CHAPTER 363: YOU TWO SEEM CLOSE

"Enough with the apologies," Caius cut in.

Rose jerked her head up to see Caius rise from his seat. He turned away from her and walked towards the door. For a moment, she thought he might leave. However, this thought didn’t last.

He pulled the door open with more strength than he needed, and she heard him say something outside. She couldn’t quite make out the words; then he shut the door and returned to the seat.

Rose was at a loss for words. She didn’t understand what had just happened. She had feared that she might have pushed Caius more than he could take when she had so blatantly told him that she’d rather have anyone else other than him be her tutor.

And he had not taken lightly to that and had proceeded to threaten her with his usual vulgar acts. Rose couldn’t help but view it any other way. It was the one thing he continually held over her. It was the reason she was here and she couldn’t help but react strongly to it.

"Do you want a different tutor?" he asked.

Rose glanced at him. He couldn’t really be asking that, could he? Rose twisted her fingers. She was unsure if this was a trick question and if she did answer truthfully, she would only manage to piss him off once again.

"Yes?" she whispered.

"Why?" Caius asked. "Do you think I can’t teach you?"

Rose wasn’t worried about his skills. It was the confined spaces she didn’t like, and also the fact that he would be completely in charge of her education, and she would only learn by his dictation. He already controlled too much of her life for her to let him control this, too.

Also, the Crown Prince was just incredible. He couldn’t seem to wrap his head around the fact that maybe she just didn’t want him; rather, he seemed to think it was something else.

"That’s not it," Rose whispered, unsure if she should be truthful, but she was getting nowhere with the Crown Prince, and honestly, she was tired.

She’d like a break, both physically and mentally. It was funny; it had only been two days and she wanted to give up. To think she had come here herself—she should have run with her father.

"We would have to spend long amounts of time together," Rose added.

Caius narrowed his eyes. "I don’t see anything wrong with that. Or is it that you disapprove, little lady?" he asked.

Rose did her best not to let her exasperation show. "It’s not that I disapprove, Your Majesty. I just would like to keep that separate from learning."

Caius’s eyes darkened. "That?" he asked, though his face bore realization. "You don’t have to worry; I’ll make sure to keep you in check." He smirked.

Rose narrowed her eyes. She wasn’t worried about herself. However, she didn’t miss that his anger was gone again. His fickle emotions were so hard to deal with.

At this point, Rose was sick of the argument. If he wanted to teach her, he could go ahead. Besides, as she had found, he tended to get what he wanted, and if he didn’t, he didn’t take it lying down.

If he did agree to get her a tutor, she would most likely still end up being stuck with him. Besides, Rose didn’t think he had what it took to be anybody’s tutor. He would very soon give up, she knew he lacked patience.

"As you wish, Your Majesty," Rose said with a soft smile. "When do we start the lessons?"

Caius leaned back on the seat and stared at her suspiciously. "Tomorrow," he stated. "As I recall, you’re tired."

Rose nodded her head. Indeed, she was, and if she wasn’t tired before, she was now. "Yes, Your Majesty," she said with a small smile. "Tomorrow."

Caius looked happier at her acknowledgment. Happy was a strong word, but he no longer seemed as annoyed as earlier. "Wonderful," he celebrated.

Rose almost rolled her eyes. She could not understand what he sought to gain by this. In her head, it would be futile to try to understand his actions. Nothing he had done had ever made much sense to her.

Suddenly, a soft knock was heard, and Fabian pushed open the door with a look of confusion on his face. "Your Highness," he said with a bow when he noticed the Crown Prince beside the bed.

"Fabian," Caius called; his voice sounded hearty, and it was clear his mood had lifted.

"Your Highness," Fabian repeated as he stepped forward; then he nodded towards Rose. "Lady Rose."

She smiled at him and gave a small nod of her own. She was surprised they still kept to addressing her as Lady. She didn’t hate it, and in more ways than one, Rose found Catherine Castle more bearable.

"Get me some parchment paper and ink," Caius ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Fabian said with a bow. "Would that be all?"

Caius glanced at Rose. "No. Instruct the librarian to give you easy books to read, and old paper, lots of it. Additionally, some quills, ink, and a stitched booklet."

At his request on her behalf, Rose lost further faith in him. He was going to be a terrible tutor, she could just sense it.

"As Your Highness pleases. Should I bring them here?"

"Hmm," Caius said and looked around the room before his eyes came to rest on Rose. Her stomach suddenly felt tight, and she knew what he was going to do before he even said it.

"No," he stated. "Bring my first request immediately and the rest before nightfall, and leave those in my room."

At his words, Caius looked at Rose, and she didn’t meet his eyes. It wasn’t as though she could disagree, and perhaps it was good that it wasn’t in her room. If he integrated himself into her room, she wouldn’t be able to recover.

"Yes, Your Highness," Fabian said with one last bow before he left the room.

"Wouldn’t it have been better at the library or a study?" Rose asked as Fabian left.

"Perhaps, but I would prefer to have access to the tools needed to teach you as easily as possible," he said with a smug look on his face.

Rose didn’t agree or disapprove of this; rather, she simply nodded and kept her eyes closed. At this point, she risked having a headache or an actual illness.

Fabian wasted no time in returning, bringing the items that Caius had requested. "Your Majesty," he said with a bow as he placed the parchment paper and ink on the table.

Caius didn’t directly acknowledge his call; rather, he stood up and went to the table. Sitting down, he pulled the paper close and started to write.

Fabian bowed, assuming he was dismissed, but as he made to leave, Caius spoke. "Send in Lord Thomas," he said without raising his head.

"Yes, Your Highness," Fabian said and left the room.

Caius didn’t even lift his head from the paper as he scribbled quickly, occasionally dabbing the quill in ink. Caius was still writing with such intense concentration when two knocks were heard. He didn’t even flinch and carried on as though he heard nothing.

There was a little bit of hesitancy as the door slowly creaked open, and Thomas carefully poked his head in. He looked around and immediately saw Caius by the table, but Rose was hidden in the bed. He walked into the room and shut the door behind him.

"Your Highness," Thomas called as he stood in front of Caius, but the latter didn’t reply.

Thomas didn’t seem bothered by this; rather, he remained standing but didn’t call out to Caius anymore. His eyes scanned the room and immediately rested on Rose, who lay in bed. She smiled brightly at him and even let out a little wave.

He turned away immediately but not before she saw the micro-smile on his face. Rose held back her laugh as she watched him. He looked so serious as he stood in front of Caius with his back straight and his arms by his side.

Eventually, Caius finished writing the letter and, without saying a word, handed it to Thomas. The latter received it with a bow and turned around. He glanced in Rose’s direction before leaving the room.

Rose was smiling when the door shut. Thomas was always so serious. When she turned her head back to Caius, she noticed he was staring at her suspiciously as he leaned back in the chair.

"You two seem close," Caius commented.

Rose shook her head. "I wouldn’t say that. I might even say Thomas doesn’t like me very much," she quickly added.

Caius shrugged. "Formerly, maybe. But he was the first person to inform me of your illness, and if I remember correctly, he once gave you his coat. He was also strongly against sending you to the castle per Mother’s request. I doubt these are the actions of someone who doesn’t like you very much."