"Are you ready to give your report this evening, Cassia?" Madam Flurret asked as she hovered around the desk. "This is a big moment. You must be fully prepared for what is to come in the war room." She placed a hand on Cassia's back and pushed hard enough to scoot the chair slightly. "And do not forget your posture."
"Madam, yes. Over the last two weeks, I have studied the trade routes, reviewed how coin has fluctuated in value over the last fifty years, and even asked around town about my brother's whereabouts." She turned toward the head maid with a fiery look in her eyes. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
"Good, then. Rest while you can. They shall escort you when the time comes." The Madam left the room, leaving behind the same emptiness Cassia had grown familiar with over the last four months.
The room's open space had become almost welcoming, offering Cassia a quiet place to study without distraction. The longer she stayed in the palace, the more she favored learning over wandering, and more than once, her maid friends had come looking for her only to leave when she chose her studies over loud company or midnight investigations.
*KNOCK KNOCK*
"Cassia, may I come in?" Jeric called through the door. "I'm here to escort you," he said as the bolt turned from the outside.
"This is your palace, Jeric… also, you had that key in before I answered," Cassia said as she walked toward the exit, a bright grin on her face that showed how pleased she was to see the duke. "I can't believe they let you come get me… It's like they want me to be even more nervous."
"I think I was meant to calm you down… I still make you nervous, Cassia?" he said as he grabbed her hand and walked out of the room. "I was hoping we were past that already."
"You don't make me nervous… being around you makes me nervous," she said with a nervous chuckle. "Seeing you makes my mind go numb sometimes… sometimes when our eyes meet, it's like the world stops for a second before it explodes…" Cassia explained, stopping after her last statement and pulling Jeric's attention. "When do we finally get to be together? How much more do I need to improve before someone else decides I'm good enough?"
Her emotions, fueled by the anxiety of the moment, almost brought her to tears before Jeric softly grabbed her under the chin, lifting her head back up. She found him wearing a wide grin, his expression soft.
"The time is soon, Cassia… I can't wait either," Jeric said, maintaining complete control of the moment like they were the only two people in existence. "Watching you grow has only strengthened the feelings I started having the second I laid eyes on you… and I've regretted that stupid contract since that day, but I can't take it back…"
His voice grew slightly shaky, showing her a new side to the man, before he lowered his hand and grabbed hers again as they headed toward the war room. Cassia became more confident after his speech, and her steps matched his the entire way.
Once inside, Jeric showed her to her seat. Her papers for the meeting lay in a neat pile in front of her. On top was the trade report, the whole reason for the meeting. Moments later, the members of the council arrived, some in groups and some alone.
Most notably, Jeric's closest men, along with Madam Flurret, stood out amongst the crowd.
The Chancellor, Tomas Verin, sat in the seat to the right of Jeric. Cassia had found him to be the duke's closest friend, as well as one of the few voices of reason within the council. He shared a document and a few words before sitting.
Sitting to the left of the duke was Lord Charles Virel, the man responsible for trade and coin in Draevenhall and the head of one of the major houses. The same house Cassia was sworn to at birth, the one responsible for her entire world being flipped upside down.
Spread across the table were the other house representatives, Matron Elowen Thorne for House Thorne and Master Garrick Drevane to represent House Drevane, as well as Theron the mage. With everyone inside, Jeric called for the meeting to start.
"Silence!" Jeric called. The voices that had filled the room quieted in almost perfect unison. "Today we are here to hear the future duchess's report… She was tasked with coming up with a plan to reduce the local taxes while also trying to find where any holes may be."
"Thank you… uhhh, sir, I have the trade report ready for you all," Cassia said as she handed out a stack of papers, each person taking one from the top before passing it on. "On there, you will find—"
"What worth is a commoner's voice?" Matron Elowen of House Thorne barked, letting out a loud scoff after. "If our own people couldn't find the problem, why would she be able to… can the girl even read—"
"ENOUGH!" Jeric shouted over the matron, causing the room to twist in answer. "Do not interrupt again, or you will be removed and tried for blasphemy against the leading house." Lowering his voice and sitting back down, he continued, "Do you understand… another outburst may cost you your life…"
Watching Jeric be the duke in this moment cemented the last thought of doubt she had left. Her body loosened as the anxiety was replaced with motivation and determination.
The meeting proceeded without fail. Cassia gave her entire presentation without anyone interrupting, not one person wanting to see if the duke would make good on his word. When she finished, the representative from House Virel spoke first.
"It's your brother who's responsible… why should we trust you?" Charles asked, his tone sharp with accusation. "How do we know you won't help him now that you have all of this information? Hmmmm?" He gestured toward the papers. "This is good, though… I can very well see why you are here."
"Lord Virel, to ask such a question is to question me," Jeric said, slowly standing. "Charles, are we going to have a problem moving forward? You seem to be having a hard time restraining that tongue of yours."
"Stop it!"