The King’s Lover

"Lord Paul, would it be rude of me to ask why you're embarking on this journey with us?"

Rose tried to phrase her words carefully. Regardless of how casually Lord Paul spoke to her, she had to remember he was still a noble and an important figure in Velmount. He was not to be spoken to lightly. It was also not a secret that he was close to the crown prince.

Lord Paul turned to look at Rose. His expression didn't change much as he stared at her, and Rose kept her gaze on the bread she held.

The horses were grazing not far off from them, and Rose couldn't help but wonder how they ate the frozen grass. The other men found a stump of a dead tree to sit on while Thomas roamed as though he were on duty.

"Well, it would be strange if I didn't tell you considering I am here because of you," Paul explained.

"Because of me?" Rose asked with wide eyes. She held the bread tighter. "I don't think I am so ill that your Lordship himself has to come with me."

Lord Paul laughed. "I can't tell if you really don't know or you're finding it hard to believe. His Highness wants me to take a look at your mother and do whatever I can for her. But…" Lord Paul immediately added, silencing the look of joy on Rose's face.

"I don't think I can do much for her. According to what I heard, she has been sick for a very long time," Paul said.

Rose tried not to squeeze the bread as she slowly nodded her head. "Yes, since she birthed me."

"I see, I am sorry," Lord Paul said.

Rose shrugged, trying her best to make it look easier than it really was. She didn't like to tie her birth to her mother's illness, as her mother would scold her about it, but Rose knew. Even if she wasn't the direct cause of her mother's illness, birthing her had worsened it.

"Thank you for coming with me," she replied in response.

"Don't thank me," Lord Paul said and grabbed onto the edge of his hat. "It wasn't my idea. If it were up to me, I wouldn't be here. His Highness's health is far more important to me than anything else. Unfortunately, I also cannot go against his orders. However, as soon as I confirm that there is truly nothing I can do for your mother, I will leave Edenville."

She was already cold, but she couldn't help but shiver even more at his words. She understood what he meant. The crown prince was currently poisoned; his best physician shouldn't be going on a journey with her to another part of the kingdom.

"I understand," Rose whispered.

It was not a thought she liked to think often, but her mother had been in so much pain for years. Acting tough even though she spent most of her later years bedridden. Maybe there would be less pain on the other side.

"Would His Majesty be well?" Rose heard herself ask. She didn't think she had any right to ask this, but Lord Paul wasn't looking at her as though this was her fault.

Lord Paul sighed. "I truly do not know, but all our heads would come flying off if he didn't, so I have no choice but to hope that he will. Which is why asking me to do this is beyond dangerous, as he is still very poisoned. But I can't go against His Highness's orders. You might want to eat your bread quickly. Thomas is walking this way."

Rose turned her head in the direction of the footsteps as she shoved the last of the bread into her mouth. She wasn't particularly hungry, but she didn't want to keep riding on an empty stomach. She opened the waterskin and was still drinking from it when Thomas appeared in front of them.

"Let's go," he said with a gruff voice.

Rose nodded and handed the waterskin back to him.

"Keep it," he said.

She didn't protest, just kept it in her bag so it was easier to carry around. If she were thirsty during the ride, she could just drink instead of calling his attention.

Rose lifted her hands and blew warm breath against her gloved fingers, not that it made much difference. But the cold was bearable, and she knew she would be able to manage until Stonegate. If it got colder, however, she might freeze to death.

Suddenly, Thomas shot Lord Paul a look, and the older man shrank, almost taking a step back. Thomas wasn't looking at his face; rather, he was looking at the coat the older man wore. Paul's expression immediately paled as he realized.

He looked torn, but at the same time, it would be embarrassing if he didn't offer Rose his coat after scolding Thomas about his rude behavior while he himself was being unchivalrous.

He sighed and slowly took his coat off. "Here," he said and handed it to Rose. "You need this more than I do."

Rose was shocked, and it was a little unexpected. She found it hard to believe that the man who had been annoyed that he wasn't by the crown prince's side was giving her his coat. However, she was too cold to decline.

"Thank you," she said as she graciously accepted.

Lord Paul didn't look too happy doing away with his coat, but he gave her a polite smile and said, "You're welcome."

"Move," Thomas yelled.

"Right away," Rose said as she rushed towards her horse. The other men were already seated and looked ready to leave.

She slipped into the coat, which was several sizes too big, but it was warm. After folding the sleeves, she got onto her horse while Thomas glared at her the whole time.

After he was certain she wouldn't fall off, he pulled on his horse's reins and led them back onto the path. Rose rode after Thomas, Paul rode next to her, and the men rode behind her. Together they headed for Stonegate.