The King's Lover Chapter 555: Your Wife

A loud knock echoed and the throne room went silent. Lord Charles stood in front of the throne, halfway through his report, but he stopped to look at the door.

"See who is at the door," Caius said without hesitation. If he had to sit through another report, he was likely to lose his mind.

Maximus bowed and marched towards the door. The lords exchanged glances, wondering who would dare interrupt.

"Shall I continue, Your Majesty?" Lord Charles asked.

"No," Caius replied without looking at him.

Part of him prayed that Rose needed him. He would excuse himself and put Rylen in charge. He would much rather hear the summary later.

The doors opened, and Delan’s brown hair caught his eye. His eyes were wide, and his body language was frantic as he whispered to Maximus.

Maximus nodded and turned to Caius, bowing. "Please excuse me, Your Majesty."

"What is going on?" he asked, standing up.

Maximus seemed about to take care of the issue without him. As if he would allow that. Delan wasn’t allowed to leave his wife’s side. If he was here, something was wrong.

"Well, Your Majesty." Maximus looked uncomfortable.

Caius ground his teeth. Nothing ever made Maximus nervous to speak to him. The giant was a fearsome man who faced death without flinching, yet there was something that could make him uneasy.

"Prince Rylen, do carry on. Lord Charles, continue."

"Ah." He looked ready to protest but decided against it when he saw the King’s expression.

Caius didn’t hear the whispers as he walked out with Thomas next to him. All he could hear was the churning of his thoughts. Was Rose alright? Was the baby alright?

"What is going on?" he asked over the sound of the guards closing the door.

Maximus stepped forward while Delan stood fearfully behind him. He locked his gaze on the floor, shuffling on his feet. Caius didn’t like the twisting feeling in his chest. Whatever it was, it must be bad.

"Her Majesty has been thrown into the dungeons."

Caius blinked twice, his brows furrowing. He was certain he must have heard wrong. "What did you say?"

"Her Majesty has been thrown into the dungeons," Maximus repeated.

"My mother?" he asked, despite knowing otherwise.

Caius didn’t want to believe that his mother threw his pregnant wife into the dungeons. However, he didn’t have to ask who had done it. There was only one person capable of daring something like this.

"No, Your Majesty. Your wife."

He was walking before Maximus even finished his sentence. "Why?"

"According to Delan, there was an altercation between them and a fight broke out. Well, your mother slapped your wife, and she retaliated. Then your mother called the guards on her."

"And they dared take her to the dungeons?!" Caius stopped in his tracks, turning around to look at Delan.

The young guard wanted the ground to open and swallow him. He hated being the one to bring the news, but he knew he would be punished worse if he didn’t let the King know as soon as it happened.

"Y-yes," he shakily replied.

Caius adjusted the mantle on his shoulders as he tried to control his emotions. His pregnant wife was in the dark, dank dungeons like a common prisoner.

He knew his mother was getting out of hand, but he never thought she would go so far as to assault his pregnant wife. Her own grandchild.

He gritted his teeth as they drew closer to the dungeon. Guards stood rigidly around the path. At first, it seemed like they were blocking the way, but as soon as Caius appeared, they scattered.

He walked down the winding, creaking stairs. Halfway down, he could make out his wife in the corner of one of the cells, seated on the floor with her hand on her stomach.

Her crown was gone, and her hair was a mess. Her cream-colored dress was dirty and ripped in several places. Dust stained her face, and there was a cut in the corner of her lip.

Caius felt his body grow hot as if he had been dipped in boiling water.

"Your Majesty," the guard yelled out as he stopped pacing.

He bowed low, and before getting an order from the King, he scrambled for the keys and rushed towards the cell to open it.

"What is the meaning of this?" Caius’s voice thundered in the dark space.

Rose slowly lifted her head, and tears made her eyes glassy. "Your Majesty," she said and tried to stand to her feet but failed.

"Don’t move. I will come get you out myself."

She nodded and sat back down, resting her back on the wall. Caius’s palms closed, and he could feel his skin hum. He could not believe his mother.

The guard’s fingers shook as he unlocked the cell, and fear made him move slower. The King was glaring right at him, and he knew the smallest move could lead to his death.

As soon as the door unlocked, he stepped away from the cell and backed slowly towards the wall, hoping he could blend into the darkness.

Caius marched into the cell and scooped her into his arms, not caring that his mantle rubbed against the dirty floor.

"Your Majesty," she whispered weakly as she leaned against him.

"I am sorry," he said. "I never thought she would go this far."

He wasn’t oblivious to her attacks towards Rose; he just always thought it would never be more than verbal.

"Are you hurt anywhere else?"

She shook her head as she clung to him, her body slightly shaking in his arms. He carried her up the stairs while Maximus and Thomas held heavy expressions.

"Where is your crown?" he asked.

"She took it when she said she would make sure I get executed."

Caius swore. "I can’t believe she would do this."

"I didn’t mean to hit her back," Rose whispered and coughed. "I was just worried she would attack the baby, and I couldn’t just stand there when she called our child an insult."

Rose sniffled, hiding her face against his chest. He held her tighter, ignoring the dirt and dust she got all over him.

"You have nothing to apologize for. Maximus," he called as he got to the top of the stairs.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Get my wife’s crown back and get my mother out of the castle. Make sure she gets to Castle Catherine tonight."

Maximus raised a brow, but he didn’t say anything and marched to do the King’s orders. Caius watched him go with a dark look in his eyes. He should have done this long ago.