CHAPTER 362: A TUTOR

There it was again—the Crown Prince was mocking her for her inability to read. Rose didn’t find it the least bit humorous. He must know that finding any form of education as a peasant was extremely hard, especially one living in a backwater town like Edenville.

Even the baron and his children hire tutors from the neighboring town. She didn’t live like him, with nothing but expensive tutors at his beck and call.

Her inability to read wasn’t a choice; it was the circumstance she found herself in. His constant mockery was so ignorant and insensitive. It was a cruel, deliberate attack that, surprisingly, had an effect.

Rose didn’t like that she couldn’t read. It was something she would fantasize about, and she even pretended to read the sign over the marketplace. She was happy when Lady Delphine gave her some lessons. She was even happier when she recognized the letters by herself.

So, it stung, and a part of her believed that if she were as educated as the nobles, perhaps she wouldn’t be in this mess.

"I suppose they wouldn’t," Rose started to say. "But it is no fault of mine that I cannot read." She looked up at him, her eyes blazing in anger.

Caius scoffed, unbothered by the look in her eyes. "You say that but refuse to make any attempt. You cannot incite change by whining about it."

Rose was visibly taken aback. Did the Crown Prince just give her advice? The one person who didn’t know the clear difference between right and wrong as long as it aligned with his desires.

"Attempt?" Rose scoffed. "You speak as though simply looking at the words would magically tell me what I need to understand."

"I could teach you," Caius said flatly.

Rose was instantly deflated. Once again, she had fallen for Caius’s tricks. It was annoying how he did it. He didn’t just drop his offers willy-nilly; he made sure he got a rise out of her so she couldn’t refuse.

"A mere peasant like me could only dream of bothering Your Majesty with such a silly request," she started to say. Unfortunately, she couldn’t blatantly refuse, as it would prove Caius’s point that she was refusing to make any attempt. "A regular tutor would do. I simply cannot ask Your Majesty to do that."

Caius leaned forward, a smirk on his face. "We both know I am better than any tutor," he whispered.

"Your Majesty is so busy, I couldn’t. I am fine with anyone else."

Rose didn’t even have the energy to phrase it in a way that didn’t completely seem like she didn’t want it to be the Crown Prince. If she dared agree to this, she would be stuck in his presence even more. She was doomed.

"You’re in luck," Caius smiled. "I am not. One would say I am on vacation. Rylen handles everything and sends me the monthly reports that I have to treat as a priority—a small price to pay for..." he let his words drift as he locked eyes with her.

"Besides," he continued. "This is Castle Catherine. It is mostly empty, and no tutors lie within its walls."

"Fabian," Rose blurted. "I’m sure the butler wouldn’t mind," Rose said with forced laughter.

"Fabian has his hands full taking care of the castle," Caius said. Despite Rose’s numerous excuses, he didn’t seem to be taking any offense.

"Is there any servant who can read? Perhaps they might be willing to teach me?"

This time, Caius looked insulted. "A servant?!" he yelled, obviously appalled. "Would you rather pick anyone but me?" Caius asked directly.

"I do not mean it in that manner, Your Majesty. I just don’t want to trouble you," Rose said with a shaky smile.

"Well then, I best let you know: no one tutors you but me. I suppose learning to read isn’t as important as you say since you choose to be so picky."

Caius was clearly not amused anymore, but Rose couldn’t just agree to it. However, if she angered him, she might never learn to read. She was also curious as to why he would even want to go through the trouble to teach her himself.

But it would be stupid of her to miss the implication of the amount of time she would be required to spend in his presence for the purpose of tutoring. If she knew anything about Caius, it was that he was bound to misuse this.

He didn’t have to do this. He could assign anyone. She also didn’t believe the tale that no tutor was in this castle. If a physician could be found, so could a tutor. Besides, the castle wasn’t in the middle of nowhere; it was in the town of Haiyes. There had to be at least one tutor in town.

"I apologize, Your Majesty," Rose said with an apologetic smile. "I wasn’t trying to be picky. I didn’t want to bother Your Majesty. To teach one as low as myself would be beneath you."

Caius didn’t take kindly to her patronizing words, but instead of getting angry, he simply smirked. "You’re not as tired as you say, little lady. Your lips are as snarky as ever. Perhaps I should put you beneath me."

Caius visibly enjoyed the look of horror on her face as he let his words sink in but his delight soon left a sour taste in his mouth.

"Your Majesty," Rose cried as she bent her head. "I didn’t mean to offend. I am sorry, and I am glad that you will take out your time to tutor this lowly servant."

There was a flash of anger on his face. He was annoyed. She wasn’t being patronizing or arguing with him; she was truly begging. He should prefer this, but he wasn’t sure why it annoyed him.

It seemed to be more fun when he outwitted her than when she succumbed to his request out of fear. But this wasn’t the only thing that pissed him off. There was something else he wouldn’t even admit to himself.