The Forgotten Princess Rose
Chapter 115

Chapter 115: Chapter 115

"Will he be safe?" Rose questioned, worried for Connor.

"He should be. It is not like we would repeat what he told us. He decided to tell us about the town so he considered the danger. Come," Zayne said, leading Rose away from the doctor’s place. "They are going to label many who knew of slaves as crazy and send them to a doctor."

"What if the other women speak of being slaves? They are unaware that the king might have them imprisoned for speaking. We are being forced to stay silent. I do not like it," said Rose. The capital gave no hope for Rose that women like her could be helped.

With the brothel gone, she and the women who left could not turn to the town guards who were meant to help them. How was it that Rose received more help from outsiders than from her king?

"I will do my best to uncover my memories. I do not know how but I will try. There is no one else for us to go to. If that doesn’t work, I will give up," Rose said as it was disheartening to not get any further. "Maybe I will meet someone who recognises me by chance. The festival should have many people here."

"Yes," Zayne replied. He refused to give up as Rose would. They had to find a relative to leave Rose with before he had to depart for home. "We need to find your mask. Let us hope for a bunny."

Rose bit her lip to stop her response. He was not going to stop unless she said something that shocked him but again, he was her employer.

Rose ignored Zayne and focused on what was being sold around her. They didn’t have all day walking around the market as the soldiers needed to return to train and Rose had to clean along with figuring out how to do her hair for her first festival.

Rose stopped to look at bracelets made of beads. There were different colours to match the dresses that she brought along. She didn’t have money for fancy jewellery like she noticed the ladies walking by wore but the beads were pretty enough to satisfy Rose.

Zayne stood behind Rose, watching as she picked out a few of the bracelets. Just looking at them, he could tell that they would snap easily and then Rose would be running after the fallen beads. She was better off buying a good bracelet than many of these cheap ones.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t pretend to buy a bracelet for himself now and give it to Rose later. She would uncover his plans then.

"Thank you. They are pretty, aren’t they?" Rose asked, lifting the bracelets for Zayne to see.

"They are but they will break easily," said Zayne.

Rose was left feeling awkward as they were still standing before the stall owner. Rose attempted to turn Zayne’s body around to have him walk away but he was no different than a giant oak tree. She would need an axe to chop him down and pull him away.

Rose decided to leave first and handed a red bracelet to Mary. "It is not much but I think this one would suit you. Or what colour dress will you wear to the festival? I have other colours."

Mary inspected the bracelet placed on her hand. "I am not going to the festival."

"It is in honour for all of you," Rose said, puzzled by why Mary would want to stay home.

"I do not dress up," Mary answered. She was different from Rose in wanting to wear dresses and try to do her hair perfectly.

"I do not get to dress up often so you can come with me. This is my first time getting myself dressed for a festival so we can do it together and I will leave with you if you feel uncomfortable. I am not forcing you," Rose said, not wanting Mary to feel pressured. "I am only suggesting that we go together."

Mary didn’t want to get dressed up and go as then she would hear foolish comments about her looking better in a dress and acting like a woman than walking around in a soldier’s uniform. However, when Rose smiled it was hard to say no to her. "I will join you for an hour."

Mary tucked the bracelet in her pants pocket so she would not lose it. She regretted her decision when she locked eyes with Zayne as it felt like she had just ruined his plans. She had not thought of Zayne wanting to be alone with Rose.

’Is he upset or just calm?’ Mary wondered. It was hard to tell since Zayne always had the same facial expression.

’There are masks over there, Rose. You must pick one fast," said Zayne.

"Well done," Finn whispered as he walked by Mary. He was happy to not be the one who made the mistake of hogging up an hour with Rose. "I want a brown mask to match my hair."

Rose sighed in relief when she saw that the masks were not made to look like an animal’s face. Instead, they were pretty with jewels and feathers decorating them. Rose picked up a white mask which would match the pink dress she wanted to wear. "How much-"

"I will pay for it," Zayne said, handing over a small pouch with money instead. "I need masks for all my soldiers. You only want one?" He asked Rose.

"I only have one face," Rose replied.

Zayne was treating everyone again so she couldn’t turn down the gift. Instead, Rose wanted to find something to give to Zayne just as she had done with Mary, but what could she find for a man like Zayne? She couldn’t find clothes as he towered over everyone else so she would need to get something made but that might be more than she could afford.

"Rose," she looked up after Zayne said her name.

He was kind to her which showed how much he cared for her just like Janice did. What would she do without Zayne around? What was she to do when Zayne would leave this kingdom?

’He shouldn’t,’ Rose thought but then she regretted thinking it. How could she want Zayne to stay when he had a home to return to?

Rose had grown quite close to Zayne. So close that she allowed physical touch between them. So much that her new comfort space to run to was where he rested. She was grateful for Zayne coming into her life and would miss him if he left.

If the truce happened fast, did that mean she would soon have to say goodbye to the only man she considered a friend in recent years?

"Rose?" Zayne called, touching her face.

For the first time in a while, Rose flinched when he touched her, her eyes wide open like she was also surprised by her reaction.

Zayne lowered his hand, noting to not be so comfortable to touch her again. "We have to move so get what you need fast."

"Wait," Rose said, wanting Zayne to stop. His touch had just surprised her.

His touch made her feel something weird that she could not understand. It was bad timing for him to touch her when she was thinking of missing him when he had to leave.

Unfortunately, Zayne did not stop to listen as he regretted touching her face.

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