The King's Lover
Chapter 36: The Dungeon.

Chapter 36: The Dungeon.

Martha didn’t leave immediately. She said a few other distasteful words and called Rose names. When she was finally satisfied, and she saw that Rose would neither beg nor indulge her, she turned around and left.

Rose lay on her side, protecting both her back and her side that had been kicked. At this point, she was wondering if she should have just let the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting strip her naked, as she wouldn’t have had to go through this if she had just walked without any clothes to her room.

Could she make a request? However, she doubted a mere servant could call on a steward, and Mister Henry was the only other person who knew that was at least low enough for her to call upon. There was no way she could request for Prince Rylen let alone the crown prince.

Rose couldn’t help but find it a bit odd that Martha had this much power to throw her in the dungeons. At least one of the heads would have been involved — or was she that hated?

She could blame the guards; the proof was right there on the bed. Even Edna didn’t believe her when she said the crown prince gave it to her. The crown prince should have just let her continue on her journey with her ripped dress. It was his fault.

Rose sought sleep, but it was far from her. At least she could find some solace in her dreams, but even that didn’t want to give her peace. How long would they leave her here, and how long before anyone who could do something about it would notice? Rose didn’t know, but maybe if she stayed here, she would be free from the crown prince.

This almost seemed better than what had transpired this afternoon. She shut her eyes. Why couldn’t she fall asleep? She thought as tears ran down her face. She didn’t want to think about all these thoughts.

"Hey!" the same old man called to her.

Rose didn’t like that his cell was right next to hers. There were at least a dozen cells, and she had to be locked next to a creep. There was someone in the cell with the man, but he just stayed in the corner with a hood over his head.

Rose ignored the creep and kept lying down until she felt a hand try to grip her leg. Rose had never moved away so fast. She rushed to the other side of the cell, not caring about the pain that burned through her body at the sudden movement.

The man smiled at her, and Rose wanted to throw up. She buried her head in her legs as she whispered over and over again, "Let me out of ’ere, please. I promise I didn’t steal anyt’ing."

Rose must have dozed off because she woke up to a loud noise as someone rushed down the stairs, pulling a screaming girl. Rose was startled awake, cleaning her face streaked with tears as she tried to figure out what was happening.

She wasn’t the only one who was shocked. The warden stood up from his table with the little lamp. It was the only source of light in the whole dungeon. Even though it was bright as can be outside, the dungeons were darker than night. The men in the next cell also looked up, and Rose slowly stood to her feet. As much as she was curious, her feet didn’t move closer to the bars.

After what seemed like an eternity of screaming, someone appeared at the bottom of the stairs. It was Mister Henry, and the screaming lady was Martha. She had good reason to scream too, as Mister Henry had a locked grip on her earlobe and he pulled her down the stairs with it.

"Where is she?" Mister Henry asked when he got to the bottom of the stairs.

"Steward," the warden said with a smile. "We don’t see you around these parts often."

"I don’t have time for this. Where is she? The young woman my stupid niece brought here!" Henry pulled her ear again as he asked this question, and Martha started another round of screaming.

"Would you shut up?" he yelled right at her. "Best pray His Highness doesn’t find out about what you just did! Now answer me, warden, where is she?"

"Mister ’enry," Rose called as she stepped forward. The back of the dungeon was dark; anyone just stepping in would have trouble finding her.

"Rose!" Mister Henry cried and rushed towards her, dragging his niece by her ear.

"I heard what happened," he said with a bow. "Please forgive my niece. She is an idiot and— and..." Mister Henry stuttered.

Rose didn’t think she had ever seen him this bothered. He even went as far as to bow to her. Rose thought that was a little too much, even if his niece had done something wrong. He was bowing to her — a mere whore.

"She stole the crown prince’s co—"

"Shut your mouth!" Henry yelled and yanked down the hand holding her earlobe.

Martha screamed and tried to break free, but her uncle was quite strong. "How can you pull my ear for a whore? Why are you begging a thief?"

"Let her out!" Henry yelled to the warden.

"I am not letting a thief out," the warden retorted. f r\eew,eb novel.c(o)(m)

Henry raised his head and glared at the warden. "Then I suppose you don’t mind explaining to the crown prince why you won’t let her out."

"Yes, she stole from him!"

"Are you sure, or did my niece here tell you that? Do you think anyone would be insane enough to steal from the crown prince? And even if they did, why in the goddess’ name would it be a coat? Wouldn’t it be something more valuable? Now let her out this instant."

The warden looked very confused, but he could clearly see the panicked look on the steward’s face and the way he kept brutally pulling on his niece’s ear. The girl was weeping and trying to break free, but her uncle wouldn’t let go.

Though with a little hesitation, the warden finally stepped forward and took the key from his waistband to unlock the door. He slowly opened it, letting Rose out. She stumbled out, almost falling forward as she walked out.