Chapter 78: Chapter 78 - Helping hand
"It has been that way from the start. You were staring at me for hours, yet you didn’t notice it?"
"I haven’t been staring at you for hours. You are handsome, but not that handsome. Must I wake to you in this state every morning? You appear to be quite happy lying next to me," Lilith said with dry amusement.
"Is that not a compliment to you?" Cassian asked, still yet to move to cover himself. Contrary to her words, Lilith kept staring at him.
"No, not at all. This little act you have going on doesn’t please me. Men who are too obsessed with women turn out not to be the best of gentlemen once they get what they want. I have seen it, and unfortunately experienced it," Lilith said, recalling one instance.
"Which bastard had you experienced it with, and why were you giving men who chased after you a chance?"
"I never said I gave them a chance. I merely noticed they were chasing me too much. The easiest way to become part of the Beaufort family would be to marry a princess. My father wouldn’t have given away Thalia’s hand easily," Lilith explained.
The easiest option for men seeking to enter the castle was to court Lilith.
"They seemed to think that since I was the black sheep of the family and living alone, I would be desperate for their attention and gifts. I did take the gifts, as they could be sold for money, but I sent them off after I had had enough," Lilith shared, smiling at their frowns.
"You were not afraid that they would spread tales that you accepted their gifts and gave nothing in return?"
"There are always rumours being shared about me. Why should I care that another has been added? That doesn’t seem to be going away," Lilith said, her gaze flicking deliberately to his lower body. "Are you in need of help with your predicament?"
"A helping hand from you would be lovely," Cassian answered, though he didn’t expect her to go through with it.
Lilith raised her right brow. "From me? Oh, I wasn’t offering to aid you. I was going to suggest that you use your hand or find a lady willing to help you. How could it be a good start to the morning if I help you settle your little issue? Shouldn’t you start the day by settling my desires?"
Cassian moved closer, the mattress dipping beneath his weight. "I would be quite happy to help you. What are they?"
"I am hungry," Lilith answered, staring at Cassian with a blank expression, her stomach growling in protest.
"Lilith," Cassian sighed, scolding himself for being so foolish as to get his hopes up. "Must you be this way?"
"What way?" Lilith asked, feigning innocence. "We are speaking of each other’s desires. Your desire is for me to rid you of your erection, and mine is to eat. Weren’t you the one telling me last night that I must be healthy?"
"Shouldn’t I also prove to you that I am healthy as well? You’ve been questioning my manhood from the start."
"Are you still sad because I said you were small? I was lying, Cassian. I am a petty woman who doesn’t know when not to lie, so I might not hurt a gentleman’s feelings," Lilith confessed, her lips curving.
"It is not as though you are blind, and you have travelled with an army. Surely, when the others were having their bath, you saw their own and were able to compare. Oh, look. It has gone limp," Lilith said, admiring the fruit of her work. "It seems I did help you after all."
Cassian released Lilith’s hand and sat up, deciding it was time to start the day. "You are cruel."
"How am I cruel? You were in need of help, and I offered it to you. You cannot get angry because it is not the way you wanted it. Since we are moving on, I need you to meet with the nobles before they leave the castle. Have them swear their loyalty to you," Lilith said as she sat up, her hair falling over her shoulders.
"I have been a noble for years. Surely, you didn’t think I acted without proper support. As I told you, not everyone who was once at your father’s side loved him," Cassian said as he walked to the window and pulled back the drapes, letting in the morning light.
"Could you trust them with your life?" Lilith asked, watching his movement.
"The question I ask myself these days is if I can trust them with your life. Most I can, because we have been well acquainted since our youth. I was forced to be close to other boys who would one day become noblemen or prominent men of the kingdom," Cassian shared, appreciating those days now.
"I witnessed the little groups always walking together. They were made to follow around Arthur, since they would be his subjects in the future. You need more of these men on your side than our enemies can have," Lilith said, worried they lacked allies.
"We mustn’t hold gatherings in the castle anymore to waste food or drink. Do whatever it is that men do and have them gather. Take your sword and fight each other, or gossip. They are quite good at that," Lilith said.
Cassian turned to face her, puzzled by her notion of how men spent their time. "Lilith, that is not what men do when they gather."
"I was being polite not to speak of having women entertain you and drinking. That would only place me in a bad position with their wives. I must get close to the wives of your allies and even the wives of our enemies. I look forward to those gatherings," said Lilith, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Because you are eager to fight with words?"
"Precisely. Many of those women have mocked me before, and now I am in a position to put them in their place. It is a bit early to send for my maids and guards, so I will make a list of what I must do. Entertain yourself," Lilith said, rising gracefully and leaving Cassian to amuse himself.
