Rose's pov

"Agh!"
My arms and chest ran into a familiar face.
"Eric! I'm so glad you're here!"
I hugged him tight.
"Please, take me away from here."

He looked at how frightened I was and quickly led me to his house.
He made me a warm cup of Jasmine tea and even put honey in it.
Once we were in better light he saw my arms with bruises and markings all over them.
My head was cut and bleeding slowly too.
Once he saw this he immediately got to work on patching it up.

"Ow!"
I screamed trying to stay still.

"I'm sorry, I know it hurts but I have to clean it first."

After a little while of me trying not to squirm and trying not to scream he finally finished.

"There, done your highness."

I look at him with confusion.
"Your highness?"

He looks at me with a bright smile. "The princess went missing a few days ago from the palace or so says two young men by the names of Jack and-"

I recognized a man's voice from down in the bunker.
For some reason I knew his name and that he could save me.

"Nate?!" He looked a little shocked.

"Well yes, both are princes looking for your hand in marriage.

"My hand?
I'm kind of scared of marriage right now.
I don't even know what's real and what's not anymore."

He looked at me with pleading eyes. "Would you please stay here tonight. There's a warm bed and a warm house for you here.
I don't think it would be best if you went to the castle quite yet.
I shall go out and seek one of the princes and bring him here to take you home."
He said with a kind but concerned smile.

I simply smiled.
I don't know why, but I trusted Eric. He's never given me a reason not to and he's so kind and sweet.

"Okay, I'll stay, but only on one condition, if I am this princess, you will be rewarded with whatever you ask that I agree upon.
You deserve to be in that palace making bread for royalty not out here selling it."

He chuckled a little, knowing I still see myself as a commoner not a princess.

"Very well. Now I must get going."
He turned and left.
I then walked over to the comfy looking bed and fell fast asleep.