The Forgotten Princess Rose
Chapter 174

Chapter 174: Chapter 174

"I cannot believe that you are the daughter of a lord. All this time you had this awaiting you," Alexander said, trying to wrap his head around Rose’s new status. "Mathias would lose his mind if he knew this. He might run far away to hide."

"I’m sure he would. Are you two still close?" Rose asked, curious about the state of their friendship.

"Right now, we are not like brothers. I am disappointed with his actions of kicking you and then he knew where you had been all along. I have some things to be disappointed by when it comes to me. I have much to apologise to you for. I failed you," Alexander admitted.

"I have already told you that I am not angry you did not come to get me. I made that promise to a boy. There wasn’t anything you could do for me or yourself. As I grew older, I knew not to expect anything. I am free now so we can forget about it," said Rose, desperately wanting to move on.

"I cannot. There was a time that I struggled to find food but then I started to earn money. I joined the army and I had a bit of money to return to help you but I didn’t. I could have helped you years ago but I was so wrapped up in enjoying being a soldier that I-"

"Alexander," Rose touched his hand to make him stop. "I am not angry with you therefore I hope you can stop beating yourself up about it. I am free and I have my family now. I like that I made my way out of there."

Alexander still couldn’t let go of feeling guilty. "It feels like I was the one meant to save you."

"Well, you didn’t. There isn’t anything we could do about it," Rose replied.

"What happened to Graham? Does he still search for you?" Alexander asked, eager to take Graham’s life. Not only for Rose but for all the pain that Graham caused him and since Graham’s father was dead, he could only go after Graham.

Rose stopped walking, puzzled as to why anyone would think Graham was still alive. "Has it not spread that he is dead? Was he not found?"

"I haven’t heard any news about it since I left that town. Did you," Alexander stepped closer to Rose.

"No," Rose shook her head.

"Then who? Was it the outsider? Did he do it for you?" Alexander asked, secretly wishing it wasn’t so. Zayne had already beaten him so much.

"I didn’t ask him to kill Graham but it must have involved me since I was able to get my papers after Graham’s death. Zayne disliked Graham so he also had his reasons. Why do you look so upset?" Rose questioned, confused by Alexander’s anger. "Zayne isn’t bad."

"He has beaten me at everything-"

"It was not a contest. Why do you see it that way?" Rose inquired. Her life wasn’t some game between two men. "Do not place yourself in competition with him. Zayne has helped me a lot and I am most certain he did not do it whilst thinking of beating you. What are you here for?"

"I have waited a long time to see you again, Rose. We are friends," Alexander answered.

"Then, we shouldn’t speak about Graham or Zayne now. I am curious about you leaving the king’s army. Was it just to see me or to get away from the princess?" Rose asked, knowing there was more to the story.

"It is both,’ Alexander answered, sighing as he thought about Kiara. "The princess is cruel and heartless. If I were to tell anyone outside of the palace they would not believe it. She has the king wrapped around her finger. I had no choice but to leave the palace. I didn’t come here for protection, I only came to see you."

"Her obsession with you seems to be far out of hand," Rose said, thinking of the festival. "You will be safe here. My father doesn’t like the king."

"Which doesn’t make it safe for you. I once overheard the king speaking of killing Lord Ambrose. I thought it was because your father did something against the crown but he wants your mother,’ Alexander revealed.

Rose was only truly safe if he got her far away from here. They could settle down in one of the more quiet corners of the kingdom.

Rose looked to her mother walking behind them as a chaperone. "Mother," she called.

James setting his sights on this family was not good as it might lead to him uncovering their secret.

Madeline quickly approached Rose thinking the visitor had said something bad. "What is it?"

"He spoke of the king wanting to kill father," Rose shared, her fear evident across her face.

"It is no secret that he would love to kill my husband. There have been a few incidents in the past but we have not had any in recent years. When you see my husband, please tell him all that you know. How long have you been with the king’s army?" Madeline asked, curious about his place in it.

"For three years. I joined since I would have food and shelter. I was not sent here by the king nor the queen. Other than overhearing that plan for the lord, I don’t know anything else. I might have if I asked the princess," Alexander said, knowing Kiara would help him in exchange for something.

"You don’t need to. You shouldn’t get too involved with the royals. Now that you have left the king’s army, I suggest that you keep going far away from it. A strong-looking fellow like you can find easy work. I won’t disturb you two," Madeline excused herself, walking ahead of the two instead of following.

"Come with me," Alexander said, offering his hand to Rose. "You can come to see your family at times. We can go somewhere quiet where there aren’t many people."

Rose looked down at Alexander’s hand. "There was a time when I would have taken your hand and gone anywhere with you. To have a quiet life away from others was all that I wanted but now, I want something more."

Rose touched Alexander’s hand to close it. "I cannot leave with you. My dreams have changed."

Alexander hid his sadness with a smile. "I know that I cannot give you this life as a lady but I will make you happy."

"I am certain you would make me happy and it is not the riches that I am after. I have always enjoyed the simple things in life. I just," Rose started but didn’t know how to explain at first. "I want to have a quiet life where I am happy but in that life, you are not more than a friend. We are not children anymore. We are not sitting in a cold room having these dreams."

"Is it because you have feelings for the outsider?" Alexander asked, slowly lowering his hand as the rejection settled in.

"I want to be with him," Rose confessed.

"I see. If I had found your first, would it have been me?" Alexander asked, needing to know if that was what ruined his chance.

"I do not know. Had you found me first, I might not have met Zayne. We will never know what could have happened. I do not know when I came to like him but I don’t think it has to do with my escape from the brothel. He has been kind and helped me to overcome my fears. He has sparked a confidence I lost and for that," Rose paused, thinking over her feelings.

"You love him," Alexander finished.

"Maybe I do," Rose answered.

Alexander smiled bitterly. He hadn’t thought there might be a rejection. "Well, there is nothing I can do but wait for if there is ever a time he messes up. I still want to continue our friendship. Just know that if he doesn’t treasure you well, I will come for you."

"I will keep that in mind," Rose replied, but deep down she knew it would never come to Alexander taking her away.

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