The Forgotten Princess Rose
Chapter 140

Chapter 140: Chapter 140

"Anna, you are to be with your sister. That is what your mother told me unless I was mistaken," Victor said, looking around for Rose. He was confused to see only Anna walking alone. "Where is she right now?"

"I am retiring to my room until dinner. I don’t want to see anyone until then. I liked when I-"

"Do not finish that sentence," Victor stepped to Anna. "Do not let your mother ever hear you say that. I don’t want to hear it either. She is your sister and I am sure by now you must have heard about some of her life. It must be scary to be suddenly thrown into this life. Be there to help."

Anna couldn’t meet her father’s eyes. "Mother used to not take care of me because she was so desperately searching for her beloved daughter."

"Your mother loves both of you. She was in a bad place when she didn’t pay attention to anyone but you must consider how much it must have hurt for your mother to lose her daughter while she was there unable to fight who took Rose. Your mother loves and I will not stand here whilst you paint her as something else," said Victor.

"It is going to be about Rose for a moment. It is unavoidable since eight years are missing with her and there is much we have to learn but your mother wants you right there along for those moments, so I beg you, whatever childish thoughts you have right now, end them," Victor pleaded.

Madeline finally felt whole again and Victor would not have it ruined by Anna being jealous that the attention wasn’t on her right now. She had eight years of them while Rose suffered somewhere else.

"I am not doing anything to upset mother which is why I am retiring to my room. Going there is better than standing next to Rose and being upset by something that I know is childish. I wished someone had told me that he had some interest in her so I wouldn’t feel like I made a fool of myself now," said Anna, embarrassed by Zayne’s quick rejection.

It never happened before.

Victor sighed. "I would like to think you wouldn’t let a man be the reason you are running away from getting to know your sister. I have raised you better than that. Your mother has raised you better than that. You’ve spoken of the men you like and want to court. Focus on them."

"I will. Excuse me as my shoes ache. I will take Rose on a better tour after I have rested for a moment. She is with him now so it wouldn’t matter if I were there. Just leave me be for a moment so I can wrap my head around all of this. Please," Anna begged, her eyes filling with water.

She left home as an only child and came back to a sister who once lived in a brothel. Did no one think she would need a moment to herself?

"Fine but I expect a better attitude when you come back. We will not forget about you, Anna. I just need you to understand your mother wants to constantly be at your sister’s side now. Put yourself in her shoes. I will leave you be to think," Victor said, patting her back to cheer her up.

Victor left Anna’s side in search of Rose who shouldn’t be alone with Zayne. He didn’t care what kind of relationship the two had. Rose was not engaged to anyone therefore she needed an escort.

Victor searched every corner of the manor and almost lost hope just before he found them sitting on the balcony looking out at the mountains behind the manor.

He wanted to join the two to tell them of Rose needing an escort but from where he stood, they seemed to be having a conversation which shouldn’t be disturbed so he left, trusting that they would be fine alone.

Instead, Victor returned to the kitchen in search of Madeline who seemed to be planning a feast.

"Are we having a party?" Victor questioned, inspecting the food which they would not be able to eat alone.

"I am having all of her favourites made to see if it would help with her memories. I wanted to make what she likes now but Rose said she would eat anything that is prepared. She should have a big dinner even if she doesn’t eat a lot. The servants could have some to celebrate her return," said Madeline.

Madeline looked away from the cakes being decorated to her husband. "What is it?" She asked, palming his face. "Where are Rose and Anna? Are they well?"

"Anna has returned to her room since she is tired and Rose is sitting with Zayne. It might not have been a good idea to allow a young bachelor into our home with two young ladies."

Madeline took Victor’s hand to lead him away from the cooks and bakers. "Does Anna show interest in him? It is quite obvious there is some attraction between him and Rose. They mustn’t fight."

’And they will not," Victor promised. "Anna must have been caught up in the moment of seeing someone from out of town. It will go away."

"I hope so. Rose speaks of having a bad reaction to the name Lilian. She was close to the palace. What if someone saw her? What if someone troubled her? No one was to ever see her, Victor. How am I to explain?" Madeline asked, worried about the future. "She can never go there."

"Madeline," Victor touched her shoulders. "She will never go there. I made that promise to you and I intend to keep it. I will look into it. I still have some people loyal to me in the palace. If the queen has ever been near her, I will know it. Do you plan on telling Rose?"

Madeline shook her head, fear filling her body as she thought of her daughter ever knowing. "No. Before this. Before she was taken from us, I was never going to tell her and I do not want to tell her now. Anna is already curious about the palace and would do anything to go there. What if Rose were to get too curious?"

"Then you would need to explain to her the dangers. Our family will not step foot in the palace ever again. I will support you on what you need to do but at some point, she will be deserving of the truth. I am just happy that you have trusted me with this position," Victor said, raising her hand to kiss it. "What is that burning smell?"

"Oh no," Madeline panicked, stepping away from Victor but then she stopped as it was wrong to leave him at this moment.

"Go," Victor urged his wife. "I would like our kitchen to not burn down amid that chaos and you are the only one who can keep everything together. I will keep an eye on the girls in your absence."

"We must finish this talk once I am done. I need your advice. You are a wonderful father, Victor. To both of them," Madeline said as she walked back to the kitchen. "And a wonderful husband. I shall have one of your favourites added to dinner."

Victor shook his head at Madeline. She was going to exhaust herself from working too much then he would have to carry her to bed. The bright side was that she would sleep well tonight knowing that her daughters were at home.

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