CHAPTER 14: Eat

LATER THAT EVENING

"Ouch," complained Rosie. She was rubbing the back of her shoulder.

"What is it?" asked Shadow.

"That beam hurted."

"Oh. Are you alright Princess?"

"Yes. I'm fine. I'm sure it will take me a few days to heal, since I was hit by another magician whose magic is higher than mine."

"Princess, why is that prince so determined to find you?"

"Who knows? Maybe he's after my phoenix's power."

"Well, you can't let him."

"I know."

"Take caution Princess."

"Alright."

"I will see you later."

Rosie nodded. She looked around her and noticed that it was getting dark. She was going to have to find a place to rest tonight. She headed towards the water. She set up her camp and started a fire. Soon she got tired and laid herself to rest in front of the fire.

Prince Regent moved the leaf that was hiding him. He smiles as he saw her sleeping beautifully in front of the firepit. He was glad that she was in disguise as no one could see her real beauty but him. Tonight, he was going to make sure she didn't escape. He was going to claim her as his woman.

"Prince Regent what do you want to do from here?" asked Commander Wang.

"Surround her, but be stealthy," answered Prince Regent.

"Yes." Commander Wang signaled to the soldiers. They were all moving quickly around her.

Rosie hearing the pitter patter of footsteps stir. She woke up and looked up. She saw Prince Regent standing in front of her. He was smiling handsomely at her. "You-"

"You gave me quite a run," said Prince Regent.

"Why-Why are you following me?"

"It's because I want you."

"What?"

"I want you to be my wife."

"I don't want to marry any royalties or princes."

"Oh, why is that?"

"Because I want a faithful, loyal, and loving husband."

Prince Regent chuckled. "How do you know I'm not him."

"You're a prince."

"So?"

"It means you're not qualified."

"Oh, but I will be." Prince Regent walked closer to her.

Rosie backed away from him. She was scooting on the ground.

Prince Regent knelt down to her. "Come." He reached out his hand to her.

Rosie looked at him and then his hand. She turned away from him.

Prince Regent chuckled. "No matter what you do tonight, I will have you as my woman."

Rosie silently gasped and looked at him.

He smiled with his dimples showing.

She felt herself blush and turned her head away again.

He chuckled loudly.

Then suddenly Rosie's stomach started growling. She grabbed onto her stomach as she was hungry.

Prince Regent looked at her. He looked at her hands as she was rubbing her stomach. What white skin she have. Even her hands are pale and white.

Rosie's stomach let out another loud growl. She blushed as she was embarrassed.

Prince Regent grinned at her. "You're hungry?"

Rosie flipped her head back to him. Her red eyes looked at him with shimmer in her eyes. "Of course. You have been chasing me nonstop since yesterday. I have no way to make any money nor have any money to buy food."

"But I saw you buying the hairpin."

Rosie didn't know what to say. She couldn't believe that he saw her since she bought the hairpin. She didn't even notice his presence when they were at the street market. She was hungry and was hoping to buy food after the hairpin, but because of him she had to randomly buy other things to throw him off. She didn't think he had suspected her already and started following her.

Prince Regent clapped his hand. Soon food started appearing behind him. The soldiers set the table and food in front of her.

"What?" thought Rosie. She tilted her head at Prince Regent.

"Eat," said Prince Regent. He pointed at the food.

Rosie clenches her fist at her dress.

"What is it?"

"I'm not comfortable."

"Why?"

"There's too many eyes."

"Eyes?"

"Yes. If you have a group of men surrounding you, wouldn't you be nervous?"

"Oh. It's because you keep running."

"Wouldn't you if you have an army of soldiers coming after you."

Prince Regent smirked. He clapped his hand.

"Yes, your highness," said Commander Wang.

Prince Regent sat down next to her.

Rosie backed away from him.

"Let's move," said Commander Wang.

Prince Regent waved his hand at the soldiers.

"Yes," said soldiers all together.

They all bowed and left. Soon the forest became quiet.

"Now. Eat," said Prince Regent.

Rosie looked at the food. She was so hungry, and her stomach couldn't stop growling, but she had to be careful.

Prince Regent smiles as she was cautious of him. He took his chopsticks and started eating some of the food. He picked every single dishes and ate them. When he was done, he put down his chopsticks.

Rosie tilted her head at him.

Prince Regent swallowed his food and stared at her. What beautiful red eyes she have. He was so mesmerized by it that he didn't realize his hand was reaching out to touch her face.

Rosie flinched and backed away.

Prince Regent quietly chuckled. He was glad that she was a cautious woman. That she's no fool. She wouldn't easily be deceived by those cunning people in the palace. She would actually outwit majority of those people as she's a smart woman.

Rosie's stomach started to rumble louder than before.

Prince Regent laughed.

Rosie bit her lower bit lip.

"Eat. I already tasted it for you."

Rosie thought about it. She remembered that the Prince Regent did eat every single dishes. He seems to be fine after a couple of minutes now. She's sure she will be okay too since he ate it. She picked up her chopsticks and started eating the food. They were good. Even though her food tasted better, she didn't mind for she's too hungry to care right now.

After she finished her food, Prince Regent poured her a cup of tea. Rosie took the cup and drank it.

Prince Regent smiled at her.

Rosie looked at him as he was smiling handsomely at her. "Wow, what a handsome man. I never thought that Prince Regent would be this handsome up close. I heard that the Crown Prince is a lustful man. I wonder if he is the same as his brother," she thought. Then she drink her whole cup of tea.

Prince Regent chuckled happily.

Rosie frowned as to why he was chuckling. She wonders what this man is thinking. She put her cup down and said, "Thanks for the food."

"You're welcome," said Prince Regent. He was pouring another cup of tea.

"Prince Regent?" asked Rosie.

"Yes."

"You promised that you would forgive me."

Prince Regent put the kettle down.

"I did."

"So, please don't hold anything against me and let me go."

"Oh. Why should I oblige?"

"You-You- But you promise."

"I did. I promised Elisa Qian. Not to you."

"But you know that I was not Elisa at the battlefield."

"So?"

"So, you should still honor your words."

"Hmm…"

"What?"

"I will have to think about it."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not sure how I could let my wife escape me."