The bell rang for lunch. I heard some commotion in the palace.The prince asked me to serve him lunch . I hurriedly ran out of the room. In the big kitchen , there were some 20 people including maids and chefs. I stood beside the maid whom i knew.

" Here. Take this grape wine jar and glasses. " She told me . I held them tightly. Then , when all the food was ready and covered with lids one maid asked me to lay the table. I put the juice and glasses aside and laid the table. Everyone started coming to the table. The insane princess too. She looked at me and laughed. The king and queen came too. Everyone bowed at them. I did the same. One other middle aged female took her seat and the princess whispered something to her. At this she looked at me like i was a garbage.

And at last , Prince came whistling sweetly. The king clenched his teeth . But the queen smiled at him. The prince stood beside me and smiled.

The princess and the woman rolled their eyes at me. The prince sat in his place.

"Maid, come here. Serve me."The lady said. And both she and the princess smiled.

I nodded and walked towards them. Although i wanted to slap the girl so badly.

"Where are you going?" The prince asked me looking surprised.

"They called me , my lord" I spoke looking at the floor.

"But did I allow you to ?" His voice became intense. He looked up at me and waited for the answer.

"No, my lord. Please forgive me." Both of my new enemies were laughing . Oh! They did it intentionally. They had their own maids' group.

"Forgiven,Rose"The prince chuckled a little bit. Everyone looked at us surprised. The queen smiled at me . And king continued to stare Prince . But he was busy smiling.Maybe they weren't on good terms with each other.

" Mr. Alaric Rodriquez "The king stated." We all are waiting to hear your decision. You are no kid now. All grown up and in 6 months will be 24." The prince sighed after hearing this." We want you to marry Miss Katherine of vienna."

The princess or Katherine blushed and the lady beside her smiled widely.

" Alaric ? Son, please your father is asking something."The queen said .

But no. This Prince was not your average royal member. He got some attitude like modern males. He banged the table with his fist. I shook from the sound. Everyone kept quite.He stood up and went out without eating anything.

"This boy of yours!" The king also left. Queen tried to control her tears. Both the ladies , started eating without any care. I went towards the queen and gave her tissue paper.

She looked up at me. And smiled. She is so nice. I smiled again." Please , Don't worry." i said. She nodded.

I was serving her but one of the guards came running. "Prince is calling Rosaline"

Katherine spilled her juice and queen smiled again. " Finally he has someone to call. GO." She said. I nodded at her.

Why was he calling me now ? Was i the only maid in the palace? I had to leave this place and find Jeannine. This was not where i belonged.

The guard showed me the path where the prince was fighting with someone. Or they were just practicing. These Royal People!

He won the fight . His body was sweating badly. He called me .I stood beside him waiting for his next command.

"OUT EVERYONE!" He shouted. The guards left us alone. He threw a wet towel at me. And stood in front of me. Okay! Now i had to wipe his wet chest. I wiped his shoulders standing on my heels. He bent to my level. Our breathes mixing. I turned to wipe his back. But he grabbed me by my waist. I looked at him wide eyed.

"Do it properly , Rose." he whispered dragging me close to him. My face struck with his wet chest.

"I like the smell from your hair." he inhaled deeply ."It's different. " He said taking one strand of my hair and wrapping it around his finger.

"My Friend ?" My voice was breaking due to the closeness.

" There was no one except you , Rose" He replied finally leaving me."But I am finding her " I smiled." For you." He stated.

"You haven't eaten anything , my lord. " I tried to distract him. "Please have lunch . The table is still laid."

"Really? You care about me . Huh?" He said smirking. I looked down. Not knowing what to say.

"Let's go. Serve me lunch. " He put on his shirt back. We walked out to the table. In the way, he held my hand. I continued to walk even when everyone was staring at us.

Now , the table was all empty. He sat on his chair. I served him lunch.

"Have you eaten anything?" I came out of my thoughts .

"No, my lord." He asked me to sit on the other chair. But I refused.

"Rosaline, Do you need any punishment ? " His voice turned dark again. He was a bipolar maybe.

"No" I replied.

"Then eat." He commanded.

I sat on the other chair without any will and served myself the least I could. He looked at my food and shrugged his head. But said nothing.

We ate in all silence. I finished my food at the earliest.And cleaned the table. After sometime the prince also stood up.

One guard bowed at him. "Pardon me Prince, But King has asked for your presence in meeting hall." He told him.

Prince exhaled out his breath heavily . And nodded.

"Rose, I will be back in few minutes. Wait for me in my room." He commanded.

"Yes, My lord." He walked out of there . I gained back my regular breathing.

This was the time. Yes. To run, To find Jeannine. This prince was so creepy. I had to run and search for my friend. And we would leave from here.

I ran out of the corridor and joined one of the lines. Some maids were going home. I escaped with them. I observed my surroundings. It was a market place.

I scanned every lady's face and went towards the farms.

MEANWHILE IN THE PALACE:

"Alaric ? Where did the troops attack ?" King asked the prince.

"I already told you father, I killed them all. They had no right to live. They betrayed me." The prince replied with anger dripping from each word.

"So you will kill everyone , who betrays you? " The king was surprised by his words.

"No. Not everyone. But punishment is the least i could do for them" The king watched him furiously. And commanded him to leave,which he did happily.

Once out , he went directly to his room. To rosaline. The mystery girl. He like her. Or was attracted by her. But when he didn't find her there, he called the maids to find her.

Even after ten minutes, no one could find her. So it was clear. She was not in the palace. She betrayed him. He was so lenient with her. Made her feel comfortable. Still she back stabbed him.

There would be a punishment. YES.Rose. He broke the vase. And crushed the roses.

He left the palace to search her and bring her back to him.