The Forgotten Princess Rose-Chapter 285

Catherine entered the meeting room as soon as Gage was finished speaking to his court. "Please tell me that you are not planning to call for Rose to come to the palace over nonsense. You know she has not brought trouble to your brother."

"Please close the door," Gage instructed his sister. "Your voice, mother. Anyone outside can hear you. Of course, I am not going to order her to come to the palace. Only a fool would believe this is her doing. She didn’t curse him. It was simply bad luck with the weather."

Gage sat on the table. "Did you think I would be cruel to pull her to the palace when Zayne spoke endlessly of not wanting her to be here? Please, mother. I respect his wishes so I ordered them not to speak of this before me again. Still, you know they are bound to speak in private."

"This cannot leave the palace. It should not for Rose’s sake. The storm and Zayne’s absence could be put on her because many would want something to speak about concerning her. They are always itching for a story to speak about. Protect her like you would do with any other one of us," Catherine advised Gage.

"I have been doing that which is why I have rejected the idea to call her to the palace. Are you not listening to me, mother? She will not be coming here unless she decides to enter the palace herself which would be stupid. I am protecting her for Zayne. I have to do it for him," said Gage.

"You must make up for what you have done," Paige commented from the sidelines.

Gage closed his eyes. Why did Paige need to come? "Is there nothing for you to busy yourself with, Paige? Like finding a husband?"

’How could I think of finding a man to marry when our brother is lost? One of us has to care since it feels like you do not-"

"Paige," Gage stopped her before he could have this repeated conversation again. "I don’t want to hear this from you too. I am the one who ordered three ships to go out and look for him while you have been sitting in the palace doing what?"

"I am not the king. I don’t have the power to do anything," Paige replied.

"Enough!" Catherine yelled, getting a headache from hearing the two of them argue. "I did not come to the palace for this. I have to get back to Rose soon and I have nothing to tell her."

Paige’s anger went away as she focused on her mother leaving. "I thought you would be staying the night. You have been with her for a long time. I know that she needs someone but I need you here as well. Can’t you stay one night?"

"It is much to ask from me when Rose is alone. She must be waiting. I thought I would be able to get something done here but I have come to a court putting Rose as the one behind all of this. I just hope she does not hear about any of this," Catherine said, hopeful Rose wouldn’t since no one from the palace should meet with Rose.

Paige took a seat since they might be here long. "Only a fool would believe such a story. I’m surprised that Gage doesn’t believe it."

Gage couldn’t take much more of Paige. "I need Zayne back. It cannot be just me and you. Sorry," he apologised, realising the mistake he made before his mother. "You should go busy yourself with something and send word to Rose that you will be staying in the palace. I will have someone escort you back to Rose in the morning or I might join you."

"What is the use of you joining me? You must be here. I can’t take any more of this," Catherine replied, deciding to leave since she was once again stuck. "Come, Paige. I will stay here tonight and go back in the morning. I must inform Rose."

Paige stood up from her seat. "We must leave Gage be since he has rumours to kill. You should have threatened to kill anyone in your court who dared to speak about Rose in secret. When Zayne returns, he’s going to be very angry. Dear brother, you don’t want him to be any more angry with you."

"Go," Gage pointed to the door.

Paige happily followed her mother out of the room leaving Gage behind to think over his actions.

Gage sighed. Again, there wasn’t anyone to take pity on him in this. This was his brother out there. The guilt was already hard to keep up with and then everyone around him kept treating him like he didn’t care.

If it were possible Gage would have left on the ships in search of Zayne but his duty was to stay in the palace and his family was here.

"Hurry up and come home," Gage said, hoping his words would travel to Zayne.

Another day was soon ending in the kingdom and after learning of Catherine staying in the palace, Rose ate her dinner in her room and retired to bed early so the servants could rest.

Rose tried to get rid of the quietness in the room by reading out loud until she became sleepy. She hoped this would be her last day sleeping without Zayne and the thought of visiting a church to pray for his safe return came to her now.

Rose set aside the book, ready for bed since there was no use in staying awake any longer. The memory of Zayne’s body hindering her view of the window wasn’t as vivid as before and Rose hated it.

Rose closes her eyes, having to fight the loneliness by using her memories.

Rose slowly drifted off to sleep after what felt like hours and during her slumber, a memory repeated with the door opening while she slept and Zayne entering to see her.

Zayne was careful where he stepped, contemplating if he should wake her. He was without a proper bath for a while and his clothes needed to be changed.

He had waited too long to see Rose again and though he would like to fix his appearance to not worry her more than Zayne was certain she worried, he had to see her.

Zayne went to the side of the bed, deciding to stoop down by the side so he would not ruin the bedding with his clothes. "Rose," he called, his fingers going through her hair. "I am home, Rose."