One Month Later
The Continental Tournament had finally come to an end, and ease had finally settled over the Empire once again. But the celebrations were far from over.
With the joint wedding of Thoris, Adrian, and Elyria fast approaching, both the Eastern Continent and the Aetheria Continent had declared a week-long celebration. Every single day brought an endless cycle of royal banquets, afternoon garden parties, and late-night feasts. The palace never seemed to sleep.
Although the endless celebrations exhausted Cassian, he attended every single one of them. Not because he enjoyed them, but because every banquet allowed him to watch the result of his own plan unfold.
A masterpiece that was slowly taking shape right before his eyes.
"Today... they seem to be getting along even better, don't they?"
Cassian sat alone on his usual chair on the shaded stone terrace, lazily swirling the deep red wine in his crystal glass. His eyes remained fixed on the royal courtyard below, where the imperial family was currently hosting an afternoon garden party. Rows of white tables decorated the gardens, the lawns were crowded with elegantly dressed nobles enjoying the clear weather and chatted happily, children chased butterflies across the flowers, musicians played gentle melodies and servants walked back and forth carrying tea and desserts.
Yet none of it caught Cassian's attention as his gaze was locked entirely on Lucien, who was walking comfortably through the rows of blooming flowers alongside Lady Ruby, the pair talking comfortably as if they had known each other for years.
A small smile would usually appear on Ruby's face, Lucien seemed to entertain her.
Seeing that made Cassian quietly raise another glass and behind him, Elias let out another helpless sigh.
"Your Highness... please have some water or perhaps some tea instead!" Elias pleaded, stepping closer to the prince's side with a deeply worried expression. He gestured helplessly toward the small collection of empty vessels on the table. "This is already your sixth glass, and I am afraid that it is still very early in the afternoon. Please take it easy! This gathering is akin to a formal tea party, so could you at least adhere to the banquet's theme?"
Cassian ignored the plea completely. Instead of putting the bottle away, he tipped it forward, calmly refilling his glass to the brim.
"Elias, relax. This is hardly doing anything to me," Cassian murmured, his voice smooth, cold, and entirely detached. He took a small sip, his eyes tracking the way Ruby laughed at something the giant knight had said and Cassian rolled his eyes lazily swirling the wine.
"And besides... isn't it still a celebratory month for my dear siblings for marrying that absolute monster? Let me celebrate, please, because that could have been me suffering in their stead."
Cassian gulped down the rest of the wine in one smooth motion. As his eyes fell back toward the courtyard, watching Lucien gently guide Ruby away from a crowded walkway, Cassian unconsciously grit his teeth. A sharp, familiar ache pierced his chest, forcing him to sharply look away toward the stone balustrade.
Trying to shake off the heavy silence, Cassian set his glass down.
"By the way, Elias... isn't Sora visiting us today?"
"Indeed, he will be visiting you today as well, my Lord," Elias answered softly, his tone turning gentle.
"Thanks to Lady Celia's invention of the teleportation door, Lord Sora has been able to leave the Elven Forest much more easily. He now visits you every other day."
Cassian let out a weary groan, rubbing his temples.
"Urgh... even I think he's overdoing it. I will definitely have to talk to him today to tone it down. He needs to focus on what he has to do in the elven lands instead of causing such unnecessary trouble like this."
Elias smiled knowingly, adjusting the silver pitcher on the table.
"Perhaps it is because he heard that Lady Ruby frequents the palace almost every single day."
"That is completely unnecessary."
Cassian countered with a faint, bitter chuckle.
"After all, everyone knows exactly whom Ruby comes here to see, and it is certainly not me."
He nodded toward the courtyard.
"Just look at them down there, Elias. Aren't they getting along quite well and acting all chummy with each other? They clearly like each other so much that they are practically glued to each other. They clearly enjoy each other's company so much."
Cassian clicked his tongue, his fingers tightening around the stem of his refilled glass before taking another slow sip.
Elias stayed quiet for a long moment, watching the rigid line of the prince's shoulders. Then, with careful hesitation, he spoke up.
"But, my lord...Isn't that exactly what you wanted?"
Cassian stopped drinking and Elias continued gently, lowering his eyes.
"You created this entire situation yourself. You even pushed away Sir Arden with your incredibly harsh words, forcing him to retire from your side like he was merely one of the ordinary royal guards you are used to. You looked down on his devotion. Instead of thanking him for everything he did to protect you, you simply cast him aside and treated the greatest hero of this Empire as though he were someone disposable."
Cassian stopped his glass halfway to his lips. He stared blankly into the swirling red liquid, the words cutting straight through his carefully built armor.
Elias carefully looked back at Cassian.
"My Lord, perhaps have you already forgotten that?"
Cassian remained silent and continued to stare into his wine.
Thinking back...
The only memories that surfaced were of Lucien constantly all over him. And his hands fondling his body while his mouth kissed his own so passionately. Cassian didn't want that kind of attachment. If he let himself get used to that warmth, his heart would fail him, and he would never find the strength to leave this world behind in two months.
Cassian sighed.
"Just..."
He whispered, his voice turning tight as he set the glass down with a definitive click.
And then he shook his head.
"Never mind."
"You wouldn't understand anyway Elias. Now quickly prepare my attire for the night banquet. I need to look absolutely dazzling for the sixth banquet. After all, Sora is coming to visit as well, and I cannot look weary."
A faint smile returned to his face and Elias bowed low, recognizing the invisible wall the prince had just built between them. "Yes, Your Highness. I shall prepare it immediately."
Elias hurried off and Cassian stole a quick glance towards the courtyard just before he stood up and dusted off his sleeves preparing to head back inside the royal palace.
Meanwhile...
Down in the sunlit courtyard, the gentle melody of the palace musicians drifted through the air.
Lucien's eyes unconsciously wandered toward the terrace. Just in time to see Cassian disappearing inside the palace. His chest tightened, a hollow feeling settling deep within his bones. And just before his thoughts could spiral, Ruby gently reached out and she lightly turned his face back toward her.
"The Young Lord must have had his reasons for letting you go, Sir Arden."
Ruby said softly, her golden hair catching the bright afternoon light. Her expression was entirely perceptive and kind.
"Therefore you truly need to respect that decision."
Lucien's brows knitted together, his posture stiffening under his formal tunic.
"Lady Thompson... what exactly is that supposed to mean?"
Ruby folded her hands neatly before her gown and her smile remained unchanging and kind.
"Think about it, and think about it very carefully," Ruby explained looking directly into his eyes.
"You are none other than the well-known hero and the greatest Knight in this entire continent, Sir Arden. You are a legendary Swordmaster and a Duke of the Western realm as well. And yet, that very important Swordmaster was entirely reduced into a mere guard for the Crown Prince, standing in his shadow just when you are supposed to live your life abundantly, like the highly respected figure that you are. You deserve to be treated with the respect your position carries."
Lucien answered immediately.
"It was my own choice that I chose to stay by his side."
Lucien's voice was deep and thick with an unyielding, quiet defense. And Ruby tilted her head.
"But–..."
"Did he ask you to?"
Lucien froze. Ruby's next question came even softer.
"Are you entirely sure... that he wasn't burdened to have you by his side?"
Suddenly, Lucien went completely silent.
The words hit him like a physical blow, freezing the breath in his throat. He looked away, his gaze falling to the stone pathway. Thinking about the past, Cassian *had* always wanted him gone, right from the very first day he had been assigned as his personal guard. The prince had constantly kept him at a distance, pushing him away with cold words and frosty glares.
'I always wondered why he hated me... or rather, why he was always so incredibly wary of me,'
Lucien thought, his fists clenching tightly behind his back.
'Was it truly because of my high status? But most princes would be entirely glad to have a Swordmaster on their side to gain an overwhelming recognition in politics and military power. He never cared about that.'
He stared blankly at the vibrant green hedges.
'But what about now? Since we eventually managed to get along, was it simply because I was merely his guard to him? Disposable once the duty was done? Should I become an even greater man... in order for him to finally acknowledge me?'
Ruby watched his expression change, the profound sorrow washing over the knight's rugged features. And a small smile crossed her lips.
"Sir Arden seems to be overthinking quite a lot."
Lucien blinked, snapping himself out of the painful memories. He offered a polite, apologetic bow.
"Oh, forgive me, my Lady. Truly, my thoughts had simply wandered off for a bit."
Ruby giggled softly, placing a delicate hand over her mouth to hide her smile.
But before the conversation could continue, a bubbly and incredibly chirpy voice broke through the quiet chatter of the surrounding nobles.
"Your Highness!!"
Both of them turned toward the palace steps. Sora came running out onto the courtyard, completely ignoring the strict noble etiquette of the court. The moment he reached the terrace steps where Cassian had just re-emerged, the elf threw himself forward and Cassian let out a genuine, low chuckle, catching Sora effortlessly into his arms before spinning him around once in the bright sunlight.
Lucien's eyes were completely glued to them the entire time. Unlike the smiling servants or the delighted guards present who openly admired the heartwarming scene, the knight's face was entirely stern, his expression completely unreadable.
Ruby watched the subtle shift in Lucien's jaw, her eyes softening with a deep understanding before looking back toward the happy couple.
"Those two are truly drawn to each other, and they always behave like joyful children whenever they are together. They are so deeply in love."
Lucien didn't pull his eyes away from Cassian's smiling face—a smile that was no longer directed at him.
"My Lady, you haven't seen nothing yet," he murmured, his voice tight and hollow. "They can be far worse than that."
"Is that so? I can only imagine," Ruby commented, a soft, dreamlike sigh escaping her lips.
"But they are truly beautiful together. The gods chose exceptionally well to tie their fates together. Don't you also think so, Sir Arden?"
Lucien flinched slightly at the question, the invisible knife twisting deeper into his heart. He slowly nodded his head.
"Indeed... they are truly meant for each other. Their soul resonance is quite a beautiful thing to witness."
"Yes, I truly wish humans had that exact bonding aspect as well," Ruby said longingly, looking up at the clear blue sky.
"It completely saves the time of wasting your precious life to an unworthy partner. Your connection with your mate would be solely yours alone... and forever. Well, isn't that really beautiful? I'd truly like to have something like that for myself one day."
Lucien offered a faint nod, completely agreeing with her words.
Deep inside...
A painful thought crossed his mind.
'If it weren't against everything I believe in...Perhaps...I would have been tempted to use dark magic. Just once. Just to create a soul resonance with Cassian. Just so he could never leave my side.'
The thought disappeared as quickly as it came. Lucien quietly pushed it away because that was not the path he would ever choose. No matter how much his heart wanted it and no matter how much his soul yearned for Cassian.
Ruby straightened her dress.
"My Lady..." Lucien spoke quietly, gesturing toward the main gathering of the imperial family near the grand fountain.
"Perhaps we should join everyone else now."
Ruby smiled warmly, slipping her arm through his offered elbow.
"I agree. Let us go."
Together, they walked back toward the crowd, leaving the laughing prince and his divine mate behind, while the music of the court continued to play its beautiful, mocking tune. And laughter continued to echo all across the royal gardens.
*****