The Forgotten Princess Rose
Chapter 166

Chapter 166: Chapter 166

"You’re getting secret messages delivered to my home now?" Victor questioned, watching as Zayne read a note he received from a carrier bird. "I’m surprised they failed to shoot it down. Someone needs to be fired."

"The birds are just impressive. I might need to go back to the palace earlier than planned. Your king is a fool," Zayne said, balling up the paper he read as he didn’t need it anymore. "I gave him a chance to clean up his kingdom. It is not a chance I offer many."

"But you did it so Rose wouldn’t be in the middle of a war. I can’t keep disliking you when you do this much because of your love. Will there be a war?" Victor asked, ready to take his family far away.

"I would like to avoid war. The palace is my only target. Innocent people do not have to die as long as they stay out of the way. What do you know of the princes?" Zayne asked, tying a small note onto the pigeon’s leg as he spoke.

"I am told the crown prince is as prideful as his father which is not a good thing and the second prince blends in with the palace walls. Neither prince has done something for the kingdom to praise them and I am not certain if there is an illegitimate prince alive. If you want to place the kingdom in the hands of someone else, I suggest the son of the king’s cousin," Victor suggested.

"They are a bit humble and not close to James after he didn’t keep his promise to give his cousin a place in the palace court. He would gladly join you to kill James. I would join," Victor offered, eager to finish an old fight.

Zayne smiled, amused by the offer but he couldn’t take it. "It is kind of you to volunteer but I must reject it."

"I don’t know what kind of a lord you take me for but I know how to use a sword and many other weapons. I am not a fool who sits behind closed doors and waits on others to protect them. I can fight," said Victor.

"If it is that you do not want to take me from my family-"

"It is not that," Zayne responded before Victor assumed too much. "You are too involved in this. Too emotional for what he might have done to your wife in the past. I don’t need anyone emotional while I do this so you are better here to protect your family."

Zayne felt comfortable leaving without Rose only with Victor here. He would have liked to enjoy the two more days he had planned to be here but he had to go back to his camp.

Victor didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to settle an old score but he could not leave his family. Should something go wrong, he had to get them as far away from here as possible. "Very well. I will send word to my followers in the palace to aid you. They will approach you to reveal themselves."

"As much as I wanted you to disappear, don’t go to the palace and die. I’d hate to have my daughter crying over you. She shouldn’t waste her tears that way," Victor joked though he wished Zayne well.

It was in Zayne’s hands to stop James’ reign and better the kingdom. No one else would be so bold to go against the king. If Victor didn’t have his family to protect he would have fought James.

"I will keep her safe," Victor promised. "That rumour should have started by now. I hope it goes as planned and Rose isn’t burned by it. You should retire to your room since the girls have decided to share a bed tonight. You must think of how you will tell Rose you need to leave."

"I must leave. That is what I will tell her. Would you have made that complicated?" Zayne questioned, facing Victor.

Victor couldn’t resist laughing at the poor unaware fool. "It is easy to think of saying goodbye now but it will be different when you have to face her tomorrow. Think of her appearing disappointed and wanting to hold you so you don’t leave. It is a short goodbye but it is a goodbye. See if it will be easy then."

"You can laugh now until I give her a goodbye kiss tomorrow. Goodbye in-law," Zayne teased, lazily waving his hand as he walked away.

Victor closed his eyes, trying to suppress his need to throw Zayne out of the manor. He would enjoy every bit of peace once Zayne was not around. "I must tell the guards to be ready," he muttered, leaving to prepare for a lockdown.

The next day, Rose woke early to search for Zayne. It bothered her in the late hours of the night after Anna fell asleep that she had not seen Zayne to talk with him more as now they would not be interrupted.

Rose fidgeted with the dress Anna allowed her to use for the morning as she searched for Zayne. She slowed down when she noticed the butler speaking to a few maids.

"Good morning, Lady Rose. Breakfast will be served as soon as the others come down. Can I help you until then?" Emmett asked, placing his hands behind his back to shoo the maids away.

Rose watched the maids hurry off quietly like little mice. "I am looking for Zayne. Do you know if he is awake?"

"Ah, yes. He’s already packing his carriage. I-"

"His carriage? Why would he pack his carriage?" Rose questioned, panicking as she believed Zayne to be leaving without telling her.

Rose picked up her dress to make it better for her to run and headed toward the front doors.

"Milady! Emmett called, worried about her state as she ran. "He is not leaving yet. He is only having maids help to load his carriage."

Rose listened to Emmett but she still needed to see for herself that Zayne was not leaving her. It was too soon. What happened to their plans of staying a little more to give the king some more time?

"Zayne!" Rose called when she reached the front doors. He was by the carriage just like Emmett said. "Why are you packing your carriage? It is not yet time for you to go."

Zayne moved away from his carriage to calm Rose. "Unfortunately, it is time for me to go back. There is trouble I cannot ignore."

"What trouble can there be when we have not been here for long? How do you know there is trouble when I have not seen anyone come to you?" Rose inquired, searching for the familiar faces of any of Zayne’s soldiers.

"I received a message last night. There is a bit of tension between my soldiers and the king. I cannot leave them unattended for long and the king is working hard to silence anyone who speaks of those taken from their homes. I must go soon. I was waiting for when you wake," Zayne said, palming her face with his right hand.

He enjoyed the warmth of her skin which he would greatly miss. He didn’t have a clue when he would get to return to her. "I was not leaving in secret for you to find out from someone else. Am I so cruel to you that you think I would leave you without a word?"

"No. I was only puzzled as to why you must leave. I cannot keep you here,’ Rose said, not wanting to keep him from his duties though it ached. "I can wait for you to return. You must return. I only know a little of the palace but I do not like it."

"I appreciate the concern but it is not me that you must be concerned about. Stay close to your family while I am away. Stay away from suitors unless you want to see them lose their fingers," Zayne said, his regret from last night continued.

"I am starting to think that it might have been a mistake for you to be a general. You are around too many swords and you mustn’t worry about suitors as I intend to send them away. I already said that I like you so why would I entertain another man? I am..." Rose started but could not finish.

Rose bowed her head as she did not want to see Zayne’s teasing smile. "I am yours," she whispered. "I will not entertain anyone else."

Zayne sighed as it was a great test for him to leave now just when it was turning out to be so sweet. "Must you do this now when I need to leave, Rose? Is this your way of torturing me?"

"It was not my intention to torture you. Since there are urgent matters for you to tend to I will send you off now. I will speak to my father to find a way to write to you. I will not be upset if you do not have the time to respond," Rose said as she knew he had more important matters to focus on.

"It is painful to know you do not do this on purpose. I will be back as soon as I can," Zayne promised, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "You should prepare yourself for the kiss I seek upon reunion."

"Okay," Rose blushed, resting her head on his chest. "I hope to please you with my growth when you return. Now go before I find myself trying to stop the carriage," she said, taking small steps away from Zayne. "I will be here."