The King's Lover-Chapter 446: The Expected Gratitude

It was time to go, and Rose didn’t want to leave just yet, but she knew if she didn’t, a certain lunatic would do something unpredictable. She did not want to piss him off when he literally had her father within his grasp.

Rose felt her anger grow again. She couldn’t believe he had done this. Regardless of how happy she was, it was still very dangerous, and to think he would do something like this without asking if that was what she wanted.

"Do you really have to leave?" Esme asked sweetly. She had changed into a more revealing outfit as they prepared for the night.

"Yes," Rose said as she stood in the entrance room. Her father stood beside her, and Rose resisted the urge to hug him one more time before she left.

"Rose," Lady Delphine suddenly called.

Rose lifted her head to see the lady at the top of the stairs. She slowly began walking down with Kali by her side. Lady Delphine was adorned in a green silk dress that matched her eyes, and she had a fur coat around her shoulders. She held her pipe high but didn’t smoke it.

"Lady Delphine," Rose said and rushed to the bottom of the stairs.

"I hear you are leaving," Lady Delphine said as she reached the bottom.

"I am," she replied. "I can’t begin to thank you for letting my father stay here."

"Child," she called. "How many times do I have to tell you, you shouldn’t thank me for such trivial things? You have thanked me thrice already."

"I know," Rose said with a wide smile, hoping that Lady Delphine would see just how grateful she was. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The older lady stepped forward and lightly grazed Rose’s cheeks with the back of her hand that wasn’t holding the pipe. Bringing her voice to a whisper so her father wouldn’t hear, she asked, "How is the drug?"

"It’s fine," she said with a little nod, also whispering. "It just tastes a little different."

A flash of emotion appeared on Lady Delphine’s face and then was gone, but Rose did not miss that for a moment, Lady Delphine had looked very guilty.

"I wish you a safe trip back to the castle, and with Thomas, you’re in safe hands."

Rose nodded and moved closer for a hug. The Lady smelled like scented soap and the smoke from her pipe—but not in a bad way. The smoke added to her allure.

Lady Delphine hugged her and slowly let go. Rose stepped away and kept waving as she walked out of the manor with her father. When she stepped out, the sky was a mix of colors as the sun slowly set. There was still enough light to see her way, but it wouldn’t last long.

Thomas was next to the carriage as always, and if Rose hadn’t seen him in the manor at some point, she would have been convinced he stood there the whole time.

"Ye seem very close to tha Lady," her father was saying.

"Lady Delphine is very nice."

"I am glad," he said and stretched out his arms for a hug. Rose ran into his grasp. "I was worried ye ’ad no one ’ere and ’ad to do it all by yerself. Goodbye, Rosie." He sounded relieved.

Rose took a deep breath before pulling from her father’s grasp. "Bye, Father. I will be back tomorrow."

He nodded.

Rose reluctantly stepped away and walked to the carriage, which Thomas already held open. He helped her in, and as soon as she sat down, Rose poked her head out of the window and waved hard at her father. He waved back as the carriage drove away.

Rose had meant it when she said she would be back the next day. She knew it was too soon to pay a visit, but just tomorrow, and then she would be able to stay away for a bit longer.

The carriage rolled up to the castle and down the side so Rose could go through the side entrance without any problems. The sun had long set, and the atmosphere felt calm. A soft breeze was blowing, and she could hear the sound as it ruffled the leaves of the trees.

Rose stepped out of the carriage and made her way into the castle. She walked briskly, and Thomas kept up with her. She didn’t like to linger too much; if she did, there was a chance she might run into someone she didn’t want to see.

She grabbed her dress and walked up the stairs, hearing Thomas’s footsteps as he followed after her. Eventually, they got to her door, and Rose turned the handle, but the door wouldn’t budge.

She frowned, knowing immediately that the crown prince was in her room. She would have assumed it was dinner time now, he shouldn’t be in her room.

She wasn’t hungry, as the girls in Lady Delphine’s manor always gave her something to eat before she left. She was going to ask her maids to prepare her for the night and then wait for Caius to arrive, but it didn’t look like she would have to wait.

The door opened, and his face appeared at the entrance. Rose immediately remembered how angry she was and, without saying a word to him, walked past him.

Caius was dumbfounded but was distracted by Thomas, who was bowing. "Your Majesty," he called.

Caius grunted his reply and closed the door. He turned around to see Rose already in bed, still fully dressed, facing away from him.

Caius was utterly confused. He was certain she had seen her father, and instead of the profound gratitude he had expected, she seemed cross with him. Still intending to get his appreciation, Caius slowly made his way to bed and joined her.

As soon as she felt his presence on the bed with her, Rose turned to look at him. She was sporting a glare clearly directed at him. Caius was genuinely confused.

"Was something not to your liking?" He squinted his eyes, tilting his head slightly.