The King's Lover-Chapter 434: His Highness Declined

"Advise?" Caius asked in clear disbelief.

For a moment, the crown prince looked as though he might strike him, and Thomas instinctively braced for impact. Thomas was not scared of the crown prince’s reaction; he expected as much. He had spoken out of turn, but he needed something that would get the crown prince’s attention.

Thomas didn’t know a lot, just that the crown prince had to go along with this marriage charade on the King’s orders, but there was something else he knew: the crown prince didn’t want to lose Rose.

"I didn’t mean it in that manner, Your Highness. Please pardon me. I apologize for going against your orders but please consider, Your Highness, one night would not hurt."

"No," Caius stated, his mind unchanged. "Get out. Get the carriage ready."

"Please, Your Highness, you can’t go yourself. Things would only get worse if people found out Your Highness went to Lady Delphine’s—the courtesan’s manor—just days after your wedding, and worse, with Rose. It is almost nightfall; her customers would be arriving. Someone is bound to see you, Your Highness."

Caius blinked, then turned around as he tried to see past the anger that was threatening his vision. His fists clenching and unclenching as he stood with his back to Thomas.

"Then bring her back. Don’t make me repeat myself," he snarled without turning around.

"At once, Your Highness," Thomas replied with a bow, happy that he had been able to diffuse the situation.

Thomas had never seen the crown prince like this. Caius was always in control, but since the wedding, it was not hard to notice that the crown prince seemed more on edge.

Thomas could almost understand it; anyone who had interacted with Rose would know she wanted nothing more than to leave. She had stated it on multiple occasions, yet the crown prince remained insistent on keeping her here.

Thomas sighed as he made his way back to the horse. Things were most likely only going to get worse, but right now he had a very difficult task: he had to tell Rose that the crown prince had rejected her request.

She had looked so happy when he’d said yes. Her demeanor in Lady Delphine’s manor was completely different from when she was in the castle. In the castle, she was tense and anxious, darting her eyes around as though in fear that she might run into someone she didn’t want to, while in the manor, she was all smiles, without that fear in the back of her eyes.

Thomas couldn’t figure out how the crown prince could turn this around. He could only observe; he had no power to actually intervene. And with the King breathing down the crown prince’s neck, Thomas worried for Rose.

He arrived at the gates of the manor, and Slade glared at him, holding a lamp as he unlocked the gates. Thomas couldn’t understand the man’s actions or his role, but it was clear he had a dislike for lords.

Thomas was not worried about Slade, as he knew the man wouldn’t dare attack him, and the only reason he condoned the insolence was that he didn’t want to make trouble for the lady.

Getting rid of Slade would be easy for him, but Thomas couldn’t be bothered by a few powerless glares a commoner sent his way.

Thomas frowned as he made his way through the gates; he had just made a contradictory statement. It was unusual, which was why he would usually be bothered, because why would a commoner dare do that?

Thomas couldn’t begin to comprehend when he had started to think like this, but as the doors of the manor burst open and a certain redhead walked through, gripping the hem of her dress, her hair blowing in the light evening breeze, Thomas had an inkling.

"Lord Thomas," Rose cried as she rushed out of the doors.

She was alone, and Thomas wondered how she had noticed him. The sun had completely set, and it was dark enough to see the stars in the sky. He got off the horse in a smooth movement as she stopped beside him.

"You’re back," she mumbled in horror.

"Yes, I have come to take you back to the castle. His Highness declined."

Rose nodded. Her expression didn’t falter; only the sad look in her eyes gave away how she was feeling in the moment. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Okay," she eventually said. "I have to say my goodbyes. The girls are getting ready to open. I will be right back."

She turned away immediately, before Thomas could say anything, and rushed inside the manor. Thomas held back his tongue as he watched her go.

Rose told herself she hadn’t expected otherwise as she walked through the doors. She tried to concentrate on the fact that she must have put Thomas in a lot of trouble, and not on the miserable feeling that was threatening to overwhelm her.

She rushed up the stairs, seeing the girls run about the manor as they prepared to open for the night. Rose stopped in front of Lady Delphine’s room and knocked.

Esme opened it, smiling. "So? Is the crown prince letting you stay?"

Rose shook her head with a sad look on her face as she walked into the room. Lady Delphine sat in front of her dresser with a pipe in hand; she blew smoke out of her lips and gave Rose a sad smile.

"I came for my bag," she said and walked toward the table. She picked up the brown leather bag that held her refill of the drug.

"Come here, child," Lady Delphine said and spread open her arms.

Rose rushed towards her, and Lady Delphine stood to her feet and wrapped her arms around her. "I am sorry."

Rose shook her head; Lady Delphine had nothing to be sorry for. Rose would be eternally grateful to her. Rose pulled away so she could look at the older woman’s face. "No, thank you."

Lady Delphine’s eyes became heavy as she slowly shook her head and looked at Rose as though she wanted to say something. "Take care of yourself, and you can come here anytime."

Rose nodded and pulled away, but she wasn’t so sure about that. With what had just happened, the crown prince might not let her out of the castle anymore.

"Goodbye, Lady Delphine."

"Goodbye, Rose," Esme was saying with tears in her eyes.

"Thank you, Esme. Give my love to Kali," she said and slowly exited the room.

When Rose got out of the manor, she noticed there were two carriages outside. She could recognize the carriage she had come in, with Thomas in front, and she walked towards it.

However, the other carriage did not attempt to open its doors, and for some weird reason, Rose could tell she was being watched. She didn’t glance back; she didn’t want to give any indication that she had noticed.