Livia paced in her chambers, her silk gown swishing around her ankles as she clenched her fists. It had been two days since the spar between Cassian and Julian, and the memory still burned like a fresh wound. She had expected Julian to emerge victorious, to put that wretched boy in his place, but instead, he had been humiliated. Worse, Dorian had said nothing about it.
Her anger boiled over when her trusted handmaiden, Selene, entered the room. "My lady, Lord Dorian is still in his study. He has not summoned Julian."
Livia turned sharply. "Of course, he hasn't! He does not see the importance of this. He coddles that boy!" She took a deep breath, attempting to compose herself, but her frustration was too great. "Cassian was supposed to be gone from this household! Yet he lingers, like a shadow creeping closer to my son's rightful place."
Selene hesitated before speaking. "Shall I arrange for another meeting with the other noble families, my lady? They still have concerns about the boy's presence."
Livia's lips curled into a sneer. "Concerns? They should be outraged! They should demand justice for my son's humiliation! Julian is the heir to this house, not that half-blood stain from Volantis!" She exhaled sharply, smoothing out the fabric of her gown. "No. I will handle this myself. I will speak to Dorian. He will listen to reason, or he will regret ignoring me."
She stormed out of her chambers, her fury barely restrained as she made her way through the halls. Servants scurried out of her path, sensing the storm brewing within her. When she reached the study, she threw open the doors without waiting to be announced.
Dorian looked up from his desk, his expression a mixture of mild surprise and annoyance. "Livia," he said, setting down his quill. "What is the meaning of this interruption?"
"The meaning?" she spat. "It has been two days, Dorian. Two days since our son was humiliated in front of everyone, and you have done nothing! You let that boy walk around this house as if he owns it!"
Dorian sighed, rubbing his temples. "Livia, you exaggerate. It was a spar, nothing more. Julian lost. He will learn from it."
"Learn from it?" she repeated, her voice rising. "He shouldn't have lost at all! That bastard—"
"Enough!" Dorian's voice was sharp, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Cassian is my son, just as Julian is. You will not speak of him that way."
Livia's eyes widened in disbelief. "You dare take his side over your own heir? Over me?" She took a step closer, lowering her voice. "You forget, Dorian. I married you for what you have, for what you could give my son. I did not marry you to be cast aside for some unwanted whelp!"
Dorian's expression darkened. "I suggest you watch your tongue, wife. You are the lady of this house, but do not mistake your position for power."
Livia's hands trembled with fury, but she forced herself to smile. "Very well, my lord. If you will not act, then I will."
She turned on her heel and stormed out of the study, her mind already spinning with plans. If Dorian would not remove Cassian, she would find another way. And this time, she would make sure there were no mistakes.