The King's Lover-Chapter 527: She Wouldn’t Dare

Violeta rose from her seat with such a death-stricken expression that Rose worried she might faint and never wake up. Rose was not ashamed to admit that she quite liked the idea.

Since Violeta disliked her so much, it was only fair.

Violeta couldn’t speak as she stared horridly at them. All she could do was point her index finger right at Rose as she gasped for air. It was quite a sight, and Rose didn’t think she would ever forget her reaction for a long time.

The rest of the room had a quieter response. The servants didn’t make a single noise at their entrance, though glances were made before they bowed and kept their heads down.

Caira briefly looked at them at the old Queen’s reaction and was visibly surprised, while Prince Gayle had a stern look on his face, a mix between surprise and intense disapproval.

"Your Majesties," Rylen said with a bow, breaking the silence. He was the only one unaffected by their entrance.

Caius nodded at Rylen and passed his mother, who still stood rooted to the spot with her finger in the air. He led Rose to her seat, and only after she was seated did he take his seat at the head of the table.

"W-what is the meaning of this?!" Violeta finally spoke, as if just finding her voice. Her voice sounded shrill.

She was still on her feet and looked like she might lurch for Rose and attack her. She was breathing heavily while her ladies-in-waiting glared at Rose from behind her back.

"Whatever do you mean, Mother? You look a little pale. You might want to sit down," Caius replied without sparing his mother a glance.

He was acting very dismissive about her reaction, and Rose could see Violeta get even angrier. He turned his attention to Rose, smiling at her.

Rose lightly nodded, noticing that the servants were moving closer to serve them, but their movements were hesitant. Rose couldn’t blame them; even if no one was saying anything, the tension was palpable.

"You—You!" She pointed dramatically at Rose, but the words didn’t leave her mouth, as if she didn’t know where to start.

Then suddenly, the words flew out in a rage. "What is this? Is that your grandmother’s crown? Have you finally lost your mind? To—to give the late Queen’s crown to a mere peasant. The bottom of the barrel. If you think I am going to share a table with a who—"

"You don’t have to join us for breakfast, Mother," Caius cut in, lifting his gaze to look at her. His voice was cold, so cold that Rose could almost see the frost float from his lips.

"I suggest you calm down and take a seat!"

Violeta took a step back, and she would have fallen backward if not for her attendants. She looked at her son in disbelief, then turned her attention to Rose.

Rose paid the old Queen absolutely no mind, but she could feel her gaze on her forehead where the circlet rested. She had been particularly angry about the circlet and its ownership.

Caius, on the other hand, didn’t seem to care about his mother’s reaction. But what worried her more was that no one else seemed to say anything. They were surprised, but none voiced their disagreement.

That should be a good thing, right? But Rose found that it bothered her. It would be better if they had some reaction, that way she would be able to gauge where she stood.

She glanced at the table, and Caira wouldn’t meet her gaze. She had expected the princess to be more confident and angrier, especially since she was supposedly pregnant with Caius’s child, but rather she was pretending nothing was happening.

Prince Gayle, however, didn’t stop looking in her direction, and Rose found that she didn’t want to see whatever was in his gaze. She didn’t particularly care for the older man and didn’t know much about him.

"How can you do this? Your wife is pregnant," Queen Violeta wasn’t screaming anymore. She had changed her tactics and was trying to guilt-trip her son. She sat down as he had suggested and spoke quietly.

Caius didn’t respond.

Violeta’s eyes went bloodshot, and she snapped into anger again. "This wh—thing!"

"Thing?" Caius jerked his head in his mother’s direction. "You will speak to my Queen with respect."

"Q-queen?" She yelled in horror."

Rose thought there was no reason for her to act so surprised. What did she think the crown on her head meant?

"You already have a queen. This is nothing more than a..." she flicked her hands at Rose but didn’t dare complete her words. "You can’t be serious, Caius?" She looked at him with disbelief. "I am sure she must have done something. Witch! She put a hex on you, I am sure."

"Mother! If you do not stop speaking ill of my wife, I will assume you can no longer join us for breakfast."

Violeta’s eyes widened. "You will have me removed because of her? Your own mother!"

"I didn’t say that..." he paused, looking directly at her. "Yet!"

Violeta looked as though she might faint from anger, but surprisingly she didn’t say anything more. Rather, she looked around the table, but no one seemed to want to comment on the situation.

Rose couldn’t believe she had almost missed this. Seeing the old, bitter queen nearly collapse was worth any anxiety or fear she had felt before coming for breakfast.

She also had absolutely nothing to worry about. Caius was willing to stand publicly against his mother for her. It wasn’t that she doubted, but Rose didn’t imagine it would be done so directly.

She was very pleased with her husband. So pleased that she stretched out her hand and placed it on his arm, making sure his mother was watching the entire interaction.

Caius reacted immediately, dropping his cutlery and gently tapping the back of her palm that rested on his arm. Rose slowly lifted her gaze to the old queen while Caius paid her undivided attention.

Violeta gripped the knife tightly as they met eyes. Rose’s gaze flickered to the knife and then back to her face. She smirked and lifted her gaze to Caius before pulling away and returning to eating.

She knew, as well as Violeta did, that she wouldn’t dare attack her.