Last Chance [Extra #2]

Part 31

It was late afternoon when Cassian's peace crumbled like a house of cards. Stefan rushed to the young lord's room as if he was chased by a demon from the deepest depths of hell, frantic with worry and fear. He impatiently knocked on the door, slightly startling the couple residing inside, before Cassian invited him inside.

"Your Grace-" the older man panted in exertion, trying to catch his breath before he delivered the horrible news.

"What is it, Stefan? You look like you're about to faint," Celosia frowned worriedly, carefully placing her hand on the man's shoulder to bring him some comfort.

"Your Grace, Madam, there is trouble."

"What trouble?" Cassian asked, his voice becoming cold as the thought of the enemy invading the north crossed his mind.

"There is a messenger from the Imperial palace here. He is waiting for Your Grace outside."

"What's so scary about an Imperial messenger coming here?" Celosia asked curiously. Cassian was about to answer her when Stefan intercepted.

"He has brought a whole division of Imperial knights with him. I fear something bad is about to happen."

Celosia and Cassian shared a knowing look. 'The news has spread,' they thought at the same time. Without a word, they both fixed their appearance and followed Stefan to the front door to greet the Imperial messenger.

They weren't surprised to see that the man had indeed brought many knights with him. There were at least thirty of them, and if Celosia wasn't used to the sight of men in uniforms, she would have probably felt intimidated by them.

"I am here to deliver a letter from His Imperial Majesty to the heir apparent of Vautour Duchy," the messenger exclaimed loudly for everyone on the estate to hear. The way he called Cassian irked Celi more than she was willing to admit. It was as if neither the Emperor nor his retainers accepted Cassian as the Duke. He may have not inherited his title yet, but it was his nonetheless.

Cassian reluctantly accepted the scroll then carefully opened it, turning slightly to let his fiancée see it as well, which shocked the men before him. How could he be so indiscreet about the letter from none other than the Emperor?

'His Majesty will surely hear of this insolence,' the Imperial messenger thought to himself and watched with poorly disguised impatience as the couple before him slowly read the contents of the letter.

Stefan was right, nothing good could come from this.

"It is a summon, not a letter," Celosia commented coldly, not one to mince her words. In the so-called letter, the Emperor pretty much ordered for Cassian to bring his future wife so he could meet her. The way he phrased it didn't sit well with Celi, as it almost seemed like the Emperor wanted to test if the rumors were true about Cassian getting engaged.

"It is. His Majesty was even gracious enough to provide you with the escort of his most cherished knights."

"Then we shall follow his wish," Cassian stated, his voice devoid of any emotion. He refused to admit it was the Emperor's order to make it clear he didn't see it as such.

It didn't sit well with the loyal retainer of His Majesty. He scowled in distaste but refrained from commenting. Even as a loyal servant of the Emperor, he couldn't speak against the young Duke due to the difference in their statures.

"In order to arrive on time, we shall depart immediately."

"We shall depart once we have packed. I will not ask my fiancée to travel to the capital without being prepared for the journey," Cassian countered sternly then took Celi back inside. Once they crossed the threshold, he shed his mask and turned to Celi with a worried frown. "I'm so sorry, I didn't think they'd..."