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 ."
"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 so interest. If you like , 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
about what you feel," said Zayne.
"I know but you feel out of reach for soone like . 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 . Where I have been will co out at so point."
"While I do enjoy how much you care about
being affected by gossip, you must know that it would take a lot of gossip to bother . I am used to many talking about
as a prince. Besides, it is quite easy for
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 soone’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
that you will not listen to anyone and you will give
an answer. I am not like others you have co 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 ti and then I will give you an answer. Whether I want to try or stick to being alone," said Rose.
Marriage or just being soone’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 soone’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 soone 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 ans 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
again. I feel owed sothing from you, Rose. Since I will be blocking you tomorrow, you owe
sothing. Don’t you agree?" Zayne asked.
"I think so. What do you want?" Rose replied, anxiously awaiting his answer.
"You must whisk
away from curious ladies without
having to beg you to do so. I will need you to save
tomorrow."
Rose chuckled, thinking the request to be silly. "I will. It is the least I can do for you helping . 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 ti. I will not run ever again," Rose decided. Most tis 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 ca in after her husband. "Is it dealt with now?" She asked Rose.
Rose nodded. "It is. Do you still want to speak to
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 soone Rose trusted to be near. Madeline thought she could do this alone but she was anxious now that the mont had co.
Rose beca 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 co from a fallen family. My father lost everything so it was hard for him to marry
off to save us since he had nothing to offer a suitor," Madeline started.
"At that ti, 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
there using what little money he borrowed with the plan of
becoming the queen. I did end up getting the prince’s attention," Madeline said, her voice shaky.
It was hard for her to rember this ti 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 won. During that ti I entertained the prince, I t soone 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 claid to love get out of the palace. We married quickly so Jas could not take
back to the palace and ca 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 ti when she had caught Victor treating Anna better than Rose. They were both his daughters.
"Rose, your father is King Jas," Madeline spoke quickly to get it out. "I know it might be wrong of
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 won who entered the palace with
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 ca to believe was her father but now he wasn’t. Now it was the sa king who put out an order which made it hard for her to find her way ho. "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?"
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