Chapter 2: Plump Rump
Rose heard footsteps moving closer, and her stomach knotted. It was both from the guard approaching her and a memory that had just popped into her head. Emma had told her a few days ago that the crown prince was coming to Edenville. She had dismissed it as wild talk; however, if she was indeed interrupting the crown prince while he was at the well... Rose shut her eyes in horror. What was he even doing in Edenville?
"You," a voice said.
"Yah," Rose replied but didn’t move.
"Raise your head," he said. "You can fetch water. His Royal Highness, the crown prince, has allowed a commoner like yourself to pass."
Rose felt dizzy—she was almost about to pass out. The crown prince was really in Edenville and right in front of her. She slowly lifted her head. The guard in front of her was young, fully dressed in armor, and had a cape. He had a proud grip on his sword as he towered over her; it was sheathed around his waist. He was clearly royalty—just the way he carried himself made it clear. Rose wondered if he was a knight.
"Did you hear me?" he asked, staring down at her with a sneer.
"Yah, sorry. Thank ye," she mumbled as she scrambled to her feet.
"Tch," the knight said and started walking away.
Rose quickly followed behind him, holding her buckets tightly, one in each hand. She kept her head low as she walked; she knew better than to make eye contact with anyone. They were closer to the tree now, and suddenly, all the hair at the back of her neck stood on end. Someone was staring intensely at her. Was it the crown prince? Rose knew better than to raise her head and take a look.
She bowed again, dropping to her knees and lowering her head to the ground before rising and walking to the well. She also knew better than to speak. She climbed the stone and almost tripped, but she gripped the edge of the well for balance. That pair of eyes was dangerous. It was odd how everyone was staring at her, but the one she could sense made her uncomfortable.