The King's Lover-Chapter 477: Trapped Her

Caius didn’t know when it happened, but there was no doubt about it—Rose had rubbed off on him. He was having a conversation instead of a duel. He was doing his best to make sense of his cousin’s actions even though the latter had betrayed him twice already, and the last betrayal was the worst of all.

"I wanted to make this better," Rylen said with a gasp. It sounded gut-wrenching. "I’ve acted no differently from you. Exploiting when the opportunity arises. My methods might be gentler, but the results are the same. I trapped her, and you built the bars for me."

He paused and looked at his cousin. His expression revealed just how hurt he was and just how much this took from him.

"I have forced myself on her too many times. I want her to choose to come to me. I didn’t give her a choice in the matter; I wanted to seal the deal before she had second thoughts. I did it because she is that important, and perhaps I hoped she would choose me when presented with both options."

Caius wondered if his feelings for Rose were different. He would sooner have Rylen beheaded—or any other man, for that matter—than let anyone else touch her.

Contrary to what Rylen thinks, we are very different.

Or perhaps Rylen was convinced that nothing would have happened. Did he have that much faith in the princess, or was he that confident in the feelings they had for each other?

Was he confident in Rose?

Caius was confident she wouldn’t leave because he didn’t give her that option, but that was all, and that was why he was making sure to keep her tied to him, no matter what measures he had to take—be it her father or ruining the drug.

They were indeed very different. Rylen was willing to give Caira another option. Rylen didn’t like that she was trapped and wanted to make amends, even betray him. But Caius would rather trap Rose than let her get away from him.

Because he knew without a doubt that if there was a second option, she wouldn’t choose him, and it hurt. Some days, he wanted to pretend otherwise; it was easy to do so especially when he was in her presence.

"She didn’t choose you," Caius said out of spite as Rylen’s words brought to light thoughts he avoided.

Rylen jerked his head towards Caius, a flicker of anger in his eyes. "Perhaps, but her reason isn’t selfish."

Rylen couldn’t be angry, he knew that, but at the same time he couldn’t help how he felt. She was doing what he wanted Caius to do—to fulfill his duty—and that was what Caira was doing.

She didn’t choose her feelings over her kingdom. The same demand he had made to Caius over and over again, but this time around it directly affected him. Something important to him was against duty.

And for the first time, he understood his cousin, and he would have never been able to say that if it weren’t for Caira.

"What other reason could she possibly have?" Caius asked with clear irritation. This conversation with Rylen greatly reminded him of the rift between him and Rose, the one he wanted to pretend didn’t exist.

"To avoid a scandal, to not ruin the alliance, not with the state of her kingdom."

"Alliance?" Caius asked with a frown. "What are you talking about?"

"The alliance with the Kingdom of Lystern. The one that exists because of the engagement and marriage."

Caius frowned, peering oddly at his cousin. "I would expect you to know this. After all, he is your father."

"What has my father got to do with this?"

His father didn’t like to engage in the kingdom’s politics, he knew that. After all, that was why he took Rylen away and was against him coming to the castle.

"My engagement to Caira was Grandfather’s way of appealing to my father for almost giving his younger brother—your father—the throne. Father was sickly, you see. He also didn’t want it to seem as though Uncle had more support in Lystern than Father."

Caius watched Rylen carefully as he spoke, sizing him up. He was sure this was new information to Rylen. If he didn’t know about the alliance, then he certainly didn’t know that his father was almost king.

If things had gone that way, right now Rylen would be the future king. This was the major reason his father had completely changed after the trip to Wresthal. It was on this trip that he found out why he was taken and his younger brother, Gayle, wasn’t. His grandfather had planned to make Gayle King instead.

"Your parents’ marriage is the alliance. You are the evidence of the alliance. Our relationship with Lystern wouldn’t change simply because of my failed marriage."

Rylen’s eyes widened as he heard Caius’s words. His expression was a mix of horror and shock.

"The princess might not have known this," Caius added. He didn’t know why; it wasn’t his job to make Rylen feel better, not after what he did. "Perhaps they used that to make sure she didn’t change her mind about the marriage. If they missed the chance of having a Lystern as a queen of Velmount the first time, they are not going to pass up the opportunity a second time."

Caius took his seat as he let his cousin process his words. He was still angry, but here he was finding a solution for Rylen because that was the only way to make sure things went smoothly with Rose.

If Rylen was still willing to be with the princess, he would have no choice but to work with him, and with his cousin by his side, Caius was convinced there was nothing he couldn’t achieve.

It didn’t mean he was willing to let the betrayal go; however, if it meant he could be with Rose, he was willing to overlook almost anything.

Rylen opened his mouth to speak, but a loud knock echoed in the space. They both turned to the door, and it opened to reveal Lord Thomas.

He bowed with his hand over his chest. "I apologize, Your Highness, Prince Rylen but His Royal Highness, Prince Gayle Ravenor, is here."

"Father?!" Rylen called in surprise.