Last Chance [Extra #2]

Part 33

Cassian could hardly take his eyes off Celi as she enjoyed herself by the bonfire. She was smiling so carefreely, occasionally joking with the knights that were escorting them, and it was beyond endearing to see her so jovial. After their talk in the carriage, they both decided to take a stroll to stretch their legs a little, knowing they were about to spend another couple of hours in the carriage.

Much to their surprise, the knights were more laid back than the Imperial messenger who came with them. They didn't hide their amusement at the way the lady treated the snobbish noble and casually cursed at him. It wasn't long before Cassian and Celi joined the men at the bonfire and talked to them without any reservations.

The only one unhappy about that was the messenger. He was utterly discontented with the couple he was escorting to the capital and he didn't bother trying to hide it, throwing disgruntled looks at Celosia every now and then.

It bothered Cassian to no end, but when he tried to go talk to the man, his fiancee stopped him by tugging on his hand. "Don't mind him, Cassian. He's just a bootlicker, ignore him," Celosia smiled reassuringly.

"He's a what?" one of the knights asked curiously, while Cassian only laughed at the accurate depiction.

"A bootlicker."

"What is that?"

"Hmm... it's someone who does absolutely everything to please their superior, even if it means giving up their dignity, while at the same time, they think they're superior to others, as they often believe they have their boss's backing. This guy is like that. He sees himself as someone above Cassian, even though it's my fiance who has the higher status, simply because he's someone who works for the Emperor. At the same time, he's probably bending over backwards to please the Emperor, for displeasing him would most likely mean death."

"My lady, you should be careful about what you say about his Imperial Majesty in public. You could be beheaded for insulting the Imperial family," another knight warned, glancing around unsurely to see if there was someone listening to them.

"As if," Celosia scoffed.

Cassian didn't like how little regard she had for her own life, so he quietly whispered, "I suggest you take your safety more seriously, otherwise I'll take it into my own hands."

Celosia smirked at him, whispering back, "And what will you do?"

"I'll lock you up in the palace," Cassian grinned mischievously. It was the truth. Seeing Celi so comfortable with other men awoke a side in Cassian he didn't even know existed. He wanted this woman only for himself and he would stop at nothing to achieve it. He wanted to cage her, be it in his palace or his arms.

Celosia ignored the dark look in Cassian's eyes, and continued to talk to the knights. Much to her dismay, they didn't know what the Emperor wanted to see her for. She tried all her tricks on them to dig up some information, but they knew absolutely nothing about the old man's intentions.

"Celi, I think it's time for you to get some rest," Cassian whispered to his fiancée when he noticed her eyes drooping tiredly. She only blinked blearily at him then casually dropped her head on his shoulder, using his arm as her pillow. It was so pleasantly firm it didn't take long for Celi to fall asleep. Cassian only smiled in amusement at how cute she was being, then gently repositioned her to his lap, just like he did in the carriage. He enjoyed the looks on the knights' faces as he did that, shamelessly showing off that the woman in his lap was his and his alone. They should know they had no chance at getting closer to her.

Even though they had no intention of approaching her with strange intentions. She was simply someone they were escorting, and it didn't even cross their minds to try anything with her, no matter whether she was the Duke's fiancée or not.