The King's Lover
Chapter 190: Hated Every Moment

Chapter 190: Hated Every Moment

Lily stared daggers at Welma. She was holding a tray with just a jug of water and a cup. "Where are you coming from?" she asked. Lily didn’t even try to hide the accusation in her tone.

Welma’s eyes flickered to the tray before she responded. "Rose’s room," Welma said with an unwavering smile. "The crown prince gave me orders. I don’t think I should disclose exactly what those orders are."

Lily didn’t believe her words, but there was no way to confirm if the woman was lying or not. "Very well," Lily answered coldly and stepped to the side to continue her journey.

Welma stepped to the side with her, blocking Lily’s path, her smile still on her face. "What about you?" she said sweetly, glancing down at the tray again. "What are you doing with that? I don’t think it’s time for lunch just yet."

Lily gripped the tray tightly as she watched Welma look around. Lily knew exactly what Welma was doing. Not only was she questioning her, but Welma was also asking why she was alone.

"Not yet," Lily said, unbothered by Welma’s looks and insinuation. "But I didn’t think there was something wrong with giving Rose some water just before lunch."

Lily called Rose’s name easily. She wasn’t going to lie that it was for someone else, and if Welma thought there was anything wrong with this, she should say so—and explain why she thought it was wrong.

"No," Welma said and stepped to the side to let her pass. "I suppose there’s nothing wrong with that."

Lily didn’t like the way she said it, especially the smile that hadn’t shifted from her face even once. Welma bothered her, and it was the undertones in her words that made it even worse.

Edna left today in the worst way ever, and it was because she was friendly with Rose. It was almost like Welma was reminding her of that.

Lily scoffed. She wouldn’t let Welma’s comments bother her. Besides, she had avoided Rose enough—everyone could see that. No one would say she was on Rose’s side, even if she had a friendly relationship with Edna.

Lily walked past Welma. She wouldn’t let the two-faced maid bother her. They rarely ran into each other these days, especially since Welma wasn’t helping the Queen get ready for the day and night as usual. Lily also found this part odd, she knew that Welma had been promoted to the Queen’s personal maid. She forced her thoughts to move to something else. There was no reason to worry about Welma.

Lily walked briskly, heading for the crown prince’s wing. She braced herself as she approached Rose’s room, half expecting to be stopped by the guards, but none of them even glanced in her direction. Before Rose, no one could freely wander in this section—yet here she was without permission.

Lily knocked once, twice, before she heard movements behind the door, and Rose opened it with a frown on her face. But her face softened when it rested on Lily. She looked pleasantly surprised.

"Lily," Rose said with a small smile. "I ’aven’t seen you in a while."

"Can I come in?" Lily said instead. "I brought water for your lunch."

"Certainly, thank you," Rose said and stepped to the side to let Lily in. She shut the door right after.

Lily walked to the table diligently and placed the tray on the table. "Did Welma leave here?"

Rose frowned but nodded. "She came with a seamstress, Bailey."

Lily’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t see Bailey with her, but if Rose said she had been there, then she had. Maybe she wasn’t lying after all.

"What brings you ’ere?" Rose asked when Lily didn’t say anything.

Lily lifted her head. There was no reason to pretend otherwise. It was clear she had something to tell Rose, as it wasn’t time for lunch yet. "Edna left this morning."

"I see," Rose said softly.

Lily frowned. There was almost no reaction in her voice. "Did you know?"

"Welma told me," Rose whispered.

"Welma," Lily said the name like a curse under her breath. "Don’t trust her."

Rose raised her head to look at Lily. "I don’t."

"I’m serious. I have reasons to believe she’s working with the Queen. It definitely explains how all of a sudden she’s working in the castle and so close to the royals. Her tasks before now were outside the castle."

Rose narrowed her brows. "I see," she replied. "I will be careful around ’er."

"Good," Lily said, and everything went silent.

Rose just stood silently watching her. She knew Lily wasn’t just here for all the things she had just said. If she was, she could have just sent one of the maids to deliver it. f|ree(w)ebn\o.vel.com

"Edna left a message for you before she left."

Rose’s ears perked, but she noticed Lily’s tone was almost angry. "What did she say?" she asked when Lily didn’t add more information.

"She seems to think you’re angry at her!" Lily’s eyes blazed as she said this.

"I’m not," Rose said. She was sad, yes—but not angry. And she knew she should have told Edna a proper goodbye. She regretted that she didn’t.

"Good! Because you have no right to be! If she didn’t meddle with you, she would have left the castle in a better position. Edna has worked in the castle longer than us—since she was a little girl—and she left disgraced because of you! You have no right to be angry."

Rose was taken aback more by Lily’s outburst than her words. The words struck her deeply, but Lily’s reaction made her realize how heavy it was.

"No one wanted anything to do with you, but she would go out of her way occasionally. She went against Martha and told the crown prince countless times that she was sure you didn’t run away. And what did she get in return?" f\r(e)ewe.b no\vel.com

Lily wrapped her arms around herself. She looked on the verge of tears. It had been annoying to watch Edna suffer, and it was even more vexing when Edna told her not to tell Rose.

She put Edna in that position. She could have convinced the crown prince to help. Instead, Edna had condoned everything the Queen had thrown her way—and had looked happy doing it. Lily had hated every moment of it.