Rose looked at Welma with furrowed brows as she concentrated on what the maid was saying. It was almost ti for dinner, and when she had heard the knock, she thought it was her dinner—rather, Welma had appeared.
"What are you doing here?" Rose had asked. There wasn’t any anger in her question, rather it was curiosity, as the maid had a serious look on her face.
Welma stepped forward and she didn’t start speaking until she was close to Rose. "Mister Henry called for , and he told the crown prince wouldn’t want you to go to him for the next couple of days," Welma said carefully, like she was rephrasing the words.
"Days?" Rose asked. "Did he say how long exactly?"
Welma shook her head. "But he added that you should not forget that you leave with the crown prince in three days."
"As if I can forget," Rose replied.
Her gaze darkened. Did the crown prince plan to avoid her for three whole days but still take her with him? If he was going to do that, he should let her go back ho. She didn’t care that he didn’t want to see her. She wasn’t exactly missing out on anything.
She also already had the chance to check the crown prince’s bedchambers, and she ca up with nothing that would help in her escape plan. She doubted this would change, but it was a sha she would not be able to find out.
"Is there anything else?" Rose asked.
Welma shook her head. "That was all Mister Henry said."
"That’s not what I an," Rose replied and lifted her head to look at Welma, her eyes squinting. "Did you find anything for ?"
Welma shook her head. "I’m afraid what I was able to find out wouldn’t help much."
Rose’s face brightened a bit. "But you heard sothing. I’ll take anything at this point."
Rose didn’t know a single thing about Futherfield, and with the crown prince isolating her, there was no way she could find out anything on her own now.
"I know Futherfield is to the south. That is all. I tried to ask if it was close to Edenville, but all of the servants I asked didn’t know. They have all lived in the capital all their lives, and I have to be mindful about who I ask questions."
Rose was surprised she didn’t fall to the ground at this news. "South," she mumbled. What could she possibly do with this information? It didn’t an anything to her.
"I’m sorry," Welma said at Rose’s expression.
"It’s not your fault," she managed to say. There was only one person to bla here.
"I could try to ask again," Welma replied.
Rose glanced at her, but she knew the maid wouldn’t find anything. Rose’s brows furrowed as she thought deeply. She couldn’t dare ask Thomas—that would be pushing it. Mister Henry wouldn’t even speak to her.
She would have to seek her answers outside of the castle. Rose’s eyes widened for a bit. The crown prince did say she could leave the castle—but would he let her now? She had to find out. She didn’t have much choice.
"Thank you, Welma, but I don’t think it will change."
"Are you giving up?" the maid asked, worried.
"I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I’ll just have to find out what I need so other way," Rose chewed on her thumb again.
Welma frowned a little. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Rose shook her head. "I don’t think so. It all depends on a certain person’s mood."
Welma nodded. "If it’s any consolation, I haven’t been called by the Queen or her ladies-in-waiting."
Rose couldn’t care less about them. The only thing she cared about was the marriage. If the Queen really did as she said, she might be able to escape the crown prince forever.
"Thank you, Welma," Rose replied.
The latter nodded and left Rose with her thoughts. She was still deep in thought when the sisters brought her breakfast. Thankfully, Chelsy was quick to notice Rose’s mood, and she dragged her sister away before she started rambling as usual.
After dinner, Rose got into bed early, but she knew she wasn’t going to fall asleep anyti soon. The crown prince didn’t want to see her, and as impatient as she was, she knew it was a bad idea to go there too soon.
She knew there was no way to decide how this would go. It all truly depended on whether the crown prince would let her out of the castle or not. But she was almost certain she would find her answers—and not just that, she could also get as much information as possible. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t thought of this before now.
Rose heard voices—Mister Henry’s voice was as clear as day. He was discussing sothing with the crown prince. Rose couldn’t exactly understand the details.
She suddenly tensed up when she could see shadows under the doors of her bedchamber. Rose almost thought one of them slowed down, but she knew it was simply her mind playing tricks on her.
Soon enough, she heard nothing but silence. Rose rolled onto her side. The room was warm, and it slled a little like smoke, but the warmth was all that mattered.
She wondered how her mother was doing in the cold. Winter was a terrible period sotis. She wondered if they had been able to save enough food. Hunting was harder in the winter, and plants didn’t grow—neither did trees bear fruit.
Rose was worried, but she was sure they would have help. The villagers were pretty nice, and Emma’s family was right next door. There was no way they would let her parents starve to death.
Then there was Ander—he was like a son to them. She knew she could count on him. She wanted to see him, she wanted to see them. A huge part of her was scared, though—she was scared of a lot of things. But Rose was never one to let her fears hold her back.
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