The King's Lover-Chapter 428: Shallow Apology

Caira took a deep breath as she tried not to lose her composure. There was no doubt about it. She was convinced the crown prince was trying to make a fool out of her.

First, he had requested a private meeting, but instead of coming to her, he had asked that she choose the location. But that wasn’t even the worst part. He had then sent jewelry when she declined, as though she could be bought with trinkets.

He wasn’t taking proper measures to fix things after she had been humiliated rather he was hiding behind closed doors and pretending he wanted to make amends.

None of the rumors she had heard was incorrect; the crown prince was insufferable. It was so ironic how different the cousins were. She never thought she would say this, but there was no doubt in her mind that Prince Rylen would make a better king.

"It is time for lunch, my lady," Mara said with a bow.

Caira shut her book a little too loudly and handed it to Mara. It was just too bad that her kingdom needed the alliance, so she had to marry a Ravenor.

Caira was willing to maintain peace for the sake of the alliance at this unstable time for Lystern, but she would never throw herself at his feet again. Regardless of what he was used to, she was also a princess.

She stood up, and Mara rushed toward the door so she could open it in time. Caira stepped out, and Mara was quick to follow her mistress.

Her heels hit the floor with a soft clack, and Caira briefly glanced at the door next to her chambers. It was hard not to, knowing that woman was in there.

She should have known the crown prince’s disrespect would only get worse. He had placed her next door to his own wife. And she had condoned it. Wanting to be accepted at all cost but if he was willing to disrespect her this much, she shouldn’t expect otherwise.

Caira turned her gaze away and concentrated on trying to make her way to lunch. For now, she should focus on herself.

Caira was only a corridor away from the dining room when Mara jumped and made a soft, startled sound. Usually, she was always headed to lunch with Prince Rylen by her side, but as she was not in the gardens today, she had informed him beforehand.

She turned, half expecting to see Prince Rylen. Instead, she was greeted with the huge frame of the crown prince as he stepped in line with her. Mara looked as though she might have a heart attack as she quickly curtsied.

Caira, on the other hand, turned her gaze away, looking straight ahead, but she could see him out of the corner of her eye, walking beside her. She refused to pay him any respect or even acknowledge him.

"Princess Caira," he called.

No response.

"I have done you a great deal of hurt, haven’t I? I apologize. It wasn’t my intention, and you truly did catch me at a bad time. I hope you understand that I do want us to be amicable. I know this apology barely scratches the surface of the animosity you must feel toward me, but I wholeheartedly want to make amends."

As soon as Caius was done with his speech, he picked up his pace, putting distance between them as he walked to the dining hall, leaving Caira in disbelief, unable to understand what had just happened.

Not only had the crown prince offered her a shallow apology, but he hadn’t taken any responsibility for his actions or done anything to actually make amends. She forced herself not to think about this as she made her way to the dining area.

Caius walked into the dining room to see his cousin already seated. The latter stared at him oddly before slowly standing up to pay his respects.

"Your Grace," Rylen said before he sat down.

Caius was surprised his cousin still called him by this familiar term. He was expecting that, with everything that had happened, he would have reverted to "Your Highness," but that wasn’t the case.

"Prince Rylen," Caius called back and was about to speak more to his cousin when the doors opened and Princess Caira walked in.

Rylen was on his feet faster than Caius could even look at the door. He turned to his cousin in surprise but was more surprised by the expression on his face. Caira smiled equally, and they exchanged greetings while she kept ignoring him. Caius didn’t mind this; if she was still angry, he was closer to his goal.

Caius wasn’t oblivious to the growing relationship between her and Rylen but he didn’t care enough to think about it. To some extent, he was glad his cousin was keeping her distracted.

Not long after, his mother arrived. At first, she glared at him, but when she saw that the princess seemed to be in a better mood, she stopped her glares.

After lunch, Princess Caira was quick to leave. She said her goodbyes to the Queen, and Prince Rylen followed on her heels, leaving Caius with his mother. Caius was puzzled by this until his mother spoke and he realized it was a trap.

"Have you tried to make amends?" was the first thing she asked.

He couldn’t escape as if he were to leave now, he would run into the princess, which would be awkward. "Yes, Mother."

Queen Violeta looked at her son with disbelief, her eyes filled with scrutiny. "Are you lying to me?"

"Why would I lie, Mother?" Caius said as he slowly got to his feet. He could not wait for the day to be over so he could spend the night with Rose and ignore his problems.

"And the riff-raff?"

That was a new name, and it was just as annoying as the last. Caius turned around, pretending not to hear her, and swiftly made his way out of the dining room. The good news was that things weren’t as explosive as he had feared.

Caira was going the silent treatment route, and his actions hadn’t reached his father. It was better than he had imagined. He wasn’t sure if his apology had worked, and frankly, he didn’t care, as long as it bought him some time. That was all that mattered.

Rose wanted to go to Lady Delphine, and Caius knew now was not a good time to let her out, but a part of him couldn’t resist it. He hated that he had to keep her hidden and more importantly, he had to keep her appeased.

"Bring me, Lord Thomas," he ordered as he arrived at his private study. He needed to inform the young lord of the task he had for him the next day.