The Forgotten Princess Rose
Chapter 145

Chapter 145: Chapter 145

"No. I didn’t realise I had hit you. I made the mistake of rushing to see your guest. Like everyone around you, I was curious about the outsider. He has to be one of the soldiers we have been told about. I didn’t know one would come this far," Olivia said, her eyes glued to Zayne.

Anna frowned as her friend was in for a rude awakening that Zayne was already somewhat taken by Rose. Not wanting Olivia to be embarrassed by Zayne’s rejection she asked, "Mother, can I speak to Olivia alone for a moment? I won’t be long."

"You may but the guards will follow you," Madeline replied.

Anna pulled Olivia before anything more could be said.

"I will give you a proper apology in her stead. Olivia is also seeking to wed and you’re walking with a prime candidate though they don’t know much about him. I must tell the guards to be more mindful. Even of young ladies," Madeline said, excusing herself to see the guards.

Zayne touched Rose’s face, gently pressing against the red mark. "It will go away soon."

Rose swatted his hand away from her. "It will not if you press against it so much. You are popular here as well. It is good for me as I do not need to answer their questions. Maybe I should part from you so I am not hit again or in the way of someone who wants to approach."

"Rose, I have asked for you to save me. Would you leave me stranded?" Zayne asked and then waited for Rose to remember.

Rose didn’t know how she was to save him but then she looked down at his hands. "Oh. No one could grab your hands if I had them. I’m sure that no one will ask you to dance here and the ladies couldn’t be so bold to just grab you. I mean, it would go against everything that makes them a lady."

"You have a fine habit of rambling when you get nervous. You only need to say so if you do not want to hold my hand. I suppose we are not as close as I thought we were. You should go be with your mother," Zayne said, his smile hidden as he walked around Rose.

"I am not against holding your hand. We are close," Rose said, her hand smacking her face after those very words left her lips. "Is he teasing me?" She wondered.

Rose started to follow Zayne, wanting to question him about teasing her but due to him leaving her, another young woman took the chance to approach Zayne. What happened to everyone being afraid of the foreigners? Why were they suddenly so eager to speak to Zayne now?

Instead of going to Zayne, Rose went to her mother’s side where she could look over necklaces being sold.

Madeline looked at Rose and then at Zayne turning away the ladies getting too close to him. He needed saving but here Rose was by her side. "You do not want to help him? He is looking this way."

"Zayne is not shy of sending away anyone who annoys him. You should see how he is with his soldiers," Rose replied.

"Then what reason does he have to be shy instead of speaking his mind?" Madeline asked, knowing Zayne wanted Rose to join him. "They are going to keep going to his side regardless of him sending him away. Do you want him to say something rude to them and then have the town think wrong of him?"

"No," Rose answered, glancing at Zayne’s way. He was more surrounded than when she left him.

Rose knew Zayne could take care of himself and if he wanted to, he could send these women away. She was the shy one compared to Zayne. She wouldn’t be of much help but Rose left her mother’s side to return to Zayne.

Rose pushed her way through the young women eagerly throwing questions at Zayne. Rather than speak since she knew she wasn’t confident enough to send them away through speaking, Rose held Zayne’s hand to lead him away from the group.

Her head was down to hide her embarrassment. "Why are you acting so shy now? You are a general," she told Zayne.

"You came just before I could send all of them away. Luckily, I was saved before I needed to break hearts," said Zayne.

Rose let go of Zayne’s hand when they reached her mother’s side. Her attention was back to the necklaces.

Madeline smiled, resisting the urge to comment on the two. The young couple had much to figure out and Rose had to learn to speak if she wanted to keep the unwed women away from the man beside her. Sometimes the women had to be the hero and save their partner to show they cared.

Zayne inspected the pricey necklaces, paying attention to the ones Rose touched.

Rose jumped, startled by Zayne’s hand passing by her face and going down to the necklaces. She watched as he picked up a few.

"I want all of them," she heard Zayne tell the owner.

Madeline turned away from the two to let them enjoy the moment whilst Rose turned to face Zayne.

"You said you would accept my gifts," Zayne reminded Rose before she could reject them. He pushed Rose’s hair off her shoulder to have room to place a gold necklace around her neck.

"I thought it would be one gift at a time. They have already given me plenty of necklaces. You don’t need to buy so many," Rose said, still lifting the necklace to see the pendant. It was one of a flower which captured her attention.

"Those were from your parents. These are from me. There is a difference," Zayne said, hooking his finger around the necklace to then move his finger until he stopped at where Rose held the pendant. "How could I possibly only buy you one when I want to spoil the woman I am courting? It looks lovely on you. Perhaps I should buy all of them."

"No!" Rose pressed her hands against Zayne’s chest to stop him from leaning forward to look at the others. She quickly moved her hands thinking her actions to be indecent. "I’m sorry," she apologised, looking away from Zayne.

"What are you sorry for? I don’t understand," Zayne feigned ignorance. Rose was making this a little too fun for him. "Speak, Rose. Your voice is too lovely for you to keep it hidden."

"I-I must go be with my mother,’ Rose muttered, slipping away to the right to get away from Zayne. She regretted questioning why Zayne had done nothing to court her earlier as now she could not handle his behaviour.

Rose found comfort at her mother’s side. She could not wait to go home to stay in her room to be away from Zayne.

Madeline smiled as Rose clung to her. Her questions had been answered that she did not need to worry about Rose leaving so soon as Rose was still running from Zayne. She didn’t have to worry about Zayne giving up as his current smile showed he enjoyed every bit of chasing Rose.

"As soon as your father returns, we will head home to prepare for the family coming,’ Madeline said.

Madeline’s smile soon turned to a frown as she worried about Victor’s mother and what she would say about Rose.