Chapter 7: Chapter 7 - Loyalty
"You chased away the princess faster than I expected you to. Aren’t you being a bit too strong with your advances?" Eric asked, watching as Cassian entered the private study. "Why are you in a rush and ruining your chances?"
Cassian didn’t respond.
"Brute," Eric muttered. "You’re also scaring some of the soldiers. I know you best, yet your infatuation with Princess Lilith puzzles me."
"It is not infatuation. It is love," Cassian calmly corrected Eric.
"So you say. Before we left for war, there was no mention of the princess. Then you think only of her in the middle of a war. Did you hit your head and it fooled you into thinking you loved her?" Eric wondered.
How did Cassian go from hating the Beauforts to loving one overnight?
Cassian sat down and tilted his head over the back of the chair. "It is difficult to be patient. I need her at my side."
"I grew up with you, and your behaviour is scaring me. Imagine how it must be for the princess. Think of her position and be better with your advances. Or, take her by force. You are the king," said Eric.
Cassian raised his head, his cold glare sending chills throughout Eric’s body. "She isn’t to be taken by force."
"Well, I don’t see how else you will get her. You turned your sword on her father, and now you are sitting on the throne. If I were in her shoes, I wouldn’t trust you. Fortunately, you are in a position to make her marry you and worry about love later."
Eric stepped back, troubled by Cassian’s gaze. "Forget my suggestion to use your power. Are you going to tell her about the dream you had?"
"It was not a dream," Cassian replied, annoyed with repeating himself.
"Right, it was all real," Eric said, his doubt evident in his voice. "I lost you for a few hours on the battlefield, and you came out a changed man. Tell me honestly, what happened to you? Why the sudden interest in the princess?"
"I am not going to lose her again," came Cassian’s response.
Eric’s brows furrowed. "When did you lose her?" he inquired.
Eric sighed and placed his hands on his hips. "I do not understand, Cassian. You came out of that cave we found you in, desperate to return to the castle, and then you spoke of killing the king. The men think you have gone mad, and I am starting to believe it, but I will fight alongside you."
"I am the same man. Keep the men in line and do not lose sight of the Beauforts. The crown prince will be beheaded in the morning," Cassian revealed.
"You are at risk of turning the kingdom against you. You were loved as the kingdom’s war hero. To kill the king and the crown prince might make the people fear you," Eric said, concerned. "You must reconsider."
"If I must repeat myself, you will find yourself next to the prince in the morning. Must I explain all my plans to you?" Cassian asked, daring Eric to challenge him.
"No. Forgive me, Your Grace. Your Majesty," Eric corrected himself.
"I have not been crowned king yet. Not without my wife," said Cassian.
"Before I go, you spoke of Princess Lilith having a lover. Am I to remove him? You have more important matters to give your attention to," Eric said.
"No. He’ll fail her, and when he does, she’ll come closer to being in my arms. Leave me," Cassian ordered Eric. He needed time to think about the days ahead.
Eric bowed his head and departed the room, leaving Cassian to plot in silence.
Elsewhere, Lilith entered her bedchamber.
Solomon followed Lilith inside. "Princess, I took bread for you. It is safe," he said, revealing the bun.
Lilith turned around to face Solomon. She eyed the bun in his hand and asked, "Have you eaten?"
"I have-"
"Never lie to me. You haven’t eaten, and I am certain you didn’t take enough to feed yourself. What use are you to me if you starve yourself to death?" Lilith asked, taking the bread from Solomon’s hand to tear it in half. "You are to eat. A weak guard needs to be disposed of."
"Eat," Lilith said, offering Solomon the bread.
Solomon’s stomach growling mirrored her own. It had been more than a day since they had eaten a proper meal.
After being restricted from exiting the castle by her father, Lilith could not slip away to find food, and it had not been an easy task for her servants to sneak her food.
Solomon accepted the bread he didn’t want to eat.
Until Lilith was full, all the food needed to go to her. Solomon could go another day without eating.
"He knows that I have a lover," Lilith revealed just as Solomon was taking a bite.
Solomon coughed, choking on his saliva. He stared at Lilith, unable to believe a word she spoke. "I didn’t mutter a word of your affairs. It is not me."
Lilith stared at Solomon, contemplating whether he would betray her.
No one was ever too trustworthy in the castle.
"For now, I will believe you, but someone amongst my servants has been talking to the duke. I need to send a letter out of the castle," Lilith said, thinking of the man Cassian spoke of.
"Are you concerned Duke Mortimer will kill your lover?"
Lilith’s laughter silenced Solomon. "He can kill him for all I care. That man must have gotten too bold and spoken of our encounters. I don’t have any use for a talkative man, and I never planned on making him my king. It is time to cut ties."
"What if he speaks of your time with him?" Solomon asked, gripping his sword.
"Hmm. There’s a man seemingly obsessed with my hand in marriage. I should make use of him and have him kill my enemies before I dispose of him. For now, I’m going to make Cassian my new blade," Lilith said, ready to accept the marriage proposal.
