"I was in the company of lady Andrea but she decided to change her mind about going with me."
"So you will go back to Dawson's on foot." His words came sarcastically and Rose wanted to glare at him but she tried to control it and the king who saw it smiled internally. Lucas had read her little action while at the celebration and though they were subtle, he did not miss it. It was like she had a lot that she wanted to say but she chose to stay quiet because it would cost her head if she talked back to the lady who she was supposed to serve.
"It's not like I have a choice." Roselyne muttered under her breath but with his hearing ability, he clearly heard what she said.
"Careful with what you say little lady you wouldn't want to lose your pretty tongue now, would you."Though his words were calm, there was was an underlaying threat that Roselyne did not fail to catch.
"I'm sorry your highness, I did not..."
"Sometimes it's better to say nothing if you don't want to end up in trouble but don't worry you can speak what is in your mind out in my presence." He interrupted her. His dry hair was now wet because it was still raining and so we're his clothes which had started to darken because of the water droplets.
Says the man who was threatening to have her tongue cut. She thought but as if the king had read her thoughts, he added.
"Don't worry, I won't cut your tongue. At least not yet. Get into the carriage."
Roselyne wanted to say no but with the way he was looking at her, she ended up getting into the carriage without being told twice.
The carriage interior was way beyond her expectations. It was spacious enough to carry four people and Rose chose to sit at the far end while staring at nothing in particular through the window.
When the carriage started moving, she quickly turned to look at the king who was comfortably sitting at the other end.
"Your highness, I want to go back to the mansion."
The man did not turn to reply to her and instead chose to ignore her question which continued to increase Rose's uneasiness. It seemed like ignorance from people of the higher Society was literally everywhere she thought as she pursed her lips and only hoped that she would not end up dead just like her parents.
Throughout the whole journey, none of the two people in the carriage spoke. Rose had turned back to stare at the trees that they kept on passing through the window and so was the king. She had never ridden in such a fancy carriage and the mere thought that she would make it dirty made her sit at the edge of the seat and the king who had seen it through her reflection on the window did not bother to comment on it.
Upon reaching the palace, the king was the first one to get out but he did not leave. He gave out his hand for her to hold so that she could get down from the carriage and though a little hesitant, she placed her slightly muddy and cold hand on his and he clasped it while helping her to get down.
His hand was warm as compared to hers and immediately she got down, she pulled her hand from his grasp as if she had touched hot coal.
"What's your name?" Lucas who was looking at the girl asked. Her body was smaller compared to his and he wondered how it would feel if he was to have her in his arms but he quickly dismissed the thought. "Rose_ Roselyne."
"Rose, it seems like your name is as beautiful as you." That was not a reply that she expected. Rose said to herself internally. Now that they were out out of the carriage, the cold air hit her already freezing body which caused her to shiver involuntarily.
The butler who had seen the king from the other side of the palace quickly headed towards him only to see that he was not alone but in a company of a young woman was holding her shoes with one hand. Greetings your highness,there is a guest waiting for you in the drawing room." The butler said without even sparing a glance at the girl who stood next to the king.
"Lincoln, take Rose to the servants quarters. She will be personally attending to me." His words caught the two people off guard and when Rose parted her lips so that she could speak, the butler bit her to it. "Yes milord." And turning to look at Rose, he told her to follow him to which she hesitantly did. She would talk to him when the time is right so that she could go back to the place where she had been working. She thought.
The king who watched the dual disappear through the corridors also walked away from the entrance and headed to the drawing room where he found his mother speaking to lady Andrea while drinking wine.
Upon seeing the king, both women stood up and offered a bow to the man. "Lucas you are back." His mother said as she walked towards her son and kissed his cheek and the man offered a smile to his mother. ''How is Clara doing mother?"
"She is much better as compared to yesterday. The physician said that she just needs some few days before she completely recovers." Changing the conversation, his mother added
"Lady Andrea has been with her since noon. Isn't she an angel."
Lucas knew what his mother was trying to do because it was not the first time that she tried to match him with a woman and being in a good mood, he decided to humor the woman. He looked at the Andrea who smiled nervously at him and stated.
"Oh yes she is. Now if you may excuse me, I will go check on my sister. Saying that, he left the room.