Chapter 16: Chapter 16 - Grief
"Princess, if I may speak," Solomon requested.
"You may," Lilith allowed, slowing down her pace.
"Are you truly well?" Solomon inquired, concerned about Lilith’s reaction to the gruesome death. She always bottled up her true feelings.
"Michael had a time at my side, and it passed. Why must I be bothered about his death? If you care about him and want to mourn, I will allow you two minutes to do so. It is a reasonable time," Lilith said, abruptly stopping to await Solomon’s answer.
"I don’t care for him," Solomon replied, not surprised by Lilith’s cold response.
"Well, I don’t care for him either, so why are we speaking about him? Have you not been listening that my secrets have been shared? I meant to end what I had with Michael, so his death is welcome. He won’t share our intimate details," Lilith said, continuing on her walk.
"Forgive me for mentioning his name," Solomon apologised, his head bowed. "I stepped out of line again."
"No," Lilith shook her head. "I have to get used to the fact that you care. Remember that death doesn’t scare me, Solomon. I’ve endured a lot of pain and watched many people I love die. I am numb to it."
"Would you feel numb if Mary or I died?"
"Well, I would be disappointed that I have lost two good servants. I am toying with you," Lilith said, knowing Solomon was pouting without needing to turn around. "It would hurt," she admitted.
Still, Lilith wouldn’t be able to wither away all day mourning their deaths. There would still be threats all around her, so she would need a new trusted guard and maid.
"Don’t die, Solomon. Then we never have to see how I would grieve for you. I would hate to have to find someone to fill your shoes. Your feet are quite large," said Lilith.
Solomon chuckled. He didn’t mind not getting the response he sought. Lilith always kept her true feelings guarded so they could never be used against her.
"There are not many maids around. The castle must go back to normal soon. Any longer and all the servants will beg to leave. I should have spoken to him," Lilith said, stopping in her tracks. "I want some of his soldiers out of the castle."
Lilith turned on her heel to return to where she last saw Cassian.
Solomon followed closely, secretly wishing that Lilith hadn’t thought about Cassian. He was relieved when Cassian wasn’t where they left him.
Only Michael’s blood remained on the floor with marks of where his body had been dragged off.
"You there!" Lilith called to a man she recognised. "You are always at his side. Where is Duke Mortimer?"
Eric froze, the sweat on his hands vanishing. "Your Highness," he bowed his head. "His Grace has gone outside the castle to the waterfalls to bathe."
"Did no one tell him we have water inside the castle?" Lilith asked, annoyed that she would have to go so far. "Take me there."
"Ugh," Eric scratched the back of his head. "His Grace would have my head if I took you outside the castle."
"A pretty face," Lilith said, examining Eric’s head. "But not enough for me to worry about your head. Lead the way to His Grace," Lilith said, waiting for Eric to move.
Eric glanced at Solomon, curious if Lilith was always so vicious. "Right away, Your Highness."
Eric led the way to his death. He pulled at his collar and at times his sleeves as he anticipated how Cassian would react to seeing Lilith out of the castle.
Eric took the safest path to reach Cassian, and once close enough, he turned to Lilith. "Your guard and I will have to stand back. His Grace is bathing."
"Very well," Lilith said, going forward alone. "Play nice, Solomon. Don’t hurt his pretty face."
Eric looked up at the tall man beside him. "I mean no harm," he assured Solomon, and offered his hand to be shaken.
Solomon kept his eyes forward, paying attention only to Lilith.
"You’re all cold," Eric muttered, chills still running wild over his body.
Lilith ventured out alone, seeing Cassian in the distance. He stood in a stream of water with his back turned to her.
From where Lilith stood, she saw that Cassian was fully undressed.
"You are a terrible soldier. You cannot tell that you have been approached," Lilith said, making her presence known.
"I noticed you far before you noticed me. What caused your visit?" Cassian questioned, turning around to face Lilith. He stood up as he walked out of the water.
"Can you put that away?" Lilith asked, her gaze not yet moving from Cassian’s body. "I am a princess."
"Then you should move your gaze from my body. I must get my clothing," Cassian said, continuing out of the water. "What do you need? Other than me, of course."
"Have you not noticed how few servants there are around the castle? Send some of your men out so the castle can go back to normal," Lilith said, watching as Cassian got dressed slowly.
It was apparent that Cassian was trying to seduce Lilith, but what he displayed wasn’t new to her.
"You know that the nobles are restless. If my soldiers leave, then there will be an attack. It will take time for the castle to go back to normal. I have ordered my soldiers not to harm anyone so the servants can go back to work," said Cassian.
"Place your soldiers around the castle, not inside it. Those men have been out to war and haven’t had a moment to rest. If we are attacked, your soldiers are tired. Let them see their families," Lilith suggested.
"Be honest with me. You’re trying to decrease the number of men I have on my side, so you outnumber me," Cassian said, seeing right through Lilith’s plans.
"That would be lovely, but that is not the reason. One noble has already spoiled my plans. I would hate for others to attack the castle and spoil it again. If I lose this castle, I am going to aim for your head first," Lilith warned Cassian.
"Good. I get to kidnap and take you far away from the castle," Cassian said, seeing the positive side.
Lilith wasn’t the slightest bit amused. "That charm doesn’t work on me. You’re not cute, and neither is the fellow below, so button up your pants. There’s only so much I can stomach."
