The Forgotten Princess Rose-Chapter 263

"I apologise for not thinking properly. I will be careful with what I say to his wife. Truthfully, I am looking forward to seeing what kind of woman he fell for. Hopefully, there will be more children among us," said Yvonne.

Catherine wanted to tell Yvonne not to get her hopes up but knew Zayne wouldn’t be too happy with her sharing that he wasn’t ready for a child.

Catherine led the way to an old room no one frequented. It was avoided by servants which gave away that Gage liked to hide there and didn’t want anyone to trouble him.

She didn’t bother to knock on the door since Gage was wrong for hiding.

"Gage!" Catherine called out for him when the door opened. "I am not in the mood to search this room for you so come out. I might set it on fire if I need to get you out."

Catherine looked at the large chair which backed them. It was pointed to a window. "Gage, you do not want to upset me more than you already have. Stand up and look at me."

Yvonne was certain he wasn’t here since the room was quite dusty but she was surprised when Gage stood up. Was this where he ran to during the times she was searching for him? ’That bastard!’ She thought.

"Mother," Gage dusted off his clothes. "What are you doing here? I thought you would be at Zayne’s home whipping his wife into shape."

Catherine didn’t respond to Gage as she approached him to slap him.

Yvonne gasped, her mouth covered by her hands. She had never seen Catherine slap any of her children.

"You have gone too far this time. Why are you turning against your brother after everything he has done and how I have raised you two? End this now before you end up losing your brother. For the first time, he is asking something of you. That he wishes to be with his wife so allow him," Catherine advised Gage.

It pained her to slap him but he deserved it. He needed something to wake him up before he went too far.

Gage tried not to focus too much on his mother slapping him. She had never done it before and it was hard to swallow she did it because of Zayne. He balled his hands into a fist to let out his anger there.

Gage knew not to hit his mother. He cared too much for her to do so and he knew that Zayne would come for him again.

"If you want to send him out, he goes without any complaints. If there is trouble in the palace, he comes to your aid. For the life of me, I don’t understand why you treat him this way. You two were so close when you were younger," Catherine said, puzzled by the state of their relationship.

Her children were always so close which gave her some peace of mind that they would protect each other in the future when she wasn’t around but now they were acting like strangers.

Catherine’s hand trembled. It pained her more than anyone would ever understand to hit one of them. Outside of her sons’ training and going to war, she never allowed anyone to lay a hand on them. There wasn’t a reason to since they were so well-behaved.

Who were these strangers wanting her to think these were her sons?

"It did get a little out of hand but I do need him to go out again since I cannot. It is not something I can hold off for much longer. I need him," Gage said, unable to send anyone else. "I will admit that I went too far by bringing up his wife. I didn’t believe it was serious."

"I see from how he left your face that he convinced you it was serious. You have much to apologise for and fast. Luckily for you, if you get his wife to like you then Zayne might be open to speaking. He lacks his usual patience when it involves her so if you make a mistake again, he will turn his back on you," said Catherine.

Catherine never understood why those poking at Zayne didn’t think he would turn away from being a general. They would be helpless then.

Other than those already in the army, there weren’t many willing to pick up a sword and go out to defend the kingdom. Zayne was one of their safest options as he guaranteed many wins. To provoke him was foolish.

"I know. I’ve had some time to think about what everyone said and I know I have to apologise. He’s not going to accept another invitation to the palace just yet so I have to wait for the dinner if I am invited there. I will make it right," Gage promised.

"It is not only to make this right now but to get rid of your jealousy completely. It has long gotten old how you act when he returns. The people will cheer for him since he is a prince and regardless of those who chant for him to be king, it will never happen because you are a good king and Zayne has no interest in it," Catherine reminded Gage.

Yvonne hoped Gage was listening this time. If he wasn’t going to change after his mother spoke to him then it was pointless for anyone else to try.

"I know-"

"Yet you still act a fool. I told you to stop listening to those men in court for matters that do not concern the kingdom. They fear your brother so that is why they try to get into your head and they are starting to succeed. A king who lets the court control him will fall. Show them that you are on Zayne’s side," Catherine said, palming where she slapped him.

"I cannot control when I get in my head sometimes. I am already sitting where another belongs. Since the day I was named king, I had first been compared to Zeek. He is the one who should be standing here as king. He could rule the kingdom and be out at sea at the same time. I fall flat compared to him," said Gage.

Catherine knew of him feeling this way. He was thrown into becoming king after his brother’s sudden death. "Your brother’s story ended before it should have and I am still angry at the world that it did. What I do know was that he had faith that you and Zayne would keep the kingdom together in his absence."

"You are the king and he is a general but you are brothers. You may act as one to rule the kingdom. You don’t need to feel like you must compete with your brother. Work with him and when you feel like others are getting in your head, speak to your wife. Looking after a large kingdom will make you feel like you are going insane at times," said Catherine.

She witnessed the pressure get to her husband but he used the people around him to keep him balanced.

"Do not ruin your chance at the dinner because another might not come," Catherine said, leaving it up to Gage to decide what he was going to say.

"Okay," Gage replied.

Catherine was a little relieved but still quite nervous about the coming dinner. ’Please let it go well,’ she wished.