The Forgotten Princess Rose
Chapter 196

Chapter 196: Chapter 196

Zayne stood with Finn watching the doctor tend to the sick princess. A little longer and they would have lost another princess.

Finn couldn’t believe the state of the king’s children. "We’ve seen a lot of messed up things during our travels but this is near the top for the most messed up. She was starving the children all because she only wanted her children present in the palace. How many children had she killed?"

"Could be many," Zayne replied.

He was certain Lilian was the one behind Rose’s kidnapping.

Zayne stared at the prince who still wore clothes similar to his sisters to conceal his identity. Lilian had frightened them so much that though she wasn’t in the palace, the only living prince pretended to be a princess.

"I share your anger. Rose is like a little lamb to me and the thought of her being amongst this group is upsetting. It is more upsetting knowing the king’s love for her mother means she might not have survived. She would have been the first one the queen wanted to kill," said Finn.

Finn didn’t know if Rose being hidden away in a brothel was good or bad for her. "If the queen was the one who took Rose, why did she place her in a brothel instead of killing her? Her role could have been revealed if Rose were found."

Zayne had also thought about this. "She likely paid for Rose to be killed but she was sold instead. Whoever she ordered to kill Rose crossed her and made more money. Rose thought she had been sold by her father."

"I need a king who will listen," Zayne said, still watching the young prince. "He lacks the knowledge to sit on the throne but right now, he is the best person to use. He needs to give up pretending to be a princess first."

Finn didn’t see the little wimp becoming a king. "I wouldn’t waste my time on him. Now, the princess who protects her siblings seems like she would make a good queen. It would not be the first time a queen ruled the kingdom."

Zayne shifted his gaze to Willow. Since she roamed the palace to look for medicine, there should be some things she knew. She appeared to be the oldest of the group and it was this that made him curious if she had a hand in hiding a prince.

Zayne left the wall he stood by. He could not wait for the siblings to settle in. He needed a ruler now so by the time more of his ships came in, his job was done and the men from his brother’s court would take over.

Zayne’s sole duty was to defeat the king if the truce could not happen and make it safe for the king’s court to come. He had done his part and now he could return home.

Willow stood up as soon as she noticed Zayne approaching. "Thank you again for saving us. You’ve been sticking to us which means you want something from us. We won’t be able to help you find the queen."

"I don’t need your help. I’ve already set a trap to bring her back. What I need from you is a ruler who will do as they are told and protect this kingdom," Zayne revealed.

Willow’s eyes widened. No one had ever considered them heirs. "Princess Kiara-"

"Will die," Zayne interjected. "She cannot be trusted. Should I be so foolish to put her on the throne, you will die."

Willow turned to Silas who was the best option simply because he was a boy. "I never thought of Silas becoming king but I will support it as long as what you are planning won’t harm him. We’ve all dreamt of getting out of the palace and this will keep us in it."

"Please take your time with him. We didn’t get good tutors and he doesn’t know how to use a sword. He spent his life acting as a princess to not be killed. He’ll need time to settle in as a prince," said Willow.

"I don’t have that kind of time. The princess who nearly hit me in the head with wood will have to do."

"Me?" Willow pointed to herself. "How can I rule this kingdom? I am not a prince."

"It doesn’t have to be a prince. You took care of siblings you don’t share a mother with and risked your life to find medicine. As long as your heart remains there, you will do. They can stay in the palace with you and be royals. You need to decide quickly as my only other option is to find another relative," Zayne explained.

It was that or someone from his brother’s court would rule. Zayne was giving a chance for this family name to not completely vanish.

Willow couldn’t believe she had the chance to become a queen. It seemed so far out of reach in the past. "I am scared. I don’t know if I could be good as a queen. Protecting my siblings is one thing but to rule a kingdom is another. I need a little time to think and speak to my siblings about it."

"Though you will be named King, you will serve my brother. Consider that as well. I will give you until night to give me an answer," Zayne replied, turning away to leave the siblings.

Finn followed Zayne, acting as his guard to protect him from those who might want to avenge the king and princes. "Why don’t you put Rose on the throne? From what you told me, she has every right to sit there."

"Rose shouldn’t be in the palace," Zayne answered, disliking the idea.

"Is it because she doesn’t want to be here or is it that you have plans for her to sail away with you? You can’t stay here so if she did become queen, she would have to marry someone else. That was careless of me," Finn put his hands in the air, regretting saying something so stupid after Zayne looked at him.

Finn kept a good distance between himself and Zayne. "I knew that you had fallen in love with her but I didn’t know it was to the point you thought of yourself as the man she would marry. Your mother will be surprised. I only worry if it will be a happy surprise."

"I am not thinking about marriage so you shouldn’t. Rose just doesn’t belong in a palace. Siblings were willing to kill each other to get what they wanted. Rose is too good for a place like this to taint her. I wouldn’t let her step foot in the palace at home. Prepare to go for her," Zayne said, ready to have her close again.

"And as for the princess here, it is time she had her dinner. Use the maid that tried to help her escape," Zayne ordered Finn.

"Shouldn’t we just kill her now? You said she was the smartest one in the family. She must be plotting an escape," said Finn.

"She is but she won’t make it out. Send the maid, no," Zayne changed his mind. "Bring her to me first."

Finn didn’t agree with Zayne’s plans. It was too risky to keep the princess alive. What could Zayne be plotting that he was certain Kiara would die?

"The maid failed to pull back the door for the princess to hide. If we send her to the princess, won’t she be harmed?" Finn asked.

"The princess will try to harm her. I wonder how long it will take the maid to reach her breaking point. It is a show worth watching. bring her," Zayne repeated, changing direction to the room where Kiara was kept.