The Forgotten Princess Rose
Chapter 150

Chapter 150: Chapter 150

Valerie didn’t trust having a soldier in her home around the girls. If they weren’t careful they could wake to one of the girls being attacked by him. He could certainly overpower them.

"It is improper of you to be touching her hair as you please. I do not know what kind of relationship you two had before but it must end now. Stop touching her," Valerie commanded Zayne.

It was obvious that Rose didn’t know any better as she sat there allowing Zayne to touch her. Despite living in a brothel, in Valerie’s opinion, a woman should still have the sense to know that being so close or intimate with a man meant trouble.

Rose misunderstood what Valerie implied and said, "I am no longer his maid. That ended when I came home and I did not mind his touch. Sometimes," she added as it bothered her now. "He has helped me to get used to others’ touch again."

"Do you not hear what you say? You don’t mind his touch? You are a woman not yet married. Unless you have plans of wedding him, I suggest you do not present yourself so comfortably around him. Not only was it the brothel but now you were also his maid. We have much to hide," said Valerie.

"It is only us who know. No outsiders will find out about it and even if they do, she is the victim in all of this. Right?" Anna questioned, turning to her aunts for help.

Anna was disappointed to see that her aunts either tried to shush her or avoided her gaze. "What? I don’t want it to get out as well but if it does, she is the victim. Who wants to live in a brothel?"

Anna didn’t think much of Rose once being Zayne’s maid as she now had the upper hand. Many of the women in town were interested in Zayne as it wasn’t every day they got to see a stranger but it was clear to Anna that Zayne was smitten by Rose.

’They might marry,’ Anna thought. ’Would that be bad?’

Zayne let go of Rose’s hair just as Victor entered the room.

Valerie searched for Madeline, expecting her to enter after Victor. It was times like this when Madeline acted like a child that Valerie did not think she was a good fit for the wife of a lord. "Victor, you’ve come at the right time. I have offered to find Rose a good tutor. All the good ones have been taken but they cannot say no to me."

"That is kind of you. Is that what you want, Rose?" Victor asked, wanting to hear from her.

Rose nodded her head. "It is. I like to learn."

Since Rose was happy, Victor couldn’t object to it. "Then, I will leave it to you, mother. There isn’t a need to rush for Rose to learn everything so fast. She has just returned home so go easy on her."

Valerie couldn’t go easy on someone who didn’t know how to read. At this age, it was ridiculous for a lady to not know how to read. That was something to expect of those from common families who had to spend more time working instead of learning.

"Once Rose debuts, you will have plenty of suitors coming to the door. You were already worrying over Anna now you have two," Karen teased her brother.

"Is it right for Anna to marry before Rose? Rose is the oldest so there is an order we like to go by. Karen couldn’t get married before I did and I wouldn’t have sat quietly if you allowed it. So, is it right?" Andrea questioned.

Anna panicked, hoping this would lead to her sitting out this season. Rose did not want to marry so what did that mean for her? "I’m sure Rose does not mind."

"I do not," Rose agreed with Anna. "I have no interest in getting married."

"No interest?" Valerie exclaimed, feeling faint. "How could you not want to marry? Do you want to be taken care of by your mother for the rest of your life?"

"Mother," Victor warned. She was heading down the path of getting kicked out again. "That is fine with us if she never gets married. She’s been missing for eight years. No one should expect her to have marriage on her mind."

Rose sighed in relief, grateful for her father coming to her side. Marriage was starting to sound more serious than Rose thought it to be. It had always seemed like two people in love getting married but besides the men and Anna, everyone looked to her like she was crazy.

Zayne stared at the old woman who acted like she did nothing wrong. ’Your mother?’ He laughed at the subtle ways to point out Rose’s birth drama. Rose should never be left alone with her grandmother.

"I can work," Rose spoke up. "It was not bad."

Valerie couldn’t believe her ears but she had to bite her tongue now to not upset Victor. She would never allow her other granddaughters to be this way and she was not going to play favourites with the granddaughter who didn’t come from one of her children.

"We will figure this out later. Right now, we should just get the tutor here tomorrow since you want to learn and send off the soldier," Valerie said, facing Zayne. She did not back down under his gaze.

Zayne might scare the men in this kingdom but when it came to her family, Zayne would find that she was not a woman to back down.

"I’ve had enough of sitting down. We bought some gifts for you, Rose. Do you want to see them now? We have some for you as well," Karen said, trying to avoid Anna feeling left out. "Let the women go talk while the men sit here. I’m sure you’ve had enough of us."

"I have," Victor admitted.

"Victor!" Karen gasped, feigning hurt. "Mother, do you see how he treats us? For that, I will steal your daughters. Oh," she covered her mouth. "I didn’t mean like that."

"We all know. I hope mother doesn’t give Rose the same tutors you had. You can’t hit the lord," Victor said, moving out of the way so he wouldn’t be struck.

Karen chased him to get one hit. "I am not hitting the lord. I am hitting my foolish brother."

Valerie shook her head at the two still acting like children. It was clear why their children misbehaved so much.

Valerie tried to sit up but failed to as her right foot fell asleep.

Rose noticed Valerie’s struggle and stood up to help her, offering her hand to pull Valerie up.

Valerie glanced at Rose’s hand, disgusted by the sight of it as there was no telling what it had touched in the brothel. She was relieved to see Anna coming toward her. "Anna, be a dear to help me up."

Rose stood with her hand still offered to be of some help. She was not fond of touching as well but Anna held out her hand just as she did and it was accepted. Rose looked down at her hand. Did Valerie think she was dirty?

Rose placed her hand behind her back and made room for Anna to walk with Valerie.

"Rose," Zayne called, noticing her sadness. He saw the interaction or lack of interaction between her and Valerie. "Are you fine?"

"Yes,’ Rose smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.

"Come along, Rose. Leave the men here to suffer," Andrea said, taking hold of Rose’s hand to lead her out of the room. "Tell us everything about that man," she whispered.

Anna ended up at the back of the group with Valerie since the others walked too fast.

Just as she walked by Zayne, Valerie said, "You must watch your gaze."

"And you must watch your tongue," Zayne replied. His sword was sharp to remove it.

Victor looked back and forth between the two, confused by the animosity. He had much to discuss with Zayne.