayne!" Madeline touched her chest, trying to calm herself after being startled. "For such a tall man you are light on your feet. Rose is taking a look through the garden at the flowers. This was once a place I found comfort in."

Zayne stood beside Madeline watching as Rose explored the garden.

The blood from the day he took control was cleaned up so the palace went back to looking pretty.

"I told Rose that I must hurry to get what she needs. Can you give me an idea of how long I have? Madeline asked.

"We need to leave in three days. The men from my brother’s court will take my place from tonight so my soldiers will start gathering supplies for our trip back. I would love to keep her here with you a little longer but I must get my soldiers back to their families," Zayne replied.

"I know. I can’t pretend I wouldn’t love her here a little longer since I only just had her back but she found what makes her happy after years of being unhappy. I am grateful you are not a terrible man as this would be harder. Please take great care of her in my absence," Madeline said, her eyes following Rose’s movement.

"She is growing but Rose still has a long way to go. She hasn’t completed her tutoring yet and she is still curious about little things. Rose will be judged by anyone who comes to know she cannot read or write as well as her peers. She has to finish learning lady etiquette and how to dance. I am worried," Madeline confessed.

Rose’s story wouldn’t be enough to end anyone judging her. Madeline knew from experience how women could be cruel when they wanted something to gossip about.

Rose was returning with a man Madeline knew had to be well sought after given that he was not only a general but a prince. Women who wanted to marry him would look for what they could nitpick about Rose to make her feel small.

"She will be safe. I do not reside in the palace and I don’t plan on taking her there. She will be protected within my gates and for the start of her time there, I will walk around with her. Rose will carry the name Hamilton and as my wife, an insult to her is an insult to me. I don’t let insults go unpunished," Zayne replied.

"Oh, yes. Rose told me that you are a man interested in removing fingers. I see how nervous she gets when she thinks you are upset. You might find your sword moved with Rose living with you. She is quite worried about others’ fingers," Madeline laughed.

"I do not mind if she changes how my home looks. My home is boring to the eye considering I am always sailing. It will need to be changed to feel more like a home. I will send a ship for you after she’s settled in. I will make sure you are well protected on the way to us," Zayne promised.

"See," Madeline turned to Zayne. "This is why I have been rooting for you. You know what I want to hear and it might not feel that way yet, but Victor is fond of you. You brought Rose to us so he feels indebted to you but you are the man courting his daughter so the dislike of that mixes with other emotions."

Zayne smiled as he always knew Victor liked him. "And I like your husband as well. It is fun to bother him. I will miss him." fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

"You two looked like you were getting along well. It is nearing time that I take Rose home or would you like for her to stay with you? In separate rooms of course. She already has her past spreading around back at home. I wish I could get my hands on the one who did that," Madeline said angrily.

"They are being dealt with slowly. They won’t speak of her again," Zayne said, the corners of his moving upward as he thought about Mathias.

A man without a tongue couldn’t speak well and soon, Mathias wouldn’t be able to write not that he could before.

Madeline noticed Zayne’s little excitement over whoever he had captured. "You have beaten us again. Rose will be returning with Anna to have dinner with her other siblings so please think of whether you want her to stay with you."

"You should take her home afterwards. You must enjoy your time with her," Zayne replied.

"That is kind of you. Well, excuse me. I need to get her before I lose sight of Rose," Madeline said, stepping into the garden.

***

At the Ambrose home, Alexander packed quickly in hopes of being gone before Rose returned with her mother and most likely Zayne.

It had been awkward since seeing that Mathias was in Zayne’s hold and though Rose greeted Alexander with small talk, it was not the same anymore. He ruined it by asking for too much from Rose.

It didn’t feel possible for the friendship to go back to normal without some space between them and Alexander still couldn’t accept that Rose had found someone else. They needed time away from each other. Being in the Ambrose’s home made Alexander feel like his hands were tied so there wasn’t much he could do.

"I hope you are only packing to leave right when they return and you are not rushing to avoid my daughter."

Alexander turned to the door where Victor stood watching him. "I’m sorry."

"Doesn’t she deserve more than you running away like this? This is the woman you love and do not deny it. I was young and in love before. You made it quite obvious that you love my daughter and hate that man. I don’t see why you are running. What do you think this will do?" Victor asked.

Leaving without a goodbye wasn’t going to solve anything, In Victor’s opinion, this was going to make Rose look at Alexander differently.

"You’ve lost the chance to be lovers but you can still hold onto your friendship. It seems like you got the shorter end of the stick but if you care for her, that friendship is worth a lot. Give Rose the proper goodbye she deserves. I don’t know what happened between you two but this isn’t the way to go," Victor advised Alexander.

Little things like this had big consequences in the future.

"She’s expecting to return home to her father, sister and friend. What do you think she will feel when she returns and learns that you are gone? Think about that very carefully."

"I cannot face her," Alexander replied. He made a fool of himself before Rose.

"Then, it is true that you weren’t deserving of being the man she fell in love with. Running seems to be a common theme for you. Do you think you are a special case that it is only with your situation that hard conversations must be had?" Asked Victor.

"It is not so simple for me. I wanted her to spare the man who kicked and tried to take her back to the brothel. The man who wanted to kill her under the princess’s orders and for his personal feelings. I did that," Alexander revealed.

This changed Victor’s opinion a little. "Well, you are a fool."