Chapter 5: Chapter 5 - Feast
Lilith entered her bedchamber, followed closely by Solomon.
"Why would Duke Mortimer, of all men, turn his back on my father?" Lilith asked, yet to figure out Cassian’s motives.
"His Majesty always sent his grace off to war. Perhaps he grew tired of it. I will see how many of your people live and tell them to lie low for now," said Solomon.
Lilith rubbed her temple. "Cassian knows that I have people in the castle and that I was going to attack. There is a spy amongst us, and I want them dead by nightfall."
"Yes, princess."
Lilith approached the window and peered down at the soldiers. "One day, I will have to kill Cassian to get the throne, but for now, he must live. If he falls, Arthur will take the throne, and he will come after me. It would be wonderful if he would kill Arthur and Thalia now."
Lilith didn’t pity Arthur or Thalia. They had always treated her like an outsider.
"My father’s death was disappointing, but what matters most is that he is gone. Rather than worry about the dead, we keep our attention on the living. Cassian asked me to become the queen by marrying him," Lilith shared, tapping her finger against the window pane.
A cold breeze continued to fill every inch of the castle.
Solomon’s head snapped up as though he had heard something sinful. "You mustn’t."
"I am well aware. It is odd that he attacked the castle and took the throne, only to turn around and offer it to me. He doesn’t need a Beaufort after taking control of the castle. There is another plot, but I do not understand why he needs me," Lilith said, folding her arms.
"Princess, you must keep rejecting him."
"I thought that at first, but if I can get a hold of my father’s old pet and use him, I should," Lilith said, having some use for Cassian. "I need a soldier to use and dispose of when he is no longer useful."
"Duke Mortimer is not a man you can control. He surprised all of us today," Solomon said.
"He did," Lilith agreed.
"The very man who swore to protect your father and fight his battles turned on him today."
"My father was not keeping an eye on Cassian. I saw Cassian’s plans before my father did. I will kill Cassian before he has a chance to bite my hand. I would be a fool not to use him to kill the other Beauforts," Lilith said, a plot forming in her mind.
Solomon gripped his sword. "You shouldn’t marry him. He is too unpredictable. I do not recognise that man. He seems possessed."
Lilith shook her head. "Who said I would marry him? I would merely entertain him while he kills the Beauforts, and kill him before he turns on me. That is the plan, and it is not to be questioned. Inform the others to be quiet."
Lilith turned her back to Solomon to observe the castle. "Let Cassian think he is pulling the strings for now. I’ll keep my needle ready."
"Go deliver the message and return to me. I can’t be without a guard for long," Lilith said, fearing the danger had only just begun.
Hours later, Lilith was called upon by Cassian.
Lilith walked with her head up, anticipating a meeting about Cassian’s offer, but what she walked into was dinner.
Lilith frowned, puzzled by the table filled with food and candles.
The dining chamber was quiet with only Cassian present.
"I prepared a feast for you," Cassian informed Lilith.
Lilith remained still, first inspecting the food, then meeting Cassian’s gaze. "Why?"
"You must eat. Your father forbade you from setting foot in the dining chamber after you first rejected your engagement. The servants were ordered not to take food to your bedchamber."
Lilith eyed Cassian, feeling even more reluctant to sit with him. "For a man who had been out of the castle for weeks, you know what occurred here in your absence. Did you spend the day listening to what I faced with my father?"
"Flattered?"
"Concerned," Lilith flatly replied. "Knowing my troubles won’t make me grow an interest in you."
"I know it won’t. It’s not like you," Cassian said, pulling out Lilith’s chair.
"You don’t know me," Lilith replied, yet to move.
"One day, you will understand how well I know you, Princess. For now, we start anew. Your chair," Cassian said, awaiting Lilith to be seated.
Lilith approached the table but pulled out another chair and sat down.
Cassian didn’t take offence at Lilith’s rejection. He predicted Lilith wouldn’t give a warm greeting, so despite it just being the two of them having dinner, he had all the chairs set.
"If you knew me, you would have known I wouldn’t sit there. Let us skip the warm greetings and get to the truth of the matter. You brought me here to have my answer," Lilith said, getting to the point. "I don’t have an interest in fake chatter."
Cassian sat down in a chair on the opposite side of Lilith, so he had a perfect full view of her. "I did bring you here for your answer, but also to feed you. I had some of your favourite foods prepared."
Lilith’s gaze lowered to the food on the table. There were dishes she liked.
"What a shame you won’t eat any of it since you don’t trust me. Or is it that you are still haunted by the maid who tried to poison you? Don’t look so surprised," Cassian said, wearing a smile while Lilith’s brows furrowed. "Your father buried the incident."
"He allowed the maid to walk free, while you and your mother were left in fear. He kept the attempt to kill you from the kingdom. Just as he did when you killed the maid when you were nine, stabbing her in the neck," said Cassian.
Lilith grew more wary of Cassian.
The incident Cassian spoke of was buried. No one aside from her parents and her father’s close guards knew of the incident. It was never spoken of.
Lilith was concerned that Cassian knew her secrets, but it didn’t change her plans.
"A prominent duke spent his time digging around my past. How pathetic," Lilith said, uninterested in the tales Cassian shared.
