Chapter 44: Alone With Him Again
The doors opened wide, held by two guards on both sides. The steward walked into the room first, and shortly thereafter, the crown prince walked right in, and behind him were a few servants. The steward was saying something to the crown prince as they walked into the room.
As soon as all of them were in the room, the guards quickly closed the door. The sound of the door closing snapped Rose out of the fear she felt, the one that made her stomach twist so hard, she thought she might buckle over. She was almost grateful she didn’t finish her dinner.
It was hard to snap out of the terror she felt, but she had to pay her respects. She couldn’t dare anger the crown prince before they even began. She hadn’t even thanked him for the coat. She would have to find an opportunity to do that. She didn’t want him to think she was ungrateful. She bent her knees and bowed her head as she stood in the corner. She didn’t open her mouth to speak. She knew better.
"Leave us," the crown prince said.
"Your Highness," Henry started to say. "Your bath has been prepared and here are your robes." A servant walked forward with it.
Caius didn’t say anything, merely lifting a brow, and the servant placed the robe at the edge of the bed and they all dispersed immediately. Rose grabbed the hem of her dress and squeezed — she was once again all alone with him.
Caius took a step towards her and Rose had to fight the urge not to run away. He stopped right in front of her and said, "Lift your head."
Rose looked left and right before slowly lifting her head and she was met with brown eyes. For a moment, she forgot who she was dealing with until he stretched out his hand to touch her and she flinched. Caius didn’t withdraw his hand; rather, he moved past her face to her hair. He lightly touched it before pulling his hand away.
"Take your clothes off and lie on your back," he said and started walking away.
Rose nodded even if he couldn’t see her. She slowly walked to the bed, unable to help the dejected look on her face. She had done this before. It wouldn’t be so hard to do now. She would just lie still and when he was done, she would go back to her room and get some sleep. There was nothing to think about. She just had to bear it for a little bit. She would be fine.
Rose chanted this in her head over and over again as she slowly took off her clothes. At least he wasn’t ripping them this time, and she wouldn’t need to worry about what she would wear back to her room. Rose folded the clothes, far away from the bed, but close to the door. She could wear them and then be on her way. The events from the room buried deep in the recesses of her mind.