The velvet divan in the private study was quiet and replaced by noon, the thick scent of cedarwood and crushed silver leaves still hanging heavily in the closed room. Cassian sat behind his mahogany desk, dressed in a fresh, high-collared black tunic that completely concealed the violent red marks running down his throat.
His body was still deeply fatigued, his internal mana pool slowly replenishing itself like a sluggish engine. Spread out before him was the gold-embossed invitation to the Kingdom of Vikra, alongside Adrian's frantic, ink-stained plea for rescue.
Cassian picked up his black quill, his movements entirely robotic as he began to a cold, calculated reply to his brother. He didn't offer a single word of comfort or familial warmth.
>"If I pull a stunt like that before the war seasons,">
Cassian reasoned, his eyes narrowing as he watched the ink dry.
>"Thoris Madurai will simply turn his entire barbarian horde toward our Eastern borders to hunt me down. He won't be mad that you escaped his grasp with his heir but he will use that as an opportunity to get me to replace you.">
Instead, his letter was short and completely unyielding. He highlighted that any rash movements before the ceremony would result in total and unbenefitial failure. He strictly commanded Adrian and Elyria to maintain their positions, endure their current environment, and wait. They would speak face-to-face during the official wedding ceremony next month under the pretext of familial reunion.
As he pressed his heavy imperial seal into the hot red wax, a soft rustle of silk sounded from the adjacent lounge.
Sora stepped into the study, having completely dropped his female glamour within the privacy of the residence. His long, dark hair flowed loosely over his shoulders, and his true elven features were slightly softened by residual sleep.
He silently walked over to the desk, his dark eyes taking in Cassian's exhausted posture, before he casually settled himself right onto the prince's lap and Cassian didn't push him away, instead he simply reached out, his gloved hand resting flatly against Sora's lower belly to monitor the child's steady, warm pulse.
Sora leaned his head against Cassian's shoulder, his dark eyes scanning the open documents and the discarded letter on the desk. As his highly sensitive elven mind parsed Adrian's frantic words—specifically the part where Thoris vowed to clear space to make Cassian his third barbarian bride—Sora's entire body went rigid. A sudden, fierce wave of ancient Moonborn protectiveness spiked through the soul resonance, turning Sora's mana incredibly dense and territorial.
"That savage beast still believes that he can simply drag you into his lawless lands after I leave?"
"The barbarian prince operates upon his lustful desires," Cassian deadpanned, his thumb lightly stroking Sora's side to soothe the half-elf's rising mana. "He believes brute force can bypass the treaties of Aetheria. It is a severe miscalculation. I will handle him during the ceremony next month and perfectly put him in his place."
"If he tries to touch you," Sora murmured softly, his fingers curling tightly into the fabric of Cassian's tunic, "Will you be able to stop him?"
Before Cassian could formulate a logical response to the elf's worried curiosity, the heavy doors of the private study were violently thrown open without a single warning knock.
*BANG.*
Sir Lucien Arden stood in the doorway, his massive frame completely blocking the light from the corridor. In his right hand, he clutched a freshly rolled imperial parchment bearing the Emperor's golden wax seal. The Knight Commander's face was twisted into an expression of raw, unbridled fury, his ice-blue eyes flashing with a terrifying holy light.
He had just received an unofficial royal decree announcing his matchmaking contract to a high noble maiden of the Southern Duchy—an arrangement explicitly scheduled to be finalized before the royal wedding at the Eastern Continent next month.
Lucien took three heavy, explosive strides into the room, his gaze locking onto the sight of the black-haired elf sitting comfortably on the prince's lap. The sharp contrast between the marks Sora had left on Cassian's neck and the marriage contract in his hand made something inside the paladin's chest completely snap.
"Out," Lucien growled, his deep voice vibrating with a terrifying, suffocating pressure as he stared directly at Sora.
Sora didn't flinch. Instead he narrowed his dark eyes, his moonborn instincts flaring up to meet the knight's aggressive aura, but Cassian flatly raised a hand to intervene.
"Sora, return to the inner chambers. The Knight Commander appears to have something important to share with me," Cassian ordered calmly.
Sora stayed still for a fraction of a second, then gave Lucien a slow, incredibly smug look before sliding off Cassian's lap. He gathered his books from the corner table and drifted out of the study, the door clicking shut behind him.
The moment they were alone, Lucien lunged forward. Stripping away every single ounce of his usual knightly decorum, he slammed his large hands down onto the mahogany desk, pinning Cassian into his leather chair. He leaned over, his face inches from the prince's deadpan expression, his hot breath brushing against Cassian's cheek.
"I met the Emperor a moment ago during my training. And he told me something quite amusing my lord and I'm sure you know exactly what I am talking about."
"Haaaaa, that old geezer just can't keep his mouth shut can he?... He promised to inform you after the tournament concludes." Cassian sighed sinking down on his chair to look up at Lucien.
"Well then I guess it can't be helped, you were going to find out about it anyway."
"My prince.." Lucien leaned closer. "Do you seriously think that you can marry me off to get me out of your system?" Lucien whispered, his voice dangerously low, dripping with an unhinged, possessive fury that sent a frantic spike straight through Cassian's pulse.
Cassian kept his face entirely expressionless, though his heart immediately raced to 160 BPM against his ribs. "The matchmaking contract is a highly logical arrangement, Sir Arden. You are retiring to lead your family's Duchy. A noble wife will provide the necessary structural assistance for your estate."
"Do not lie to my face using your pathetic statistics Cassian!" Lucien hissed, his ice-blue eyes locking onto the fresh red marks trailing down Cassian's collarbone. His hand moved fast, his rough fingers violently gripping Cassian's chin to force the prince to look at him. "I told you I would only retire to become your knight and remain on your side to protect you. But instead, you fabricated the entire discussion with your father because you are terrified of what happened between us at midnight didn't you?"
"NO!, OF COURSE NOT!" Cassian snapped defensively.
"My lord please be honest, you want me locked away in a marriage bed so you don't have to face your own wavering heart towards me."
"My heart functions perfectly fine as an internal pump, Sir Arden," Cassian hissed back, his silver-crimson eyes flashing with a manic, defensive panic as he tried to slap the knight's hand away from his face. "Your presence is an anomaly that I am erasing from my future projections!"
"Oh is that so?....then let's see what happens if I refuse the Emperor's decree.... My Prince." Lucien growled, his grip tightening on Cassian's chin as he leaned even closer, his gaze dropping to the prince's lips. "Let's see how your perfect system handles it when I drag you down into the dark with me anyway, marriage contract or not."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean!?...Sir Arden!"
Lucien just smirked releasing Cassian's chin from his hold as he straightened his poise.
"You will see."
*****