CHAPTER 350: A NEW WAGER

She shakily nodded her head, hid her lips, and stood to her feet. She felt his hand slide down her lower back to rest on her bum. Rose instinctively jumped away from his grasp, and his hand fell to his thigh.

She didn’t look at him; rather, she returned to her former position, pretending nothing had happened. She could feel his gaze on her as she bent over the chessboard, but Rose didn’t dare look up. She couldn’t afford to.

Right now, she was trying to think of several excuses for why she shouldn’t play this game anymore. She never should have agreed to the wager. There was no chance she could beat him, and beating him didn’t actually mean it would be a good thing. Unfortunately, Rose knew better than to say no. The first and last time she had refused him had landed her in this problem.

She hated how he liked to complicate things. A simple kiss was all he had said earlier, but the kiss he just gave her was not simple. Rose wasn’t worried for herself; she was concerned the Crown Prince might get carried away. This time around, it was her rear; his hand could be somewhere else next time. She had managed to get away, but knowing him, he could change his mood at the slightest provocation.

"You’re going to break it," Caius said as she slammed the chess piece against the board for the fifth time while rearranging the pieces.

Rose blinked and shook her head. "I’m sorry, Your Majesty," she said and gently placed the sixth piece. "I was lost in thought."

"I can see that," Caius said with a curious tone. He was still leaning back as she had left him, his hand still resting on his thigh. "What were you thinking about?"

Rose squeezed the poor knight. If it weren’t made out of stiff wood, with the strength she exerted, she would have crushed it. Rose carefully placed the knight in the right place. She had to be mindful of her reactions; the Crown Prince was watching her closely.

"It’s not important, Your Majesty. I was just distracted," she faked a laugh to try to ease the atmosphere and hopefully distract him from the question.

"It matters not if you think it is unimportant. I asked a question," Caius replied.

Rose’s back straightened, and she lifted her gaze. He was serious. He wasn’t going to let this go. Rose shuffled on the floor; her legs felt numb even though she had only just sat on the carpet.

"I-I," the words were hard to speak. She couldn’t tell him she was worried he was a sex maniac and that if she kept losing, there was a chance that would happen.

"Speak freely," Caius encouraged.

Rose narrowed her eyes, not believing a word he was saying. However, he was clearly not going to drop it unless she spoke. "I don’t like to lose, Your Majesty," she eventually said.

"Neither do I," Caius repeated.

His words felt like a silent threat, and Rose felt all the hairs at the back of her neck stand on edge. She was terrified, but at the same time, she didn’t like that he had all the power.

"I am also worried that if I keep losing and I have to keep my end of the bargain, it might lead to..." she let the words trail off. "I don’t think I can, not after this morning."

Rose didn’t know what made her keep going. Was it the look in his eyes, or was she trying to get back at him? She certainly didn’t believe that she could speak freely; that had almost gotten her father killed the last time. But it felt really nice to say what she had actually been thinking, and it felt even better to see the Crown Prince’s reaction to her words.

His eyes widened, and he visibly adjusted in his seat. His pupils constricted, and her satisfaction at saying what was on her mind fizzled out. Rose clasped a chess piece in her hand for comfort. She may have gone too far this time.

"Are you saying I do not have self-control?"

Rose’s eyes almost fell out of their sockets. How did he get to that conclusion? "No, Your Majesty!" Rose cried. "I would never say that..." to your face.

"Or perhaps are you saying that you are that irresistible, that I have no choice but to succumb to a few kisses?" Caius asked with a raised brow.

The fear left her body, and Rose suddenly felt weightless. She placed her palms on the ground for support. "I do not say that, Your Majesty. I was just..."

"Or perhaps do you speak for yourself?" He was leaning back again, a smirk on his face. "I did say you can speak freely; don’t stop now on my account."

Rose squeezed the comforting chess piece; it would not do her good to throw it at him. The damage it would cause to her would not be worth the damage she would inflict on him. If she wanted to do something so daring, it was best to go for his throat with a sharp object, preferably a dagger.

However, all she could do was think about it. She likely wouldn’t be able to even scratch him with a knife. Caius looked to be at ease in her presence, but his movements were still guarded; he was still very alert, and even the slightest movements never eluded him. She wouldn’t be able to catch him off guard.

"No, Your Majesty," Rose said with her shoulders straight and her chest out. "I do not speak for myself."

"Ah," Caius smirked and bit the corner of his lower lip. "Then perhaps I shall propose a new wager."

Rose immediately got uncomfortable. "What would it be this time?" she asked, worry creeping in.

Caius smirked even more. He seemed completely elated by this new plan of his, and this made Rose incredibly uncomfortable because whenever he got like this, it was not good for her.

"Well, we have established the fact that you cannot win against me in a game of chess, but perhaps you are as irresistible as you say," Caius replied, the smirk still lingering on his lips.

Rose couldn’t remember when she had said those words, and it was not a foregone conclusion that she couldn’t win; she just needed more time. However, she didn’t argue; she wanted to see where he was going with this.

"You have my word that nothing beyond the kisses you owe me will happen today," Caius continued. "But if you do succeed in making me do more than that, then we shall consider the entirety of the games your win, and I shall see to it that your wish is fulfilled to the letter."

Rose blinked once, twice, and thrice as she tried to understand the Crown Prince’s words. Did he just challenge her to seduce him? But that was defeating the purpose of what she had just complained about.

Rose frowned. Caius just said he hated to lose, and so did she, and she didn’t want to seduce him either. She usually didn’t have to do anything to have him raving like a madman. She also didn’t want to do anything either.

"You do not speak. Perhaps you’re certain you’ll lose?"

Rose heard something snap; it was loud, like a very dried twig breaking under the force of a man’s boot. "Lose? I do not think so," she said before she even realized it.

Caius threw his head back and laughed. "Good," Caius said after he was done laughing. "I’d like to see your tactics to win."

Rose tried not to show any form of disgust. Truly, all the Crown Prince thought about was intercourse. She found it appalling, but at the same time, his bet made her reconsider.

The Crown Prince wouldn’t make a bet he couldn’t keep. He was certain he wouldn’t succumb. Still, she couldn’t help but find this laughable; all she had to do was stand before him, fully clothed, and he would act like a rabid dog.

The last kiss had been proof enough; he couldn’t resist touching her. And now he wanted to play a game of self-control? Rose found it ridiculous.

She paid attention to the chessboard, knowing he was still watching her closely. As she rearranged the pieces, Rose wondered if this was a bad idea and if, perhaps, she should refuse. The kiss was already uncomfortable enough; to try to seduce him was a completely different approach. It was also a trap because, no matter the outcome, she would still be at the losing end.

"Make your move, Rose," Caius said, gesturing to the set chessboard.

Rose lifted her gaze briefly; their eyes met and she felt a gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach. Caius stared intensely at her as though he was waiting. It was hard to say what his expression meant, but it wasn’t threatening.

He was different; there was no doubt about it.

Rose bent her head and picked up a pawn. "Yes, Your Majesty."