Chapter 77 Playing Along Is Sometimes A Lot Easier Than Not
“Isabella.” Cassian looked confused as he rose from his seat, the maids surrounding him clearing a path almost instantly as he stared at Maeve. “I had no idea that you would be arriving here today. You should have let me know so I could prepare—”
“Why? Should I leave?” Maeve sounded slightly out of breath— which she blamed mostly on the stupid dress and corset she had on on such a sunny day. “What season is this? Autumn? Spring?”
“Autumn. Winter is close.” His eyes grew soft, staring at her with the same excitedness as always. “And no. By all means, stay. I was… I was coming to see you but I was not sure if I should.”
“We will be living together soon so we better get used to our time alone.” As Maeve sat, she took note of the fact that he hadn’t said something… strange yet, probably because he was still looking at her like she had done something he had not expected and it had thrown him off balance.
She looked away, her eyes taking in the gardens of the palace which were immaculate, rows of late-blooming chrysanthemums trembling in the brisk autumn breeze. “We should have the wedding right here, it looks lovely— No tea, please, thank you. I think it’s rather too early to wake my hunger—”
“Would you prefer wine then?”
Not a single hesitation. “Yes.”
It took only seconds for it to be brought to her as Cassian stared, his gaze still not leaving her for a second. Maeve felt like every time his eyes fell on her, he practically stopped seeing every other person but her. It was a little too much, but she had to accept it. “Can you send everyone away? I have some things I want to speak to you about.”
“You heard her.” Cassian’s usually soft voice went an octave lower, his eyes staying on her. “Leave.”
It was a fast affair, very quick as they all scurried away, leaving them alone. Maeve took another sip from her wine glass, her eyes going to the papers on the bench. “This looks like the wedding arrangement plans. You’re still working on it?”
“I do not know what you like, but I also know you would like it all going well so I’m making as much as I can.” Cassian said, his eyes shifting momentarily to the pages. “Still, I was going to come show you the plans, just to see which you might choose and all—”
“Let’s get married on the first day of winter.”
Cassian paused, his eyes narrowing. “It’s… it’s three weeks away—”
“Duke Adrian also came to see me.” Maeve picked up one of the papers, her eyes scanning its content. “Quite exhausting, if I might add. Never got the idea that you both were as thick as thieves— or glue… or gum—”
“We are not friendly with one another,” He cut in, a worried look crossing his face. “And I am aware you both do not exactly have… a good relationship, but—”
“He wants me to call it off.” Her eyes fluttered back to him. “For your sake.”
Cassian stared. Mostly because his heart was now beating far slower than it should— and he didn’t understand what she was trying to say. His uncle… his uncle had always kept a clear distance from him, doing only as his mother ordered.
Was that what this was? Had The Queen—?
“No. She didn’t. I can read the expression on your face.” She slowly set the plans down. “He knows I don’t love you. He believes I’m after the throne and I plan to use you.”
“Isabella—”
“And I do. I will.” Maeve’s eyes stayed on him, hardening. “But you don’t mind that, do you? Not after the conversation we had. Not after what you had told me.”
Cassian stared, his heart now beating faster. He swallowed— Maeve for a second wondered if she had gone too far, if she had hurt him far more than she should have. Then he shook his head, his eyes glowing slightly. “I do not.”
She stretched her hand out. “Come.”
He did as he was told, leaning forward across the table, his eyes swirling with emotions that she didn’t know but sensed was pure devotion— or obsession, she chose the former, and rested his chin on the palm of her hand. “Yes, my husband.”
Maeve stared at him. She took note of everything that she normally wouldn’t. His freckles, his long lashes that swept across his cheek. Even the obnoxious halo of his didn’t seem to hurt as much.
Was it less bright? “It seems you want to be called the wife so badly,”
“I enjoy calling you my husband.” He whispered it like he couldn’t believe it. “Feels like I get the power to accord you the respect you deserve forever. And I truly do not wish to be on the same name term with the elf.”
Forever. Maeve had attended weddings in her past life. Forever was such a fancy term they used for things they still ended up getting divorced on. She felt like it was a jinx at this point. Forever.
But he didn’t know what it was. He read the same books she did on marriage here in Aeltherra, and the ones here seemed to last forever— mostly because the men could never leave safely anyway.
“How is the writing of your contract going—?”
“Step away from the Prince.”
The voice was familiar. Harsh. And cold.
Cassuan’s eyebrows furrowed, his eyes watching to see what she would do. Maeve wondered for a second what Adrian would do if she ordered Cassian to kneel— he would, she knew, without a single doubt— but she fought the urge to.
Instead, she slowly moved away, her eyes staying on Cassian who looked hurt by her action. “Oh, my. Someone sounds rather upset that I came to see my future wife and not them.”
“Further away, Lady Montague.”
The name did something to Maeve. Itched her somewhere that it shouldn’t, and for a second, she thought about snapping at him, but she didn’t. Instead, she rose from her
Maeve did as she was told, her head now turning to the male in question that had an array of soldiers behind him and tilted her head. “All of that for little old me? How flattering.”
“Duke Adrian.” Cassian was rising from his seat too, his voice low and icy. “Isabella Montague will be the crown princess in three weeks, if you wish not to give her the respect she deserves, I will order your execution on—”
“It’s alright, beloved.” Maeve placed her hand on Cassian’s arm, her face deadpan as she stared at a man she had once seen as a friend. “I told you before, and I will say it again. He is not a child. He might have never exercised his power with you before so you have underestimated and looked down on him, but I will no longer allow it. Or any of you to do so for as long as I live.”
“Stop—”
She looked away, a small smile coming to her face as she cradled both of Cassian’s cheeks and bent his head low so she could place a kiss on his forehead. “I will send in the additions I want for the wedding. It might supersede the arrangements you have, but I want this to be the grandest event Aeltherra has ever seen.”
“But…” He stared at her like he hurt his soul to do so. “The cost—”
“I will cover it. All of it.” Then passing the Duke a side glance, she added. “And I will take nothing from the Royal treasury.” Then back to Cassian, she smiled again. “So do as you wish. Have not a single wrinkle. You get to have that, okay?”
“O-Okay.”
Then Maeve turned, not bothering to add any more to her statement and walked out of the garden, her head held high.
And Cassian’s pen in her hand that she clutched onto with her gloved hand tightly.