The King's Lover-Chapter 532: Vile Woman

Rose woke up to Caius’s palm grabbing her chest, his hand opening and closing over her breast. If she couldn’t hear his soft snoring behind her, Rose would swear he was awake but he was fast asleep while his hand had other ideas.

She shook her head in disbelief as she tried to pull his hand away, and she felt him stir awake. But instead of moving his hand, he grabbed tighter.

"Your Majesty!"

"Hmm," he replied. "It can’t be so hard to call me your husband."

"Good morning, my husband, my king," she turned to face him grinning. "Pleased?"

"More than you could possibly think," he replied and kissed her.

Rose giggled and pulled away. "You have to leave or else we will be late for breakfast if I let you have your way."

"No," he groaned and pulled her closer.

"We both have a busy day today."

Caius growled at her reminder. He was to have a meeting with the council after lunch. He wasn’t sure how they had heard so fast, but he didn’t think this was something he could keep a secret for a long time, and he wanted as many people to know as possible.

"Fine," he said and rolled away from her.

He got out of bed shirtless, and Rose couldn’t help but stare at his back and how easily he showed it to her these days. She didn’t think he realized it himself.

He slipped into his clothes and said, "I will be back."

Rose laughed as she stared up at him. "I don’t doubt that."

Caius gave her one last look before he exited her room. Rose was still watching the door long after he left. She lay on her back in disbelief, wondering if she would ever get used to this new routine.

Rose got out of bed. Her maids would be here anytime soon. She was surprised they weren’t here yet. She walked towards the string and pulled it. She never had to ring it except when she needed to make an impromptu request.

Rose walked towards the desk as she waited, looking through the table. Caius had given her tasks last night, and she wasn’t sure she would be able to finish them before she set out. She made a mental note to do them when she returned from Lady Delphine’s manor.

Rose frowned and looked towards the door. Something wasn’t right. She walked towards her wardrobe and pulled out a coat that was appropriate for leaving her room.

She stepped out of her room, and the guards all bowed as soon as they saw her. Rose pointed to the nearest guard. He looked around, and when he confirmed that she was indeed referring to him, he stepped forward.

"Might I send you on an errand?" Rose wasn’t intending to be polite, but there wasn’t an official recognition of her status yet.

"Y-yes," he said with hesitancy.

"Wonderful. Could you find me the butler, Mister Henry? Or perhaps, if he is too busy, a maid named Welma will do just fine."

"Is that all?"

Rose nodded, and he bowed before walking towards the stairs. Rose didn’t like how she felt. She suspected this had something to do with the way Isla and Chelsy were acting oddly last night.

Rose was almost certain they didn’t oversleep. Even if that was the case, the chance that both of them were asleep was very low.

Rose didn’t go to her room; rather, she waited in front of her door. Not long after the guard left, Mister Henry climbed up the stairs. Rose didn’t think the guard had run into the butler, as he was coming from a different direction.

"Mister Henry," Rose called as he got to the top of the stairs.

The poor butler jerked with such intensity that Rose winced. She didn’t mean to frighten him.

"Your M-majesty," he gasped out, still not recovered from his shock.

"I apologize, Mister Henry. I didn’t mean to startle you."

"N-no, please don’t apologize. Is there something I can do for you?" he said as he looked her up and down, taking in her appearance.

"You see," Rose started to explain, "my maids are late."

"Ah, shall I assign someone else to attend to you this morning?"

Rose frowned. "Shall I take it that you do not know the reason why?" she asked coldly.

Henry shuffled on his feet. "You’d h-have to forgive me, but I have to go to His Majesty. You may ask any servant to attend to you..." The words weren’t out of his mouth before he rushed off.

Rose narrowed her eyes. She didn’t need anyone to tell her the Queen was involved. Henry only acted this way when he was under the orders of authority.

What did that vile woman do to my maids?

Rose could feel her blood boil. She didn’t care what the Queen did to her; she had enough power to either go against it or retaliate. But her poor maids could only do as they were ordered.

Rose looked towards the stairs, and she saw the guard she had sent walk towards her empty-handed. Rose felt her head spin, and she did her best to calm herself down.

"Speak," she said before he even finished climbing up the stairs.

"There was no sign of Mister Henry, and servants suspect he is with the King—"

"And Welma?"

"She said she has orders not to attend to you. And as for the maids you seek, they are not in the servants’ quarters." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Where are they?" Rose had to clench her palms to keep from yelling.

"She wouldn’t say."

"I will have to trouble you one last time," she said to the guard. "Will you be kind enough to either get me Lord Maximus or Lord Thomas? However, I would greatly prefer it if you found Lord Maximus. Worry not," she added when the guard looked at her skeptically. "He will adhere to my request."

He bowed again and then walked down the stairs. Rose didn’t even see him leave, as she was already in her room, ripping off her coat and nightdress as she prepared to dress herself for the day.