Chapter 35
Something felt unusually comfortable.
I slowly rubbed my eyes and opened them.
My body felt warm, and I was still half-asleep.
I shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable again.
Then I froze.
I looked down.
My arms were wrapped around Cassian.
My eyes widened.
Damn.
I couldn't remember when it happened, but somehow, I had ended up hugging him in my sleep.
I quickly pulled away and sat upright.
"I'm sorry," I said, immediately getting to my feet.
Cassian simply looked at me.
"You're finally awake. We need to go now," he said, completely unfazed.
I stared at him.
He was acting as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, I was internally dying of embarrassment.
Damn. I just hope I didn't drool on him.
"Wear this," he said, handing me a dark cloak.
I quickly put it on and pulled the hood over my head.
Cassian put on his own cloak as well.
I looked at him.
"Can we actually get past the border?" I asked. "The Queen ordered it sealed, right?"
Cassian nodded.
"She did."
He adjusted his hood.
"But we're not using the main road."
I frowned.
"Then how are we getting through?"
"There's a secret passage between Solaris and Sylvania," he explained. "Smugglers and bandits use it to cross the border without being detected."
My eyes widened slightly.
"That sounds dangerous."
"It is," Cassian replied. "But it's our safest option right now."
I nodded.
"Then let's go."
Cassian opened the door and stepped outside.
I followed him, but before leaving, I glanced back at the house.
Rakim still hadn't returned.
I frowned slightly.
I just hope he's safe.
I turned away and followed Cassian.
Outside, a horse was already waiting for us.
Cassian walked over to it and held out his hand.
"Here," he said.
I placed my hand in his, and he helped me onto the horse.
A moment later, he climbed onto the horse behind me.
I suddenly felt a little awkward.
We were sitting so close that I could feel the warmth of his body.
Damn.
Why am I suddenly nervous?
Cassian took hold of the reins.
"Hiyaa!" he said, urging the horse forward.
The horse began trotting down the road.
I sat quietly in front of him, still aware of how close we were.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
The house slowly disappeared from view as we followed the quiet road.
The sound of the horse's hooves echoed through the countryside, accompanied by the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze.
...
Eventually, the quiet road opened into a busier one.
Cassian slowed the horse as we approached.
I looked around cautiously.
There were more people around now, and we couldn't afford to attract attention.
I pulled my hood further over my head.
Cassian continued riding, blending in with the other travelers.
We passed several people along the road, but no one seemed to pay much attention to us.
I let out a small sigh of relief.
For now, everything seemed to be going smoothly.
But we still had a long way to go.
Eventually, Cassian pulled on the reins.
The horse came to a stop.
I looked ahead and noticed a narrow path leading into the forest.
This must be the secret passage leading to Sylvania.
"Stay alert," Cassian said, looking ahead. "There might be bandits along the way. They may try to ambush us."
I nodded.
"Got it," I replied, becoming more cautious.
Cassian guided the horse onto the narrow path.
The trees grew thicker around us, blocking most of the sunlight.
With every step deeper into the forest, the road became narrower and the surroundings quieter.
Even the sound of the horse's hooves seemed unusually loud against the silence.
I kept my eyes on the path ahead.
A sudden rustle came from the bushes.
I immediately tensed.
A rabbit jumped out of the bushes.
I froze.
It quickly disappeared into the trees.
"Damn," I muttered.
"Don't worry," Cassian whispered behind me. "Bandits usually target travelers carrying bags or belongings."
I nodded, feeling slightly relieved.
We continued along the narrow path, remaining alert until the forest finally began to thin.
Before long, the trees gave way to another road.
I looked ahead.
We had finally reached the other side of the border.
We were back in Sylvania.
Cassian continued riding.
"We'll head to my estate," he said.
I nodded.
"Alright."
The journey continued, but this time, I felt a little more at ease.
I couldn't help but wonder what would happen now that I was back in Sylvania.
I doubted they would have me return to the Grimaldi estate since it was dangerous.
Or would the Duke send me somewhere far away?
I didn't want that, though.
If I could choose, I'd rather go back to Zorad and continue living there like before.
Wait...
Zorad.
I suddenly remembered something.
"Your Grace, there's something I've been wondering," I said. "How did Travis end up rescuing me from the dungeon? Did he not return to Zorad after the subjugation?"
Cassian was silent for a moment before answering.
"Why are you suddenly using honorifics? Just call me Cassian," he said firmly.
I froze, then shook my head.
"I can't just call you by your first name, Your Grace," I said. "I just forgot to use honorifics before because..."
I paused.
I couldn't think of an excuse.
Damn.
I scratched the back of my head.
I should have used honorifics from the start. I must have gotten too comfortable around him.
"You don't have to think of an excuse. Just call me Cassian when it's just the two of us," he said.
"And to answer your question, Travis is one of my knights. I offered him the job after the subjugation," he explained.
My eyes lit up.
So everything was going the way it was supposed to.
Soon, he'd become the captain of the Imperial Guard without any problems.
"When he found out you had been dragged to Solaris, he begged me to send him to rescue you," Cassian continued.
I couldn't help but smile.
He must have really been worried about me.
"We're here," Cassian said.
I looked ahead.
Cassian's estate finally came into view.
The moment we arrived, the gates opened, and several knights hurried over to greet him.
"Welcome back, Your Grace," one of the knights said.
Cassian simply nodded.
As we rode into the estate, something caught my attention.
A young boy was tending to the garden.
He suddenly looked up and waved toward us.
My eyes widened.
"Leon," I whispered.
Cassian glanced at him.
"I forgot to mention that his two younger siblings are staying here as well," he said. "Leon helps with the garden, while his younger sister helps the servants around the estate."
I looked at Leon again.
He had grown so much.
He looked much more mature now than the last time I saw him.
I smiled slightly.
I wonder how Elia is doing.
"Don't forget, you're Cosima now," Cassian reminded me.
Right.
I can't approach them like I did when I was Luna.
I had to be careful.
Knowing that they're here should already be enough for me.
Cassian pulled on the reins, bringing the horse to a stop.
He climbed down and held out his hand to me.
"Careful," he said.
I took his hand, and he helped me down from the horse.
A young man quickly approached and took the reins from Cassian.
Cassian gave him a nod before turning toward the entrance.
I followed him inside and we headed straight to his office.
Cassian opened the door and we stepped inside.
I looked around the room.
A large desk stood near the window, with several documents neatly arranged on top.
Cassian walked toward his desk.
I stood there for a moment before calling out to him.
"Uhm... Cassian," I said, stopping him.
He turned and looked at me.
"There's something I want to ask you," I continued.
"What is it?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Can I stay here?" I asked, watching his reaction.
Cassian looked at me for a moment before answering.
"Of course," he replied. "That's the plan while the Duke is still in Solaris."
I shook my head.
"No, I mean..." I paused, trying to find the right words. "Can I stay here permanently?"
His brows lifted slightly.
"Permanently?" he repeated.
I nodded.
"I want to stay here and become one of your knights," I said, meeting his gaze.
Cassian stared at me, clearly caught off guard.
"You want to become one of my knights?" he asked, his expression filled with surprise.
"Yes," I answered quickly.
I straightened my back.
"I'm actually really good with a sword now," I added confidently. "I trained really hard while I was in Solaris."
Cassian's expression turned serious.
"No," he said firmly.
I blinked.
"No?"
"It's too risky," he explained. "Your enemies already know you can use a sword."
I frowned.
Does this mean I have to give up using a sword?
I couldn't help but feel disappointed.
"How about becoming a priestess instead?" Cassian suggested. "You have divine power, right?"
I couldn't help but laugh.
Cassian looked at me with a questioning expression.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"I can't become a priestess," I explained. "They'll recognize my divine power immediately."
Cassian raised an eyebrow.
"Recognize how?"
I hesitated for a moment.
"My divine power is actually different from others."
Cassian looked at me curiously.
"Different?"
I nodded.
"Normal divine power appears as white light, while mine..."
I paused for a moment and let my divine power appear in my hand.
A soft white light formed around my palm, shimmering with a faint golden glow.
"It shimmers with a golden glow that only those with royal blood possess," I finished.
"You have royal blood?" he asked, his eyes widened slightly.
I nodded.
"My mother was Princess Raya," I revealed quietly. "The King's daughter."
Cassian stared at me.
Then his lips twitched into a faint, disbelieving smile.
"So... you're what?" he asked, almost as if he couldn't take my words seriously. "The Princess of Solaris?"
I glared at him.
"You're hurting my feelings!" I complained.
His eyes widened.
"You're not joking?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"No."
Cassian stared at me for several seconds.
I could tell he was still trying to process what I had just told him.
"While I was in Solaris, I met an old man," I revealed. "It turns out he was my great-uncle-the King's younger brother."
Cassian's eyes widened.
"The King has a younger brother?" he asked, clearly unable to believe it.
"Had," I corrected quietly. "I think he died in the village."
"Remember that village they accused me of slaughtering?" I asked.
"Yeah, what about it?" Cassian asked.
"Uncle actually brought me there to purify it because it was corrupted by dark magic," I explained.
Cassian's expression grew tense as he listened.
"Thankfully, I managed to purify the entire village, but I fainted afterward."
I lowered my gaze as I remembered what happened next.
"Not long after I woke up, some men arrived and started attacking the village."
Cassian's expression darkened.
"Those men must have been the Apex Knights," he said.
"Apex Knights?" I asked curiously.
Cassian nodded.
"They're a secret group of elite knights who serve directly under the Queen," Cassian explained. "Very few people even know about their existence."
I frowned slightly.
"That makes sense if they're the Queen's men," I said. "Uncle told me the Queen would be celebrating if we both died there."
Cassian nodded slowly.
"It's because you both have royal blood. That's why she wants you both dead," he said.
"That's right..." I replied quietly.
I fell silent for a moment.
But there was something that still bothered me.
How did they know we were in that village?
Did they follow us there?
Or...
Did Haru tell the Queen about us?