The King's Lover Chapter 533: Getting Her Maids

A knock at the door made Rose pause, brush in hand, as she stood before her vanity. Setting the brush gently atop the dresser, she opened the ornate golden box before her.

She placed the crown upon her head and slid the signet ring onto her gloved finger. A final glance in the mirror confirmed her regal appearance, fitting for the queen she was.

With chin held high, she strode towards the door and pulled it open, finding herself face-to-torso with a towering man.

"Your Majesty," he rumbled, bowing. Even then, she had to crane her neck to meet his gaze. "You summoned me."

"Indeed," Rose replied, stepping past him. "I require your escort to the servants' quarters. I need to retrieve my maids."

"As you command," Maximus responded, falling into step behind her.

He offered no questions, just as Rose had anticipated. While she had considered handling this herself, Maximus's presence would undoubtedly expedite matters, and more importantly, she wished to avoid involving the King.

This meant the task had to be completed before breakfast commenced. Rose had no inkling of the situation's nature, yet a strong premonition suggested she would find it disagreeable.

Grasping the hem of her skirt, she descended the stairs with haste. Rose made her way towards the servants' quarters, a familiar route she could navigate even in darkness, having found herself there on numerous occasions previously. However, circumstances were decidedly different now.

Servants scattered and bowed as she advanced; their deference was evident, but the whispers that followed her passage were unmistakable. Rose refrained from inquiries until she reached the servants' area.

It remained unchanged from her last visit. Lacking the splendor of the main castle, it seemed an awkward addition attached to the castle's sides. The walls were a stark contrast—darker, narrower—and the ceilings noticeably lower.

Servants regarded her with curious glances as they continued their tasks, none daring to show disrespect. Yet, Rose perceived no respect in their eyes, only a palpable fear, which she attributed to Maximus's influence.

"You there," Rose called out, halting a maid who was hurrying past with a basket of laundry.

"Y-yes, Your Highness?" the maid stammered.

Rose found the maid vaguely familiar. "You know Chelsy and Isla, don't you? Where might they be?"

"I... I do not know," the maid mumbled, her voice trembling as if on the brink of tears.

A frown creased Rose's brow. Welma had given the same response, and she suspected the rest of the maids would offer similar denials, especially given their wary expressions. Beneath their apprehension, contempt simmered.

"And where is Madame Edith?" Rose shifted her line of questioning.

The maid hesitated briefly before murmuring, "The Royal kitchen. M-may I be excused?"

"You may," Rose granted, and the maid fled. A sudden recollection surfaced: the maid was one of Martha’s former associates, though it was a trivial detail now; Martha had ceased to be a concern long ago.

"Do you know the location of the kitchen?"

Rose looked up, surprised by Maximus's query. It was unusual for him to take the initiative and ask a question, especially one of this nature.

"Yes, I am familiar with the castle grounds," she replied. Though she had never personally visited the Royal kitchen, Rose knew its general whereabouts.

Turning, Rose proceeded down the corridor, causing a ripple of startled maids to scatter—a reaction she ignored. Her maids were missing, and none were willing to provide her with any answers. It was clear they all understood the reason for her presence.

The Royal kitchen, situated near the servants' quarters but distinct from them, occupied its own dedicated wing. It served not only as the cooking area but also encompassed the castle's pantry and provisions storage.

A distinct aroma reached Rose before she even glimpsed the dark, imposing door that granted access to the kitchen. It was uncertain whether the door had always been black or if years of smoke and soot had irrevocably stained it. No amount of cleaning could possibly remove such ingrained grime.

The door swung open abruptly, and a servant stumbled out, nearly losing their balance upon seeing Rose and Maximus.

"What business do you have here?" a stern voice boomed from within the vast kitchen.

Rose recognized the voice with a jolt, surprised. She hadn't heard it in a considerable time. "I believe you would address me with more courtesy than that," Rose retorted, stepping into the kitchen.

The air inside was thick with heat and swirling smoke. The space was immense, far larger than the dining hall often utilized for gatherings. Rose realized she had never set foot in the Royal kitchen before.

Cooks toiled diligently over stoves, each fitted with pots large enough to hold a child; three such enormous vessels steamed concurrently. Servants bustled about under the watchful eye of Madame Edith, who directed the entire operation.

Standing near the entrance, Madame Edith spotted Rose immediately but did not acknowledge Maximus. As she prepared to speak, Maximus entered the space alongside Rose. Even within the expansive kitchen, the giant's imposing presence seemed to command the entire area.

Madame Edith immediately offered a bow, and every servant followed suit. Rose, however, knit her brows. A flicker of irritation crossed her features, though she recognized it was an expected reaction. While she possessed the authority to command without Maximus present, she anticipated facing resistance and needing to assert her will forcefully.

The weight of the crown signified their obligation to obey, yet their willingness to do so was another matter entirely. This was a distinction she desperately hoped would soon blur.

For the moment, her reign as queen was merely acknowledged in whispers, not proclaimed. The King had yet to issue any formal decree, and Rose fully grasped the precariousness of her current standing.

"I have no intention of consuming your valuable time or disrupting your ongoing affairs. My sole purpose here is to retrieve my maids. Where are they?"

"Your maids? I have no recollection of you possessing any maids."

Rose lightly touched her temple, a gesture of forbearance she was determined to maintain. The upper hand was undeniably hers in this situation, a fact they both understood. "Chelsy and Isla. They have attended to me each morning. It strains credulity to believe you are unaware of their existence."

"I am indeed aware, yet I possess no knowledge of their current whereabouts."

Fixing her gaze upon the elder woman, Rose declared, "I find it exceedingly improbable that you are merely incompetent." Her stare was direct and unwavering.

As Maximus took a step forward, Madame Edith instinctively retreated. "I-I-I believe they may have incurred the Queen's displeasure. They damaged her gowns during the laundering process, and consequently, she had them confined to the dungeons."

"When did this occur?!"

"Last night."