The King's Lover-Chapter 492: The King’s Aide

It took some time before Rose eventually heard a knock. She had started to worry that the King might not let her go see her father—perhaps he didn’t trust that she would return. But then she heard the knock, and wondered if she was the one who didn’t trust him.

It wasn’t that she didn’t; it was just that he made things a little difficult for her to completely trust him. His actions towards her were quite selfish, and if it seemed selfless, it felt like another way to keep her tied to him.

Rose adjusted her dress as she stood up from her seat to leave her bedchambers. She adjusted the black hat over her head, making sure the strings were tied. It didn’t do much to hide her face or her hair, but at least it helped a little.

She took a deep breath before she opened the door, hoping there was no evidence of the turmoil she was dealing with on her face. She worried that if someone showed even the slightest care, she might spill all her worries onto their laps, it didn’t matter who they were.

"Lord Tho—" Rose stopped mid-sentence as she saw a man she didn’t recognize, and for a moment she almost slammed the door shut.

The figure in front of her was taller than anyone she knew, and his shoulders were just as wide. Rose was certain they were wide enough to get stuck in the doorway. A long sword hung by his side, and it almost looked as long as she was tall.

How did he carry such a heavy thing around?

His sight was enough to strike fear in her heart, and the fact that he was at her door without any prior warning only made things worse. Rose feared the Queen had finally decided to play her hand.

She was still contemplating what she was to do when his polite tone caught her off guard.

"Lady Rose," Maximus called with a sharp nod.

Lady?

"My apologies, Lord..." she paused, as she waited for him to fill her in on his name.

"Maximus." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Thank you," she replied with a polite smile. "My apologies, Lord Maximus, but I do not know who you are."

"I am the King’s aide," he simply said. "His Majesty has given me orders to take you to Lady Elrod’s residence."

Rose knew he was referring to Lady Delphine, but most people tended to refer to her as Lady Delphine, as the Elrod family, especially her stepson, didn’t want to be associated with her.

"Lord Thomas always takes me," Rose tried to explain as she looked around. She didn’t know if she should be worried, and Caius hadn’t told her he would send someone else.

"I see." Maximus studied her face. It was clear Rose didn’t trust him, and for good reason too. He had assumed she was informed of his coming.

"Are you sure His Majesty sent you?" she queried, looking around, a slight fear etched in her features.

Rose didn’t think he was lying, as no one else but Caius knew she was going to see her father today. However, she had never seen Maximus before now and wasn’t sure she had heard of him. If she had, it didn’t make too much of an impression for her to remember.

"I would never lie," he said with what he hoped was a smile.

He couldn’t return to the King without doing his task; it would be the equivalent of failure, and this might also be a test. If he couldn’t assure the young lady that he was trustworthy, the King might say he failed.

Rose looked him up and down. He looked very threatening, especially since he was so tall, but in some way, he reminded her a little of her father. However, without a doubt, Maximus was bigger.

Rose sighed. "I am going to trust you," she said and shut the door.

It was either that, or she would have to go back into her room, and she couldn’t exactly order him around. Besides, she wanted nothing more than to get to Lady Delphine’s residence.

Maximus smiled at that. "Very well. Shall we?"

Rose nodded and led the way while Maximus walked diligently behind her. She didn’t want him to lead for a reason. She was worried he might opt for the main entrance, but when she saw the carriage by the side entrance, she realized he was well aware of her habits. How did she not know him? It felt as though she was supposed to.

The coachman held the door open for her, and Rose climbed into the carriage. Maximus followed right after; his weight caused the carriage to sway, and Rose feared he might not fit in the small box.

He sat across from her with his legs wide open, taking up the entire seat. The top of his head brushed the roof of the carriage, and Rose had to remind herself it was rude to stare.

The journey was mostly quiet. Maximus didn’t try to speak to her, and she feared speaking to him. Throughout the journey, all she could think about was what if she was wrong, but each time she looked out the window, they were on a familiar path, and as the journey went on, she started to relax.

Finally, the carriage pulled into the compound, and Rose was out of the carriage as soon as it stopped moving. Slade was walking towards them after he had shut the gates, wearing his usual cap. Rose didn’t think she had ever seen him without it.

She noticed his expression slowly changed to horror, and his footsteps slowed. That was when Rose realized that Maximus had moved to stand right next to her.

"Slade," she called. "Where is my father?"

"At the back," he said and stared Maximus up and down.

"Thank you," she replied and then turned to her side. "This is Lord Maximus. He is the King’s aide. He accompanied me here."

Slade gave him a stiff bow, and Rose knew it was because he didn’t want to agitate the giant. He was usually quite stubborn with Thomas and rarely ever bowed properly. If he did, he was always rude about it.

Thomas, however, rarely paid attention to it recently, and she knew this only pissed Slade off, but she was very proud of Thomas and how far he had come.

Rose turned towards the manor, just as the door opened and the two girls ran out. She rushed towards them, and they hugged her tight before noticing the huge frame behind her.

Rose tried not to laugh as she introduced the figure behind her, wondering if he intended to stick this close the entire time. Maximus didn’t speak as introductions were made; he simply acknowledged their bows with his eyes.

Rose waved the girls off, saying she wanted to see her father first, and they explained where he was. He had made a shed by the side of the manor and spent most of his time there.

Rose was smiling when she started walking away, and Maximus stuck close. He really did intend to stay with her the whole time.