Poison Rose(Roses & Kings #1)

That night while Reyna and her Nana were sitting on the dinner table, Nana Maria was eating and sending worried glances her way. Reyna's dinner was completely untouched, she had no appetite and with the image of the thin little girls in her mind's eye, guilt wouldn't let her swallow even a morsel. And then there's the words of the beast repeatedly playing in her head.

If Reyna said she wasn't terrified out of her mind, then she would be lying. She had replay and thought about her interactions with the beast from his first word, look, growl and everything in between. Her body's strange reaction to him, his pain,and whatever the hell it was he did to her, everything. Now! The golden question Reyna had spent the better part of the day thinking about is, who's coming to kill them? Is it her or Cassandra? Why are they coming for them? Was the beast bluffing? Maybe he meant her mother. She's the Queen after all. Reyna was no one! Just a clueless princess who's in over her head. So why would anyone in their ever loving mind come for her.

Or was he saying they were going to be attacked? Reyna didn't have the answers but she wished she did. She feels weird like she has changed. She unconsciously kept rubbing her hand over her chest where he had touched her before she felt that agonizing pain. He had done something to her. Reyna was sure of that, but she didn't know what.

She needed to see him, speak to him and find out what he did. But she decided against sneaking to see the beast. It took every self control she had to convince herself that going to him isn't the wise choice at the moment. Instead Reyna did something she'd decided she was going to do earlier in the day. Reyna couldn't possibly stop eating completely out of guilt, but she could try to lessen her guilt by helping those family units in the village.

She picked up her spoon and ate her food, forcing herself to chew and swallow, her mind churning with so many thoughts. She didn't taste the food, only scarfed it down where she hoped it would stay. After she'd finished it all, she then lay on her bed tossing and turning until the tower clocks midnight. Reyna woke and dragged Nana Maria, all the way from the second floor, where hers and her mother's room was situated.

To the pantry on the ground floor, Nana wasn't happy she woke her, but she kept watch. While Reyna filled up a couple of sacks with food rations,it's not a large sack, but at least the food inside will feed them for a day or two. Reyna handed her Nana some of the sacks to help carry them, they were heavy, she couldn't possibly carry all the sacks by herself. They went back to Reyna's room, and waited for the time when the guards left the hallways to check out the other parts of the castle.

“You have finally done it, this time Rey, what if we are caught? Your mother will lock you up for good, and hanged me for letting you do this.” Reyna understood her Nana was nervous,the consequences of stealing food is dire and the punishment severe. But Reyna couldn't ignore her conscience, all those hungry people especially the children. She just couldn't let them starve if she could do something about it.

Her Nana tried to talk her out of going, but Reyna's mind was already made. She's the princess of Marlenia, she's duty bound to help her people, especially those who are too weak to help themselves.

“Don't fret Nana, nothing of the sort will happen, you'll see.” She assured after she put the last piece of clothing that disguised her appearance as Princess Reyna, to that of a palace maid, Nana was able to steal...well, borrow a dress and an old shawl, for her from the servants quarters.

They walked through the night, hiding in the shadows-the massive mountain behind the castle stood like a giant monster blocking everything. It made Marlenia darker with just a flickering light here and there. When they came upon the guards at one time Reyna almost got a heart attack, when the guards stopped them. but then they let them go, when her Nana lied and told them, they were headed home after working late in the castle.

Reyna hasn't been to the village in a long time, but the place looked run down and dilapidated. It must be very cold with the rain coming frequently. Most of the houses didn't have any fire lit, there's no electricity in their houses. It must be a technical problem since there was light in the village hall.

Some of the roofs were also cave-in. How come they didn't complain to the queen about the state of their homes and lack of electricity, so she would ordered to get it fixed. Reyna was afraid they might end up frozen in their sleep in this cold, and it's not even winter yet.

She felt her heart squeeze uncomfortably. She promised to speak to Cassandra about this, surely she didn't know, she couldn't have. Otherwise she'd have done something, maybe even have them move into the castle, while their home is on the mend.

Reyna knocked on little Emma's home for quite a while before the door opened. The head of the family unit, Jenna knew her, was surprised to see them. She stood gaping, then realization appeared, she turned an accusing eyes to the eight or so occupant in the living room and said.

“What did you do?!” It sounded ominous, Reyna and her Nana were left gaping with their mouths wide open, while the people inside each swore they were not at fault.

“Hello everyone, it would be nice if you let us in,and shut up, so we can go on to the other houses!” Reyna more or less shouted at them to get them to listen. And they did. Silence, she sighs, good!

“I'm sorry if my coming here at this time gave you a scare, I only meant to give you this.” She thrust two sacks into Jenna's hands, and bade them goodnight. Then try to walk away, excited screaming ensued, Reyna felt sad, but the heaviness in her heart felt lighter, before she could cross the door threshold, tiny hands hugged her legs from behind.

“Thank you Princess.” Little Emma's eyes were shining with happiness, she's beautiful, Reyna smiled down at her.

“Call me Rey, Emma.”

“Rey!”

“Emma!” you can't call the princess by her name, Jenna chastised, trying to pull Emma away from her legs,Emma didn't let go.

“She just said I could.” Emma replied pouting, Reyna laughed, finding a pouting Emma cute.

“It's okay Jenna, Emma's my friend, right Emma?”

“You want to be my friend?” She squealed excitedly and said.

“The Princess is my friend!” Emma's mother immediately hushed her to keep silent,pulling her away from her, Reyna winked at her and repeated.

“Call me Rey.” She smiled shyly. Reyna turned and addressed the room,both the adults and the children.

“You all may call me Rey, if you agree to be my friends, and as my friends, if you're ever in need please do not hesitate to ask, you can contact my Nana and give her your messages, she will bring them to me.” Jenna's and the other adults' eyes were warm with gratitude.

“Oh we couldn't Prin…” She sent a playful glare to Jenna. The older woman laughed, then invited Reyna and Nana to have tea with them. Reyna accepted even though they were pressed for time, she didn't want them to feel bad if she declined. They sat in the living room of the Jenna's, sipping warm bland tea and chatted.

They're nice people and so funny, Reyna couldn't remember a time she had laughed so hard as she did, listening to the Jenna's. What they lack for in wealth, they made up for with love. You could tell they love each other very much, it was something Reyna hadn't much experience with. They tease and make fun of each other, their laughter could probably be heard by all Marlenias as their voices ricochet into the night.

“Thank you, Rey.” Jenna, Tammy-Emma's mom, and the rest of Jenna's household said when they got up to leave. It was said with so much gratitude, Reyna felt ashamed, that this is the only thing she could bring to them, she didn't think she deserved their gratitude.

“Remember we were never here.”

“Of course your highness.”

They left the Jenna's and went to the next house and then the next, tomorrow Reyna vow, they would visit the houses they couldn't due to the fact that they couldn't carry more than four sacks of food each. Her Nana was already tired when they'd arrived at the Jenna's household, panting heavily, but she didn't once complain.

God! She loves that woman!

It was close to dawn, when they finally got back to the castle, Reyna was immensely grateful they weren't discovered missing while they were gone.

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