"What did you say? The Imperial Consort is here?"
"That's right, Your Highness. Carsen asked me to warn you while preparing a tea for him."
Lucian blinked stunned and felt his head buzzing slightly. He was not fit to receive Cassander yet. The letter that was in Elyon's possession and the memory of the true Eighth Prince have not been studied by him yet. Needed? It would be nice to ensure his safety, but that wouldn't change the fact that Lucian decided not to put his hand on the fire for anyone.
Couldn't im just ignore it? Lucian wish he could. The story needed to be torn apart for its survival.
"All right, I'll see him."
Rising from the chair, he left his office and all administrative work aside for a few minutes. The curiosity of a gossip was stronger than his reason. He wanted to know the reason for Cassander's coming and the story behind the letter. In fact, the whole life story of the Eighth Prince was already beginning to leave Lucian curious, especially now that he had fragments of memories to consider.
The Grimwood's drawing room was majestic, just like any other room in the mansion. The dark decoration with the wine tone was the only charm that did not match, not a bit, with the alpha of blond hair that entered the room. His delicacy did not adorn so much with the gloom of the place, perhaps that was why Lucian felt good there.
However, Cassander suited well. The man with long dark hair and sweet expression in his ordinary costume seemed to be in tune with the Grimwood mansion, considering that behind his sweet smile could exist an evil side. At least that was what the mind of Lucian warned him hesitantly.
Cassander was sitting staring at his own hands when he heard the door being opened. Entering the visiting room, Lucian was greeted with hesitation by the Consort. He looked at his own son and opened a friendly smile as he stood up. Lucian noticed that the Consort wanted to hug him, or try some kind of approach, but in the end he clenched his fists and remained standing.
"It's been a while, my son. I apologize for showing up unannounced, but I needed to discuss something with you."
"I understand. Please sit down, Your Majesty."
While the two sat on the couch, Carsen entered the room to serve tea and some snacks. Lucian assessed his visit calmly. Cassander looked calm, always with the upright posture and that thin smile on his face. Cassander followed each action of the butler, remaining silent waiting patiently until they were alone again.
Lucian took the cup of tea and drank a sip, trying to stay calm. A mysterious character like Cassander should not be discarded completely, although he wants to ignore it.
"I received the invitation from Countess Sahana for a tea party."
"What?" Lucian frowned. Wasn't that the twins' mother? "Why would she have a tea party after what happened to Elyon?"
"Although she is in mourning, the death of the Seventh Prince is not public knowledge. If she stays away from social circles, she may raise suspicion, and your father has made it clear that he does not want anyone to know while the investigations are taking place."
Lucian drank a sip of the tea and nodded, though it seemed like complete nonsense. After all, Elyon is the son of the Countess, it would be expected that she was not willing to appear publicly. Only that Lucian knew that the Emperor, their father, did not show the same sadness the other day when she begged for a dignified burial of her son.
Would they force Lucian to act as if nothing had happened?
He would have made the best choice by giving up life in the Imperial Palace. Even if he agreed with the discretion in favor of investigation, Lucian still found the Emperor's attitude somewhat cold.
"So, the Countess invited you to a tea party... is that a problem?"
"Usually I do not appear at such events, after all my health limits me in my duties. However, I chose to appear this time, and I would like you to accompany me."
Raising his head in surprise, Lucian blinked stunned.
"Do you want me to accompany you? Why?"
"Your father commented that the Countess has chosen a suitable groom for Dahlia, and the engagement will be announced at this tea party" Cassander leaned to take the cup of tea, taking a sip before continuing "The point is that the Countess did not give much information about the alleged groom, what makes your father worried."
"If His Majesty suspects such a person, just do not approve the engagement."
"Oh, and he didn't approve. Still, the Countess will make the announcement."
Lucian's cup stopped in the way of his lips. The clear eyes rose to the Imperial Consort, gaining his attention.
"Will she do it? Even without the Emperor's approval?"
"Strange, isn't it?"
Was there something like that in the original plot? Lucian looked down at the cup of tea, staring at the liquid, trying to remember the details of the story. Something about Dahlia, specifically. Lucian didn't remember much other than that she had married and left the Empire quietly. Just like Elyon also ended
Lucian frowned when he felt the stinging in his head and the slight ringing in his ear. Unconsciously wanted to avoid feeling pain for remembering the story, which made him breathe a tired sigh.
"I understand your suspicion, but I don't know why I'm a good company for an event like this."
"Now, Lucian, you are a Grimwood now. A consort. You have to make your appearances too, and this kind of social event impacts the reputation of the house you now belong to."
"I know that, but..."
Cassander noticed Lucian's hesitation. Leaving the cup on the table, the man changed the subject.
"Lucian, what happened to you?"
"What?" The alpha raised his head without understanding "What do you mean?"
"Does not respond to my letters, does not seem willing to accompany me to a simple tea party. Not to mention your behavior during the hunting festival. I just came to ask you to accompany me, and you seem to dislike it."
Lucian repressed the urge to make a grimace. He did not want to get involved in the family problems of the Eighth Prince, he had no idea how long he would stay in that dream. Only that he also felt curiosity to understand the past of the character he possessed.
Lucian wanted to understand, mainly because Cadec also implied that it was Lucian who walked away. This collided head on with the memories that was awakening.
Should he throw green? Lucian tried to decide while rubbing his fingers in the porcelain cup. It was risky to say that Raven asked Elyon to investigate something at his command. It could create a big mess...
But he was no longer in the Imperial Palace to protect himself, right?
Besides, it wouldn't be a problem for him to create some confusion. Why should he limit himself just to keep himself safe? My godness, he entered into his favorite story and married the favorite character. Had already changed the story in such a way that playing with the secondary characters would make no difference!
Why was he holding on?
Ah... Lucian wanted to open a diabolical smile.
Sighing low and letting his shoulders fall, Lucian came to lower the tone of his voice as he said with the greatest regret.
"Actually, I was given a letter written by you, Your Majesty."
"A letter?"
"Yes, a letter where His Majesty says about abandoning me in the palace as a way to take revenge on the Emperor..."
Cassander froze in place and opened his eyes to Lucian, with a coldness that the prince had only seen once. A shiver went up from the back of the prince, who forced himself to keep the composure of poor man. Now that he had decided to play, he had to sustain his jokes, even if the Consort looked like someone scary from time to time.
The washed fingers of the Consort rubbed his temple, although no sadness or surprise transpired. On the contrary, there was a mixture. A somewhat interesting reaction in Lucian's eyes.
"Well, that was faster than I thought."
"So it's true..."
"Indeed, I wrote a letter, but its content is not true", Cassander uttered a low laugh, further confusing his son "If there is something that I do not regret, it was to say "I do" to your father. I had to give up my career, that is a fact, but it is a risk that I would have taken even if I had chosen to reject the marriage."
Lucian nodded his head in agreement. Well, Magnus said that Cassander was a skilled knight before he got married. All the knights were at risk in that career, whose core was to face dangers. It made some sense, but he was still confused.
"But... why wrote such a letter, if it is said that its content is false?"
"To know who would take it, who would deliver and when. I wrote this letter even before you were engaged to the Grand Duke, hoping that it would disappear and end up in someone's hands."
"So you wrote this letter for some purpose?"
"More precisely to know who is trying to take my only son away from me."
A shiver rose again from behind Lucian. Cassander was more evil than he imagined. Did not fully understand his objective, especially if it is something that occurred before their engagement. That is before the new Lucian meets the Consort. Unfortunately, he had no memory of before the Eighth Prince's supposed flu that could help him understand what was going on.
Leaving the cup on the table, Lucian crossed his arms as he faced the Consort.
"So, should I just think it's a misunderstanding?"
Cassander relaxed his shoulders and stood up from the couch to turn around the table. He sat down next to his son, hugging his shoulders without the hesitation that Lucian had seen before. Cassander pulled him close and leaned their heads, making the heat of his body cover Lucian again. That cozy and familiar feeling filled the alpha's chest with nostalgia.
Like a slight feeling of getting something that was lost so long ago.
"Of course, how could I say such words about my own son? I do not regret having you in my life. I would give my life in exchange for yours, to keep you well and smiling as you are today", Cassander had said in a tone so delicate that Lucian came to melt in his arms. But soon he asked a question that made him slightly curious "Tell me, who delivered the letter?"
"It was Raven" said Lucian without much thought "She said that Dahlia found in the Elyon's belongings."
Lucian did not see the coldness in Cassander's eyes when he heard those names. And how would he notice, when the Consort embraced him possessively and stroked his hair as comforting a lost and frightened child?