Chapter 85: Chapter 85"Many are not interested in it but then they find themselves preparing for a wedding. I like to avoid this season as it makes many not think," said Zayne.

    Rose figured it had to be a bigger problem for Zayne since he was handsome and had money. He was a hot topic among the women in the brothel so there was no doubt in Rose’s mind that he would be popular among other women.

    "You will be the one who needs to hide. I do not know much about your world but I am assuming that a general would be quite sought after. I have no interest in it when it comes to me but I would love to see others courting each other. It must be fun," Rose said, imagining a room full of new couples.

    Zayne thought the opposite. "It is not as fun as you think. Many are not looking to marry for love. They are marrying for some benefit whether it be for more money, status, or security. I have avoided it for years and I will not let it be this land that I get dragged into hearing marriage proposals again."

    "I am starting to pity you," Rose confessed as he seemed to have a hard time. "If you do not want to marry, no one should approach you whilst knowing it is not what you want. It is not on my mind and I do not know what to do with the gifts they wanted me to take."

    "Gifts?" Zayne narrowed his eyes. "What gifts?"

    "They are inside with the new dresses and shoes I have. It is mostly flowers and what looks to be treats from the stalls we passed by. They kept coming and Soren was annoyed so I took the gifts to make them leave. I don’t want any of them. How do I know they are safe?" Rose asked.

    "They are not safe so throw them away. I saw a goat on my way here who would be happy to eat the flowers. Give them to me," Zayne said as he would make sure they were properly disposed of. "If you don’t want something, don’t take it. Tell them to get out of your way or have Soren do it."

    Rose wasn’t confident in sending anyone away especially when there was a small crowd gathering around her. "I am not like you to be so confident then. It was strange for me and there were a few insults when I tried to ignore them. I just wanted a peaceful day in the market."

    "What happened to the same Rose who speaks to me so confidently?" Zayne asked.

    "I shouldn’t do that as well since you are my employer and it is different when I am in a crowd. I still got nervous and for a moment, I wanted to run but I promised the others that I would not. I am not going to enjoy the season if I will be courted. Hopefully, when they find out I am only a maid they will lose interest."

    "You do know that maids get married as well? You will be fine, Rose. Travelling with us will guarantee that you are not approached by anyone unless they are bold. I will be coming for you tomorrow evening so it saves me time from coming here the morning we are to leave," Zayne said and then put the crates down by the kitchen door.

    "I am finished with my work so I will pack tonight. Zayne, there is something I am curious about. Will your soldiers be fine with me travelling with you? I am not expecting the warmest welcome but if it will be terrible, shouldn’t I stay?" Rose asked as it had been on her mind since the market.

    She was in somewhat of a good place with Soren but then she ruined it. Rose failed to get two guards to like her so how would the others be around her?

    "Some might be uncomfortable and others will not care. My group is used to travelling around so we speak with locals quite often. I will deal with anyone who isn’t fond of you coming along. You don’t have to worry, Rose. I will protect you," Zayne promised.

    "I know that you will but I never want to trouble you. You will be busy so I do not want to take your time having to help me with anyone who doesn’t like my presence there," Rose said, nervous about the trip.

    Zayne sighed. What was he going to do with the little overthinker? "Rose, I considered all this when I invited you for the trip. Can you trust me?"

    Rose nodded her head. "I can. Perhaps you are right that I tend to overthink. After the first day with you and your soldiers, I will not worry if it goes well. If anyone does not like me tagging along, this might be a good test for me to stand up for myself. I can’t get you to help me forever. As well as Janice."

    Rose had been taking care of herself for years and now that she was free, she sometimes found herself depending too much on Zayne or Janice. She did not want to get too comfortable with letting anyone take care of her as there might be a day when they would leave her or she had to go somewhere else.

    "It is not bad to get help from others. There are plenty of things I need to get help with even as the general. There will come a time when you can defend yourself but it doesn’t need to come so fast that you refuse the help of those who care for you. Besides, we can’t help wanting to protect a little-"

    "Do not call me a bunny," Rose spoke over Zayne.

    Above all, Rose wanted to be better with her words so she could convince Zayne not to call her a bunny. She saw some of the small animals in the market and could not enjoy how cute they were because of Zayne.

    Rose bit her lip as she made the grave mistake of speaking over her employer. She wanted to fall in line like Janice said maids should do but Zayne made it hard to do. The best thing Rose could do when Zayne annoyed her was to leave.

    "I must go help Janice prepare for dinner. We will try our best to be quick so you can leave soon. Excuse me," Rose said, her head low so she wouldn’t have to meet his eyes. She didn’t want to see how much he enjoyed this.

    "It must be my lucky day as I have the pleasure of coming around each time she walks away from you," Finn said as he walked by Zayne to go to the front door. "They bought plenty so it looks like I am going to eat well. I am going to speak with the two guards outside." Sёar?h the Novёl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When Finn reached the front door, he stopped to look inside a crate. "Dresses and flowers? How fitting for a woman named Rose."

    Zayne frowned at the mention of flowers. He hadn’t considered that he was sending a little bunny out into a place filled with hungry wolves who wouldn’t miss the chance to take her away.

    Zayne walked with Finn to the front door so he could see the crate with Rose’s things. It was filled with different flowers as she said. All he wanted to do was burn the flowers and the hand that reached out to offer them to Rose.