Twilight slowly settled over the Madurai stronghold. The mountain winds became colder with every passing moment, carrying with them the scent of pine and fresh snow. Inside the palace, preparations for the evening feast to properly send of the Imperial envoys for their journey the following day continued despite the tragedy that had shaken the tribe only hours earlier.
Cassian quietly excused himself from the gathering.
"I would like some fresh air."
No one questioned him. As expected, Lucien silently fell into step behind him—not as a lover, but as the Crown Prince's appointed guard.
The two of them walked side by side along the outer stone ramparts, leaving behind the music, the conversations, and the lingering whispers surrounding Thoris' downfall. Cassian's crimson eyes wandered across the endless white mountains. He remained silent for a long while.
Everything had happened so quickly, yet it had been handled exactly as it should have been, as justice had finally reached the Madurai prince.
Thoris had spent years believing his strength placed him above everyone else, and now he had finally learned the price of abusing that strength.
Cassian closed his eyes for a moment, breathing in the frosty air.
'This is what should have happened... Not only for Adrian, and not only for Elyria, but also for the me who died in the eleventh timeline.'
The memories still lingered—the fear, the helplessness, and the humiliation. That version of himself had never received justice, but this one finally had.
Suddenly his thoughts drifted toward Elyria. Things had changed far beyond what he had expected and with Thoris stripped of his title and awaiting exile, the tribal leaders had already begun discussing Elyria's future. Unlike Adrian, she had no child tying her to this broken marriage; she still had another chance. And judging by everything unfolding, Vikra would most likely inherit his younger brother's responsibilities, including Elyria as well.
Cassian smiled faintly.
'Perhaps this is the ending they both deserved. Vikra... you truly are the better man.'
The silence between Lucien and Cassian finally broke when they reached the shadow of the western watchtower. Cassian rested both elbows against the cold stone wall, quietly admiring the valleys stretching far below.
*Crunch...*
Soft footsteps approached from behind. Without asking and without hesitating, Lucien slipped both arms around Cassian's waist. He gently pulled him backward until Cassian's back rested comfortably against his broad chest, further resting his chin on Cassian's shoulder.
The prince immediately relaxed as the warmth behind him melted away every lingering worry.
"It's cold out here,"
Lucien whispered beside his ear, his warm breath brushing lightly across Cassian's skin and Cassian let out a soft sigh.
"It really is."
He covered Lucien's hands with his own.
"But if it's so cold... why did you follow me outside?"
Lucien answered without missing a beat.
"My duty requires me to follow wherever Your Highness goes."
Cassian laughed quietly shaking his head.
"Does your duty also tell you to hold the Crown Prince like this?"
"It does,"
Lucien answered with complete seriousness.
Cassian raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"It is a very advanced protective technique."
"For what exactly?"
Lucien tightened his embrace around Cassian's waist with a soft groan.
"Preventing the Crown Prince from freezing."
Cassian laughed.
"A specialized knight technique?"
Lucien nodded proudly.
"It's the highest level, one only I have mastered."
"Oh?"
"It requires constant hugging."
Lucien nibbled Cassian's earlobe with his teeth and Cassian shook his head.
"What a suspicious technique."
"It has been approved."
"By whom?"
"By me."
Cassian couldn't stop smiling.
"You really have become shameless Lucien."
"I learned from the best."
"And who would that be?"
"The Crown Prince who kept stealing kisses from me."
"I most certainly did not."
Lucien leaned forward.
"I remember quite clearly."
"Then you have a terrible memory."
"I disagree."
Lucien gently kissed the corner of Cassian's eye.
"I remember every single one of those moments, should I remind you?..."
Cassian's cheeks slowly warmed.
"Urgh!, fine you got me!"
They both chuckled and Cassian turned within Lucien's embrace until they faced one another, his fingers naturally moving to straighten the thick fur resting across Lucien's shoulders. For a moment, neither of them spoke, simply admiring each other.
Then Cassian sighed.
"We've been so caught up with everything surrounding Thoris that we've almost forgotten another problem."
Lucien immediately knew.
"Ruby."
Cassian nodded.
"Yes, I noticed her during lunch. She kept watching us. Very closely.
"I know,"
Lucien answered calmly.
"And you know what that means."
"I do."
Cassian looked into Lucien's icey blue eyes.
"We can't keep pretending forever. We have to end the engagement properly. The longer we wait, the worse the damage becomes."
Lucien's expression quietly hardened.
"Then let the damage come."
Cassian blinked.
"Lucien..."
"I will handle it myself you don't have to do anything,"
Lucien said, gently cupping Cassian's cheek.
"I will speak to Lady Thompson. I'll speak to Marquis Thompson. I'll stand before every noble if I have to. The blame will fall on me. It should."
Cassian immediately shook his head.
"No. I started this. I pushed you toward her, I encouraged the engagement, and I created this mess. So I'll be the one to end it Lucien."
Lucien frowned.
"You've spent your whole life doing everything yourself. Just let me handle this one dear."
Cassian smiled sadly.
"And deny my handsome knight the chance to complain afterward?"
Lucien almost smiled.
"I never complain."
"You do."
"I don't."
"You absolutely do."
"When?"
"When I refuse to sleep,"
Cassian listed, gently poking Lucien's chest.
"When I skip meals, when I drink too much, and when I work too hard."
Lucien looked away.
"...Those don't count."
"Oh believe me, they certainly do,"
Cassian murmured softly.
"So this time... listen to me. I'll fix what I started."
Lucien remained silent. Cassian stepped closer until their foreheads touched.
"I'm here,"
Cassian whispered.
"I'm not running. I'm standing right beside you. So let me protect you too."
Lucien's heart softened.
"...You always know what to say...how cunning."
"I know,"
Cassian smiled proudly.
"I am the Crown Prince after all."
"And a very spoiled one lately."
"I wonder whose fault that is."
Lucien kissed him softly.
"Yours of course."
Cassian smiled against his lips.
"And I really cannot complain."
Lucien wrapped his arms around him again, holding him as though the world outside no longer existed.
"We leave tomorrow,"
Lucien quietly said.
"Is there anything you still need to do before we return home?"
Cassian slowly shook his head.
"Not here. My work in the Steppes is finished. My next destination is home."
His smile slowly faded.
"I still have artifacts to gather. I still need to prepare everything. And..."
His voice became quieter.
"...I still have to find a way to Earth."
Lucien looked at him carefully.
"And?"
Cassian looked up at him.
"And find a way to bring you with me."
Lucien's eyes softened.
"You remembered."
"I always will. I promised you after all."
"I know."
"No matter what happens..."
Cassian rested his forehead against Lucien's.
"...I'm not leaving you behind."
Lucien closed his eyes.
"I'll hold you to that promise."
"You should, otherwise you'll probably chase me across two worlds."
Cassian laughed softly while Lucien smiled.
"Trust me, I absolutely would."
The cold northern wind swept across the ramparts once more, but neither of them noticed while wrapped in each other's warmth.
Far away, within the Madurai Court of Judgment, another ancient tradition quietly began. Long before dawn, every warrior condemned to exile was brought before the tribe one final time—not for mercy or forgiveness, but to hear the voices of the people he had failed.
Thoris stood alone in the center of the stone circle. An iron collar rested heavily around his neck, its weight digging into his skin, but he never reacted. His once-proud posture had vanished; his hair hung loose around his face, and his hollow eyes remained fixed on the stone beneath his feet. He no longer looked like the strongest warrior of the Steppes, only a broken man.
Above him, Chieftain Tamil Madurai sat upon the high leader's seat. Beside him stood Vikra—silent and motionless.
The gathered tribespeople stared down at Thoris. One after another, their voices rose in angry condemnation.
"You shamed your ancestors!"
"You stained the Madurai name!"
"You failed your family!"
"You struck your own bride!"
"You nearly killed your own child!"
"You are unworthy!"
Each sentence landed like another stone. Thoris never lifted his head, accepting every word. His lips parted once, but no sound came out.
Finally, Vikra stepped forward, his heavy boots echoing across the silent court until he stopped directly before his younger brother.
"In the Steppes, we fight,"
Vikra began, his deep voice spreading across the entire court.
"We bleed, and we protect our people. But above everything else... we protect our blood."
His amber eyes burned with pain.
"A child is our future. A family is our future. You knew Adrian carried your child! You knew how fragile that life was! You knew!"
Vikra's voice suddenly rose in anger.
"And still... you chose your anger! You chose your pride! You chose your fists!"
His chest rose sharply.
"You nearly murdered your own heir! You nearly destroyed two royal families! You nearly started a war! And for what?! For your wounded pride?! For your jealousy?! For a prince who never loved you?!"
Vikra's fists trembled, and his voice finally broke with grief.
"I raised you. I taught you. I stood beside you. I believed one day... you would stand beside me and lead this tribe."
He stared straight into Thoris' empty eyes.
"But today... I don't recognize the man before me. You are no warrior... Brother. You became a beast."
Silence swallowed the court.
Thoris slowly closed his eyes. Those words—more than every insult, every curse, and the iron around his neck—finally broke what little remained inside him.
Above them, Vikra quietly looked away, no one noticing the tears gathering in his eyes. Tonight, he was not only condemning a criminal; he was saying goodbye to the little brother he had spent his whole life trying to protect.
*****