Royal Princess: Doted On By The Mafia King

"Thanks," Rose answered with a smile. "I heard you have been busy making a name for yourself."

"Yes. It was hard but interesting as well. I am not satisfied and I won't be until I get an offer from your mother's company. I heard they only employ the best talents in the world," he said sitting down.

"That is why my mother is trying to employ Rose but she has refused all her offers," Anna said shaking her head. "It will be nice if you could persuade her to work for my mother since it is a great honor."

"I don't think I can persuade her if you couldn't after all you are sisters," Eric said as a matter of fact.

"Do you know that the dream of thousands of designers all over the world? A lot of them will be willing to do anything to get such an opportunity," Debby commented confused. "Why?"

"I will like to make a name for myself. I guess that is also a dream for millions of designers all over the world," Rose replied easily.

"Yeah, that is right," they all agreed.

"I admire that," Debby said sincerely. "I also admire your braveness. I want to make a name for myself but I don't know how to escape the claws of my family's expectations."

"You have escaped long ago, you don't just see it. They are also not putting as much pressure on you as you think they are," Rose told her. "You have won awards doing what you love and I am sure they are proud of you but they must think you are only writing as a hobby. Tell them you love writing and that you don't want to continue what you they made you start. There is definitely no harm in trying."

"I don't want to try. I will get scolded for days if I do that," Debby replied shaking her head. "I don't think Valerie took your rejection serious because you are not her biological child."

"Yeah. You must be right," Rose said as she tried hard to maintain her smile. That was a reminded of who she was to Valerie and Anna. It was the truth, it was a truth she was very aware of but why did the reminder of that truth make her chest feel so tight and suffocating for her heart.

"Debby, that is not right," Wayne said with a serious frown.

"I am sorry if I crossed the line but I was only telling her the truth. The last time I tried telling my mother I did not want to do anything that had to do with beauty, she told me she did not give birth to me to go against her wish," Debby said as she steered the cup of orange marmalade before her with a straw.

"Nevertheless, you shouldn't have spoken to Rose the way you did," Anna told her with a serious frown. She did not expect Debby to talk to her sister the way she did because Debby was always a soft hearted girl who avoided hurting people.

"I am sorry," Debby said and drank from the cup of marmalade. She did her best to avoid their gaze as she stared at the label on the cup.

"It is okay. You were only saying the truth," Rose said still maintaining her smile.

The air in the room they all sat to eat lunch felt very heavy after Debby's apology even till they finished eating their lunch and returned to their classes.

"Are you okay?" Eric asked when they were about to enter their class.

"Yes, I am fine. Why did you ask?"  Rose asked since she have forgotten what Debby said doing lunch because she forgave her right from the moment she apologized. She knew Debby was not someone who will want to hurt anyone.

They were talking to each other peacefully before she advised her. She used that to remind herself to mind her business and not try getting involved with other people's business since she had enough things to worry about herself.

"About what Debby said earlier, it is not right for her to say that to you the way she did but I am sure Debby meant no harm. She have been having problem at home for a few weeks now with her parents about what she wants to study in university. She must have vented everything on you," Wayne explained carefully.

"I am not offended at all," Rose assured him and walked into the class after giving him a friendly pat on his shoulder with a smile.

"We have a club meeting today. Can you make it? Or you need to go home to rest?" Eric asked after following her to her seat.

"I will try," she replied when she sat down comfortably. She was already feeling weak and tired just after lunch.

"It is okay if you can't attend the meeting. After all they are preparing for this year's ball," Eric said. "Do you have a dress for the ball?"

"No I don't have but I have one designed already."

"I can help you make it since you are not allowed to stress yourself till are have fully recovered," Eric offered to help with his bright handsome smile that could easily make a girl jealous.

"I think I will give you that responsibility. You will make one for Anna too. I can bring the designs tomorrow. We will go after school tomorrow to pick out the right fabrics," she agreed easily since it will do her a lot of good to relax and not go through the stress of making a dress when she has a friend who offered to help.

"I am really expensive so, you should get ready," he warned her jokingly.

"Oh, sure. I will pay you well," she told him seriously despite her maintained smile.

"I was only joking," he said shaking his head when he noticed she was serious about paying him.

"I am serious. I heard you got really good at making female formal wears and a lot of people want you to make the clothes they will wear to the ball," Rose said. She was proud of her first apprentice.

"I only did what you told me to do and besides I am not as good as they say I am," he said slightly shy as he avoided her gaze and turned to go to his seat.

"I guess I did a really go job teaching you," she said without any hint of humility.

"Thank you teacher," he said shaking his head with a smile at her sudden joviality which was very different from when they were eating lunch.

"You are welcome," she accepted his appreciation with a proud smile. She watched him return to his seat and her smile slowly faded away. She looked down at her hands she placed on the table before her and sighed.

'Mum, I miss you," she said under her breath and sighed again.

***

Anna fell on Rose bed with groaned. "I am so tired. Should we eat ice cream after dinner?" she asked Rose who was trying to finish up the design she wanted to give Eric the following day glanced at her sister with a smile.

"Yes. I miss ice cream. They won't let me eat ice cream in the hospital," she complained as she jubilated that she was finally going to eat ice cream.

"I will sneak a little for you and surplus for myself," Anna said obviously excited.

"Why?"

"You are still in the hospital," Anna replied.

"Whatever," Rose said. She prevented herself from throwing a pencil at her sister who was obviously teasing her.

"I was only kidding. I will get you enough but surplus for myself," Anna said happy that she won although she knew Rose was just too tired and busy to talk to her.

"I said whatever."

"Wow, when did you get this?" Anna asked when she saw her sister's phone cover.

"I got it while I was in the hospital. Carl got it for me," Rose answered immediately to prevent further questions from Anna who could be very curious when she wants to. That was a lie. Liam got it from her. He left it beside her phone when he woke up.

"It is so beautiful," Anna said picking the phone cover from the bedside table. "Why are you not using it?"

"Nothing," Rose replied shaking her head. She have been fighting a mental war on whether she should use it or not. She thought of what using it will mean and what not using it will mean if Liam ever gets to see her phone.

"He must have spent a lot on it because it is just so gorgeous and it will look good on you," Anna said coming down from the large bed. She picked Rose's phone which was on the table.

"No . . ." Rose said calmly despite the chaos in her heart.

"Why?" Anna asked confused when Rose took her phone from her. "Let me help you put it on your phone, it will look so good."

"No . . ."

"I will use it since you don't like it. This thing is very expensive. It is way more expensive than your phone," Anna said angry that her sister was despising the gift.