Free Web NovelChapter 66: Chapter 66 - Winning love
Lilith walked with Cassian to the carriage and, with his help, she entered and sat down. She adjusted the crown as it started to tilt and looked at the door, waiting for Mary to enter.
"No, don’t stop her," Lilith said as Gerald nudged Mary out of the way. "She has more priority at my side than you do. She shall enter the carriage without question."
Gerald moved so Mary could enter. "I apologise, Your Majesty."
Mary eyed Gerald as she entered the carriage and sat beside Lilith. "It’s going to take some time to teach those two," she muttered. "It’s unfortunate Solomon betrayed you, because now you are stuck with these men."
"We just have to bear with it for a little. They’ll grasp their positions soon enough. That man keeps drinking and speaking loudly," Lilith said, keeping an eye on Richard, whose voice carried across the courtyard.
"They should let him stay in the castle," said Mary.
"No," Lilith disagreed. "Let him make a drunken mess of himself. I want them all to see how much of a fool he is. Wake me when we reach the town," she said, leaning back against the cushioned seat and closing her eyes.
"I shall," Mary promised, keeping an eye on Richard in place of Lilith.
Cassian entered the carriage and immediately felt disappointed by Mary claiming his seat. "Move to the other side," he said, holding the door open. He had only turned his back on the carriage for a moment, and his seat was taken.
Mary didn’t move at first, but seeing the cold glare from Cassian, she shifted reluctantly. She waited for Lilith to tell Cassian to switch seats, but the words never came.
"My seat is always at my wife’s side," Cassian said as he claimed his place. "Do not make the same mistake twice."
"If this is going to be an ongoing issue, I will place the two of you outside the carriage. I’ve had enough noise for one day," Lilith said, her eyes still closed.
Mary hated that Cassian got her into trouble when she had said nothing.
"I was only trying to correct a mistake," Cassian answered, reaching for Lilith’s hand.
The second Cassian’s hand touched her, Lilith opened her eyes.
"What is it with you and the need to touch me? Can’t you keep your hands to yourself?" she questioned, moving her hand away.
"Can’t a man touch his wife?" Cassian asked, keeping his hand in place.
"Not when she isn’t in the mood for it. Let’s not make this another issue. Just wake me when we reach the market, and I advise you to keep an eye on your uncle. He seems to be drunk," Lilith said, resting her head against the side of the carriage.
Cassian looked out the window to where Richard stumbled into his carriage.
While news of his son becoming a duke should have made him happy, there was something more to his drunken behaviour.
Cassian leaned back in his seat and motioned for the carriage to start moving. Richard wasn’t going to be a threat for long, so he ignored his uncle’s attempts to gather attention.
The carriage moved off, beginning the parade throughout the town to show off the new royals.
The ride was quiet as Lilith got a bit of rest until Cassian tapped her awake when they entered the town.
Lilith opened her eyes to a crowd awaiting them on each side of the carriage. Part of her had thought no one would show.
Lilith leaned forward, waving at the curious crowd. "Cassian, you should get on a horse and lead the carriages. They all loved you as the war hero and Duke Mortimer. Go forward to remind them who sits in the carriage."
"Lilith, your safety-"
"I am not going to step out of the carriage," Lilith assured him. "At least not without a guard. Between us, you are the one most loved, and we need their love. Go," she nudged Cassian. "We need their love before Virgil wins it."
"Lilith, if you step out of this carriage without a guard, I will be forced to punish you," Cassian warned.
"You must stop saying silly things. Now go," Lilith said, still adamant. "This is important."
Cassian sighed, knowing it was a losing battle. He opened the carriage door, causing it to stop. He stepped out and said something to Gerald which Lilith didn’t hear.
The door closed as Cassian walked ahead to claim a horse.
"Your Majesty, wouldn’t it be more in your favour if you won their love? Then you won’t have to depend on the love they bear for your husband," said Mary. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
"He’s more well-known and loved than I am. Most have never seen my face, and my family has always spoken of me as the black sheep. The cursed princess, blamed for all their faults. It will take longer for me to win over the people," Lilith said, watching from the carriage as Cassian garnered the attention.
"I can bear with Cassian being the one loved now," Lilith decided. "But I shall let them see my face," she said, raising her hand to wave.
Lilith noticed the children stepping out at the front of the crowds. Some were well-dressed, while others appeared to be children who lived on the streets, their cheeks flushed from the cold.
"Mary, instruct the soldiers to pass the food to the children first. There is an orphanage nearby that should be sent food. The children also need clothing," Lilith said, noticing some were not properly dressed. "How are they to fare in the cold winter weather in this state?"
Lilith sat still as Mary moved to pass on the message to feed the children.
"My father was a fool," Lilith muttered.
The Beauforts had overlooked the children left on the streets. The families were destroyed by men who perished in a war that never needed to be started. Children were ignored as George failed to recognise they were the future of the kingdom.
Lilith sighed, still annoyed she had missed the chance to kill her father. "I was so close."
