Chapter 47 Just an Asset
Rowena was quick to jump in front of Lucien, blocking him from reaching Cassian.
"Lucien, please, calm down," she spoke calmly, placing her hand on his chest. "I’m sure there is an explanation for this." She glanced at Cassian, who was now standing with a bleeding lip.
Lucien glared at Cassian. "He had no right," he seethed.
Cassian suddenly chuckled. "Will it make you feel better if I said I didn’t do it?" he questioned calmly, his eyes slowly traveling to Elian.
"Do you think I did it?" He held Elian’s troubled gaze, trying to see if Elian bought into Charity’s lie.
"Do not speak to him," Lucien sneered.
Cassian nodded. "The seer will be here soon. I wouldn’t be bringing her here if I was guilty, would I?" He shook his head and sidestepped Lucien.
He paused in front of Charity, who had her head lowered to hide her face.
"You are sure about what you said, Charity?" Cassian asked calmly, his finger hooking under her chin to tilt her face up.
Charity couldn’t hold Cassian’s gaze; she stared at the ceiling, her hands clutching her dress.
"I... I—"
"It’s alright. I believe you’re scared; someone is threatening you," Cassian cut her off.
He turned to Elian. "I will see you soon, Elian." His tone softened as he spoke to Elian, and then he was gone.
Elian was left feeling confused and unsatisfied.
He knew Cassian didn’t do it, and he knew just who did.
His eyes went to Rowena, who was busy ’calming’ Lucien down by hugging him. He knew she was capable of such evil, but he was really hoping it wasn’t her. What would Lucien do when he discovered his lady tried to kill his hostage?
However, all he had were his speculations and doubts; to really make sure Rowena was the culprit, he had to touch Charity’s hand. He hated invading people’s privacy, but this time, it concerned his life and he was going to break his own rules.
He didn’t need any seer to guess when he can literally ’see’ what and how it happened.
"My love, come now. Let’s go see my father," Rowena said, her voice sweet as honey.
Lucien finally glanced at Elian, their gaze locking. He felt the anger in his chest slowly dissipating. Elian was fine, Elian was alive... that’s all that has to matter.
"You will stay here and attend to whatever he needs," Lucien instructed Charity.
Charity nodded, eager to gain her favor back in front of the Duke.
"Yes, Your Grace," she replied.
As Lucien led Rowena out of the room, he felt extremely uncomfortable turning his back on Elian at that moment. He didn’t want to go; he wanted to stay, to pick up exactly where they left off before everyone walked in. But this was the palace; the slightest suspicion might be his end.
As they stepped into the hallway, Rowena suddenly stopped walking, causing Lucien to pause.
"What is it, my Princess?" he asked her gently, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Rowena gritted her teeth as she thought of Elian. "I do not like your attendant," she stated.
Lucien blinked slowly, clearing his throat. "I understand, my Princess. But he works for me, not you. And I promise you, I’d never let him cross your path again. Earlier was a mistake, I apologize—"
"You apologize on his behalf?" Rowena frowned, staring up at Lucien’s face.
"No," Lucien shook his head. "I apologize for your inconvenience and your feelings. I apologize for failing to discipline my ward, and I apologize for making you doubt for once that I do not care about you, my Princess." Lucien listed softly, lowering his face to Rowena’s and placing a gentle kiss on her cheek.
Rowena took a deep breath. "It’s just..." she chewed her bottom lip, "sometimes, it feels like you’re choosing that traitor over me. If he were a female... I’d say..." she paused, gulping, "I’d say you’re having an affair." She murmured.
Lucien instantly froze, but he forced his face to remain calm and unfazed even though his heart was almost lurching out of his throat.
He smiled softly. "Then you should be glad that he is not a female." He said, taking her hand. "But, even if he was a female, I wouldn’t dare look at another when I have someone as beautiful as you are. My loyalty is to you, my Princess," he whispered.
Rowena’s face instantly brightened with a smile. "Then I will ask Father," she said in sudden excitement.
Lucien blinked slowly. "Ask him what?"
"If I can visit your chamber tonight, my love. I can’t wait any longer," she smiled shyly and hurried away.
Lucien stood, helpless.
However, he suddenly recalled one thing: King Alaric was a disciplined and proud man; he would never let his daughter’s pleasure make him a mockery to the kingdom and neighboring ones.
He stared at the exit door for a long time before he shook his head. He couldn’t do it; he couldn’t leave the chambers. The pang in his chest was too much to ignore. He turned, walking back to Elian’s chamber.
He was doing Rowena a favor by choosing to stay back; that way, he doesn’t act passive with her while his mind was so obviously somewhere else.
As he stepped back into the chamber, he found Charity taking a loose, white shirt out from the closet at the corner. Then, he turned to Elian, who silently stared at the ceiling. No words were said, but something told Lucien that Elian might not be very receptive of him at the moment, and he knew why.
But was he supposed to feel guilty for choosing his fiancée over a traitor’s son? No.
Then, why was he feeling the urge to explain? Why did he want to make excuses? Why did he want to get Elian to understand that part of what he did was also to protect him?
He did none of those; he simply stood beside the bed and stared at Elian’s unyielding face.
Charity walked over with the shirt, her steps reluctant and shy. "Sire, your shirt," she murmured.
"Give it here," Lucien tried to take the shirt from the maid, but Elian stopped him.
"No," Elian spoke up. "I want her," he murmured.
Lucien glanced down and found Elian clutching the sheets beside him. "You’re not wearing the—"
"I want her," Elian whispered tiredly, giving Lucien one meaningful look.
Elian’s plan finally dawned on Lucien and he slowly nodded to the maid. "Go ahead."
Charity nodded and carefully approached Elian. "Here is your—"
"Do you mind helping me sit up?" Elian asked softly, gazing directly into her eyes.
Charity cleared her throat, shaking her head as if to clear something invading her mind.
"N-no, I don’t mind," she said.
Elian nodded and extended his hand to her.
Lucien watched closely, hoping he doesn’t regret allowing this. The moment Charity’s hand closed around Elian, he saw Elian shut his eyes tightly and clench his jaws.
His face looked so pale, like he was in so much pain; tiny, shiny beads of sweat even formed on his forehead.
"Thank you," Elian withdrew his hand immediately, resting his back on the headboard.
"Sir, are you alright?" Charity tried to get closer and feel Elian’s temperature, but Lucien caught her elbow.
"Leave," Lucien簡 stated, releasing her immediately.
Charity didn’t question; she simply nodded and left the room.
Lucien followed her, but only to bolt and lock the door before he strode back to Elian’s bedside.
"Are you okay?" he asked, lowering himself beside Elian’s bed.
Elian hugged his white shirt to his chest, his eyes glued to the shape of his legs under the sheets as he refused to look at Lucien.
Lucien was getting frustrated at himself and at Elian. Firstly, he wasn’t supposed to care if Elian was okay or not. Secondly, he hated it anytime Elian ignored him.
"I’ll ask one last time, young Morel, are you okay?" Lucien murmured coldly.
"What’s it to you, Your Grace?" Elian questioned, slowly lifting his head to Lucien. "What do you care if I actually died in that bath or not?" he challenged softly.
Lucien’s face darkened and he moved in slowly, his hand shooting out to cup behind Elian’s neck. "Do not ask questions you already know the answers to," he whispered.
For a moment there, Elian’s pulse raced, but Lucien’s next words shattered that hope in his chest.
"I need you to be alright, Elian. You’re my asset," Lucien whispered.
Elian shifted away from Lucien immediately, pulling his shirt onto his body, a hard frown settling on his beautiful face.
Lucien balled his fists, keeping himself from following Elian to the other side of the bed.
"What did you see?" Lucien questioned, forcing himself not to notice the way Elian’s brown curls fell over his forehead from pulling his shirt down his face.
"Can I not tell you?" Elian murmured. "It would make no difference if you knew."
Lucien muttered under his breath and walked around the bed in the blink of an eye. He leaned over the bed, placing his hands on each side of Elian’s thighs, and then he leaned his face in until Elian had nowhere to go but the headboard.
"You cannot be acting like this, for both our sakes..." he whispered against Elian’s lips. "Do not act like I owe you my compassion..." his eyes lowered, watching the way Elian slowly licked his lips. "Do not act like you want me to apologize for being me—"
"It’s your princess, Your Grace..." Elian looked away, feeling tired from the emotional spin Lucien was putting him on. "Your Princess tried to kill me," he murmured.