Aslan lifted the princess again. It was a bad strategy because the longer he spent time with Rosie, the shorter his life was. Aslan carried Rosie back into her room. Without resistance, the girl got off Aslan's back and climbed onto her bed.
Rosie didn't want to tease him any further, though the man's struggle face was adorable. Aslan must have been exhausted from carrying her this far. Rosie got into the blanket and gently patted the empty bed.
"If you feel tired, lay down here for a while. I promise I won't bother you."
Aslan didn't respond to Rosie's request. He just bowed respectfully, then left the room. Aslan shook his head in annoyance when he heard Rosie giggling from inside her room.
He patted his sore shoulder. The heavy weight he carried was finally lifted. The man returned to his room. Aslan picked up a box of cigarettes he hadn't touched in a long time. Then, he walked to the balcony and began to burn the tip of his cigarette.
Aslan didn't know when was the last time he smoked. The taste of the cigarette he had stored had changed, but Aslan didn't really care. He needed something to divert his mind from a particular person.
Three cigarettes had accompanied Aslan's entire night. He frowned because Howland had not returned yet. That man wrote that he would return in the evening. Aslan had waited all night, but Howland's troops didn't come back that night .
As the sun rose in the distance, Aslan was about to check on Howland's troops. However, he could see the castle gate opened and ten horsemen came with the prince in the front line.
Aslan bowed respectfully to Howland's arrival from the border area.
"Good morning, Aslan," Howland greeted cheerfully.
"Has something happened? You said you'd be back in the evening," Aslan asked curiously. He didn't return Howland's greeting.
"When we passed the camp settlements, they pulled our troops to have a party, and they drank the whole night," Howland replied with a laugh, looking at the tired faces of his men who had partied all night.
Aslan gave orders to his servant to prepare breakfast for Howland so the man could get some rest.
"How about Rosie? My sister didn't trouble you, did she?" Howland asked.
Aslan wanted to tell the truth, but to protect his friend's feelings, he chose to keep his mouth shut. He just nodded, making Howland smile proudly.
"I know, right? I told you to come back so there is someone who will take care of Roseanne. That girl is too innocent and sweet. Leaving her alone makes me very worried, especially since she nearly drowned in the river. I always get anxious when thinking about that. I won't be calm until I find the culprit who drowned my sister."
Aslan and Howland had talked about this before. They suspected someone had bad intentions towards the princess. Howland was sure that someone had pushed his sister into the river while the girl was enjoying the riverside atmosphere.
Aslan originally thought the same thing. Maybe Princess Roseanne was a humble and nice person buy he was sure that not all of his workers liked Rosie. Maybe there were one or two people who had bad intentions and tried to harm the princess to threaten Aslan or Howland.
However… After spending time with Rosie yesterday, Aslan became a little skeptical. At that time, a maid who was assigned to accompany the princess said that the princess wanted to be left alone.
Maybe the girl fell because of her own carelessness.
"About that… don't you think it's possible for Princess Roseanne to trip and fall into the river by herself?" Aslan asked.
"Rosie? No, my sister isn't that reckless. I know Rosie well. She's the calmest kid you'll ever meet. She also knows if something is dangerous. Rosie isn't that reckless," Howland replied while frowning. He even repeated some sentences, Rosie wasn't that reckless. Aslan really doubted that statement.
However, Aslan just nodded. He had no intention of justifying Howland's words. It was possible that yesterday was just another side of the princess that many people didn't know.
Thus, Aslan kept his mouth shut, trying to respect the princess's privacy.
"Brother!" someone shouted from the top of the stairs.
Aslan shifted to the side, giving Rosie a way to hug her brother tightly.
"Whoaaa… What's this? How could you greet me like this, Rosie?" Howland asked. He was happy to see his sister again.
"It's okay. I'm just glad to see you again."
"Oh what a perfect morning! I'm also happy to see you're okay. Did Aslan treat you well?"
Aslan turned to Rosie when he heard his name was called. Rosie nodded and smiled cheerfully at her brother.
"There's no one who looks after me better than Duke Aslan," she replied.
"Awww… Roseanne… you are the cutest. I should have been your number one."
Rosie laughed. "Big Brother has always been my number one! Duke Aslan is the second."
Howland was moved, and he hugged his sister tightly. He cupped Rosie's innocent looking face and pointed it at Aslan.
"See? How lucky I am to have such this little cute child as my sister," Howland said, making Rosie flying on the ninth cloud.
When Aslan glanced at her, Rosie gave him a mischievous smile that made the man turn his gaze elsewhere. Howland put his arm around his sister's shoulder and asked her to have breakfast together.
Aslan had no choice but to follow the two of them. As the three sat down in the dining hall, the servants and maids rushed to prepare their breakfast. Aslan ate silently, letting Howland and Rosie share their stories.
Rosie told her everything that had happened to her yesterday, except where the two of them had to go back to the castle on foot because Aslan tied their horses in a desolate place, and someone stole them.
"Thank you for taking such good care of Roseanne, Aslan. I'm glad to hear that. I can feel at ease if you are the one who takes care of Rosie when I have to travel far again in the future. I know you'll do a good job."
(Please don't…) Aslan replied in his heart.