The King's Lover-Chapter 416: These Moments

"Impressive," Caius said at the end of the day’s lesson.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," she said with a smile. It wasn’t very often the Crown Prince complimented her, so when he did, she couldn’t help but feel proud of herself.

"You still have a lot to learn, but I’m sure we’ll see major improvements in two months."

"Two months?" Rose cried out in horror.

Caius turned his attention to her, brows furrowing. "Just how long do you think it would take you to learn to read and write?"

"A couple of months," she mumbled hesitantly.

"Years, my dear. Some people don’t get as far as you have in just a month."

Rose wouldn’t say she had gotten far. She recognized some letters of the script and knew how to read simple sentences, but that was it. She couldn’t read complicated texts without Caius. Writing was even more difficult, especially when she had to write from memory.

"How long would it take me to learn how to read and write all by myself?" Rose asked softly.

Caius leaned closer, putting his face right near hers. Rose couldn’t meet his eyes; she still didn’t understand how the Crown Prince was fine being this close.

"I think you won’t need years, Rose. In a couple of months, if you keep at this pace, you should be able to read and write by yourself."

He stretched out his hand and tucked the strands of hair obstructing her face behind her ear. Rose was forced to look up as he touched her, and their eyes met. Caius smiled, and Rose could swear everything slowed.

It was the smile he only let out once in a while—not the one that resembled a sneer or a smirk. Just a simple smile that made the corners of his eyes crinkle.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Rose replied and looked away.

He took his hand from her face and turned his attention back to the table. "Shall we grade your task?" he asked.

Rose nodded and leaned back. The air felt heavy, and she needed to put some space between them, afraid she might get pulled in if she didn’t distance herself.

He picked up the paper he had tossed aside, and Rose had to fight down her excitement. She tried her best to appear nonchalant, but she couldn’t wait.

"Not bad," Caius said as he read it.

Rose simply nodded, but her heart was in her throat as she waited. Caius didn’t put the paper in view, so she couldn’t see what he was doing, and she just had to make do with his words—and he sure seemed to be taking his time.

She already knew what she was going to ask if she didn’t get anything wrong. She was going to ask the Crown Prince to let her see Lady Delphine. That was simple enough. But she was worried about his punishment if she failed his task.

"Nothing seems amiss. I guess you got everything right."

He placed the paper down and turned his chair to face her. Rose tried not to show any excitement and acted as though she had expected this.

"What, then, would be your request?" He folded his arms as he studied her. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

There was a knowing look in his eyes that bothered Rose. Did he expect her to get everything right? Rose knew she might be reaching too far in her suspicions, yet experience had taught her never to place anything beyond the Crown Prince.

"I would like to visit Lady Delphine," she softly said, watching the crown prince as she spoke. "I haven’t had the chance to see her, and I’m sure she’s worried. I would really like to see her. I wouldn’t mind being sneaked out of the castle."

Rose babbled on because the Crown Prince’s expression had soured as she mentioned Lady Delphine, and she thought it might have to do with the fact that she would have to leave this room—and as she had heard from Henry, she could not.

"Is that your request?" Caius asked.

Rose nodded. "Please, Your Majesty."

"Do you trust Lady Delphine?" he asked, gripping his chin a little harder than he needed to.

He seemed angry, but Rose could not figure out why. He didn’t seem as though he would refuse her request, but at the same time, he wasn’t very eager to give in.

"Yes," Rose replied. "Very much."

"When?"

Rose’s eyes widened, and she leaned forward, her face filled with hope and excitement. "Your Majesty would really let me go to see her?"

"Now, why would I stop you?"

His expression and words didn’t match, but Rose was too happy to care. As long as she could refill her drug, that was really all that mattered.

She bent her head and mumbled, "I don’t know."

"Or is there something I should be worried about?" he asked.

Rose jerked her head up and waved her hand in the air. "No, no. I just thought this might be a busy time."

Rose knew the Crown Prince was aware of the drug. He had never brought it up, but she was certain he knew of its existence. However, she had hidden it carefully; she doubted he knew she was running out. It wasn’t completely strange for her to go see Lady Delphine, and she was counting on that.

"It is. That is why I asked when."

"I can wait a few more days," she replied.

"Okay. I will let you know when you can go see Lady Delphine."

Rose beamed at him and nodded enthusiastically. Caius fought the urge not to show any anger. He could guess why she needed to see the lady, and it annoyed him.

He had suspected this might happen and had taken the necessary steps in case it did, but he had hoped Rose would have changed her mind by now. She was adamant about not bearing his child—enough to put her body through such extreme measures.

He opened his mouth to speak but knew better than to bring up such a topic now. She was bound to use Caira as an excuse, and Caius didn’t want to put any more distance between them.

He wanted these moments to last as long as they could.