The Forgotten Princess Rose-Chapter 243

Rose got off the ship with Zayne right at her side. Rather than wait for all that they brought to be taken off the ship, a few boxes were placed at the back of a carriage sent for Zayne and after Zayne addressed the crowd, they set off for home.

Rose was glued to the window, taking in the sight of the kingdom and all the people who waved at Zayne’s carriage.

The town was vibrant with many wearing bright colours. It was a different mood than back home since this was the side that won and didn’t need to adjust to outsiders.

"How long do we have before we reach your home? Where is the palace? Is it far?" Rose questioned, too excited to realise she was asking too many questions at once.

"We have a long ride. Perhaps nearly an hour to get home. I told you it is somewhere quiet and you cannot see the palace from here. It was built away from the shore so it wouldn’t be so easy for our enemies to reach the royals," Zayne explained.

"I see," Rose answered. She continued to look out the window. "They are all cheering for you. You are well loved here."

"You thought that I wasn’t?"

"No, no. It’s different for me. I am used to anyone outside of your soldiers wanting to avoid you but here they cheer for you. You are a bit scary looking so I wondered how you were viewed here. Did I say something wrong?" Rose questioned, noticing his frown.

"Must you keep describing me as a scary-looking man? When you speak of your husband, is that what you will say?" Zayne wondered.

Rose covered her mouth as she laughed. "No, I will say I have a handsome husband to those I like but to those I want to scare, I will say you are terrifying. I have told you before that your face is good for scaring unwanted people. We should make good use of it when we can."

Zayne didn’t like the sound of it. "I prefer that you say that I am handsome instead of scary."

"But the soldiers say you are scary all the time," said Rose.

"I am not married to them and quite frankly, they should be afraid of me. I am their general. You are my wife so I want to hear of my good looks from you. Find someone else to scare others with. No wait," Zayne changed his mind.

She would need another man to scare away visitors.

"I didn’t know you had this side of you, Zayne. I won’t speak of you being scary anymore. You should be less scary to the soldiers since they already respect you. Most looked ready to give up their life to protect you. I wonder how they will spend their days with their family. What do you do when you return home?" Rose asked.

Did Zayne have a small tradition she should keep up with?

"I prepare a report of the damage and victory to take my brother, train the men, and prepare to head out again. It doesn’t take long for him to have somewhere to send me. Does that upset you?" Zayne inquired as Rose failed to hide her displeasure.

"You should rest. Certainly, there must be someone else who can train the men," Rose proposed.

Zayne might be a skilled soldier but he still needed his rest like everyone else.

Zayne became amused by Rose being upset. "Well, I might be inclined to stay at home if my wife keeps me busy. I still have a wedding to enjoy, don’t I?"

Rose looked away from Zayne. The last time he spoke of having a wedding to enjoy, they spent too many hours in their room on the ship. Zayne hadn’t attempted to be too intimate with her again although they had kissed a few times but she knew he looked forward to it.

"You do," Rose replied, hoping her face didn’t give away how she felt. "The king, your brother should understand that it is a time for you to rest. You must show me around what is now my home. If he is grateful for your recent victory, he will give you a break."

"My, oh my. I think I found myself a wonderful little protector or have I brought a little bunny to shake up the kingdom? You must get used to hearing about a bunny, Rose. Unless you stop being so cute to remind me of one, I will not stop," said Zayne.

Zayne offered his hand to Rose for her to join him on his side of the carriage. He gave her the space she needed to enjoy looking out the window but now, he wanted to hold her.

Rose was reluctant to join him at first but then figured there was nothing he could do when they were in a carriage.

Rose placed her hand on Zayne’s and shakingly stood up to go to Zayne. She was going to sit beside him but found herself seated on his lap. "I should sit beside you."

Zayne caged her by placing his arms around her. "You won’t fall. It will be more comfortable for you here. Trust me."

Rose saw right through his plans. "You are doing this for your enjoyment."

"Guilty," Zayne smiled. "Is it so wrong that I want to hold my wife?"

"They will see us," Rose said, worried about the people looking at the carriage as they rode by.

"Only if you get too close to the windows. The carriage is moving fast, Rose. Don’t worry about who is outside and I will not do something to you here. Just sit here," Zayne said but his actions didn’t match what he said.

His right hand was on her back just below where he would need to open her dress and his head buried in her shoulder to kiss her neck but he wasn’t planning to do more. Rose wasn’t ready to be so bold to be intimate in a carriage.

Rose held onto Zayne so she wouldn’t fall. "Have I made you wait too long? I didn’t mean to. I thought you would ask."

Zayne pulled away from Rose. "What?" freewebnøvel.coɱ

"I mean, we haven’t gone all the way since our wedding night. We have touched each other but not like that. I was afraid someone would hear us in our room on the ship. It must have been long. Sorry," Rose apologised for her actions.

"It has not been long, Rose. I had been without it for many weeks before I met you. You shouldn’t do it because you think it is what I need and if you are in the mood, you do not need to wait for me to initiate it. It is perfectly normal for you to want me as much as I want you. Did it bother you that I did not say I wanted you?" Zayne questioned.

He continued to explain, "I didn’t want to make you feel you must constantly make love to me now that we have started. I don’t know how comfortable you are yet."

"You don’t need to be this way. I am not uncomfortable with you and I know I was wary of someone hearing us but had you initiated it, I would have loved it. I need to share my thoughts more. I enjoyed it and I want to do it again but not here," Rose placed her hands on his chest.

It would be uncomfortable and then she thought of the state they might arrive in.

"I see. I will keep that in mind," Zayne replied.