The King's Lover-Chapter 525: Surreal

When she finally pulled away from Caius, Rose turned to see all the men bowing to her, including the priest. She could tell they were bowing to her, not to the King. She was Queen now, and the men in this room were acknowledging it.

"Your Majesty," they chorused.

Rose didn’t know how to react. It couldn’t be that easy for her to marry the King and for them to accept it without putting up a fight. However, she knew it was not. They were Caius’s closest allies. They would have much bigger problems to deal with very soon.

Rose smiled at them as they slowly lifted their heads. She fought back the urge to curtsy. She was Queen, which meant the only person she had to bow to was the King.

Rose hung close to Caius, and he let her rest her palm around his elbow. Caius placed his other palm on her hand that held him, holding her to himself.

She looked up at Caius, and he smiled at her with a look of pride on his face, but Rose was sure no one was prouder. It felt too surreal, and she feared the smallest actions would ruin this and she would wake up to find out that it was all a dream.

"Prince Rylen," Caius called suddenly.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

Rylen lifted his gaze to look at Caius. Rose couldn’t help but think he didn’t seem his usual self. However, how could he, when he had easily betrayed not just the King but his own cousin?

Rose suddenly felt queasy, her thoughts and her gaze drifting. Her appearance was sure to change and trigger a lot of things. She wondered how Caira, or worse, the Queen, would react to this.

Caius squeezed her hand as though he could sense her doubting thoughts. She lifted her head to look at him, but he was giving Rylen strict instructions.

"...I expect you to take care of things."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Caius didn’t say anything immediately. Rather, he stared at Rylen for a moment, an unreadable emotion passing between them, before he turned away with Rose in his arms, leading her to the exit.

Maximus bowed and stepped out of the way for them to pass, then he walked behind them, keeping a few feet of space between them.

"What about my cloak?" Rose mumbled as she looked back at Maximus, who still held it but made no attempt to give it to her.

"You don’t need it," Caius said without stopping, then looked down at her. "You don’t need it," he repeated, as though he wanted her to hear him clearly.

Rose looked at him, but it was a little hard not to feel self-conscious. What if they ran into the Queen? However, he was walking with so much confidence with her in his arms. Why would she feel any different?

"Okay, Your Majesty," Rose called.

Caius scrunched his nose as she called him by his title, but he didn’t say anything more.

The walk felt longer than it needed to, and her head felt heavy, but Rose knew it wasn’t because of her crown. She was just self-conscious of everything.

Eventually, they got to the door of her room, and Caius led her in, but not before she accepted the cloak and golden box that held her crown and the signet ring.

Maximus bowed to her one last time before he turned away, and she shut the door. Only then could Rose breathe easy. They were in the confines of her room, and it felt safer here.

However, she wondered if it was because she was so used to her cage that freedom felt heavy. It would be easier to sit in this room than face all the nobles she would have to go against, starting with the Queen.

I can’t remain here. It will be unfair to myself.

"What are you thinking about?" Caius asked as she stood by the door with a tentative expression.

Rose sighed and walked forward, past Caius, and to her dresser. She placed the cloak on the back of the chair and set the golden box on her dresser.

"What comes next," she said with a sigh.

Rose opened the box and took off her circlet, just as Caius appeared behind her. He leaned into her and wrapped his arms around her body. She stared hard at it, she couldn’t believe he could easily give her something that once belonged to his grandmother.

"What about it?" Caius asked as he leaned in.

Rose carefully placed the circlet in the box and sighed. "You know," she whispered and pulled unnecessarily hard at the signet ring.

"I know, my dearest," he said, purring. "But you have nothing to worry about, and I mean it this time. Leave everything to me." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

He moved his arms around her body, and Rose found his words tempting. She knew she believed him; however, her experience told her otherwise.

"Shall I help you take off your clothes?" He suddenly changed the subject.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty?" Caius called with disappointment. "You still won’t call me your husband, wife?"

Rose chuckled. She couldn’t help it. It was even funnier because she knew he was serious. She placed the signet ring in the box before closing it, then she turned around and faced him.

"Would you be so kind as to help me out of my dress, my husband?" Rose asked with what she hoped was a serious face, even though she was fighting the urge to laugh.

"Of course," Caius replied. "Nothing will please me more."

The words were barely out of his mouth when he leaned in for a kiss. Rose wrapped her arms around his neck, and he pulled her against himself as close as the dress would allow.

She ran her fingers through his hair as they kissed, and Caius held her close as though nothing in this world could take her away from him. It was easy to melt in his arms; they felt reassuring, and Rose could immediately feel all her worries melt away.

When they broke apart, Rose was flushed, and her cheeks were red. Caius looked ready to rip her dress away, his eyes blazing with desire.

"The dress," Rose said, and Caius grinned.

"I can’t wait to take it off."

Rose tried not to giggle. She could already tell what he was thinking about. She turned around once again, and he carefully undid the ribbons that held the dress in place. It easily fell off her shoulders and pooled at her feet.

When the heavy dress fell to the ground, Rose stepped out of it. She was left in only her chemise, her heeled shoes, stockings, and garters.

She stepped out of the dress that pooled at her feet and attempted to walk away from Caius, but he grabbed her and pulled her closer, trapping her with an arm around her waist.

"Just where do you think you’re going?" he asked.

"To the wardrobe," she replied, mimicking his teasing voice as she held his gaze.

"What for?"

"I can’t sleep in this, Your Majesty. I have to change into my nightdress."

"Again with the title."

Is that a pout?

Rose knew it would be improper to laugh. "Would my husband let me put on my nightdress?"

Rose didn’t like the way her face felt warm. It was a bit embarrassing to call him that while he stared right at her face. However, his pleased reaction dampened her embarrassment.

"Why?" he drawled, purring again. "Shouldn’t we consummate our union?"

"Has a nightdress stopped you before, husband?" Rose asked with a smirk.

Caius swore as his hand moved from her waist to her rear. "No," he replied, sounding deeper than usual.

"That’s what I thought," she grinned and pulled away from him.

Caius let go of her, but he wouldn’t stop watching her. And because she knew he was watching, Rose couldn’t stop the exaggerated movements she made with her hips, swaying from side to side, knowing that his gaze was on her.

She stopped in front of the wardrobe and turned around to look at him. A smile tugged on his lips, and his arms folded as he just stood watching her.

Rose leaned forward slightly and lifted one of her legs to take off her shoes, then the other. Then she slowly undid the garters that held her stockings up and let them roll off her legs as seductively as possible.

Caius adjusted himself as he stood, and Rose knew she could only get away with this play because there was distance between them. She opened the wardrobe and picked a nightdress.

She took it off and had only just managed to put it over her head when Caius marched towards her.

"Are you testing my patience?" he asked as he stepped up to her.

Rose smirked. "I wouldn’t dare," she said.

She took a step closer to him and stretched out her hand to his forehead. She took off his circlet and, smiling at him, asked, "Shall I help you out of your clothes this time, husband?"