Chapter 334: v4 - 35: how to get him alone? II

Chapter 334: v4 Chapter 35: how to get him alone? II

The Imperial Household Office was already busy when Marian arrived.

Several officials immediately rose at the sight of her.

"Your Majesty."

Marian gave them a polite smile.

"Please, continue."

They returned to their work.

Marian approached the central desk.

"I wanted to review the arrangements for the Milician delegation."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

A household official immediately brought forward the accommodation register.

Marian glanced over it.

She already knew the general arrangement.

She was the Empress.

Of course she knew where the guests were staying.

But today, she needed something more specific.

She turned a page.

"Where is King Lorenz staying?"

The official pointed out the appropriate entry.

"And his ministers?"

He showed her the corresponding rooms.

Marian nodded thoughtfully.

"What about the Milician nobility?"

More names.

More rooms.

She asked about several of them casually, allowing her questions to sound like ordinary administrative interest.

Then she found the name she was looking for.

Carlo of Valmere.

Western Apartments.

Third floor.

Room twelve.

Marian’s eyes lingered on the entry for a moment.

Then she nodded.

"Good."

She continued looking through the register as though nothing had happened.

A few minutes later, she asked about the keys for the western apartments.

The household official explained where the spare keys were kept.

Marian listened carefully.

Then, while the official turned to retrieve another document, her gaze moved toward the key cabinet.

Her heart gave a small, guilty thump.

This was a terrible idea.

Still, she had already come this far.

When she finally left the office, the key to room twelve was hidden among the folds of her clothing.

Marian walked back toward the private apartments with a perfectly composed expression.

No one stopped her.

No one questioned her.

She was the Empress.

Why would they?

That somehow made her feel worse.

She had taken the key specifically so Adrian would never know what she was doing.

If he knew she had gone through the Imperial Household records looking for Cassian’s room, then there would be no explaining it away as coincidence.

Marian pressed her lips together.

She was not cheating on her husband.

She was not doing anything improper.

She was simply trying to speak to a man who had once been important to her and who had disappeared without giving her the slightest explanation.

That was all.

Adrian did not need to know.

Not because she was guilty.

Because there was no reason to hurt him with something that meant nothing beyond closure.

Marian reached the doors of their private apartments.

She glanced toward the clock.

It was almost lunch.

She had made it back in time.

Good.

She slipped the key somewhere safe and composed her expression before entering.

Adrian would be back soon.

And after lunch, he would return to the negotiations.

That would be the time.

Marian looked down at the hidden key.

She still couldn’t believe she was actually going to do this.

But she had already decided.

Tonight, the delegation would gather for its final banquet.

Tomorrow, Cassian would leave.

She could not let him disappear again without hearing the truth.

So, after lunch, while Adrian was occupied with the final negotiations—

She would go to his room.

And wait.

--

Adrian did not leave the room for the rest of the afternoon.

Apparently, there was very little he needed to do before the evening banquet.

Wonderful.

Marian sat on the sofa with a book in her hands.

She turned a page.

A few minutes later, she turned another.

She had no idea what she had just read.

Her thoughts kept returning to the same problem.

Even if she managed to reach Cassian’s room, what made her think he would actually be there?

He could be anywhere.

He might still be with the delegation.

He could be meeting with one of the Milician nobles.

He could be somewhere in the palace.

He could even have gone out.

Marian lowered the book.

Perhaps she could leave a letter.

She considered it.

No.

What would be the point?

If he was Cassian, she wanted answers from him directly.

And if he was not—

Marian frowned.

No.

He was Cassian.

She was certain.

She had seen his face.

She had heard his voice.

There was no reasonable explanation for how another man could possibly resemble him so closely.

He was Cassian.

The only question was whether she would actually manage to speak to him.

Marian looked toward the windows.

She could not leave while Adrian was here.

That much was obvious.

She certainly could not wait until he fell asleep and then slip away.

What would happen if he woke and found her gone?

No.

There was only one time.

The banquet.

That was the only period tonight when Adrian would be away from their apartments for several hours, while the rest of the palace would be occupied with the final state banquet.

Which meant the timing was perfect.

Except for one problem.

Cassian.

He would probably attend.

It was the final banquet of the delegation’s visit.

Of course he would be there.

Marian frowned.

And if he was at the banquet, then what exactly was she supposed to do?

Wait in his room?

She stared down at her book.

That sounded increasingly absurd.

She could leave a letter instead.

But an unsigned letter would accomplish very little.

And if he really was Cassian, she did not want to leave him another opportunity to avoid her.

She wanted to look him in the eyes.

She wanted him to explain himself.

Marian sighed.

There was no other way.

She would simply have to leave it to chance.

If he went to the banquet, she would wait for him in his room.

If he did not—

She would deal with that when it happened.

Marian glanced toward Adrian.

He was seated nearby, reading through several documents.

Completely unaware.

She almost felt guilty.

Almost.

Then she remembered the past five days.

Her irritation returned.

He could have spoken to her at any point.

He had chosen not to.

Fine.

She would solve the problem herself.

The afternoon passed slowly.

Marian pretended to read.

She pretended to be interested in the occasional thing Adrian showed her.

She even managed to hold a conversation with him without once mentioning the fact that she had a key hidden beneath her clothing that would allow her to enter the room of the man she believed to be Cassian Ashford.

She was beginning to think this was perhaps the strangest day of her life.

Eventually, the light outside began to fade.

The hour of the banquet approached.

Adrian finally set his papers aside and rose.

He looked toward Marian.

"You’re not getting ready?"

Marian looked up from her book.

She had been waiting for that question.

"I don’t think I’m going tonight."

Adrian paused.

"Why?"

"I’m a little tired."

She gave a small sigh.

"And I have a headache."

His expression changed immediately.

"Are you unwell?"

"No, nothing serious."

Adrian came closer.

"I can stay."

Marian looked at him.

Of course he would say that.

She smiled and reached for his hand.

"You can’t."

"I can."

"You’re the Emperor."

She gave his fingers a gentle squeeze.

"And this is the final state banquet of the peace negotiations. You need to be there."

"I don’t need to be there if you’re unwell."

Marian smiled.

"I promise I’m fine."

She leaned closer.

"I’m actually just being lazy."

A faint smile appeared on Adrian’s face.

He knew her too well.

"You are."

"I am."

She smiled innocently.

"And I intend to enjoy it."

Adrian shook his head.

"Fine."

He looked at her for another moment.

"But I’ll be back as soon as the banquet ends."

"I know."

Marian rose.

"I’ll help you get ready."

She helped him into his formal coat, adjusted the front of it, and straightened his collar.

Adrian glanced at her.

"You’re sure you’re all right?"

"Yes."

He seemed satisfied.

Marian smiled.

"Go."

Adrian leaned down and kissed her.

"I’ll see you later."

"I’ll be here."

He left.

The doors closed behind him.

Marian remained still for several seconds.

Then she slowly looked toward the door.

She was alone.

At last.

Her hand moved instinctively toward the hidden key.

Marian exhaled.

All right.

Time to do something incredibly stupid.

--

Tbc