Last Chance [Extra #2]

Part 27

Unaware of the mayhem around her, Celosia enjoyed her meal with Cassian. Unlike the rumors about him, he was really kind and sweet to her, which made it all the more ridiculous that people badmouthed him for being a cruel, cold-blooded man.

She had no idea it was all because Cassian feared her rejection that he acted that way. He was scared that if she saw his true self, she would refuse to marry him and he'd lose the Duchy he fought so hard to protect. With so little time, it was close to impossible to find a suitable bride, so he clutched onto Celosia in pure desperation to keep her with him and make her feel like marrying him was indeed a good decision.

He wanted to do everything in his power to keep this woman with him, even if it meant acting like a lovesick fool. She was his only chance to get what was rightfully his, and he couldn't let her get away.

Stefan was probably the only one who knew the true face of the Grand Duke. Other servants simply followed his orders, but otherwise were never as close to him as his father's old friend, who's been working for him for decades. To Stefan, this sudden change in Cassian's behavior was as surprising as it was heartwarming. He was silently hoping it would last for a long time, and with the right person beside him, the loneliness that crept into the young Duke's heart would disappear into nothing. The truth was, Cassian was genuinely lonely. As someone who ruled over the whole Northern Duchy, he held so much authority it wasn't easy to get close to him, and since those who tried were of lower ranks than him, they wouldn't dare be too familiar with him.

It created a distance between Cassian and everyone else. In the Duchy, there was no one greater than him, and it made him unapproachable. That resulted in him feeling lonely. All he needed was someone who'd see beyond his title. Someone who wouldn't see the Grand Duke Vautour, but Cassian the man.

That someone, Stefan hoped, would be Miss Heroux, or as she wanted to be called, Miss Celosia. She seemed to have little care about the title of a Grand Duke and she appeared to be positively unbothered about the difference in her and Cassian's social status. She was merely the daughter of a fallen count, yet she spoke to Cassian like she was his equal.

This drastic difference in her attitude towards Cassian, compared to everyone else, was giving Stefan hope that the closed-off Duke would finally let someone into his heart. He's already become softer around the lady, and even appeared nervous when he thought he asked her to marry him too early, which was something Stefan had never seen before, and that meant he cared about the lady. At least he cared enough to not want to lose her, so the old butler decided to help his master as much as possible in this endeavor.

Cassian shared Stefan's sentiment about Celi. She was too precious to lose. And he didn't mean her abilities. Yes, they were extraordinary, but he liked her for other reasons. Even before knowing who she really was he was intrigued by her quick mind and sharp tongue. She was not afraid to insult the Crown Prince publicly, probably because she didn't fear death, having experienced it so many times, but she also got a grasp on the situation around her so quickly it was baffling. The world around her was nothing but a sea through which she traveled with the experience of a sailor, and her intelligence and confidence were the ship that carried her through the vast waters of the unknown.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Celi pulled Cassian out of his thoughts, pausing momentarily as she was about to take a bite of the mille-feuille the chefs prepared for dessert.

Cassian only smiled at how cute she was, holding up a piece of the sweet delicacy near her mouth, hesitating to eat it. "Can't I look at my future wife?" he grinned, leaning his chin on his palm as he observed her. She seemed to enjoy the chefs' newest creation and watching her was very relaxing. She didn't act when she was around him, that much he could tell, and it wasn't a usual occurrence to him. Usually people were kind to him only when they wanted something or because they feared him, yet Celi... she made his chest feel warm inside with just a look. She was genuine, honest. She was just... herself. Nothing mattered to her, his status, his wealth, his position, his scar. To her, this relationship was all about benefiting each other, there was no deeper meaning, no hidden agenda. It was refreshing to be with someone so blunt and sincere.