Chapter 298: v3 - 59: the road home I

Chapter 298: v3 Chapter 59: the road home I

Cassian was silent for a moment.

Then he exhaled.

"Fine."

Lorenz smiled faintly.

"The truth is, I suspect she is already married to Adrian."

His expression grew more serious.

"It has been five years and seven months."

"Marian was engaged to him for eighteen years before I ever came along."

"She loved him once."

He paused.

"Winning her over while I was presumed dead would probably not have been difficult for him."

Lorenz said nothing.

"He could have made the circumstances inevitable."

"A grieving woman."

"A dead man."

"An Emperor who had once been the man she was supposed to marry."

Cassian looked toward the window.

"I don’t know what he told her."

"And I don’t know what happened after I disappeared."

His jaw tightened.

"But if Adrian wanted me gone badly enough to arrange my death, I doubt he left the matter of Marian entirely to chance."

Lorenz leaned back.

"And if they have a child?"

Cassian’s expression became distant.

"That would complicate things."

There was no bitterness in his voice.

"I would have to accept that she built a life without me."

He paused.

"But at least she would know I did not abandon her."

Lorenz remained quiet.

"I need her to know that."

"I need to tell her what happened."

"That I tried to come back."

"That I never chose to disappear."

"That I tried to keep my promise."

Cassian gave a humorless breath.

"Though I don’t know how easy that conversation would be if she is standing there with a child who has my cousin’s face."

Lorenz’s mouth twitched.

"That would indeed make matters somewhat complicated."

"Somewhat?"

"Very."

Cassian looked away again.

"Best case?"

Lorenz waited.

"She is married to Adrian."

"No children."

"She may even love him."

Cassian’s jaw tightened.

"But she chose me once."

His voice softened.

"So perhaps she could choose me again."

Lorenz studied him.

"And if she doesn’t?"

"Then I leave."

Lorenz nodded.

"At least you know what you are willing to accept."

"I know what I want."

Cassian looked at him.

"That doesn’t mean I expect to get it."

Lorenz was silent for a moment.

Then he straightened.

"Good."

Cassian raised an eyebrow.

"Because now we can make a sensible plan."

Marcus, who had remained quiet through most of the conversation, finally spoke.

"The first step is information."

Cassian nodded.

"We need to know what has happened in the Empire."

"And we need to know before Cassian crosses the border," Lorenz added.

Cassian did not object.

Lorenz continued.

"Robert goes first."

"He knows the Imperial language."

"He can travel without attracting the kind of attention you would."

"He can move through the border regions easily enough."

"And once he reaches the capital, he can begin asking questions."

Cassian nodded.

"About Marian."

"About the Emperor."

"About the Empress."

"About anything that may tell us what has happened since you disappeared."

Marcus considered it.

"Given the Emperor and Empress are public figures, their current status should not be difficult to establish."

"Exactly," Lorenz said.

"If Marian is married to Adrian, Robert should be able to confirm it quickly."

"If she has children, that should be equally easy to learn."

Cassian remained quiet.

"How long?"

Marcus answered.

"Three weeks to reach the Empire."

"Then however long he needs to investigate."

"And another three weeks for his report to reach us."

Lorenz nodded.

"So even if he finds everything immediately, we should expect roughly six weeks before we have the information in hand."

Cassian absorbed that.

Six weeks.

After nearly six years, it was nothing.

Lorenz continued.

"And while Robert is doing that, we begin the diplomatic side."

Marcus looked at him.

"I will send a delegation."

"Not for a treaty."

Lorenz shook his head.

"For negotiations."

He leaned back.

"The Empire and Milicia have spent years regarding one another with suspicion."

"I have only recently taken the throne."

"That gives me an advantage."

Marcus understood.

"A new king may be seen as more willing to establish a different relationship than the previous administration."

"Exactly."

"I will formally propose open peace negotiations."

"Nothing more."

"No demands."

"No military arrangements."

"Simply an offer to discuss peace between our kingdoms."

Cassian listened.

"And if they agree?"

"Then we have a legitimate reason to enter the Empire."

Lorenz’s eyes moved toward him.

"And you will come with me."

Cassian nodded.

"As Carlo."

"Yes."

Lorenz’s tone became firm.

"You will enter as Marquess Carlo of Valmere."

"Not as Cassian Ashford."

Cassian nodded.

"Until we know how the Empire will react to your survival, your real identity remains concealed."

Cassian considered the plan.

"And if someone recognizes me?"

Lorenz’s expression became almost amused.

"Let them."

Cassian looked at him.

"You will not hide your face."

"No."

"There would be little point."

Lorenz leaned forward.

"You have been presumed dead for nearly six years."

"Let them see you."

"If someone believes you resemble Duke Cassian Ashford, what are they going to say?"

Cassian remained silent.

"That Marquess Carlo of Valmere looks remarkably similar to a dead duke?"

Lorenz gave a faint smile.

"Then we will tell them they look alike."

"And if they insist?"

"Then they may continue insisting."

He shrugged.

"The Empire declared Cassian Ashford dead."

"Marquess Carlo is alive."

"And I will personally vouch for Marquess Carlo’s identity."

Marcus gave a quiet nod.

"It also gives Cassian the protection of the royal delegation."

"Exactly."

Lorenz looked toward Cassian.

"You will enter under my protection."

"As one of my trusted men."

"Your title will be recognized."

"Your identity will be legitimate."

"And no one will have reason to question why Marquess Carlo is traveling with the King of Milicia."

Cassian considered it.

It was strange.

He would return to the Empire without disguising himself.

He would walk its streets again.

He would stand before people who had believed him dead.

And yet, officially, he would still be someone else.

Marquess Carlo of Valmere.

Not Duke Cassian Ashford.

Not the man they had buried in rumor.

A different name.

A different title.

A different life.

Lorenz suddenly smiled.

"And I will go with you."

Cassian looked at him.

"You?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Lorenz looked almost offended by the question.

"First, because I am not sending one of my most valuable men into a potentially hostile empire without being there to protect him."

Cassian raised an eyebrow.

"I can protect myself."

"I know."

"Which is why I said potentially."

Marcus’s mouth twitched.

Lorenz continued.

"And second..."

His smile became mischievous.

"I want to see what this Marian Valmont looks like."

Cassian stared at him.

Lorenz laughed.

"Come now."

"You have spent years talking about this woman."

"You’ve had an emperor and a duke fighting over her."

"And somehow she was important enough to inspire your cousin to have you removed."

"I want to see what great beauty that woman possesses to inspire such madness."

He shook his head.

"She must be a great beauty, is she not?"

"She is."

The answer came immediately.

Lorenz raised an eyebrow.

"You’re very certain."

"Yes."

"Are you?"

Cassian frowned.

Lorenz’s smile widened.

"It has been nearly six years, Cassian."

"Perhaps your memory is doing some generous work."

Cassian stared at him.

"What if she has gained weight?"

Cassian’s expression darkened.

"What if she has become terribly overweight?"

"Lorenz."

"What if she hasn’t aged particularly well?"

Lorenz was clearly enjoying himself now.

"What if you arrive expecting the most beautiful woman in the Empire and discover that six years have been rather unkind to her?"

Cassian shook his head.

"Impossible."

Lorenz laughed.

"You cannot possibly know that."

"I know her."

"You knew her."

"I still do."

Lorenz gave him a skeptical look.

"And if I am right?"

Cassian’s expression softened.

"Then I will love her still."

Lorenz stared at him.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then he groaned.

"You romantic sap."

Marcus laughed.

Lorenz waved a hand dramatically.

"Get out."

Cassian’s eyebrow lifted.

"You invited me."

"And I regret it already."

Marcus shook his head.

"You started this."

"I know."

Lorenz looked back at Cassian.

"Sit down."

Cassian gave him a faint smile.

"You’re the one who told me to get out."

"It was a figure of speech."

"Of course."

Lorenz shook his head, though he was still smiling.

"Now, back to the matter at hand."

Marcus suppressed another laugh.

Lorenz’s expression settled into seriousness.

"We take the men we know we can trust."

Cassian glanced toward him.

"Robert, once he has completed his work."

"Alex."

"Gary."

"And whoever else is necessary to make the delegation worthy of the King."

Marcus nodded.

"I will go."

Lorenz gave him a look.

"You still have responsibilities in Kensington."

"I can delegate them."

Lorenz smiled faintly.

"You really want to see how this ends."

Marcus looked toward Cassian.

"Well, he is supposedly my cousin."

A brief pause.

"And, I suppose..."

His gaze shifted toward Lorenz.

"I would like to see the Empire for myself."

Lorenz raised an eyebrow.

Marcus continued calmly.

"I have spent years hearing about the people and the court beyond our borders."

"Now that we have a legitimate reason to enter, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t curious."

His eyes returned to Cassian.

"And yes."

"I suppose I want to make sure he gets there safely."

Cassian said nothing.

Lorenz’s expression softened into an amused smile.

"Of course."

He rose from his chair.

"Then it is settled."

"Robert leaves first."

"The diplomatic delegation follows while we wait for his information and for the Empire to consider my proposal."

"In the meantime, my officials will begin corresponding with the Imperial court."

"We will make the purpose of our visit clear."

"A discussion of peace."

"And when the arrangements are accepted..."

Lorenz looked at Marcus.

"We prepare the royal delegation."

Marcus nodded.

"I will oversee the arrangements."

Lorenz narrowed his eyes slightly.

"You’re curious too, aren’t you?"

Marcus’s expression remained perfectly composed.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about."

Lorenz laughed.

"Of course you don’t."

Marcus smiled faintly.

"I will have the necessary people selected."

Lorenz turned toward Cassian.

"And you."

Cassian looked at him.

"Prepare yourself to go home."

For several seconds, Cassian said nothing.

Then he nodded.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Lorenz smiled.

"Good."

He turned toward the door.

"And Cassian?"

Cassian looked up.

"If Marian really is as extraordinary as you claim..."

Lorenz’s grin returned.

"I am going to be very disappointed if she isn’t."

Cassian gave him a flat look.

Marcus finally laughed.

And for the first time in years, the three men were no longer discussing whether Cassian would return to the Empire.

They were discussing when.

--

TBC