The Forgotten Princess Rose
Chapter 105

Chapter 105: Chapter 105

Zayne was more curious about the princess than her brothers. She easily influenced the king and with one look at her, he knew she was putting on a facade. She didn’t want the marriage as much or more than he didn’t want it but she knew how to play her cards right.

The queen had been silent, receiving a dangerous reaction when she finally spoke but the princess entered the room and took over the conversation, not silenced by her father. Had the princess been a prince, it was clear who would have been the king’s heir.

"Will you accept the offer for us to hold something in honour of you being here and show you around the kingdom? Give us a chance to show you the real beauty of my kingdom and that there are not any slaves here," James said, anxious as Zayne already looked over the truce.

Who was the fool who let his guest see slaves? The town guards were to take care of Zayne and his entourage. Make them feel right at home and meet with the nobles.

"You don’t look impressed by our kingdom which surprises me. I know how much my father wants this truce to happen so we can stop innocent people from dying over war. Give us the chance to change your thoughts on this kingdom," said Kiara.

She could not have war when she was looking to get married soon. Why couldn’t these men just settle their differences without war?

"That’s right. Give us the chance. We have not seen your kingdom but we are trusting that it is just as the stories told. Let me start by giving you a tour of my kingdom and we can talk about the truce on the way," James said as he stood up. He was grateful that Kiara had helped turn this around.

"Walk with the prince," James whispered in his daughter’s ears.

Henry envied his father’s closeness with Kiara. If given the chance, he could have finished this truce today. How much longer was his father going to entertain these outsiders on their land? Entertaining the outsiders meant they had to be on this land longer instead of going home.

’Why doesn’t he hurry up?’ Henry wondered, questioning his father’s motives. ’Is it to marry her off?’

Henry smiled as if he would enjoy it. Having Kiara out of the way meant that he could shine. He was the crown prince yet his father’s compliments for him were short compared to what Kiara was told. He tried to listen to his mother’s words that his father was just softer on Kiara because she was a princess but he could not take the favouritism for long.

Henry gritted his teeth as Kiara smiled when she looked his way. She knew that it upset him and she enjoyed rubbing their father’s love for her in his face.

Kiara walked behind her father to go to Zayne’s side. If climbing higher in the palace were to be her dream, he would have been the perfect man for her to make use of. "I shall accompany you. I can show you my favourite parts of the palace. It is a great shame you rejected the offer to stay here. We have plenty of rooms."

"I did not reject any offer. Someone was too scared to have us close," Zayne replied.

Still, that plan would have changed if they were invited to the palace as he would not bring Rose here. He wasn’t in the palace long yet he saw how many games were being played between the princess and the king as well as between the princess and the crown prince.

Kiara kept a good distance between herself and Zayne as they walked to the door. Alexander was waiting for her outside and she feared him getting the wrong idea. If only she had convinced Alexander to marry her before Zayne arrived. Then her father would need to use one of his other daughters.

Kiara searched for Alexander as soon as she stepped out of the room. His head was bowed as her father walked by him. She couldn’t smile when Alexander raised his head as now was not the time to show her interest in him.

Alexander remained at the back, watching as the royals walked out with their guest and his guards. Why was the meeting over so fast?

Alexander locked eyes with Mathias but looked away fast as he had nothing to say to his old friend. He already had enough trouble getting the princess to leave his side.

Lilian watched with great interest as her daughter spoke to the foreign prince. The match would work. It was far better than the man Kiara had her eyes on and was close to convincing her father to let her marry.

"I hope they wed and she leaves soon," Henry said, watching from the back as his sister and father entertained Zayne.

"You don’t want your sister to have more power than you do but what do you think would happen if she were to marry that man? Their nation is far greater than our own-"

"Mother!" Henry couldn’t believe what she said.

"Do not interrupt me. Once you look at everything they have, it is clear that they are the superior nation. Their army outnumbered our own since they spent years gathering allies and conquering new lands. Should they have stormed our lands, I might have lost my children. Kiara will save us," Lilian said, having faith in her daughter’s skills.

Henry didn’t want his sister to be seen as a saviour. "Why don’t you wed him to one of father’s illegitimate daughters? I’m sorry," he apologised.

Lilian couldn’t be more disappointed that Henry would consider those children. Children who shouldn’t have existed should not marry a prince. She would not let them marry higher than her daughter. "You must stop being so against your sister. Who she married will benefit you in the future."

"All you do is shower her with compliments. I am to be king. I should be there with my father," Henry muttered.

"Yet you drifted to the back instead of going to your father’s side. My sweet son, you will fail against Kiara each time because you want everything to be handed to you while she knows how to speak to get what she wants. Holding out your hand isn’t enough. Speak," Lilian advised Henry.

Lilian could only do so much to get Henry in James’s good favour. There was much for her son to do to become the favourite.

Henry once again wanted to ask his mother who she loved more but didn’t want to hear the answer. Kiara was better at getting others to do as she wanted than he was. He was just luckier than her to be born a man and even better to be the crown prince.

There was also one more thing in his favour. He knew of Kiara’s weakness.

Henry turned around to look at the soldier Kiara fancied. Maybe if he had a better hold on her weakness, she might stay quiet. She had to be furious, entertaining the prince while her lover was around.

There was a grand show awaiting him as his sister would have to go against their father’s wishes to marry the soldier instead of the prince.