The Forgotten Princess Rose-Chapter 231

"The prince has lost his mind. We did not send him here for him to find a woman to entertain himself with this long. He’s parading her before us," Andrew, one of the court men argued. "I am hearing about a wedding. He cannot get married without the king’s blessing and he knows it."

Hugh, another man from the Hamilton court, closed his eyes as he listened to the others. "The prince has never waited on anyone’s blessings to do as he wanted. We can tell him what not to do but he will not listen. Isn’t it good for us that he wants that woman?"

Hugh preferred that Zayne’s attention be on a common woman and not on the princess he placed to be the queen of this kingdom. They would not be in a good position if Zayne chose to become the king of this land.

"I would rather he stay here instead of returning with us. He’s a dog that the king doesn’t-"

"Be careful how you speak of the prince!" Orson yelled, angry that they disrespected Zayne’s name. "Regardless of what you think of him, he is our prince. If I hear another insult, I will do as he said and cut your tongues out."

Hugh and Andrew shared a look. They had forgotten that amongst them was someone foolish enough to be on Zayne’s side.

"You should be more angry about this than we are, Orson. You were hoping that when he conquered this land he would sit on the throne and rule. For the general who has won wars for our kingdom to move here most likely settling his army here, our kingdom would weaken. Isn’t that what you wanted to show?" Hugh asked.

Orson had plans for Zayne to reach the throne but he would not share his plans with these imbeciles who wanted Zayne dead. "Do not question the prince. The only reason we are standing in this land is because of him. Excuse me," Orson left the bunch.

It irritated him to share the same questions. What was Zayne thinking by marrying a woman from this land when others would help his position?

’He should make the princess his woman and rule here,’ thought Orson.

Orson saw a king when he looked at Zayne but Zayne wanted a quiet life. Zayne preferred the sea and going out to protect the innocent. He could do that as king.

Orson searched for Zayne and the woman he walked with. What about this woman had led to Zayne starting to think about marriage? The king wouldn’t like this and certainly Zayne’s mother wouldn’t like it. Zayne had to have turned insane if he considered taking the woman home.

Orson managed to catch up to the group before they entered the dining hall. "Prince Zayne!" He called to get Zayne’s attention.

Orson looked down just as Zayne turned to him. "I must have a word with you."

"I will be here all night. Can’t it wait? And if it is about Rose, be careful with what you say," Zayne warned.

Finn considered taking Rose from Zayne’s side. The Zayne in this kingdom was a bit more playful and laid back mostly because of Rose but when it came to back home, his temper showed.

Orson looked up to meet Zayne’s eyes. "I have always spoken my mind to you and it will not stop now."

"I know you speak your mind. I am just warning you to not let it get you killed. It would be embarrassing for you to die here when the war is over. You are hearing it from me now that she will be my wife. Treat her with respect as you show me and my family," said Zayne.

"With all due respect my prince, there is a princess here who will take the throne under your orders. You should consider taking her as your woman," Orson suggested, taking a step back just as Zayne reached for him.

Rose stepped back to be out of the way from Zayne speaking to the man before him. Zayne was right that they would want him to marry Willow to then be king. Why was it so important for Zayne to become King?

Zayne grabbed a handful of Orson’s shirt to pull him close. "You pride yourself on being on my side so if you are, you should know that I have no interest in becoming king of this kingdom or the back home. I am going to marry the woman I have picked. You do not want to be the man who ruins the good mood I am in."

"Forgive me, my prince. It seems I was careless with my words. You may take my tongue if you wish," said Orson.

Rose couldn’t believe the man would make such an offer. Did he want to be on Zayne’s side so badly? What was there to gain when Zayne didn’t want more than he already had?

Zayne released Orson. Orson was as annoying as the other men but he made for a good spy. "What did you hear from Lucy?"

Orson glanced at Rose, his disappointment hard to hide. "That you distracted yourself with a woman from a brothel."

Rose’s mood was spoiled by this. Not only was it known here but it was shared with people from Zayne’s land. She wouldn’t be able to escape her past being spoken about when she left with Zayne. She tried to think back to what she could have done to Lucy to make her go this far.

"Well, she’s dead," Finn muttered. How could Lucy be so stupid to speak of this and worst of all, to the court when she knew how much Zayne hated them?

There truly wasn’t a chance for Lucy to join this group and she must have faced the wrath of her father for what she did.

"I was in a brothel for eight years but that was not my choice," Rose spoke up. Rather than be embarrassed about it, she had to embrace it. At each corner she turned someone was telling her story so before they twisted it, she would tell it. "I was made a slave after being taken from my home. Your prince was kind to rescue me."

Orson hadn’t heard this part of the story. So, it was true that there were slaves here.

Still, knowing what happened to her did not dismiss the fact that he wanted Zayne to marry the princess. Orson had to leave it into the hands of the king who might be able to convince his brother to end what he had with this woman.

"A slave is-"

"I am also the daughter of Lord Victor Ambrose here. I am more than a slave. I always have been and I will not sit still while you judge me with your eyes. You must get used to seeing my face as I have no intention of letting go of him," Rose said, returning to Zayne’s side to hold his hand.

She had fallen too far in love with Zayne to let go of him all because of her embarrassing past and what others thought. Their cruel stares and harsh words wouldn’t be enough to make her ever think of leaving his side.

Outside of her family and the few friends she had made, Zayne was a little ray of sunlight in her dark world. He saved her in more ways than he could understand.

"We cannot keep the future queen waiting any longer so please excuse us," Rose said, ready to enjoy her night. She nudged Zayne to have him come with her so their night would not be spoiled by such foolish talk.

Orson was stuck on her boldness to speak up when he was talking to the prince but then he was puzzled by Zayne grinning like a fool. ’The prince has lost his mind. I need to tell his mother.’