The King's Lover
Chapter 239: Can You Read?

Chapter 239: Can You Read?

Chelsy and Isla were shocked when Rose summoned them—and it wasn’t even midmorning yet. The two sisters looked very concerned as they walked into Rose’s room.

"Can you read?" Rose asked with a hopeful look as soon as the sisters entered her room.

"What?" they both asked simultaneously.

Rose held up the unopened letter. The two girls studied it and then looked at each other.

"Can you read?" Rose asked again, staring back and forth between them.

"You want us to read the letter?" Isla asked.

Rose nodded, and the sisters shook their heads.

"No," Chelsy said. "I know a few words, but not enough to read it properly."

Rose sighed. "Do you know any maid who can?" she asked.

Isla looked to her sister, and they thought about it a little, but eventually they both shook their heads.

Rose sighed, feeling defeated. "Do you think you could get me Welma?" Rose didn’t have much hope, but at least she could confirm.

Isla nodded and rushed for the door almost immediately, leaving Rose and Chelsy.

"Do you know who the letter is from?" Chelsy asked.

"Yes," Rose replied, purposely not saying more.

"Who brought you the letter?"

"Mister Henry."

"Did you ask him?"

"He said he was too busy," she replied.

Rose didn’t like how her only option was starting to look like the crown prince. She didn’t want to rely on him for a plethora of reasons, but the two major ones were that she would have to wait till late, and a tiny part of her was worried he might alter it.

Rose couldn’t help but feel immense distrust toward the crown prince when it came to her parents. As much as she wanted to rely on him, he had once sent her father to the gallows without flinching—all because she had declined his offer.

Rose was torn. Was there truly no one else she could ask? And there was no doubt Mister Henry wanted nothing to do with this.

"Chelsy?" Rose suddenly called. She knew it was a bad idea, but unless she tried, she wouldn’t know if it would work.

"Yes?" Chelsy said, surprised at the sudden call.

"Can you do me a favor? Can you find me Lord Thomas?"

Chelsy looked hesitant, but then she slowly nodded. "I can try to find him. What would you want me to tell him?"

Rose looked around. It was too much of a risk, but she had hope that he might answer.

"Just tell him that I need his help." <a href="https://.com">.com

She hoped that was phrased well enough. She didn’t want to say more, unsure if he would even agree in the first place.

Chelsy nodded and withdrew from the room. Not long after she left, Isla returned alone.

"What happened?" Rose asked as soon as she walked in.

"I found Welma, but she’s too busy. I made sure to ask if she could read, and she laughed, saying ’how could you ask her something like that?’ When she saw I was serious, she stopped laughing and said no."

Rose nodded. She hadn’t expected anything less.

"Thank you, Isla. You may go."

Isla paused and looked around the room.

"Where is my sister?" she asked. <a href="https://.com">.com

"I asked for her help. She should be back soon."

Isla nodded. "I’ll return to the servants’ quarters. If I find anyone who can read, I’ll let you know."

"No, Isla. Don’t ask. I’d rather show this letter to someone I can trust. I can’t tell if they’re lying or not when reading, so it absolutely has to be someone who won’t lie to me."

"Oh," Isla said, considering Rose’s words. "You’re right."

Rose smiled at her as she left the room. She glanced back at the envelope. One of the corners was a little crinkled, and Rose tried to straighten it out.

The wax seal was still on the letter. She didn’t have the heart to pull it off. There was no point—she wouldn’t understand a thing.

Chelsy took a long time, and Rose started to fear that she might not find Thomas, because if he had declined, Chelsy would have come back already to tell her.

When she had almost given up hope and was thinking of calling Isla back to tell her sister to give up, Rose heard a sharp knock.

She scrambled to her feet, almost tumbling the chair as she rushed to the door. Chelsy stood in front of it, and behind her was Thomas with a scowl on his face.

"Lord Thomas," Rose said in surprise, and Thomas’s scowl worsened.

"Rose," Chelsy whispered; she sounded a little frightened.

"Thank you, Chelsy. I will call on you later."

The maid looked hesitant to leave, but at the same time relieved. She curtsied to him and fled.

"What is this about?" Thomas asked.

"Please come in," she whispered and stepped aside to let him in.

If guards weren’t placed in front of her door, she would have considered having him read the letter right there, but Rose didn’t think that was a good idea now. <a href="https://.com">.com

Thomas looked at her as though she had grown wings. "What?" he asked, his face a little red.

However, his face had already been red before he arrived. Rose wondered if it had to do with the reason Chelsy had taken so long to fetch him, and she could smell sweat on him. Not too strongly like he had been physically exerting himself.

"I need you to read something for me," she quickly explained, knowing he would not step into the room if she didn’t state her reason.

Thomas eyed her oddly but didn’t make any attempt to step inside. Rose stood there, feeling a little awkward.

"It’s private," she whispered, not knowing what else to say.

Thomas narrowed his eyes, and just when she thought he would turn around and leave, he took a step into the room. Rose sighed in relief as she shut the door behind him.

She quickly rushed to the table, grabbed the letter, and returned to him. She handed it to him, and Thomas reluctantly accepted it.