Roses Always Have Thorns [Completed]

6. Journey's begin

Rose aimlessly wandered down an alley. Her stomach's cries grew louder and harder to ignore as her feet grew number by each step that she made. By the time she reached the village, it was already noon and she almost regretted not dropping by at the Van Burgh's kitchen to filch something to eat on her way. Since she wandered for hours on end, her red, curly hair stuck to her neck and forehead, along with a litter of sweat all over. She used one of her sleeves to cleanse her red face as much as possible.

Suddenly, Rose's feet didn't advance any further. Her eyes were blinking faster than usual as her nostrils widened; her nose sensed something different that made her nostrils dance and her mouth water. Exiting a building, a middle-aged mother and her son happily wandered, while holding one pastry each. Seeing her just so carving look, the mother tightened the grip on her son free arm.

'Let's go, son.' The mother said as she pulled her son down the street in a rushed manner. 'We don't have anything to do with kids like her. They're all peasants.'

Rose felt indignation boiling in her blood and was only so tempted to say a few things to that lady, but she stopped, closed her eyes and took in a breath, remembering her governess' words.

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A very young woman with a slim figure and dark hair walked down an Austrian street along with a red-headed child. Although she was only fifteen at the time, Amanda Black agreed on taking care of the five-year-old Rosemary Agler. It was the only job she could take, as she wasn't anywhere near strong as a man, nor any outstanding talent in cooking or making clothes, and having it yet impossible to become the apprentice of someone wiser than the rest. Yet, she always dreamed of becoming a teacher, so getting the chance of raising even one child gave Amanda the feeling that she succeeded in life.

'Amanda! Amanda!' The young girl cheerfully called, as she pulled Amanda's sleeve in an attempt to gain her attention.

'What is it, Rose?' Amanda asked as she tried to calm the excited girl.

'Look! It's the bakery! Do you think we could buy something sweet?' The girl asked, hope filling her big, green eyes.

'Oh, I don't know Rose.' Amanda sighed. 'What would your mother say?'

'I don't think ma would say 'yes', but it doesn't matter!'

'Why not?' Amanda furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

'Because I'm with you, not her!' Rose explained, happy that Amanda asked her to do so.

Amanda rolled her eyes. Sometimes, she wondered if the girl was smarter than she appeared to be.

'Alright, fine. But only something small, and no word to your mother understood?'

A smile spreader on Rose's face from an ear to another.

'Of course! Now let's go, please!' Rose started pulling Amanda's sleeve even harder, now in an attempt to drag her to the bakery.

Just as she did that, a lady with her daughter walked by. The child seemed only slightly older than Rose and she gave a curious look at what Rose was doing.

'What is that girl doing, mama?' The girl asked in confusion as she looked up at her mother.

'She's just uneducated, my dear. Don't follow her example, as she's just a brat from some poor family who isn't holding any capability of doing intelligent things, most likely.' The woman said, with a poisonous tongue.

In reaction, Amanda bit her upper lip creating a bit of pain, in order to hold herself from saying a few words to that lady. Rose, instead, who, although not understanding the exact meaning of the words, knew it could only mean something bad towards her and let go of her governess' sleeve and started moving towards the lady and her daughter.