Chapter 215 - A Friend Application
"It is a pleasure to meet you as a princess. You look prettier than when we first meet," Noah said with a broad smile as she walked to Rose.
"Noah?" Rose asked with a simple smile to match the one she received from Noah.
"Yes, it is me. Your highness. I am very happy to see you," Noah said sitting beside her.
Rose stared around the cafeteria. Her guards were in their positions close to her but not too close to invade her privacy and make the other students uncomfortable.
They let Noah come to her when they saw Rose nod in approval of her approach.
"You look beautiful too," Rose complimented. She knew she was going to meet a few people she was close to in the university but she was yet to meet them yet.
She has not seen her sister yet and she was yet to even see Eric in school yet.
She was forced to follow a schedule because of the load of activities she had before her that she only had time to eat her lunch after lectures and no time from friendly talks with her year mates.
She told her assistant to take care of everything and make her schedule less busy especially in the day time but she was not giving some free time rather more work activities got piled up.
She had more responsibility. It seems her father was unhappy with the fact that she adjusted the schedule he sent that he decided to add more to her responsibilities.
From one charity event to another. Her ankles hurt from the nights she had to dress in heels to look classic and elegant like the wealthy princess she was.
She watched Noah amazed and confused by the girl's confidence. She was not close enough to sit beside her with her present status.
"Your health, how is it?" Noah asked as she signalled for a staff to come take her order.
"I am fine. Why do you ask?" Rose asked looking a little displeased with the question.
She has gotten a lot better that except for the few things she was supposed to avoid, she was fine.
The scar was still there. It was not dark colored but simply made an elevated stroke on her body.
It was sort of reminded her occasionally that she was saved by Liam and she did not need to even know how he saved her in Y city but she actually witnessed one.
"I had to ask. The last time I saw you, you did not look good at all. I felt it was only right that I ask. I want us to become friends," Noah made a direct offer.
Rose's eyelashes fluttered slightly as her eyebrows also twitched very so slightly that it was easy to miss.
Noah whose attention was fixed on the princess did not miss any of that. Her eyes took notice of the not very obvious distrust Rose's eyes held.
"I overheard your sister talking to her friend about how you left their family. I wish I was there for you.
"Her friend was unhappy about it. When she began scolding your sister, your sister began shouting at her about how she was her friend and not yours.
"I guess you know what the outcome was. Her friend immediately supported her and said nothing more.
"I know you won't want to have a friend who can't be of any benefit to you. I am very good at finding very important information about anyone in this school.
"We have a group chat. It is very secured. We talk about anything and anyone on that group chat.
"I will provide you with Intel and you will let me be your friend. If you also think I am not good enough to be your friend, you could say it so I don't get my hopes high.
"I really like you. I think you are a very interesting character. Could we become friends?" Noah asked with a sad smile.
"You really don't know how to make friends. First, you threaten me and now you think we could become friends.
"I don't hate you but I just don't want people threatening me or trying to force me to make a bargain with them.
"I will really have loved to make friends with you without all those things you said. However, saying them simply made me feel you are not trustworthy."
Rose smiled at her in a manner that won't make anyone watching suspicious of what was going on between them.
"My sincere apologies your highness. I only want to help you with anything you want especially because you are princess now.
"I have dreamt on different occasions that I want my name written in history. Nothing more," she said waving her hands innocently.
Rose had no idea what to do. She did not expect Noah will ask her to for such a thing in such a manner.
She really had no idea how to take such approach. She nodded and continued eating her meal.
"I am sorry if I was rude. I am sincerely worried about you. Perhaps I did not let you know how I feel in the right way," Noah said sounding very sincere and sad.
Rose glanced at her but she remained silent. How many times will she have such encounters?
This was perhaps a fate of someone from the Royal family. She could never have normal friends.
She met Noah's gaze after a while and smiled before taking a sip from the cup before her.
Noah seeing that smile, concluded that she was accepted. "You should really not eat here. I think a private room will be best."
"Oh . . .," Rose said and continued eating. She did not care what they thought about her eating manners.
She could easily have gone to a restaurant to eat but she decided to stay very close to her faculty.
***
Anna watched Rose from a far as usual and immediately turned away when Rose looked towards her.
She hated to admit the unwanted feeling she felt towards her ex-sister. She felt Rose looked tired everyday and it made her worried.
She looked at Rose again while her friend beside her frowned. She could easily read her friend like a book.
She could not tell this proud girl that she still loved her sister and she felt guilty every time of the day over what happened that she could not simply take her eyes off her.
She wanted to tell her that she should go over to her and talk to her and ask her if she was sleeping and eating well.
However, she knew that question will only make her proud friend angry and begin to ask her why she was supporting someone who hurt her.
What her friend did not know was that she was actually worried about her. They fought a lot in highschool.
She had also said hurtful words to Rose and she could not stop that painful and uncomfortable feeling of guilt that she feels every time she sees Rose.
She wanted to go to her and ask for forgiveness over those things but she felt Rose might think she only came to apologise because of her present status.
She will likely conclude she was doing to get something in return. She leaned forwards and took a bite of her lunch.
Anna glanced at her friend and she could not hold back a pout. She expected her friend to persuade her like always.
She was actually looking for someone she could blame and claim made her talk to Rose. Since she did not get one like she expected, she decided to remain silent and watch from a far.
***
Rose dressed in a black dress and black bonnet, stood before her mother's grave with a bouquet of yellow tulips.
It was almost unnecessary for her to take the flower because the ground was covered by well cultivated yellow tulips only leaving paths for people to pass through.
She reached for the tombstone with a sad smile. This was not grand at all. Her mother's name was engraved on the large stone along with her date of birth and death.
Far behind her were her guards. She squatted down not caring about etiquette or her appearance as she pressed her palm against the cold stone.
Today was her mother's death aniversary. None of it was grand. Her grandfather was always remembered in a grand way on his death aniversaries.
His burial place was always visited by people who have read about him in history or those who knew him personally or benefited from any of his works.
It was too different and in different in a sad painful way. She had carried out an analysis to estimate the day she had that accident with her mother.
She might not be sure but from her analysis, her mother did not die the day they claim she did. She died much earlier or does that mean her mother did not die in that accident?