The King's Lover-Chapter 528: Baby Steps

Breakfast ended on a pretty quiet note. The Princess was the first to leave the table. Rose was not only surprised that she stayed till she finished her meal, but not once did Caira say anything about her presence.

She had arrived in the King’s arms, he had openly addressed her as his queen and his wife, and did nothing.

Rose tried to imagine what she would do if the situation were reversed, and she knew she wouldn’t just sit there pretending it wasn’t happening right in her face. Even when the Queen tried to get a reaction out of Caira, the princess didn’t once acknowledge.

Rose tried to watch Caira and Rylen simultaneously as they sat directly across from each other, but Caira didn’t even glance at him once. She wondered what the princess was thinking.

With what she knew, she found it very hard to believe that Caira was fine with this after everything she had done to remain married to Caius. To go that far and not react now felt contradictory. It felt as though she might come up with a ploy later.

Rose wasn’t worried about Caira or the Queen, but she was slightly worried that they might combine forces, and that would be slightly harder to deal with. She prayed that it wouldn’t be the case.

With the King’s backing and knowing that Violeta couldn’t directly attack her, Rose was a little more confident. She knew this had not ended but at least she was not worried about getting kidnapped like last time.

Violeta on the other hand didn’t stop staring at her, and Rose knew as soon as the old Queen found a chance, she would try to do something in retaliation.

Rose had no plan to let her.

She not only planned to anticipate and prepare in advance, but Rose had every intention to face off the old Queen if the need ever arose. The old bitter woman had spat in her face for long enough.

As soon as Caira exited the dining room a little earlier than everyone else, Violeta stared hard at her son as if to tell him to look at what he was doing to her.

When that didn’t work—because Caius continued to ignore her as he had done for most of the meal—she turned her gaze to Rose, staring daggers at her.

Rose simply continued eating her meal, occasionally speaking to Caius and enjoying the way Violeta swelled with so much anger as her son paid Rose all the attention while ignoring his mother.

Rylen and his father were pretty quiet, sitting side by side on the same row as her. Rose was grateful that Rylen was at least placed between his father and herself; otherwise, breakfast would have felt a little awkward.

Prince Gayle didn’t speak for the entirety of breakfast, but Rose could feel his gaze on her occasionally. It was hard to tell if there was malicious intent in his stares or if it was just curiosity.

Caius finished his meal, and Rose could finally exit the dining room. It wasn’t too overwhelming, but she had had enough for the first day and just wanted to stay in her room for a bit.

She didn’t want to use the word hide, as that wasn’t what she was doing. It was just a little break and soon enough she wouldn’t be too self-conscious about being seen outside her bedchambers.

Baby steps.

Rose chuckled internally at this thought, accepting Caius’s outstretched hand. He helped her out of her seat and let her slip her palm onto the crook of his elbow again.

Without glancing at anyone else at the table, Caius headed for the exit.

"Son," Violeta called just as he passed by her seat.

Caius was tempted to ignore and Rose could tell because it took him a little too long to reply, and when he did, he was very impolite.

"What do you want, Mother?"

Violeta held back her displeasure. She knew it wouldn’t serve her now. "Might I have a word with you?"

"Very well. Henry will let you know when you may come to my study." He didn’t stop walking as he spoke, which meant his back was to her the entire conversation.

"Your study?!" Violeta asked in horror.

Caius didn’t answer as they were at the open doors, and he stepped through without answering her question. Rose heard a loud gasp and Violeta loudly called her son’s name before the doors shut.

It was hard not to smile as Rose kept her gaze down so her husband wouldn’t see that she was enjoying his mother’s misery a little too much. She would have paid gold to see the expression on her face as Caius ignored her yet again.

"What do you intend to do today?" Caius asked.

Rose jerked her head up, a little surprised at his question. She wondered if he had something planned, and as excited as she was about the idea, Rose didn’t want to push it today.

"Nothing really. I will spend the remainder of this morning in my room reading and writing. We haven’t had any lessons in so long."

"That can change right now."

"Don’t you have to see your mother, Your Majesty?"

Caius groaned loudly. "I can see her some other time."

"Your mother isn’t the only reason. I am sure Your Majesty is busy."

Caius turned to face her and smirked. "Never too busy for you."

Rose chuckled and shook her head. "The lords will not be very pleased to hear that, but I don’t want Your Majesty to take time away from important tasks for me."

"If you insist," he replied. "But you don’t have to do the reading in your room. You may use any library you want. You can take Maximus with you, as long as you promise not to ask him any questions."

"Your Majesty truly intends to be my only tutor?" Rose looked at him in horror.

She had assumed he was being strict about it because he wanted another way to be able to control her, but they were married now; she was clearly not going anywhere. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Of course. Why would I let someone else tutor my wife?"

"Your Majesty, it would be faster and give us more time to do other things."

"Hmm, these other things. Would you elaborate?" He leaned closer, bringing his voice down to a whisper.

Rose nearly smacked him, but she had to remind herself that this was the King, and right now they were outside. "Your Majesty!"

Caius chuckled at her reaction. They had just arrived at his wing, and he led her up the stairs to her room. They stopped in front of her door, and Caius was reluctant to let go of her.

"You are not coming in with me," she said sternly as she struggled to pull her hand away from him. She could see the look on his face; if she dared let him in, he was not going to leave.

"I will see you during lunch. If I can’t come to get you myself, I shall send Maximus."

"I’d love that," she replied and opened the door to her room.

Rose was glad when she stepped into the room without him stopping her, but he refused to go away from her door until she shut it in his face.

Rose sighed loudly when she was finally in the privacy of her room. She could not believe how the day had gone. It was better than she had imagined.

Rose had feared the worst, like getting stoned or attacked or worse. But nothing of that sort had happened, and she was in her room unscathed with the crown still on her head, exactly where it belonged.

Rose smiled to herself as she walked away from the door. She took off the circlet, staring at the precious jewelry as she walked to her desk, but instead of sitting down, she passed it and made her way to the dresser.

Rose slid the circlet back in place, admiring herself. She couldn’t help but think it was just right. The red jewel even matched the red of her hair.

Rose traced the jewel in the middle of her forehead. She really was Queen. It had felt bigger than life before, and she truly had been terrified of the role, but now she realized she couldn’t wait to exercise the authority she had.

"Is power changing me?" She laughed out loud as she took off the circlet and placed it on the dresser, then made her way back to the desk.

Rose knew it wouldn’t feel this great if it weren’t for her husband. She couldn’t explain how he made it so easy. She did a tiny happy spin before she sat down.

There was still a lot they would have to face together, and Rose knew this wasn’t even the start of the fight, but she was confident, and with Caius on her side, she knew there was absolutely nothing to worry about.