Rosetta's Journey

Chapter 3: Nate

   Nate stood there shocked as he watched the most beautiful woman he has ever seen ride away from him.  Her long blond hair waving in the wind.  The way she looked at him with her big brown eyes earlier when she turned down his request made him want her more.  He has never had a woman say no to him let alone one as gorgeous as her.  

    "Nate man that was hilarious! She didn't even bat an eyelash when she turned you down flat." he said, still laughing as they began to walk back to the main road.

    Marcus and him have been friends since they were babies.  He knows him better than anyone.  Marcus also knows that no woman can turn him down.  Nate is not only extremely handsome ,but he is also the prince.  

    "Shut up Marcus or I will tell your mom about you hitting on all those girls from the town over. We both know how disappointed in you she would be." he said.

    "Okay fine I will, but seriously though why did you ask her to spend time with us.  You know you mom wants us to get back to the palace as soon as we can.  We shouldn't even be out here alone right now.  She would kill us if she knew we ditched you guard back in town." 

    "I know.  I don't really know why I did either.  To be honest something about her just there was something about her.  I mean did you see her fight those bandits? She moved so effortlessly. " 

    "Yeah I did. I mean I was standing right next to you or did you forget I was there while you were busy looking at her body?" 

    "I did not forget you were there nor was I looking at her body." Nate said frustrated that his best friend knew him so well that he couldn't even hide how attracted he was to her. 

    "Alright man whatever you say.  Just know that I don't believe you for a second." Marcus said with a smile. 

    "I don't need you to believe me. Let's just get back to our horses so we can get home.  I don't want to deal with my mom being angry with me." he said and Marcus nodded in agreement. 

    They haven't stopped since they got back on the road.  Nate knows he really needs to get home.  His mom wants him to greet someone the neighboring kingdom has sent over.  He is supposed to show them around and help them with anything they may need during their stay.   She did not tell him much about why the individual was coming, just that they needed to investigate something, and she told Queen Olivia she would help with anything they needed.  Now I’m going to be stuck with this person while they are here.  Marcus and I originally planned on going on another trip again in about a week, but I know my mom wouldn't want me to now.  She thinks I need to grow up and start to focus more on my duties as a prince and not going off whenever I want too.  She doesn't understand why he wants to get away.  He doesn't want to be tied down to the palace any more than he needs to. He is going to have plenty of time to do that when he becomes king anyway. Why rush to take on the duties now.  Nate is brought out of his thoughts when he sees the palace come into view. He gets to the gate then speaks with the guards before they start to rush open. Nate and Marcus make their way to the stables where they give their horse to one of the stable men then head to their rooms.  Marcus has a room in the east side of the castle because he is a part of the royal guards though normally, he usually stays with him instead of guarding his parents.  He on the other hand makes his way over to his room to go change and get ready for dinner.  After showering and changing into more formal attire he heads down to dinner.  It does not take him long to get to the formal dining hall where they usually have dinner.  He walks in to see his father Robert at the head of the table and his mother Heather is to the right of his father. He is shocked to see someone is sitting across from his mother.  He walks around the table to go sit next to his mother when he notices who is sitting across from her. It is the women from the forest. Rosetta. Nate notices a look of shock quickly pass over his face as he greets his parents then takes his seat. Someone came in quickly whispered in his father's ear something making his father say goodbye to everyone then leave. Now it is just him, his mother, and Rosetta.

    "Honey, I thought you wouldn't be home until tomorrow?" his mother smiles and asks him. 

    "I was going to take more time getting home, but Marcus kept reminding me how much you wanted us to get back, so we decided to come straight back." he responded. 

    "That is sweet of both of you.  I appreciate it.  It looks like you arrived just in time. This here is Rosetta Hawthorne she is the one who I was telling you about earlier. She actually arrived here not too long before the both of you did. " she said. 

    "Nice to meet you." Rosetta, who hasn't spoken since he entered the room, responded. 

    "Likewise" Nate said. He wasn't sure what else he should say.  He was still shocked that she is here in his home. Let alone the fact that she is the person his mother wanted him to help.  

    "Now, Nate, make sure you’re nice to her. No funny business you hear? I don't want you to hinder her in any way." his mother said while looking at him.  She then turned to Rosetta then spoke again " Darling, if you need anything let Nate know and he will help you. Feel free to come to me as well. I’m not always as easy to get a hold of as my son here though.  Your stuff has been taken to your room across from my son here. Now I know you just got here, but I have to go take care of some things." he noticed Rosetta smile and then began to stand when his mother said the last part. "Oh no dear. Please stay here. I’m sure you have some things to discuss with my son and you both still need to eat dinner." she said. 

    "Thank you, Heather. I appreciate all of your help in this matter." Rosetta said as she sat back down. 

    Nate's mother was already halfway out the room. She just waived in response to Rosetta before leaving. Nate watched as Rosetta began eating her soup.  A chef had set a bowl of soup in front of him as well when they were all talking earlier.  He picked up his spoon and started to eat not sure of what to say next.  

    "So you're a prince?" Rosetta asked him. 

    Nate was taken back by the question for a second before he realized she was trying to defuse the tension between them.     

    "Yes i'm" He said with a laugh. "I thought it was best not to mention it when we first met since I didn't know you really. Had you taken me up on my offer to hang out I would have. I see fate meant for us to hang out later on though." he responded

    "Yes, that seems to be the case. Now I would appreciate it if while i'm here you don't get in my way though. i'm not here to hang out."

    "Then why are you here exactly?" he asked sternly. 

    Nate noticed she stopped eating when he asked this.  She didn't answer for a moment just frozen there holding the spoon still close to her mouth. She finally lowered the spoon back down and placed it down in her soup.     

    "Your mother did not tell you?" she whispered. 

 Nate almost did not hear her question. 

    "No, she did not. I was a way and all she told me in her letters was that I'm to help you with an investigation you’re doing." Nate responded to her. 

    She frowned and looked down when he told her this.  She looked so hurt. For some reason he wanted to hold her and take away her pain.  Another few minutes passed before she spoke again.

    "The queen of my kingdom, Olivia, her nephew, was found murdered here in the palace last week. I'm here to investigate Fredrick's death. This is not a well known fact.  Since Heather has instructed you to help me with this I'm trusting you with this information as well." 

    He suddenly felt incredibly sad.  He knew Fredrick well. They were really close friends.  Fredrick would come here often to spend time together when he was trying to get away from his family.  Nate wondered why his mother did not mention his death in any of her letters to him.  

    "i'm sorry to hear about his death. I knew Fredrick well. He was a good man." he told Rosetta. 

    "Yes yes he was. He was one of the best. I still can't believe he is gone." she said. 

    Her statement made him wonder just how close she and Fredrick were.  Why would the queen send her instead of one of her men. Surely she had men capable of investigating this. Why send her? Before he could ask Rosetta about it any further.  He noticed Rosetta was already getting up to go. 

    "Where are you going?" Nate quickly asked her. He was thankful nobody else was in the room when he asked that.  He didn't want them to think that he was attached to her. 

    "To sleep" was all Rosetta as she walked off and left Nate there alone. 

    Hearing her say that just made him frustrated.  Sometimes she never gave him straight answers. He noticed it before when he met her in the woods.  He was hoping it would be different since they were supposed to work together, but seems he was wrong.