The King's Lover
Chapter 249: Gnawing Feeling

Chapter 249: Gnawing Feeling

"What was that? Did you almost attack Thomas because he read a letter?!" Rylen asked in disbelief.

Thomas heard Rylen’s question as he walked away. There was no doubt in his mind that the crown prince would have sliced his neck open. Thomas shivered as he recalled the look in his eyes. There was no panic, no agitation—just coldness.

Thomas swore as he hopped away. What had he gotten himself entangled with? He preferred it when he hated her and didn’t care. Now, he didn’t know why, but he knew it would be hard to get rid of the image of her crying out of his head.

He had wanted nothing more than to see her in that sorry state. As a peasant, she deserved nothing less—but Thomas wasn’t so sure now, and he didn’t even know why.

He touched his neck, tracing the slight cut. It stung a little but Thomas did not take his hand away.

Rose was not a woman he should be having thoughts about. She was not his business, and he needed to remind himself of that—not her freckled face and how great she looked under the sun.

Caius heard Rylen yell, but he didn’t register the words. All he could think about was that he should have read the letter before giving it to Henry—or better still, had Rose sent to his private study and read the letter to her himself.

She had told him last night that she wanted to leave. It was hard to explain what he felt, but he had said the words before realizing it, and as soon as he did, he knew it was true.

He couldn’t dare let her go because Caius didn’t like that he knew she wouldn’t come back. His only hold on her was the debt she owed. She didn’t want anything from him, and it irked him. He was the crown prince—no one should want to get away from him. But she never wanted to be here from the start. <a href="https://.com">.com

It was not something he liked to think about, and he might have deceived himself into thinking that she needed him. However, the longer this went on, the less he had to hold on to.

Laying with her was phenomenal. He could spend the rest of his life buried deep in her, and Caius wouldn’t have any complaints.

She shivered from the slightest touch from him and would moan his name without hesitation. However, Caius hated the gnawing feeling that it wasn’t enough.

He shouldn’t care about this. He told himself he didn’t, but she had asked to leave, and he had seen red. He wasn’t cruel enough to not let her see her sick mother—no matter how angry he was—but he could not skip out on Futherfield, and he was the only one who could make sure she would come back.

Caius heard a ringing in his ear as he recalled Rose’s fiancé. There were times she acted like all that mattered was him, but other times, Caius could clearly see that she’d rather be elsewhere.

He didn’t think much about it—he could keep her here, and he had unlimited access to her body just like he wanted. But Caius didn’t know when he started to realize it wasn’t just for some time, and more importantly, when he decided he was never going to let her go.

"Your Highness," Rylen’s voice broke through his thoughts again. Caius glanced up at Rylen, and the other took a step back.

"You could have seriously injured Thomas." <a href="https://.com">.com

"I didn’t."

Caius looked at his palms and closed them. She could have asked him, but she chose someone who was only nice to her on his command. It irked and bothered him—mostly because he knew he would have ended whatever he was doing to go to her if she had called on him. But she would rather ask Thomas.

The veins on Caius’s arm, under his clothes, strained as he tightened his fist. His muscles tensed, and his palms reddened. He wanted to smash something, but he knew once he started, he wouldn’t be able to hold back.

"Your Grace, we both know how loyal Thomas is. There isn’t any reason for such a harsh approach."

Caius undid his fist and took a deep breath, ignoring his cousin who stared at him with concern. His cousin wouldn’t get it if he explained. He didn’t get it either.

"No, but I fear a peasant whore might end up being Queen if you don’t stop your son!" Queen Violeta yelled.

"You always overreact, Violeta. Caius wouldn’t dare. He is simply going through his rebellion phase, as he has for the past three years. This is nothing but a tantrum, and you’re acting exactly as he wants," Gaius said calmly not a single cough interrupted his words.

Queen Violeta shook her head at the King’s words. "To remain silent will only make this worse. I do not say His Majesty is wrong, but I don’t think asking your son to get married—as he should—is wrong. It should be time now," Violeta stated. "There is no reason to wait any longer." <a href="https://.com">.com

Gaius sighed. It was exhausting to speak, and he couldn’t deny the truth behind his wife’s words. They didn’t have much time left, and it was a good idea to make sure Caius was married.

There was truly no reason to wait any longer, and a wedding would do great things for the kingdom—especially with everything that was going on. It would also strengthen their alliances, and Gaius knew he had to make sure Caius had a good alliance with a strong nation.

"Very well," Gaius said with a smile. "Winter is fast approaching. I will send a letter before the snow comes."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Queen Violeta said with glee.

If the King had given his word, she had no reason to worry. If Caius was married, it would be easy to get rid of the peasant whore—and even if it wasn’t, her presence would no longer pose a threat. She would be nothing more than the crown prince’s mistress. And if perhaps she bore his child, it would be nothing more than a bastard.