Free Web NovelChapter 59: Chapter 59 - Gift
Cassian returned to the chamber to find it empty. Before he decided to have his bath, he went in search of Lilith, as the castle was not yet safe and he hadn’t introduced her to her new guards.
"Where did my wife go?" Cassian interrogated the soldiers stationed outside his door.
"She talked with your uncle and then went straight. I’m sorry for not following her, Your Grace."
Cassian gritted his teeth. He couldn’t fault the men, since Lilith was sneaky.
He started to walk off in the direction they pointed, but before he got more than two steps away, he had the answer to where Lilith had wandered.
Lilith wasn’t going to meet with his family. There was something important she couldn’t do when they got married the first time, since they lived far out of the castle.
Cassian returned to the gardens where Lilith’s mother had been hung. The air was heavy with the faint scent of roses. He quietly approached, not wanting to disturb her as she likely came to inform her mother of her marriage.
Cassian wished that in his first life with Lilith, he had found where her mother was buried, but it was only the queen and late king who were aware of where they had placed the body.
It was cruel to do to a young girl who only had her mother on her side, but kindness wasn’t expected from King George.
"You may come forward," Lilith allowed Cassian.
Cassian entered the garden and looked around at the work his servants had done. The iron gates excluded visitors from wandering without permission, and the flowers gave off a sweet fragrance that softened the memory of the place.
"I assume that you were the ones who placed the gates and added the flowers. Roses were my mother’s favourite. I would ask how you knew, but then you would say you just guessed," Lilith said, looking over her shoulder at Cassian. "Thank you."
While Lilith didn’t enjoy too many people setting foot in the garden, Cassian’s effort to tidy it and add the gates was one she couldn’t ignore.
"You are welcome. I’ve assigned an old gardener who doesn’t have loyalty to either side to tend to this garden. He will be the only one allowed to enter, unless you want to stop him," Cassian informed her.
Lilith looked around the garden, her eyes lingering on the roses swaying gently in the breeze. "He seems to be doing a good job. I would like to meet with him to judge him myself, but for now, he can continue. The gates were wonderful, so no one can simply walk through the garden."
"When did you do this?" Lilith asked, genuinely surprised.
"While you were busy planning our wedding, I was busy looking over the castle and preparing gifts for you. I thought you would like to keep it tidy for the time being. You know, before you hang the queen here."
"Perhaps I shouldn’t hang the queen," Lilith said after a second thought. "Well, here at least. I shouldn’t stain this place with her blood. It is my mother’s final resting place, since I don’t know where her grave is."
Lilith turned to face Cassian. "Since you were around my father, did you ever hear where he placed my mother?" freёwebnoѵel.com
"Again, I wasn’t as close to your father as you think. Had I known where he placed your mother, then I would have told you to win your favour," Cassian said.
"Or hold it over my head as my father did. Still, it is a thoughtful gift, and I am thankful. I am willing to overlook that you are standing here without having your bath. Why haven’t you had your bath? Are you the kind of man who doesn’t like to be clean?" Lilith questioned, watching Cassian with a judging eye.
"No. I went to inquire about the search, spoke with my mother, and then, when I returned to our chamber, I found that my wife was missing. That is why I have not had my bath," Cassian explained.
"Good, because I will not lie beside a dirty man. Mary, inform the maids to prepare a bath for His Grace," Lilith said, and noticed Cassian’s pout. "What?"
"I am your husband," Cassian corrected Lilith.
"I am well aware. I was standing right beside you at the wedding," Lilith replied.
"You should refer to me as your husband, as I refer to you as my wife," Cassian said, wanting to hear it.
Lilith stared at him. "I’ll address you as my husband when I want to. Now that you have asked, I feel inclined not to do it. I am going to return to the chamber."
"You are cruel, Lilith."
"You knew that before you married me," she replied.
"I heard you spoke to my uncle," Cassian said, walking beside Lilith and matching her pace. "What did you speak about?"
"Did he run to you as well, or are you watching me? I wouldn’t like the latter," Lilith said, looking up at Cassian.
"I asked where you went, and I was informed you spoke to my uncle. Did he trouble you?"
"He tried to, but quickly learned that I am not an easy opponent. He questioned how long my time as queen would be. He hasn’t hidden that he doesn’t find me suitable as your wife," Lilith shared, still annoyed.
"I am sorry," Cassian apologised.
"Never apologise to me on behalf of anyone in your family. A servant I can allow, but not family. Besides, I had a rather entertaining morning. And here I thought the day after the wedding would be a bore. I was wrong," Lilith said, enjoying the first day.
"You had trouble with my mother and uncle, yet you think it is entertaining? You are a strange woman, Lilith," Cassian said, but he loved her regardless. "I hate to be the one to ruin it for you, but we won’t meet with my family to eat. We shall eat in the chamber."
"Good. While it was fun, your family can be a bit tiring. I hope there will be at least one person who doesn’t get on my list. I want a feast right now," Lilith said, the growl of her stomach reminding her she had not eaten. "I must eat, or the next Mortimer who troubles me might not get away easily."
"I shall feed you," Cassian promised. "For the sake of my family, I will feed you soon."
