The King's Lover
Chapter 30: The King

Chapter 30: The King

Caius walked with long strides toward the throne room. Rylen walked beside him. If it weren’t for his cousin, he wouldn’t have responded to the King’s call.

"You haven’t visited His Royal Majesty since you returned," Rylen said as they walked through the hallway.

"It was on purpose. I’m sure you’ve relayed everything that transpired during the journey to the King. My input would be unnecessary."

"His Royal Highness has requested your presence twice. It has nothing to do with your travels. You should see your father when you return to the castle."

Caius stopped walking and slowly turned to look at Rylen. His gaze was sharp as a blade. "You should be the last person saying that."

"His Royal Majesty is very sick, Your Grace."

"And?" Caius asked with genuine nonchalance.

"Well—"

"I’d prefer it if you left matters with my father alone. You should know better than anyone. Don’t do more things that would piss me the fuck off, Rylen!" fr\eewebno vel .c(o)m

Rylen flinched slightly. Caius was angry—he usually didn’t call Rylen by his name without his title in public. "I apologize, Your Grace, but His Majesty insisted that it was imperative he sees you today."

Caius turned away and continued walking without saying another word, while Rylen trailed after him. He reached the front of the throne room, and the mahogany doors opened. The doors were at least twice his height, and a guard held one side open.

As soon as the door opened to reveal him, activities inside the throne room ceased, and the King lifted his head from the scroll one of his advisors held. "Leave us," he said, his raspy voice carrying across the room.

The advisor bowed and rushed down the stairs. He bowed to the crown prince, offering his respect, before walking past him. Caius faced his father, standing at the bottom of the stairs while his father sat on his throne.

The physician stood beside the King and he bowed to the crown prince. "Your Highness."

"Your Majesty," Rylen said, bowing as low as possible.

"Rylen," King Gaius grinned and turned his attention to his son, but Caius stood rooted to the spot, locking eyes with his father. f\ree webn ovel(.)com

"Leave us," King Gaius said to the physician.

"But Your Majesty, your health is—"

"It will only be for a few moments. To think I will die before then is insulting." King Gaius shot a look at his physician.

The poor man bowed twice. "I am so sorry, Your Majesty. That’s not what I meant. I will be right outside. Please send for me as soon as I am needed," he said, bowing again before rushing out of the throne room.

King Gaius Ravenor was visibly sick. His face was pale and sunken, and his clothes looked a little too big on him. The crown on his head was tilted, and he rested awkwardly on the throne.

"What is this about, Your Majesty?" Caius asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he addressed his father.

Caius shared a resemblance with his father. They had the same black hair, deep brown eyes, hooded eyes, and thick brows but right now none of that was noticeable. The King just looked sick.

King Gaius narrowed his eyes. "You haven’t seen me in nearly a month, and this is the first thing you say."

Caius didn’t respond to this. He just looked at the King with a bored expression on his face. Rylen, on the other hand, looked to be at a loss. He glanced from father to son, deciding there was nothing he could do about the situation, and kept his lips shut.

"What’s this I hear about you bringing one of your many whores into my castle?" King Gaius asked.

Caius didn’t respond to this either. He just rested a hand on the hilt of the sword attached to his waist.

"Answer me!" King Gaius said angrily, then burst into a fit of coughs.

"Your Majesty," Rylen called, rushing forward. Caius didn’t move an inch.

King Gaius held out a hand, stopping Rylen. "It’s only a cough," he said.

Rylen was reluctant to step back, but when the King stopped coughing, he returned to his position beside Caius.

"If it bothers you so much, I don’t have to stay here," Caius replied when it was quiet again.

King Gaius looked like he would attack his son if he could. "The Crown Prince stays in Velmount Palace. You are not allowed to live elsewhere."

"I thought you’d say that. Are we done here then, Father?"

"Get rid of her."

"No," Caius replied without hesitation.

King Gaius’s right hand clenched into a fist, shaking slightly. "Get rid of her!"

"No, Your Majesty. Saying it another time won’t change my mind."

"You—" King Gaius pointed and burst into another round of coughs.

The sound echoed in the hall, loud enough to shake the pillars. King Gaius gripped the armrest as the coughs forced their way out of him, the veins on his neck bulged, ready to burst. Rylen rushed up the stairs to help just as the door burst open.

"Your Majesty," the physician and one of his advisors rushed inside.

Rylen stepped aside for them to do what they needed, while Caius slowly turned around and started walking away.

"Don’t you dare leave!" King Gaius called out to his son while gasping for breath.

"I don’t think you’re in any position to talk, Father. You should take care of your health," Caius said and continued walking toward the door.

Rylen looked from the King to the Prince. He knew he couldn’t do anything for the King and decided to go after the Crown Prince. He walked a step behind him as they stepped out of the throne room.

Caius’s grip on his hilt was tight. No sooner were the doors to the throne room shut than Caius turned around and threw a punch straight at Rylen. The latter was frozen and could only stare, but Caius didn’t hit him. Instead, he punched the wall.

A gasp echoed in the hallway from the guards, and they immediately pretended they hadn’t seen what just happened.

"Never do that again!" Caius said, enunciating each word. He slowly pulled his bloodied hand from the wall, completely unfazed. There was a dent in the wall, even though it was made of pure granite.

Rylen leaned against the wall, still in shock. He didn’t know the extent of what the King had done to his son. Caius didn’t like to talk about it, but Rylen had hoped the crown prince’s hatred for his father would thaw as time went by. Instead, it only seemed to have gotten worse.

Caius turned away, and as he was leaving, he said, "Get her to my chambers now."

Prince Rylen slowly bowed to Caius’s retreating back and gestured toward a guard. "Get Rose."