Chapter 90: It’s About Rose
Caius didn’t miss the way Henry entered the dining room. He had his head bent and he seemed more anxious than usual as he looked around the dining room. However, he didn’t approach the table and just stood in the corner while Caius ate.
Caius narrowed his gaze at Henry suspiciously. It wasn’t unusual for the steward to leave the dining room during mealtimes. He was in charge of the castle and more often than not, his attention was required elsewhere, so having a servant come call for him was nothing out of the ordinary—but for some reason, this time felt a little different.
Caius wiped his lips and placed the dirty napkin on the table just as his mother let out a gasp. Caius did his best to maintain a neutral expression, even though he knew what she would say would likely irk him.
"Don’t tell me you’re done eating," she said in that high-pitched voice he couldn’t stand. "You haven’t been eating well, Caius. I fear you might lose weight."
Caius scoffed and rose to his feet. Rose had left the castle without a single trace, and somehow his mother hadn’t said a single word about the incident, even though everyone in the castle knew about it. He knew his mother didn’t care for Rose, but her indifference was a bit unusual for someone as nosy as she was. No theories, no questions, no gossiping. It was odd, to say the least.
Not only was it odd, but she didn’t seem very bothered that the castle’s security was in such a bad state. His mother would have had all the guards on duty lined up and interrogated, but she had done none of that. She didn’t even seem interested in the matter; all she spoke about was Caius getting someone else.
This part bothered Caius the most. She wasn’t the type to outrightly support his shenanigans. She never scolded him for them, but she wasn’t supportive either. The fact that it seemed like she was encouraging him was out of place, and it gave him something to think about.
Rose had left the castle, and he was certain she had help. It was the only explanation. All the guards who had been away from their posts at the time had irregularities in their stories. Someone had told them someone else was in their post. Who that person was seemed to remain a mystery.
His mother wasn’t the only one he suspected. He was almost certain his father had something to do with this. Almost nothing happened in the castle without the king’s knowledge; therefore, he certainly knew something of Rose’s disappearance. However, to go this far—all the more reason why he must get her back. Whatever the cost might be.
Caius wouldn’t confront his father. There was no need to do that. Besides, the conversation would most likely go south with Caius feeling even more frustrated, he couldn’t allow that to happen. He was certain he would be able to find her himself, it was just taking longer due to a mishap on his part.