The King's Lover
Chapter 259: I Need A Map

Chapter 259: I Need A Map

Rose slowly shook her head in response to Lady Delphine’s question. She pulled the coat closer, suddenly feeling cold even in the warm room with the burning fireplace. She was scared and worried. This was her last option. What if Lady Delphine couldn’t help her?

Lady Delphine’s expression soured. "What’s wrong?"

Rose opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by a knock on the door. She instinctively jerked, and Lady Delphine gave her a sad look.

"Sorry," she said, trying to calm Rose. "That should be our lunch. You can tell me all about it while we eat."

Rose nodded and looked to the door. It opened, and Esme walked into the room with Kali right behind her. Rose could see Thomas’s grumpy face as he tried to peek into the room, but when their eyes met, he immediately looked away.

Rose tried not to laugh, but the young lord’s reaction had her chuckling each time. He was so easy to mess with. His actions also made her forget the sort of dilemma she was in.

"Cake or muffin? I wasn’t sure which you’d prefer, so I brought both," Esme said as she placed the tray in front of Rose. "There is tea too. Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like or if the tea isn’t to your liking. I can bring something different for you to drink."

Rose shook her head. "No, this is fine. Thank you."

Esme smiled and stood to her full height. She looked like she was about to speak more, but Lady Delphine glanced in her direction, and the smile on Esme’s face vanished.

"Please enjoy your meal," she said and started towards the door. Kali also took the hint, and after they both curtsied to Lady Delphine, they went out the door, shutting it.

This time Rose didn’t catch Thomas, nor did she see him, but she knew he was right outside the door, just out of sight. It was weirdly comforting which was odd as she could stand him sometimes.

"You should eat. Whatever it is, I will make sure to help you."

"Thank you," Rose said and took a sip from the cup, but it tasted foul, and she set it back down. She knew it wasn’t the tea—rather, her taste buds. She wouldn’t be able to enjoy meals until she found a solution.

Rose watched Lady Delphine eat. She was unsure how to begin, but instead of beating around the bush, she decided to say exactly what she was here for.

"I need a map, Lady Delphine."

Lady Delphine’s eyes nearly bulged out of her skull, and she looked like she might choke. She gulped a significant amount of water before she spoke.

"A map?" Lady Delphine yelled in whisper tones. "What do you need a map for? Are you trying to escape? That is not a good idea."

"No, it’s not what you think. If I wanted to get away from the crown prince, I would have done it a long time ago. But this is for a different reason. My mother is worse, and I worry that I might not see her before..." Rose let the rest of her words trail off. She didn’t have the heart to say it out loud.

Lady Delphine’s eyes widened, and then she placed her palm over Rose’s hand. "I’m so sorry. But I don’t think escaping is the right thing to do."

"I know," Rose said and pulled her hand away. She grabbed the coat and pulled it closer to herself. "But I don’t have a choice."

"Have you asked the crown prince?"

Rose gave Lady Delphine a look. Why did everyone think the crown prince was benevolent? Which was a bit ironic because she knew they were all terrified of him, but every time she had a problem, this was the first thing she heard. He wasn’t nicer to her—he was as nice as one would be to a pet.

"I did. It was the first thing I did when I got the letter," Rose said with a sigh, hating that she was recalling the incident and what happened after.

"He refused?" Lady Delphine asked in horror.

"Worse. He’s never letting me go home. Ever. I don’t have a choice but to do this, Lady Delphine."

"B-but how can you escape the castle? It’s dangerous. You won’t even make it to the gates with the number of guards."

Rose shook her head. "Not from the castle. The crown prince is embarking on a journey to Futherfield tomorrow. I intend to escape on the way or when we get to Futherfield."

Lady Delphine couldn’t hide the shock on her face. She knew the crown prince was leaving the capital—she didn’t know it was so soon, though. There was a part about her job, when the lords were well satisfied some of them tended to get really chatty.

It was one of the reasons she was particularly close to the crown prince. He wasn’t just good for her business, but she always made sure to tell him any important information she came across.

"Futherfield is dangerous, especially with the bandits. It would be better to escape from the castle."

"I will be careful. That’s why I need a map. I just need to know the roads. I won’t do anything I’m not sure of."

"I worry, Rose," Lady Delphine said. "Are you sure you won’t ask the crown prince one last time?"

"The next time, he might lock me up in a dungeon and throw away the key. This is my only option."

Lady Delphine sighed, distress clearly written on her face. "I have a map, and thank goodness it is recent, but I don’t know the roads the bandits have taken over. You’ll need to know that to be able to even leave Futherfield safely, let alone get to Edenville."

During her stay with Lady Delphine, Rose had shared some of her life with the courtesan, just as Delphine had shared hers with Rose. She knew enough.

"I know. Right now, I just need a map and how to read it. I promise I won’t do anything reckless."