Chapter 288: To The Estate
Rose rode the horse through the field, and after some riding, she came back into the residential part of the town. She could see houses again and pressed on, urging the horse to go as fast as it could.
She still had quite a while to go before she could get Caius to the estate, and she was deeply worried they wouldn’t make it in time. The crown prince was tied to the back of the horse, flailing with every movement while also still bleeding. Rose was sure this position was uncomfortable, but right now, his discomfort was the least thing to worry about.
Rose was incredibly worried about the poison, and she knew him being unconscious wasn’t a good thing. She had to get him to the estate as fast as she could and hopefully, they would be able to save him.
She heard gasps as she rode through the streets. People pointed, and more people stepped out as she passed in front of their houses. Rose didn’t slow down, didn’t glance at them—just headed straight on, glad that the road was mostly empty enough for her to maneuver the horse through.
"Get out of the way!" she yelled as she turned around the corner to see a rider who had stopped right in the middle of the road. He was speaking to a man who stood beside the horse and was pointing in the direction she came from.
He lifted his head, looking offended, and Rose realized he wasn’t alone—but that wasn’t the problem. She was forced to stop her horse when they wouldn’t get out of the way.
"Blast it!" Rose screamed, wincing at the pain in her shoulder as she pulled on the reins too hard.
"Rose," she heard an agitated voice in the midst of the men on horses, and that was when she realized she might have run into the crown prince’s men.
"Thomas!" she cried, and he rode his horse towards her, the men moving out of the way to let him through.
"What happened? We have been trying to find you and the—" He tilted his head, noticing what was behind Rose.
"The crown prince, poisoned..." Rose frowned as she realized her vision was blurry, and she couldn’t speak more even if she tried.
Her grip on the reins loosened, and she felt herself start to slip off the horse. Rose internally swore—she was going to fall, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. At least, she got the prince to safety.