The Forgotten Princess Rose
Chapter 155

Chapter 155: Chapter 155

Rose tried to look down but she couldn’t because of Zayne’s hand on her chin. "This is all new to me."

"I know which is why I am being patient with you. It is why I am moving at your pace but I would love for you to show some interest. If you like me, do not be swayed by what others say. This is a matter between us alone. No one can tell you what I feel and they cannot tell me about what you feel," said Zayne.

"I know but you feel out of reach for someone like me. I have not gotten used to being a lady yet. I don’t feel like one," Rose said, Varlerie’s words still stuck in her head. "She couldn’t touch my hand like I was dirty. I don’t want you to be mocked because of me. Where I have been will come out at some point."

"While I do enjoy how much you care about me being affected by gossip, you must know that it would take a lot of gossip to bother me. I am used to many talking about me as a prince. Besides, it is quite easy for me to cut out tongues to end it," said Zayne.

Rose laughed at his joke but then her laughter died down as she thought of Zayne cutting someone’s fingers. "You are serious. You don’t need to cut out anyone’s tongue. How would that be possible?" Rose wondered, tempted to stick her tongue out.

Zayne moved his hand away from Rose’s face. "It is possible. You must promise me that you will not listen to anyone and you will give me an answer. I am not like others you have come across. I will protect you."

"I know but I have always been against being with anyone because of Graham. I know you are nothing like him but I still think of him when I am touched. I have not healed from it yet. I just need a little more time and then I will give you an answer. Whether I want to try or stick to being alone," said Rose.

Marriage or just being someone’s partner never crossed her mind. Graham had scared her out of it because of his love or whatever he felt toward her. It was strange to think of herself one day being someone’s wife.

"Zayne," Rose said softly, poking his hand as she built up the courage she needed. "There is a ball tomorrow and I need someone to practise with. I will not dance but my mother still thinks it is good to know the basics. You said you didn’t like dancing but do you mind being present to be my partner?"

"You can say no," Rose added, lifting her head to face Zayne. "I can skip learning how to dance. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable by dancing before my mother."

"I don’t like it but I will join you. Are you certain you want to attend the ball? The lost Ambrose daughter returning means quite the attention on you," said Zayne.

"I know but you will be there so you will steal the attention. I was planning to hide behind you," Rose revealed, smiling innocently.

"You are planning to use me again. I feel owed something from you, Rose. Since I will be blocking you tomorrow, you owe me something. Don’t you agree?" Zayne asked.

"I think so. What do you want?" Rose replied, anxiously awaiting his answer.

"You must whisk me away from curious ladies without me having to beg you to do so. I will need you to save me tomorrow."

Rose chuckled, thinking the request to be silly. "I will. It is the least I can do for you helping me. It will sound quite good to one day say that I saved a prince. Oh, should I not say that? I can keep that you are a prince a secret. I have known you to be a great general."

"I would prefer that but with your grandmother knowing I doubt it will remain a secret. Where is she?" Zayne asked, suddenly wanting to see Valerie.

Rose panicked, worried about Zayne wanting to remove Valerie’s tongue. "You mustn’t harm her. My mother is already upset. I will defend myself. I won’t run anymore so no one needs to argue on my behalf. I am tired of always running away. Even from you."

Now that she had spoken to Zayne, Rose regretted getting up to leave after what Valerie said. She knew Zayne better than Valerie did but she allowed Valerie to get in her head and have her leave the room.

"I will be better this time. I will not run ever again," Rose decided. Most times she would have to fake the confidence but it would be better than running away again.

"I will enjoy the show of the bunny standing confident against anyone who troubles her," Zayne teased Rose.

Zayne stepped away from Rose just as the door opened and Victor entered.

"You worried over nothing. Then children knew how to behave when alone," Madeline came in after her husband. "Is it dealt with now?" She asked Rose.

Rose nodded. "It is. Do you still want to speak to me now?"

"I do. It can be just the two of us or Zayne can stay if you want. You are close to him so you might find comfort in having him right next to you," Madeline proposed.

Should Rose turn away from her, Madeline would like for someone Rose trusted to be near. Madeline thought she could do this alone but she was anxious now that the moment had come.

Rose became worried because of how her mother spoke. "They can stay."

Victor closed the door so they would not be disturbed while the others sat down.

"I will be honest that I never wanted to share this with you. I had always wished you could live not knowing the truth for your safety. Before Victor, there was another man in my life. I had come from a fallen family. My father lost everything so it was hard for him to marry me off to save us since he had nothing to offer a suitor," Madeline started.

"At that time, the prince was looking for a wife. There were rumours that the future queen was already selected but it was seen as just rumours. My father sent me there using what little money he borrowed with the plan of me becoming the queen. I did end up getting the prince’s attention," Madeline said, her voice shaky.

It was hard for her to remember this time of her life.

"It was wonderful at first to have the prince’s attention but I knew I didn’t love him. I was only there trying to save my family. I did share a bed with him and so did other women. During that time I entertained the prince, I met someone else. He was kind and everything I wanted of a husband. Unfortunately, he was the king’s friend."

Rose looked at Victor after he held Madeline’s hand. "Is your marriage the reason the king doesn’t like this family?"

"It is. Anyone would be upset if their friend helped the woman they claimed to love get out of the palace. We married quickly so James could not take me back to the palace and came here with a child we were already aware of. Victor has always taken on the role of your father. He loves you dearly," Madeline said with teary eyes.

There wasn’t a time when she had caught Victor treating Anna better than Rose. They were both his daughters.

"Rose, your father is King James," Madeline spoke quickly to get it out. "I know it might be wrong of me to have kept this from you and him but I did it for your safety. The queen had been picked just after my marriage and it was soon announced that Lilian was pregnant."

Madeline knew herself and Lilian were not the only ones who had been pregnant. Unlike Madeline who kept it a secret, others were excited to share the news.

"The women who entered the palace with me weren’t seen anymore. I couldn’t let anyone know that I was carrying the child of the king. They would have tried to trap us there and we would have died being within Lilian’s reach. Over the years many of your half-siblings died and only a few remain to be used. I did this to protect you."

Rose couldn’t believe what was said to her. Before her was the man she came to believe was her father but now he wasn’t. Now it was the same king who put out an order which made it hard for her to find her way home. "I am a princess. The king is my father,’ Rose repeated, letting it sink in.

This was more unbelievable than finding out Zayne had been a prince all along.

"But he is..." Rose trailed off, wishing she never knew this. She didn’t think highly of the king because of how he tried to fool Zayne. "Why must it be him?"