Caius swung off his horse. He knew what he had seen—though she had tried to cover it, it was clear and new too. He had seen her the day before; such a mark wasn't on her neck, he would have noticed. Her red hair was what he had seen first as he rode by. He passed the marketplace and was going around the town in hopes that he would find her, and here she was.
He wanted to go about this in a more gentle manner. He was going to try luring her with gifts and whatnots. Besides, he was the crown prince; he usually didn't have to do much, but this was a village—he wasn't sure how to woo a peasant.
However, the recent developments have changed things. Caius wasn't angry. He found virgins a tad too much. Besides, he liked a woman who knew her way around the bedroom. Caius had to bite back the drool that almost escaped his lips.
"A petal," he said, stepping closer. "Wonderful! I like my women ready and experienced. Not having to break you in makes this easier for me. I could have fun much faster."
Rose has had her share of men coming after her, so she knew the look the prince gave her was nothing less than unfiltered desire. She was disgusted. One would think the heir to the kingdom would have more control over himself, but here he was in the middle of the street, panting like a dog in heat, asking to have a taste of her. The worst part—he wasn't asking, he was demanding.
She had learned a few tricks. Some men you had to smile at and act coy with for them to let you go; others, you beat with a stick. However, nothing in her skill box prepared her for how to deal with a prince—and a crown prince at that. He was powerful and was currently the most powerful man in all of Edenville. She couldn't anger him.
Rose bowed and stepped back. "I am so sorry, yer Highness, but I think ye have me mistaken for someone else. I am engaged to be married in a week."
"Does it matter?" he asked and stepped closer. "Engaged to be married, married—neither matters much to me. All I ask is that you spread your legs for me. I'll pay you handsomely."
Rose's eyes blazed. She would have slapped him if he wasn't the crown prince. He was clearly the type you beat with a stick, but Rose wasn't about to lose her arms just yet. However, she wasn't some roadside whore he could just call upon. This was unbelievable. There were people here—did he not care? Emma would call her shameless often, but she was nothing close to this.
"I beg ye, 'ave mercy, yer Highness. A lowly girl like me could never satisfy His Highness. I ain't got the skills nor the status."
"Didn't I just say none of those things matter?" he asked with an evil smile.
Rose kept her head bent. "I 'ave to turn down ye offer, yer highness. Please, forgive me."
Rose didn't wait for his response before she fled. She didn't stop running until she got to the merchant's wife's store, which was located on the opposite side of town, in contrast to the marketplace.
"Child, what got you breathing like that?" Madame Razel asked as she walked towards her.
"An incubus! The devil!" Rose said without thinking.
"What?" Madame Razel said.
"Never mind," she said. "ye said ye had something for me. I came here as fast as I could." She smiled up at the older lady, happy she could breathe again.
"Oh," she smiled sweetly. "I will go bring it."
She knew better than to tell Madame Razel, the whole town would hear it before nightfall, and it was already bad enough that this happened in front of the marketplace. But what was wrong with the crown prince? All because of a love mark? She tightly wrapped the scarf around her head.
She sat in front of the shop, and that was when she realized her basket wasn't with her. Rose grabbed her head. It was her favorite basket. It was lighter than the rest and also sturdier, and it took time to make as she only used the finest weave—not to mention expensive.
"That damn sack of spoiled lard!" Rose yelled, startling the poor Madame Razel coming out of her store. The items in her hands nearly flew into the air as she jumped in surprise.
Rose's eyes widened. "I am so sorry, Madame Razel." She rushed to the woman. They were imported ceramics that she was going to give Rose in exchange for the table and a wooden hand mirror her father made—and also her gift for the coming wedding. The table was exquisite; the legs had been hand-carved by her father as was the mirror. Rose had watched the entire process.
Rose's father dealt with wood. When he wasn't chopping them and selling them off, he was carving them. He was also pretty good at his job. The problem was, he was a peasant—nobody was going to pay him more than they had to. However, the merchant was always generous to her father.
Rose carefully accepted the ceramics from her. They were quite heavy. Her basket—she almost shed a tear. Now she had to carry them in her hands to go home. "Thank ye so much, Madame Razel."
"Don't mention it. I'm just so happy. It's about time you married yer childhood sweetheart already."
Rose smiled at her and turned to walk away—just for her to see Emma walking through the gates, and in her hand was her basket. "Emma!" she cried. "Bye, Madame Razel."
"Bye, dear. Hello, Emma."
"Good day, Madame Razel." Emma bowed her head.
Rose rushed towards Emma, the ceramics in her hands. "Emma," she called. "Ye saw mi basket and the roasted nuts!" she cried as she inspected it.
"She gave it to me," Emma explained.
Rose knew immediately that she was talking about the woman who sold the roasted almond nuts in front of the castle. "Isn't she so nice?" Rose softly said and placed her plates into the basket.
"She also told me what happened," Emma quietly said.
Rose stopped but then immediately put the plates into the basket. "Not 'ere," she whispered.
She collected the basket and slowly linked her hands with Emma once again, and they walked through the gates of the merchant's compound.
"Did that really happen?" Emma asked as they walked away.
"Yah," she replied.
"And ye turned him down?" she asked.
"What else am I going to do?"
"I know, but people are saying ye is going to be the Prince's whore now."
"And ye believe them? Didn't I just say I turned him down? I'm getting married to Ander. Besides, 'his whore' is a stretch. He is the type that just wants a taste, and he would leave ye hanging. I'd rather die."
"I am worried, Rose. Tis the crown prince we are talking about."
Rose ruffled her hair. "No need for that. I am sure he has forgotten all about me."
"Will you tell Ander?"
"Nay, no reason for that. Besides, look at this. Aren't the plates so pretty? I have never seen such designs before. I hear they are imported from a different kingdom."