The King's Lover-Chapter 391: To Hearthgale

Rose glanced around her room in Castle Catherine one last time. They were finally heading back to the castle. She adjusted the hat on her head. She didn’t want to leave, but nothing was permanent. It was funny how she was going to miss this room when she had barely spent any time in it.

It was mostly as Servants had already taken all her belongings out. However, it still held a pull she would miss. She took a deep breath, smelling the lavender scent she had gotten used to, and reluctantly left the room, closing the door behind her.

Caius appeared beside her as she shut the door. Rose curtsied, even though she had seen him only moments before and, weirdly enough, had helped him with lunch as she had done for all his meals since he sprained his wrist—even though he had taken the bandages off a full week ago and had been using his hand fully as he liked.

"Are you ready?" he asked as he leaned closer.

Rose could smell the lavender on him as she stood. She wondered whether he would keep using it or perhaps leave the lavender here. She winced as she realized the connotation of her question.

Would things remain the same, or perhaps this was only for Castle Catherine, and she should expect things to return to what they once were?

"Rose?" he called when she didn’t respond.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I am ready," she forced out a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

"Good."

He stretched out his hand and adjusted the hat on her head while Rose stood awkwardly, watching him. When he was done, he grabbed her palm and led her to the exit.

Fabian stood by the open doors with his head bowed. "Your Highness," he called as he bowed. "We hope you will return soon. As will you, Lady Rose."

Rose smiled at him as the two of them walked past him and through the open doors. Servants lined the stairway to bid them goodbye. Rose waved at her two maids, she would miss the girls dearly. Caius completely ignored the greetings he got as he led her to the carriage.

Thomas was at the foot of the stairs beside the carriage. He sat atop a horse, as did the rest of Caius’s knights who had been with them in Castle Catherine.

He helped her into the carriage and got in after her, sitting close enough that with the littlest adjustment, Rose might find herself on top of him. It didn’t bother Rose, as this was no different from how he had been for the past couple of weeks, and in the carriage they were alone.

"Excited?" he asked.

Rose lifted her gaze from where their legs touched and she shook her head. "I’d rather not go to the capital," she replied without thinking.

"I am with you on that," Caius admitted easily, but Rose already knew this. He hadn’t hidden his displeasure since he’d told her about it two weeks ago.

Rose nodded just as the carriage started to move. She pulled the curtain aside to look out the window. A sad little smile touched her lips as the carriage pulled away from Castle Catherine and toward the gates. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

She sighed and leaned back. Somehow, it felt like it would be a long ride. "How long will it take to get to Hearthgale, Your Majesty?"

It was easier to ask the Crown Prince questions now. She knew that the fact that he was her tutor played a major role in this, as she would occasionally ask him questions when she was confused.

She also noticed she was speaking her mind with him more often, which was expected as she was in his presence constantly. It was hard to keep up a facade when she had no breaks.

"We should make it to the castle by dusk. It takes half that time on horseback."

Rose nodded. It was getting warm now; winter was indeed over and the sun was once again shining down brutally. She definitely understood Caius’s choice to use a carriage. Besides, she would rather not be stared at as they made their way through the capital.

He reached for a lock of her hair and twirled it around his finger, and once again, Rose wasn’t the least bit bothered. This was normal; he always made sure to make contact with her in one way or another. At first, she had been bothered, especially by the constant hand-holding, but now she just sort of expected it.

"Your hair was the first thing I noticed about you," he said, and lifted his gaze so their eyes met.

Rose swallowed, unsure how to respond, especially with how seriously he was looking at her.

"It shone in the sunlight, and it still fascinates me. It feels as though if I pull my hand away, it would be stained red. Beautiful."

Rose turned her face away, telling herself that it was embarrassing that such words would fall from his lips, not because what he said affected her.

The journey was pretty quiet, and Rose found that she fell asleep, resting her head on Caius. He let her sleep, a small smile lingering on his lips.

When she woke up, they were approaching the gates of Hearthgale. Rose let out a soft yawn as she stretched. "How long was I asleep?" she asked in mild horror.

"A while," Caius replied, glancing at her with a smirk. "I am sure you must have been exhausted."

Rose knew he was talking about last night, but she refused to humor him. Instead, she poked her head out the window and was greeted with the huge gates of Hearthgale. She had forgotten just how large it was. She quickly slipped her head back in; she didn’t want to draw any attention.

She could hear commotion as they passed through the gates. People squealed, and Rose heard different sounds she couldn’t understand. Suddenly, the carriage stopped, and before Rose could ask why, the doors opened and Prince Rylen climbed into the carriage.

"Your Grace," he said, trying to bow in the small space.

"Stopping my carriage, Rylen. You have got some nerve."

"I apologize, Your Grace," Rylen said, but there was nothing apologetic in his expression. He took his seat across from them as the carriage started to move again.

"Prince Rylen," Rose said and bent her head, as that was all she could do in the small space. It also didn’t help that Caius was too close for her to move easily. Rylen noticed this, and Rose sensed his disapproval.

He gave her a curt smile and turned his attention to Caius. "I did inform Your Grace that I would be joining you when you got to the capital."

"And I told you there was no need for you to do that."

Rylen feigned surprise. "I think Lord Paul forgot to tell me that."

Caius didn’t believe it, but he couldn’t ask Rylen to leave, and he was curious as to what this was about. Rylen didn’t do things without a purpose, and he certainly wasn’t impulsive.

"What is this about?"

"Nothing in particular. I figured I should come to welcome you," he smiled.

Caius rolled his eyes and turned away, not saying anything more to Rylen. The latter didn’t seem bothered and was relatively quiet for the rest of the journey until the carriage started up the slight hill that led to the castle.

"Does Your Grace remember Princess Caira, the third princess of Lystern?"