The King's Lover
Chapter 233: Carried

Chapter 233: Carried

Servants bowed as Caius stepped out of the dining room with Rose in his arms. If Rose had been embarrassed before, now she was hoping the ground would open and swallow her.

Not only was the crown prince carrying her like a newborn, but the servants must have all been right outside the door while they were getting busy inside. Rose was appalled. Just how much had they heard? And that wasn’t all—they also had to clean the space inside. Rose hid her face against Caius’s chest. They hadn’t exactly been subtle about what had occurred.

Caius didn’t pay the servants any mind and walked past them without looking in their direction. Rose shut her eyes tightly. It was just the floor above them; they would get there in no time.

The crown prince walked down the corridor easily, carrying Rose like she weighed nothing. They were almost at the end of it, and she could see the stairs leading to their floor. Compared to the top floor, this floor barely had any guards. Rose was grateful for that, fewer people to run into.

"Your Grace," a familiar voice said.

Rose jerked her head up from looking around and met eyes with Prince Rylen. It was unclear what he was thinking as he stared at her in Caius’s arms. Of all the people to run into, Rose felt she wouldn’t feel as awful if it were the Queen she ran into.

"Rylen," Caius said with glee. "How was dinner with my mother?"

"As you would expect," Rylen said dismissively. "Looks like your excuse of having dinner by yourself was not quite right," Rylen commented.

Rose could feel his gaze on her. It felt rude not to greet him, but at the same time, she didn’t want to be addressed while in the crown prince’s arms. And why was the crown prince stopping to converse?

"I did have dinner by myself," Caius said with a smirk, then looked down at Rose.

Don’t look at me! Rose nearly cried out.

She knew exactly how they looked—her hair was a mess, and so was the crown prince’s. Her face was flushed, and her lips a little swollen from all the kissing. Her dress probably had stains from the table, and the crown prince’s gold band had shifted from a little lower than its original position. Not to forget that she was being carried.

This was the state Caius chose to have a conversation in—and even went as far as to use innuendos. Prince Rylen wasn’t stupid. One glance was all anyone needed to know exactly what had transpired.

"Your mother was not pleased," Rylen said.

"I am sure," Caius replied, his tone dismissive.

"Will you join us tomorrow morning?" Rylen asked.

"We will see," Caius said with another smirk and looked down at Rose.

She wanted to poke his eyes out. Why did he keep doing that?

Rylen glanced at Rose and then at the crown prince. "Don’t push it," he said and started walking away. "Goodnight, Your Grace."

"Goodnight, Prince Rylen," Caius said just as Rylen passed him, heading for his room.

"Put me down," Rose said.

"What?" Caius asked, not hearing her clearly.

"Please put me down, Your Majesty. I can walk now."

"Fret not," Caius said with clear amusement in his tone.

He didn’t say anything more. Rather, he started moving again, and Rose had no other option but to stay in his arms. She prayed they wouldn’t run into anyone else.

It was almost like the crown prince had slowed his pace. Wasn’t he carrying her because he didn’t have any patience? She looked up to see him staring at her. <a href="https://.com">.com

Rose prayed they would get to the bedchambers without any problems. However, the thought had barely formed when she heard an even more familiar voice.

"Your Highness," Henry called, bowing in front of them.

They were now on the crown prince’s floor, and it seemed the steward had been waiting for him at the entrance of the crown prince’s bedchambers.

"Henry," Caius said coldly. "What are you doing here?"

"Your Highness," Mister Henry said again with a puzzled expression, still keeping his head low. "I brought servants to help Your Highness prepare for the night."

"No need," Caius said.

Mister Henry nodded and met eyes with Rose, just then realizing that the crown prince carried her. Henry jerked, managed to mumble, "Yes, Your Highness," and stepped out of the way.

Rose pretended not to see the way the servants stared at her as the crown prince carried her to her room. At least the guards were more discreet.

When the door finally closed behind them, the relief Rose felt was intense—finally away from prying eyes. Caius didn’t seem eager to drop her to her feet, and she had to struggle out of his arms.

Rose had her back to Caius as she stood and she felt a hand on her back as he tugged on the laces tying her dress. The ropes came undone easily.

Rose had mentioned not wanting the dress ruined and that Welma should make it easier to undo. She was partially grateful the sisters weren’t with them, else she might not have been able to say that.

Welma had done exactly as she requested. The instant Caius tugged on the laces, she felt it loosen, and the shoulders of the dress slipped lower.

Rose didn’t even try to stop it; she just stood still and let the dress fall to her feet. She stood in front of Caius in nothing but her chemise.

She didn’t turn around immediately. Rather, she lifted her hands and slowly slipped the slip off her shoulders. She tossed the chemise. Rose heard a sharp intake of breath as she stood in front of Caius, her items of clothing at her feet. <a href="https://.com">.com

Rose didn’t turn around. Instead, she walked towards the bed. She heard the sounds of clothes coming undone and the rushing of footsteps.

Rose was stopped in her tracks as Caius wrapped her from behind. He grabbed her breast and pressed her back against him as he took a deep breath, burying his head in the cradle of her neck.