The King’s Lover

"His Highness is awake and is requesting you," a petite servant said as soon as Rose opened the door.

Rose recognized her—she was one of the maids who had come along to the market with them. She had also attended to Rose a few times, so she was familiar with her.

"He is awake?" she asked, even though she clearly heard what the maid had said.

"Yes, ma'am," the maid politely confirmed.

Rose nodded, suddenly feeling antsy. The crown prince was awake. This was good news. The decree would be withdrawn, and she didn't have to worry about being executed.

But could she go home, even briefly? Rose wasn't so sure about that.

"Thank you," she said to the maid.

The maid nodded, realizing she had been dismissed, and walked away from the door.

Rose didn't head out immediately, but she didn't waste much time either. She paused to think for a few moments, however, no matter how long and had she thought it wouldn't change the crown princess mind. She would have to go to see what he would decide on.

Rose walked through the familiar path as she briskly made her way to the crown prince. Not surprisingly, the walk to his chambers felt even shorter than normal and she was lost in thought the entire time.

Guards lined the front of the room, but no one stopped her as she approached the doors. Rose knocked once, then twice—and before her hand could land a third time, someone pulled open the door.

It wasn't anyone she recognized, and Rose had to assume he was one of the physicians attending to the crown prince. She curtsied and looked to the floor almost immediately.

The man didn't step away from the door, nor did he speak to her. Rose didn't like how the silence dragged, so she spoke quickly.

"I am Rose," she said. "His Majesty called for me."

"Let her in!" Prince Rylen's voice cut through the air before the physician could even reply.

He stepped out of the way quickly, and Rose stepped into the room cautiously. The room was familiar; not much had changed except for the strong smell of herbs. It was pungent—enough to make her stomach twist.

She wondered just how many concoctions Lord Paul had to make before he found the perfect antidote. However, the shrunken figure upright on the bed drew her attention and made her forget the smell of the herbs.

Caius looked completely different, and if she weren't so sure it was him—because only the crown prince would have this many physicians in one room—Rose would have doubted her eyes. Even as she moved closer, she still doubted her eyes.

His eyes were sunken, almost like his eyeballs had fallen a few centimeters deep into his skull. His hair had lost its black color and now it appeared almost grayish. He had also lost a considerable amount of weight, so much so that his cheekbones stood out.

Rose had seen him two days ago—this was a drastic change. Prince Rylen had downplayed just how bad the crown prince was. If the King or Queen saw him now, no word from Caius could change their minds. She would be killed on the spot.

"Your Majesty," Rose rushed forward, dropping to her knees beside the bed. "I am glad you're awake," she whispered.

"Rose," he peered at her. His voice was steady, and if she didn't see him, she would have said nothing had changed.

"Yes," she mumbled.

Caius looked around the room. "Leave us," he said.

"Your Highness," Lord Paul protested, moving forward, but Caius shot him a glare, stopping him in his tracks. He bowed his head and stepped back. "As you wish, Your Highness."

Prince Rylen didn't even argue—he was already walking to the door. The rest of the physicians followed suit, and soon enough Rose was alone with Caius.

"Sit," Caius said.

Rose was hesitant to lift her off the ground but she couldn't anger him. She lifted herself as though she was being pulled by an unseen force and sat on the empty seat next to the bed.

"Move closer," Caius said.

Rose moved the chair, her heart in her throat. The chair made a squeaky sound as she pulled it across the floor. Rose didn't know what the crown prince would say to her, and she couldn't help the gnawing feeling that he was in this state because of her.

When she was close enough, he lifted his hand, and Rose flinched, closing her eyes. Caius's eyes narrowed, but he didn't stop his movement. His hand landed on her bruised cheek, caressing it lightly.

"There's a bruise," he whispered, then his hand moved to her lip. "And another."

When Rose opened her eyes again, Caius had already pulled his hand away. He placed it over the covers that across his legs—even his hands were skinny.

"I am curious about one thing," Caius said. "How did you know how to get to the woods?"

Rose blinked. She didn't know what the crown prince was going to say, but this completely caught her off guard.

"To leave Futherfield?" she asked, even though she knew that was exactly what he was talking about.

"Yes," Caius said, studying her. His face was different, but he stared at her just the same.

Rose shuffled in her seat. Was she here to be interrogated? At least it was better than getting scolded.

"A man in the marketplace mentioned it," Rose replied.

"Hmm," Caius said and looked away briefly. "I don't think that's enough."

Rose was quiet. She couldn't dare mention the map—Lady Delphine would be implicated, and she didn't want that. Besides, she didn't know what to make of the crown prince.

His behavior was… strange.

"Prince Rylen," Caius started to say when Rose didn't reply, "filled me in on all that happened. I did tell you to leave me, but somehow you got me out of the woods."

"It was the least I could do, Your Majesty," Rose whispered. "You are in this state because of me."

Rose twisted her hands in her lap. She felt anxious that any moment now, the crown prince would do exactly what he called her for—which was to enact punishment. Even if he wasn't going to send her to the gallows, there were other ways to punish her for the numerous crimes she had committed.

"We both know that's not completely true," Caius said.

Rose lifted her head and stared at Caius in shock. Did Ryder hit him on the head too hard? Did the crown prince just admit to some wrongdoing—or was she reading too much into what he had just said?