Moments Later.
Cassian had barely finished greeting the Madurai elders before he sensed a familiar presence closing in behind him. He didn't even need to turn around to know who it was. The towering, massive build and the distinct scent of woodsmoke, roasted meat, and worn leather—a smell he had grown far too accustomed to in Timeline Eleven—gave the man away instantly.
"Thoris..." Cassian said, his voice flat and unbothered, "...—what are you doing tiptoeing behind me?"
Thoris laughed loudly, stepping into view and making his presence fully known as he approached Cassian.
"You noticed me without even looking!"
Cassian finally turned around, his brow furrowing into his usual cold frown. He folded his arms over his imperial coat and took a step back, excusing himself from his siblings.
Nearby, Adrian kept his wits about him, and subtly shifted closer to the pair. He knew he needed to keep a sharp eye on Thoris and figure out whatever scheme the barbarian prince had planned for Cassian.
"Of course I would notice a headache approaching from afar," Cassian replied, casually shrugging one shoulder with a click of his tongue.
"You wound me, Cassian," Thoris said, placing a massive hand over his heart with exaggerated drama.
"At least I thought you out of all people would miss me. After all, you were once promised to me, and we spent so much time together when we were still engaged."
"Believe me, Thoris, I would rather forget about that period entirely," Cassian said, his red eyes narrowing.
"And even now, you have already exhausted me so much that I can barely look forward to my stay here."
Thoris grinned even wider, his golden eyes sparkling with mischief.
"I've missed that sharp tongue of yours."
"Well, I cannot say the same about seeing your face."
The atmosphere between them instantly grew tense. Around them, the surrounding Madurai tribe members and Imperial envoys quietly continued their conversations, discreetly pretending not to watch. No one was foolish enough to get involved when the two hotheads of both royal families were squaring off.
Thoris folded his broad arms, smirking down at Cassian as he leaned closer into his space.
"You say you can barely look forward to your stay here, but I think you should. It's about to be fun."
"Oh, I doubt it."
"Believe me, it will," Thoris insisted and Cassian let out a quiet sigh, slowly shaking his head. What was there for him to look forward to? He had been on this land before. He had lived an entire lifetime here during Timeline Eleven, suffering in Thoris's hands as his former bride. But the only difference now was that the roles had been switched between himself and Adrian. So what was there to look forward to, other than the lingering reminders of a traumatic past?
"So..."
Thoris nudged his shoulder lightly against Cassian's.
"...what do you think of my homeland?"
Cassian slowly looked around, his expression cold and devoid of any visible emotion. The endless green grasslands stretched far into the distance. Near the settlement's wooden walls, warriors trained openly with iron swords, while children raced on horseback through the open fields. The wild wind carried the fresh scent of damp earth instead of polished marble and heavy perfume.
It was all too familiar. And painfully so.
Cassian's gaze drifted toward the western hill, where a solitary, ancient tree stood against the skyline. In his past life, that tree had been his only sanctuary—the one place he could escape to find a moment of peace. His children had loved playing beneath its shade as well. Now, looking at what used to be his quiet refuge in a brutal land, he didn't even know how to actually feel about being there again.
"It is... different,"
Cassian said softly.
"Differently good?" Thoris asked and Cassian shrugged nonchalantly.
"Just different."
Thoris laughed, rolling his shoulders. "You really refuse to give my land a single compliment, don't you?"
"I just did," Cassian pointed out, his eyes returning to Thoris. "I said it was different. Is that not enough?"
He paused, glancing back at the bustling settlement.
"Your people seem happy, and very free-spirited. Although they are loud, they are honest. I can respect that. It is nothing like Edrath, where deceit is hidden beneath luxury."
Thoris's playful smile softened for a brief moment.
"I'll take that as praise."
"You shouldn't. It was not meant for you, but for your land."
"I will anyway," Thoris grinned.
Cassian shook his head, letting out another small breath.
"Do whatever you want. I don't care."
Before either of them could continue with their roundabout conversation, Adrian suddenly stepped between them. He stood right beside Thoris, turning to face Cassian directly. And both men blinked, looking down at him.
"Brother," Adrian said smoothly to Cassian, "the Imperial Family is moving to the palace. Let me accompany you to your allocated room myself."
Thoris immediately frowned, waving a hand in disagreement.
"Adrian, go rest your feet. I will take Cassian to his room myself."
"Thoris, as for you...your father called for you," Adrian retorted sharply, glancing up at him.
"And I advise you to go and attend to that instead."
"That can wait, I—"
"As in *right now*, big guy," Adrian commanded, staring Thoris down with absolute authority and Thoris clicked his tongue in frustration, but to Cassian's utter surprise, the barbarian actually fell silent that even Cassian stared at them, genuine shock flickering across his face. Why was Thoris suddenly so tame and obedient toward Adrian?, wasn't it supposed to be the other way around?"
"I guess we will finish our talk later today, Crown Prince," Thoris grunted, turning back to Cassian.
And before walking away, Thoris casually draped a thick, heavy arm across Cassian's shoulders, offering a wide, teasing grin. Cassian looked down at the massive arm resting on him, then back up at Thoris's face.
"...Remove it," Cassian said coldly.
"I don't think I will," Thoris chuckled causing Cassian to scoff in irritation.
"You have three seconds Thoris."
"And if I don't?"
"I will help you remove it by breaking your arm."
Thoris laughed boisterously. "I'd like to see you—"
And before he could even finish his sentence, Cassian calmly grabbed Thoris's wrist, twisted his hand, and forced the heavy arm away with one clean, effortless movement.
Thoris blinked in surprise, staring at his released arm.
"I wasn't using any strength, but that was still rude."
"You were warned," Cassian replied plainly while Adrian pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head in sheer exhaustion. It was as if he were dealing with children.
"Cassian, Thoris... do you mind? We have better things to do than stand here listening to you two argue over everything that you do to each other. Get moving, please. Thoris, to your father. And Cassian... you come with me."
Cassian nodded without argument. After everything that had happened and the letter he received from Adrian, he and Adrian truly had a great deal to discuss regarding his life in the Steppes which seems to be a total contrast from his expectations and he needed to know exactly how Adrian had done it all.
Meanwhile, a short distance away...
Lucien stood beside the gathering of Imperial Knights. Outwardly, he remained perfectly composed as his blue eyes scanned the surroundings. His posture was straight, dignified, and flawless—looking every bit like the hero and model knight everyone admired.
Yet... the moment Thoris had casually placed his arm around Cassian's shoulders earlier, Lucien had seen it. Every single second of it.
Behind his back, Lucien's hand had slowly curled into a tight, hard fist that only lasted for only a brief second before his fingers relaxed once more, returning to his sides.
No one in the crowd noticed—except for one person.
Vikra.
And the elder Madurai prince quietly walked over until he stood directly beside Lucien. Without looking at the knight, Vikra spoke, his eyes watching the crowd.
"My brother enjoys provoking people."
Vikra said and Lucien answered to him calmly as well, his voice smooth and void of emotion.
"I have noticed."
Vikra nodded slowly, continuing the conversation.
"He does it because he wants a reaction." He paused for a moment before adding, "So don't give him one."
"I have no intention of entertaining him," Lucien replied, his gaze remaining fixed on Cassian and Adrian ahead.
Just then a faint smile touched Vikra's lips.
"I wasn't worried about your fists and your emotions, Sir Lucien." He finally turned his head to look at the Silver Knight directly.
"Instead, I was worried about your patience."
Lucien met his dark gaze without shrinking back.
"My patience is intact."
"Then what about your heart?" Vikra asked softly.
"Is it prepared to lose Cassian to someone else... even if it isn't my brother?"
Lucien quickly turned to look at Vikra. A portion of his composure suddenly cracking apart.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Lucien asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"It means nothing, so pay it no mind," Vikra dismissed smoothly.
"After all it is merely a curiosity of mine."
For the first time that day, Lucien did not answer immediately.
Across the busy courtyard, Cassian was already arguing with Thoris again, while Adrian tried—and failed—to maintain peace and keep distance between the two them. From afar, the noisy sight almost resembled a normal, ordinary family gathering.
Almost.
And because of that Lucien quietly looked away from the scene every bit of his insides churning.
"...My duty of protecting him comes first. More than anything else."
Vikra smiled, recognizing that his question had been neatly avoided. He simply nodded, stepping back to leave the knight to his thoughts.
"I hope... for your sake, that remains true," Vikra murmured quietly and Lucien lowered his eyes, his tone dark and steady.
"And so do I."
Neither man spoke another word. But both knew that the coming wedding would not simply unite two great continents—it would bring together individuals whose tangled feelings, hidden ambitions, and silent rivalries were becoming impossible to hide.
And before the celebrations were over... something was bound to break amidst it all.
*****
The walk from the grand harbor gates up toward the inner palace of the Madurai stronghold was a slow, winding ascent.
High stone walls, reinforced with dark iron timber, rose on either side of the wide cobblestone road. Tribal banners—embroidered with the fierce mountain hawk of the Madurai—snapped crisply against the ocean wind.
Cassian walked side-by-side with Adrian, while Elyria fell in step slightly behind them alongside Leo. A small detachment of Imperial guards followed at a respectful distance, their polished armor clashing visually with the surrounding furs and rugged leather of the tribal warriors lining the pathway.
For a long moment, neither brother spoke.
Adrian kept glancing sideways at Cassian, taking in his brother's rigid posture, the subtle tightness in his jaw, and the way his crimson eyes steadily scanned every corner of the passing architecture.
"You look like you're entering an enemy fortress," Adrian noted softly, breaking the silence between them.
"I am entering an foreign stronghold filled with armed warriors," Cassian replied plainly, not breaking his stride. "Caution is merely common sense."
Adrian let out a quiet, breathy laugh. "Fair point. But... it really isn't as bad as you think it is, Cassian."
Cassian didn't answer right away. He knew better than anyone how 'bad' it could get. The memories of Timeline Eleven—the dark, suffocating months spent trapped inside these very halls as Thoris's captive bride—threatened to spill over every time he looked at the wooden doors or heard the low thud of tribal drums in the distance.
He forced his mind back to the present by focusing on his siblings.
"You've changed, Adrian," Cassian said, turning his head to look at his older brother. His voice carried a rare, genuine curiosity.
"After reading your letter a month ago I was expecting to see you down and out but instead the way you handled Thoris earlier... you spoke to him as if he were a unruly child, and he actually listened to you."
Adrian blushed slightly, scratching his cheek as he looked away toward the upper courtyard.
"He is a brute, Cassian," Adrian explained, his tone a mix of exasperation and subtle warmth.
"If you resist and stubbornly refuse his absurd demands, or standing your ground and demand respect he will stomp all over you and call it strength just to break you to pieces until you yield. But if you yield to him and submit, he actually accepts that in his own crude way, anyway. He wants to dominate all the damn time."
'I see, so that's why I suffered in his hands. Because I resisted him until the end....what an insane prick.'
Cassian's crimson eyes darkened just a fraction.
"So does he treat you well now?"
"He does," Adrian answered without a single second of hesitation. He stopped walking, turning to face Cassian directly on the wide stone steps leading up to the royal guest quarters.
"He is loud, aggressive, and entirely devoid of courtly manners and simple emotions. But he takes care of us. He protected Elyria's honor in front of his elders, and... he takes care of me as well...way too much if you ask me."
Adrian reached out, gently placing a hand on Cassian's arm.
"I know why you came here with such a heavy heart, brother," Adrian whispered, his eyes filled with quiet sincerity.
"You expected to find us broken, humiliated, or abused. But we aren't. Elyria and I are making a life here so things should be fine now right?"
Cassian stared at Adrian's hand on his sleeve. In all their years growing up in the icy, treacherous halls of the Imperial Palace, they had never spoken like this. They had been rivals raised to view each other as threats to the throne.
To see Adrian so calm, so mature, and so settled in a foreign land that ruined him in his past life felt almost surreal.
"...I am glad," Cassian said softly, the tension in his shoulders dropping just a fraction.
"If you are truly content... then my worries if helping you escape were unnecessary."
"They weren't unnecessary," Adrian smiled warmly, pulling his hand back.
"It just means my terrifying younger brother actually does care about his family despite his tyrannical personality."
Cassian clicked his tongue, turning his gaze toward the palace doors.
"Do not flatter yourself."
Adrian chuckled leading Cassian to his room and the servants followed behind them, including those that would serve Cassian for his stay both from the tribe and the imperial palace.
The rooms assigned to the Crown Prince were situated on the highest floor of the eastern wing—offering a sweeping, panoramic view of the vast grasslands on one side and the dark ocean harbor on the other.
The chamber was grand, furnished with massive timber furniture, thick fur rugs, and a wide stone fireplace already roaring with warm flames.
"I will leave you to settle in," Adrian said, standing by the open doorway.
"Dinner with the Chieftain and the tribal council will take place at sunset. Rest up until then."
"Thank you, Adrian," Cassian nodded.
Once Adrian closed the heavy wooden doors, the room fell into complete, uninterrupted quiet.
Cassian walked slowly toward the high balcony, stepping out into the cool evening breeze. He unbuckled his heavy formal sword belt, leaning the weapon against the stone railing before resting both hands on the edge.
Behind him, the soft, near-silent click of boot heels signaled a presence entering the room.
Cassian didn't turn around and Lucien stepped out onto the balcony, stopping exactly three paces behind him.
He carried Cassian's travel chest, setting it down by the door before standing at attention.
"I hope you are settling well, Your Highness," Lucien inquired, his voice flat, steady, and devoid of any personal warmth.
"You don't have to worry about safety, the imperial Knights are stationed at the base of the stairwell, and two Madurai guards are posted at the outer hallway."
Cassian stared out at the dark ocean waves crashing against the cliffs far below.
"Is that all, Sir Arden?" Cassian asked softly.
"That is all, My Lord," Lucien replied instantly.
"Unless you require anything else before the evening banquet."
The sharp tone of the formal title—*My Lord*—felt like a cold splash of water.
Cassian tightened his fingers against the stone railing. He remembered Thoris's teasing words from earlier, and he remembered the dark, silent tension that had hung over Lucien throughout the entire voyage across the sea. He wanted to turn around. He wanted to demand why Lucien was being so distantly perfect, or why was he acting like a total stranger.
But he couldn't. Because he knew he was the cause of it all, this was the exact boundary Cassian had drawn himself.
"No,"
Cassian murmured, his hair blowing lightly across his pale face.
"That will be all. You may take your leave."
Lucien bowed low, his right hand over his heart.
"As you wish, Your Highness."
Just then Lucien turned on his heel and walked out of the room, the heavy wooden doors closing behind him with a final, echoing thud.
Left alone on the windy balcony, Cassian closed his eyes and let out a long, shuddering breath into the cold northern air. The continents were unified and allied. His siblings were safe. The wedding was three days away.
Everything was going exactly as planned.
So why did the silence feel so heavy?
*****