Chapter 331: v4 - 32: tomorrow

Chapter 331: v4 Chapter 32: tomorrow

The next few days passed without anything changing.

Marian continued to see Carlo.

Or, more accurately, she continued to find herself in the same places as him.

The first opportunity had come during the afternoon gathering on the third day.

She had gone to the buffet.

She had stood alone for several minutes.

She had even allowed herself to remain there a little longer than necessary.

Carlo had been only a short distance away.

He had seen her.

Their eyes had even met.

And yet, he had not approached.

At the time, Marian had told herself there were reasonable explanations.

Perhaps Carlo was worried that approaching her too openly would attract attention.

Perhaps he was simply waiting for a more appropriate opportunity.

So she had let it go.

There had been another gathering that evening.

And she had given him another chance.

Nothing.

The following day brought another social occasion.

Again, Carlo was there.

Again, Marian found herself near enough that a simple conversation would have been perfectly possible.

Again, he did nothing.

By the evening, Marian had begun to feel distinctly foolish.

She was not following him.

She was not seeking him out.

At least, that was what she kept telling herself.

She was merely attending official events where she was expected to be present.

If Carlo happened to be there, that was hardly her doing.

And if she happened to notice where he was standing...

That was different.

Except she knew exactly what she was doing.

She was giving him opportunities.

Over and over again.

Perhaps because she was still willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

They had once been in love.

They had once been about to marry.

If this really was Cassian, then surely he had something to say to her.

An apology, perhaps.

An explanation.

Anything.

And Marian thought she had already been remarkably generous about the whole thing.

She could have confronted him the moment she recognized him.

She could have demanded an explanation in front of everyone.

She could have made things extremely uncomfortable for him.

She had done none of that.

Instead, she had given him the chance to come to her himself.

Even casually.

Even if all he wanted was a few words.

And still, he had not.

Perhaps he was afraid that people would notice.

Perhaps he did not want anyone to realize that he was actually Cassian, parading as a Milician marquess.

Perhaps he did not know how to approach her without raising questions.

Perhaps...

Marian mentally stopped herself.

There she was again.

Making excuses for him.

She was beginning to resent how easily her mind seemed determined to do that.

So, on the fifth day, she stopped going.

There was another social gathering scheduled that afternoon.

Marian remained in the Emperor’s private apartments instead.

She had no reason to attend.

At least, none that she could honestly give herself.

She had already done enough.

If Carlo wanted to speak to her, he knew where she was.

And if he did not—

Then that was his decision.

Marian spent most of the afternoon reading.

Or attempting to.

She turned several pages without absorbing much of what was written.

Eventually, she closed the book and stared toward the window.

This was ridiculous.

She had promised herself she would not make this into something it was not.

She was not waiting for Cassian.

She was not hoping for him.

She certainly was not regretting her life with Adrian.

She loved her husband.

She was happy.

That had not changed.

What she wanted was an answer.

Closure.

That was all.

She had spent a year and a half mourning a man she believed was dead.

Eventually, she had accepted that he was gone.

She had moved forward.

She had married Adrian.

She had built an entirely different life.

If Cassian was truly alive, then there was only one thing Marian wanted from him now.

The truth.

Why had he left?

Why had he allowed her to believe he was dead?

Why had he never returned?

And if he had truly been standing in front of her for the past several days, why had he pretended not to know her?

She frowned.

She did not even need him to say very much.

An explanation would be enough.

An apology would be better.

And perhaps, after all this time, she thought he should be grateful that she was not making a scene.

Marian sighed.

She was thinking about him again.

She forced herself to pick up her book.

No.

Enough.

If he wanted to speak to her, he would.

She would not spend another day arranging her movements around the possibility that he might finally approach.

--

By the time Adrian returned that evening, Marian had almost convinced herself that she was finished thinking about it.

Almost.

He entered the apartments looking tired.

A chamberlain followed a few steps behind him, carrying a leather portfolio filled with reports and correspondence from the day’s negotiations. Adrian dismissed him with a gesture, accepted the portfolio, and walked in.

Marian rose from the sofa.

"You look exhausted."

"It was a long day."

She came over to him and helped loosen the fastening at his collar before slipping his outer coat from his shoulders.

"You should sit down."

Adrian did without protest.

Marian took the portfolio from him and placed it on the nearby table.

Then she moved behind his chair and rested her hands on his shoulders.

"You’re tense."

"I know."

She smiled faintly and began working the stiffness from his shoulders.

For a while, neither of them said anything.

The quiet felt comfortable.

Marian continued the slow massage, letting him relax beneath her hands.

After a moment, she asked,

"How are the negotiations going?"

"Well enough."

Marian nodded.

"Good."

Her hands continued moving over his shoulders.

After another moment, she asked,

"So everything is proceeding as scheduled?"

Adrian leaned back slightly beneath her hands.

"That seems to be the case."

Marian nodded.

The delegation had originally been scheduled to remain for a week.

She had not thought much about it when they first arrived, but now that several days had passed, she found herself counting.

Today was the fifth day.

If nothing changed, they would be leaving in two days.

Her hands slowed slightly.

"Do you think they might extend their stay?"

Adrian glanced back at her.

"Why are you asking?"

Marian hesitated only briefly.

"Because..." She searched for an answer that would not sound too deliberate. "I suppose I’ve enjoyed having everyone here."

Adrian was quiet.

Marian watched him.

"The palace has been much livelier than usual," she continued. "There are always people coming and going, and there is always something happening." She smiled faintly. "I suppose I’ll miss it once everyone leaves."

Adrian’s expression changed.

It was almost imperceptible.

A slight stillness in his face.

Marian noticed anyway.

She knew him too well not to.

The palace had been livelier, certainly.

She had not exactly been away from him. Adrian had accompanied her to every function she attended. They had spent plenty of time together.

It was simply that they had not had much time alone.

And Marian knew exactly what had crossed his mind.

So you’d rather have all these people here than have me to yourself?

She almost smiled.

"Though... I also miss the times when it’s just the two of us here," she said.

Adrian’s eyes shifted to her.

Marian smiled.

"I miss having you all to myself."

She moved closer and slipped her arms around him.

The faint tension in his expression eased.

"I’ve barely had you alone this week," he said.

"You haven’t."

"And you said you’d miss them."

Marian laughed softly.

"I said I’d miss the liveliness."

She leaned closer against him.

"That doesn’t mean I don’t miss this."

Adrian’s expression softened further.

Marian rose slightly and kissed him.

He accepted the kiss, one hand settling around her waist.

When she drew back, she smiled.

"Better?"

A faint smile touched his lips.

"Let me show you."

Marian laughed softly.

And he did.

--

The rest of the evening passed quietly between them, the concerns of the delegation and the negotiations temporarily forgotten.

Much later, Marian woke.

The room was dark and quiet.

For a moment, she remained still beneath the sheets, her eyes slowly adjusting to the faint light filtering through the curtains.

Adrian was asleep beside her.

Marian turned her head and looked at him.

A small smile touched her lips.

He looked peaceful.

She watched him for a while.

Then the smile faded.

Her thoughts returned to the same place they had been returning to for days.

Cassian.

Marian closed her eyes briefly.

She felt a small, unwelcome pang of guilt.

She had just spent the evening with her husband.

She loved him.

She had no doubts about that.

And yet, even now, her mind had returned to another man.

To a man she had believed dead for years.

To the possibility that he was standing somewhere inside the palace under another name.

Marian exhaled slowly.

No.

She knew what this was.

It was not longing.

It was not regret.

It was not a desire to return to the life she had once imagined with Cassian.

She wanted an answer.

That was all.

Closure.

She had told herself that so many times that the words almost felt like a defense now.

But they were true.

She needed to know why he had disappeared.

Why he had let her mourn him.

Why he had never returned.

And why, now that he was apparently alive and standing only a few rooms—or perhaps a few corridors—away, he still refused to speak to her.

Marian turned onto her side.

Adrian remained asleep.

She looked at him again.

Tomorrow.

That was the only thing that mattered now.

Tomorrow was her last opportunity.

The delegation would leave the following day.

There would be no more gatherings to attend.

No more convenient chances to cross paths.

No more waiting to see whether Carlo would finally approach her.

If she wanted an answer, she would have to stop waiting for him to make the first move.

Marian stared into the darkness.

She still did not know exactly how she would manage it.

She could not simply walk up to him in the middle of the palace and demand to speak privately.

Not with everyone watching.

Not with Adrian nearby.

But she would think of something.

She had one day.

One day to find a way to speak to him alone.

And this time, she would not leave it to chance.

Marian closed her eyes.

Tomorrow.

--

Tbc

AN: this had the perfect moment for a smut Chapter, but at this point I dont think anyone wants marian adrian smut moment so i just skipped it hahahahaha