บท 13: Lorcan and Astrea (one)
"What did you just say?" Cassian asked in disbelief. Whereas his beta James just smiled smugly and repeated, "I sent a request to the palace for annulling your engagement with lady Kenworthy"
Cassian jolted up from his seat and snarled at him, "Why did you do that!?"
James flinched hearing his Alpha's booming voice, "Du-duke Kenworthy said that he informed you about this Alpha"
"And you did that without even consulting me once!?"
"I apologize Alpha" James was confused about the situation but didn't dare to question him any more.
Cassian closed his eyes trying to calm his erratic nerves, "Get that letter you sent with Duke Kenworthy's included before his majesty checks them by today evening"
James furrowed his brows, "Should I infiltrate his majesty's study?"
He nodded, "Make sure to do it carefully, my Halfbrother has spies all over the palace"
James fidgeted with his fingers making Cassian raise his brows, "What is it?"
"Um, please don't get mad Alpha, but can you tell me the reason for suddenly changing your mind about your engagement?"
Cassian smiled faintly surprising James, "Iris is my mate" James widened his eyes as he completed his words, "Your Luna"
"Luna!?" he exclaimed with a beaming face. His silver eyes were gleaming as he looked at Cassian and then he frowned rushing out of the study, "I must annihilate those letters!"
Butler Robert entered his study right after James exited and widened his eyes looking at Cassian's cheerful face. It was already rare for his prince to feel at peace because of those royals, so it was a shock for the butler to comprehend his smiling face.
Cassian looked up at the butler still smiling, "What is it, Robert?"
"I'm just glad my lord"
"Huh?"
"Whatever that made you smile, I'm just glad that it happened. This is the first time that I saw you genuinely happy"
Cassian blinked his eyes, he didn't seem to notice himself smiling. It just happened after meeting his mate, he was constantly happy and content knowing about her existence. He did not think that this was just because of mate bond, he believed that it was like this because the woman to be his mate was Iris. She was such a precious little thing, naming him Mr.wolf, sharing her worries instead of bottling them up and that was the complete opposite of him. He always kept his worries to himself and never bothered to tell them to even his late grandfather, but now he wanted to share them with his mate. He just had a feeling that she would console him instead of using it against him as most did when he tried to open up.
"I found my mate" he softly said surprising the old butler and added, "It is Iris Kenworthy"
Robert widened his eyes, "Your fiance?"
Cassian nodded and the butler beamed, "I'm so happy for you my lord"
****
NETHILOR EMPIRE
While Cassian found his mate and passion in life, Lorcan felt like his world was crumbling down. Waiting patiently was easier said than done and Lorcan was currently experiencing the same thing. He confidently believed that his Rea is alive and well somewhere and he would find her no matter what, but.... every second without knowing her current situation was like hell for Lorcan. He was scared that the past him might come back without Rea's presence in his life.
He still remembered how he used to be before meeting Astrea...
(Five years ago)
Seventeen-year-old Lorcan was seated in the chair opposite of the assassin that tried to kill him. He was torturing him when his aide and childhood friend Ryan rushed inside the dungeon. Lorcan just glanced at him and returned his gaze towards the prisoner, "Tell me who put you up to this?"
The spy shuddered hearing Lorcan's cold voice but refused to answer. Either way, he was going to die after this so he just accepted his reality and decided to protect his family from his master's hands.
Lorcan smirked at him for having the audacity to keep quiet after trying to assassinate him, "Do you think that I will simply kill you and end this matter?" he shook his head, "I will hunt down every person related to you and chop their limbs in front of you" he smiled enjoying the terrified expression on the man's face, "Then I will rip their head off with my own hands"
"Tell me the truth now and I may spare you" he nonchalantly added but the convict didn't believe his words. The person in front of him was more like a devil instead of a Vampire and he was sure that the crown prince would do worse if he didn't confess the truth.
"I will reveal their identity, but you must promise me to save my family from them"
Lorcan smiled eerily, "I promise"
Although skeptical, the spy decided to put his faith in this man and parted his lips, "It is empress's elder brother, Duke Canmore. He threatened with my family if I didn't comply with his orders"
Lorcan smiled hearing his answer, "I didn't expect that old man to make such a move...How bold!" then he glanced at the prisoner and stepped towards him. Without wasting any time, he snapped his neck killing him in an instant.
He clicked his tongue and withdrew from that place. Ryan outside the cell frowned, "What about his family?"
"What about them?" Ryan furrowed his brows at his indifferent words, "Didn't you promise to keep his family safe?"
Lorcan raised his brows and turned towards his guards, "Track down his family and save them from duke Canmore's hands" the guards were about to reply but froze in their place hearing his next order, "And make sure to kill them all one by one"
"Your highness?" Ryan asked in surprise but the crown prince just shrugged, "I said that I would save them from the duke but never from myself"
Ryan was in disbelief, "Must you really do this? His family are innocent"
Lorcan just walked past Ryan, "This is a lesson for everyone in the future to never betray me"
"This is too harsh Lorcan" he was not able to stop himself from saying this to his best friend.
"Leave that matter" Lorcan ordered and Ryan closed his mouth, "Why were you in such a hurry earlier?"
Ryan clenched the royal parchment in his hands and contemplated his words but finally answered, "His majesty selected your crown princess"
Lorcan halted his steps and turned towards Ryan, "What?"
"As you already know that there are almost ten requests every week sent to the house of lords to select your future wife, your father decided a fiance for you to keep those greedy nobles at bay"
"And did it without even consulting me?" Lorcan asked a little surprised by his father's decision. The emperor never meddled with his matters because of his temper but he dared to select his future wife without discussing with him?, "Who is the lady?"
Ryan pursed his lips, "It is Lady Astrea from marquis house of Campbells"
And that made Lorcan dumfounded, "A human girl? What is father thinking by selecting a human girl for a vampire-like me?"
"I too don't know his majesty's reasons but I guess he did this to annoy the empress who wants her niece in that position"
Lorcan sighed and started walking again, "Scare the Campbell girl to make her give up"
"You don't need to do that, lady Campbell has already expressed her desire against this arrangement"
"What?"
Ryan nodded, "She sent a letter to you discreetly requesting your help in canceling this engagement"
Lorcan raised his brows, "A letter?"
Ryan took out the other envelope from his coat pocket and handed it to the crown prince, "Here"
Lorcan took the letter and tore it open and started reading with narrowed eyes...
(Mr.Not my fiance,
I am Astrea Campbell, the unfortunate girl who is being forced by the emperor to become your fiance and the crown princess which by the way I don't like. My father tried to talk to your father but he is not heeding, so as a last resort I request you to cancel this engagement. I'm also ready to help you in this matter so meet me tomorrow at hotel Marriot during lunch.
Not yours Rea...)
Ryan watched as the crown prince crumpled the letter after reading it. He tried his best to hold back his laughter looking at his friend's dark face. Clearing his throat he softly asked, "Are you alright your highness?"
Lorcan looked up from his hand and stormed out of the dungeon.
Ryan chuckled, "This is going to be interesting"
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