The King's Lover-Chapter 540: No Chance

The carriage hadn’t come to a complete halt when the doors were flung open and Caius was looking in, his face creased with worry until he spotted Rose hidden in the corner, shielded by Maximus.

"Rose," Caius called.

"Your Majesty," Rose bolted from her seat and accepted his outstretched hand.

She wondered whether he had been told before she arrived or had noticed the carriage’s condition, but she figured it was the latter. He usually didn’t step out of the castle when she returned.

He pulled her from the carriage and wrapped his arms around her, still standing in front of it. "You’re okay," he whispered as she lay against his chest.

It sounded as though he was saying it more to himself than to her. She could faintly hear the fast beating of his heart as she rested her face on his chest. Rose nodded, letting herself relax as he held on to her. It was nice. She was alive.

She quickly pulled away as she remembered Maximus. They were standing in the way of the carriage; there was no way he could get out, and he needed to be treated.

"Maxim—"

"Your face," Caius called, his gaze darkening as a hand stretched to wipe the blood off the scratch. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Rose winced as he touched her cheek. She had completely forgotten about that. "It’s just a scratch," she replied.

"Your dress," Caius muttered in horror at the exposed underlining of her dress.

"Maximus got shot with an arrow. He saved me, and he was bleeding. I had to stop it," she explained.

Caius took off his mantle and placed it over her shoulders, covering her ripped dress. The mantle was taller than she was, and its bottom dragged along the ground.

"Maximus, get that looked at, but I want a report tonight."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the huge man said from inside the carriage.

Caius looked down at Rose, and his displeasure was apparent. "I’ll send for Paul," he said.

"Don’t bother the physician. It’s only a scratch that is healing up. See," Rose said and touched her cheek. "Dried blood."

Caius didn’t look convinced, but it was clear he was not about to argue with her, so he gently placed his arm behind her as he urged her towards the castle entrance.

Rose nodded as she walked, not missing the stares from servants and guards alike. They must have put on quite a show in front of the castle.

It was only now that Rose noticed that Caius wasn’t alone. The butler, Thomas, and Rylen had arrived with the King. They bowed to her as she passed, and Rose allowed herself a small smile.

Rose could see the anger on Thomas’s face as he bowed. Rylen’s expression was a mix of concern and horror. They didn’t walk along with them; rather, they approached the carriage.

She glanced back briefly, mostly because she was worried about Maximus, and she immediately regretted her decision. The side of the carriage that faced the castle was littered with arrows. They were definitely more than the ten she had counted.

A shiver ran down her spine. Whoever had been behind this attack wanted her dead.

Rose’s first thought was the old hag, especially after this morning. She would not be surprised if the old Queen wanted her dead but something about this attack felt too organized.

There was also the lords. Today was the council meeting; it was possible that someone—or more—didn’t like the outcome of the meeting and decided killing her was the best choice.

Rose was trying not to panic, but she had come too close to death. If Maximus had been a moment slower, she would have had an arrow sticking out of her head.

Caius’s hold on her back tightened, and she leaned into him. She was doing her best to put on a strong front, but Rose feared she was failing.

Behind them, she could hear the soft footsteps of the butler, Henry, as he went up the stairs with them. Thomas and Rylen remained by the carriage. They seemed to be inspecting it.

Caius led her into the castle without speaking. The lines on his face were hardened, and she could see the fear of the guards and servants as they jumped out of the way, bowing.

Rose started to feel better as they got to the King’s wing. Perhaps the familiarity of it was soothing. They went up the stairs, and Rose instinctively slowed down, ready to go to her quarters, but Caius guided her ahead.

She glanced up at him, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze. She didn’t protest; she went along with him, past her bedchambers, past Caira’s bedchambers, and they soon arrived at the doors of his bedchambers.

Henry was quick to open the door. Caius stepped inside with Rose. "Is there anything Your Majesty would like?"

"You’re dismissed, Henry. We will have dinner here. I shall inform you when." He didn’t look at the butler as he spoke; he just walked with a steady gait towards the nearest seat.

"As Your Majesty pleases," the older man bowed and exited the room, shutting the door.

Caius took off her mantle as the doors closed and pulled Rose with him as he sat down, holding her close. Rose didn’t complain, because more than anything, she wanted to be held.

"I am sorry," he whispered as he buried his face in her hair. "I should have anticipated this."

Rose shook her head. "There is no way you could have known," she replied.

That wasn’t entirely true. However, Caius didn’t expect them to move this swiftly. They were still using Caira as a cover, and with rumors of her pregnancy, the lords truly didn’t have a reason for concern. But it seemed they weren’t about to take any chances.

He had seen how frightened she was when she stepped out of the carriage. He never wanted to put her in that situation again. If the lords had attacked once, they were bound to do it again. Caius planned to give them no chance.