Chapter 297: v3 - 58: the truth III

Chapter 297: v3 Chapter 58: the truth III

Lorenz raised one finger.

"First."

"You find Marian."

"If she is still unmarried, you intend to marry her."

Cassian nodded slightly.

"Although," Lorenz added, "given everything you have just told me, I find it difficult to believe your cousin would have simply allowed her to remain unmarried all these years."

Cassian’s expression darkened.

"Neither do I."

"Especially if he wanted you removed because of her."

Lorenz raised a second finger.

"Second."

"You want revenge."

Cassian looked at him.

"Your cousin had you taken away and left for dead."

He paused.

"I imagine you have some feelings about that."

Cassian’s expression remained unreadable.

Lorenz raised a third finger.

"Third."

"You reclaim your birthright."

"Your title."

"Your duchy."

"Your position within the Empire."

"And whatever remains of the life you lost."

He lowered his hand.

"So which is it?"

Cassian was quiet.

Lorenz watched him carefully.

"Are you going back for the woman?"

"For revenge?"

"For your birthright?"

"Or all three?"

Cassian looked down for a moment.

Then he leaned back.

The answer seemed obvious to him.

But saying it aloud made it feel different.

"I want to find Marian."

Lorenz waited.

"If she is still free to choose me, I want to marry her."

There was no hesitation in his voice.

"As for the rest..."

Cassian paused.

"I do not know yet."

Lorenz studied him.

"You don’t want your title back?"

"I did."

Cassian looked toward the window.

"Once."

"But I have lived without it for nearly six years."

He looked back at Lorenz.

"I can live without it again."

Lorenz’s expression shifted slightly.

"And revenge?"

Cassian was silent.

"I will not pretend that I feel nothing."

His voice was quiet.

"If Adrian truly ordered my death, then I will want answers."

"But I did not come to you asking for an army."

"I did not come here asking you to help me overthrow him."

"I simply want to know what happened."

"And I want to see Marian."

Lorenz remained silent.

Cassian continued.

"If she has married, then I will accept that."

"If she has chosen another life, then that is her choice."

"But I need to know."

He paused.

"And if she has not..."

His voice softened.

"Then I want to bring her home."

Lorenz looked at him for a long moment.

"Home."

Cassian nodded.

"Wherever that may be."

Lorenz regarded him thoughtfully.

"Then perhaps we do not need to send you anywhere yet."

Cassian looked at him.

"If that is all you need to know, we can find out."

"You do not need to cross the border simply to learn whether Marian Valmont is married."

Cassian remained silent.

Lorenz continued.

"We can send someone ahead."

"Someone who knows the Imperial language."

"Someone who can move through the country without attracting attention."

"A man who can ask questions without making it obvious that the answers matter."

Cassian listened.

"It would be safer."

"Yes."

"And faster."

"Almost certainly."

Cassian remained silent.

Lorenz waited.

Cassian frowned.

Lorenz stared at him for a moment.

Then he laughed.

"Finally."

Cassian’s eyebrow lifted.

"Stop with the idealistic reasoning and tell us the unfiltered truth."

Marcus’s mouth twitched.

Cassian looked between them.

Lorenz leaned back, still smiling.

"You want to go back and see Marian Valmont because you love her."

Cassian said nothing.

"Despite everything."

"Despite the years."

"Despite whatever life she may have built in your absence."

Lorenz’s smile became more knowing.

"You want to see her because somewhere in that stubborn head of yours, you still want to know whether there is even a sliver of a chance."

Cassian’s expression tightened.

"And if she is married to your cousin..."

Lorenz shrugged.

"Then perhaps even better."

Cassian frowned deeper.

"You think that man deserves her?"

Lorenz gave a short laugh.

"Of course you don’t."

"You probably think your cousin doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as her."

Marcus finally looked away, hiding a smile.

"What I mean to say is that, at least, you won’t have to fight your conscience over taking her from a happy life."

"Or from another man who perhaps deserves her."

His smile turned amused.

"If it is your cousin, then better."

"You get the girl."

"And you get a little vengeance at the same time."

Marcus looked away, clearly suppressing a laugh.

Cassian’s expression darkened.

Lorenz laughed.

"Come now."

"You know I’m right."

"You don’t want to steal another man’s wife."

"But if the man is the same one who tried to have you killed?"

He spread his hands.

"I’d say the circumstances are rather different."

Cassian shook his head.

"You’re impossible."

"And yet you came to me asking for permission to cross an empire."

Lorenz smiled.

"So perhaps you should listen to me."

Cassian said nothing.

Lorenz’s expression softened.

"I’ve known you long enough, Cassian."

"You are not the sort of man who simply lets go."

His gaze remained on him.

"You survived the Arena."

"You survived being hunted."

"You survived whatever your cousin did to you."

"You helped me win my crown."

"And after that, you helped me keep it."

"You helped me stabilize this kingdom when half the country wanted to tear it apart."

Lorenz leaned forward.

"So don’t stand there and give me some polished answer about accepting her choices and peacefully walking away."

"I know you better than that."

Cassian stared at him.

Lorenz’s smile faded into something warmer.

"What cannot be said between us?"

Silence.

"You can tell me the truth."

"You have nothing to prove to me."

Cassian’s expression finally softened.

He looked down briefly.

Then he exhaled.

"I love her."

The words were quiet.

Simple.

No justification.

No explanation.

Just the truth.

Lorenz nodded.

"I know."

Cassian looked up.

"And I want to see her."

"I know."

"Even if she has moved on."

"I know."

Cassian’s voice lowered.

"Even if she hates me for disappearing."

Lorenz’s expression softened.

"I know."

Cassian was silent.

Then Lorenz smiled again.

"Good."

He leaned back.

"Now we’re finally having an honest conversation."

--

TBC

AN: haha!!! I love this conversation lol! I drafted this a couple of times bec i was thinking someone got to tell cassian that to his face hahaha.