The King's Lover
Chapter 255: An Affair To Discuss

Chapter 255: An Affair To Discuss

Thomas stood in front of the crown prince’s study. What was he doing here? His Highness had already warned him about meddling, but yet here he was. He moved his hand to the healed cut on his neck again. He must have been hexed—or worse.

Thomas swore. He had lost count of how many times he had told himself this was a bad idea. If the crown prince was in a foul mood, he could really end up without his head this time.

Thomas knocked once. He was already here. He should have just declined and told her to go back inside—that he was not her nursemaid or coachman to take her wherever she wanted.

The door to the study opened, and a servant stepped to the side to let Thomas inside. The servant was clearly on his way out. He bowed while holding the door open.

"Thomas," the crown prince called. He sounded both shocked and curious.

"Your Highness," Thomas said as he stepped into the room. He bowed just as the servant slipped out and shut the door behind him.

"Hmm," Caius said and leaned back. "What are you doing here?"

Thomas walked forward. "Your Highness, I have an affair to discuss." Thomas ground his teeth at the end of his words.

He stopped a mere two feet away and bowed to Prince Rylen. "Prince Rylen," he greeted, and Rylen waved at him.

"What is this affair?" Caius asked with a puzzled expression.

Thomas turned his gaze to the crown prince and stood as stiff as a board. He had to proceed carefully, which led him to question why he was doing this.

"Rose would like to leave the castle briefly," Thomas began. He didn’t miss the way the crown prince’s gaze darkened as he mentioned her name. "She would like—"

"Rose?" Caius interrupted, tilting his head to the side.

"Yes," Thomas said, fighting the urge to shuffle on his feet. It felt like he was walking barefoot on hot coals. He had to be careful, or he might lose his feet—or, in this case, risk another slash.

"Her name," Caius repeated, raising his brows. Thomas was unsure what he should say to that, but the crown prince immediately added, "Carry on. What would Rose like?"

The smile that appeared on the crown prince’s face sent a chill down Thomas’s spine, and he once again asked himself what he was doing here.

"She wants to visit Lady Delphine and requests your permission to do that," Thomas said.

"She asked you to ask me?" Caius asked.

Thomas knew he had messed up. He started shaking his head. "She seemed to think she could leave the castle because you said she could, but I haven’t received any such order."

Thomas watched the crown prince’s expression change, but it was not aimed at him—rather, at the situation.

"Are you asking me to say no?" Caius asked, narrowing his eyes.

Thomas shook his head. He wasn’t asking that—but if the crown prince disagreed, he could tell Rose the crown prince had refused.

"If I refuse, she’ll simply think I didn’t want to take her," Thomas tried to explain, hoping to phrase his words in a way that wouldn’t anger the crown prince.

"So you came here to confirm if indeed I don’t want her to leave the castle?" Caius asked, a dark look in his eyes.

Thomas squinted. It sounded wrong the way the crown prince said it. "Yes—to know if she has permission to leave or not," Thomas rephrased.

"No. Did she say why she wanted to go there?" Caius was annoyed that he had to ask this.

"Yes. We leave for Futherfield tomorrow, and she would like to see Lady Delphine before she leaves. I do not believe this part, Your Highness. I think it is just some excuse on her part. The expedition to Futherfield is dangerous. There is no way—"

"It’s not an excuse," Caius said absentmindedly.

"What?" It was Rylen who reacted. "You’re bringing her with us?"

Thomas had the same thought. He didn’t care what happened to her, but it was completely different to take her to Futherfield. The journey itself was dangerous. Lord Leopold had not come with his wife to the capital because of how dangerous it was.

"Yes," Caius said with a bored expression.

"What are you thinking?" Rylen asked.

"Are you suggesting I leave her here?" Caius shot a dark look at Rylen.

"No—send her home." Rylen adjusted in his seat at the glare Caius sent him. No one moved. No one even breathed.

"Forgive me, Your Grace. I spoke out of turn," Rylen quickly apologized.

Only after his apology did Caius turn away from Rylen. Thomas stared in disbelief. He knew the sort of relationship Rylen had with the crown prince but the crown prince had still looked at Prince Rylen with death in his eyes.

If he had been the one to utter such a thing, he could only imagine what could have happened. This was not the woman to meddle with, but no matter how many times he told himself that, he couldn’t seem to look the other way.

"Thomas," Caius said—his voice sounded drawled. "Take her to where she wants to go. Don’t let her out of your sight, and tell me everything."

"Yes, Your Highness," Thomas said with a bow.

He turned to look at Rylen, who now had a defeated look on his face. "Prince Rylen," he said with a bow and left the private study.

"Do you ever intend to let her go?" Rylen asked as the door closed.

"I told you to drop the subject, Rylen. I do not see how this is your concern."

"You’re right, Your Highness. It is not."

Caius narrowed his gaze and turned to look at his cousin, but the latter had already turned his attention away from him and had his eyes on the map spread out in front of them.

They had been deciding the best path to follow. Caius, as always, thought there was no reason to hide and that they should follow the most dangerous roads. If they were attacked—even better—they wouldn’t have to look for the bandits.

Rylen disagreed. He didn’t think the bandits would be stupid enough to attack them, and rather, they would just be giving the bandits time to run away. And now that Rose was going with them, Rylen was determined to take the safest path.