The Lonely Rogue

Chapter 39 Junie

I couldn't help but notice Caspian's handsome attire. He was wearing a deep blue suit jacket and matching pants with a white button down shirt fitted over his chest.

"They are your staff, Junie, you can tell them to do anything you want. They are just here to make things easier for you, not to tell you what to do." Caspian said, shoving his hands inside his pockets. Something I noticed he did whenever he was trying not to touch me.

"I don't know, they are pretty bossy and Gretchen scares me a little." I said, only half joking.

"Gretchen has been around since she was a child, training to be a ladies maid. Her mother came here seeking refuge when she was a baby. She feels very strongly about tradition. Cat does anything Gretchen does." Caspian explained.

"I don't want to disrupt tradition." I mumbled, "But, none of this seems like me." I looked down at myself.

"I want this to be your home, dearest. We are the monarch, we set the standards. If you want to break tradition, then break it, I'll support you. I want you to be comfortable." He inches towards me.

"Somehow I doubt your mother or grandmother would approve of me clomping around in my usual attire." I said in a snarky tone.

"I don't need their approval." He argued.

"I want your family to like me, Caspian." I scoffed.

"I only care about what you think of me, and right now I'm afraid that you don't like me." Caspian said, looking guilty and pathetic with his pouty expression.

"I'm not thrilled." I confessed, sighing loudly. Caspian closed the distance between us, but didn't dare reach out to touch me.

"Tell me how to fix this, I'll do anything." He begged in a longing voice. I felt my resolve disappearing.

"I'm not going to beg you to get rid of them." I bit, my face hot with anger as I thought about his various mistresses.

"It's already done. I called on them this morning before you even woke up and ended everything, dismissing them properly." Caspian said.

"And that'll work?" I cocked my eyebrow suspiciously.

"I can tell you that the consequences will be severe if it does not." His eyes darkened, "They meant nothing to me Junie, a means to an end."

"What does that mean?" I was afraid to ask.

"I don't want to upset you any further." He said.

"Lying to me is definitely a good way to piss me off." I snapped with my hands on my hips. Caspian shook his head at me with a small smirk twitching on his lips.

"They all came from strong bloodlines so they could deliver the heir to the throne, if needed, when it was time." I don't know what I expected him to say, but it wasn't that. I blinked at him wordlessly, "You must think so low of me." He frowned.

"No, actually, I was just thinking how sad that is. You only looked for comfort in order to secure an heir?" I said in a quiet voice.

"Don't make me sound selfless, Junie, I'm not," He shook his head quickly, "But, none of that matters anymore, now that I have you." He said, finally pulling his hands from his pocket to take mine.

"Alright, I forgive you." I grumbled, his touch sending sparks up and down my spine, "Just don't pull that shit again." I slapped his arm and he laughed loudly.

"Promise, my love." He said sincerely, ducking his head to bat his dark eyelashes at me. I rolled my eyes but couldn't help myself from kissing his pouty lips.