Chapter 143: Was the book finally taking it’s eyes off of Cass?
The next week was full of Sam nagging him about how he needed to take better care of himself for not only Cass’ sake, but Sam’s and the people who cared about him too. That meant that Cass spent a lot of time out in the gardens below his room with Sam’s hawk-like supervision, which wasn’t a bad thing, but it also meant that when he wanted to work, it was painful and slow. Cass was getting through paper after paper so slowly he thought he was going to die from lack of speed.
He couldn’t ask Sam for help, since he was able to read quite well and while he did trust the other man, he didn’t want him to know the plans he was formulating. For his own safety. So he had Byron by his side. He helped him flip papers, looming over his shoulder while, at a smaller desk brought in nearby, the man was working on his letters.
It was endearing to say the least, but also unnerving. Cass was really hoping that this wasn’t something that happened every time going forward. That would be awful.
Not having Byron help him, but the hand injuries.
During his healing process, he didn’t get a break from everyone else, unfortunately.
Lady Fiona was busy since the official call for help for the hero had gone out. The day for the hero party to go and conquer the dungeon had been finalised, and Cass was glad that it was the same day, or around the same day that he had predicted.
With that being said, Lady Fiona had come to check on him every day throughout the whole week. She wanted to make sure that he was recovering before she said that he was coming. Cass reminded her that he was a magic user, and that his powers were coming back and apparently, stronger than before, so he would be okay.
Lady Fiona appeared to be learning, since she asked for him to do a demonstration that he was stronger, even without the full use of his hands. Cass had been glad to show her, and had drawn up quite the crowd. Included in said crowd was a Draken, but he had hung back. More like a proud teacher then a partner in this situation, which had gotten him some goodwill from Cass.
Cass had shown off his new powers. The powers he had continued to work on with Draken despite their disagreement earlier in the week. Lady Fiona, along with the others, had been quite impressed by Cass’ show of power. It also served as a warning to the others who had thought he had grown weaker since he was injured that he was, in fact, still that bitch.
Lady Fiona had begrudgingly agreed with him, after Cass had shown her how much progress he had made. She had made a big deal of it, moaning and groaning about how she was never going to match up to his powers. Cass had been confused about what she was doing until he caught the glimmer in her eyes.
Lady Fiona was hamming it up, showing that she was fawning over her powerful husband for everyone else. Trying to make it seem like they had a close relationship. Cass had no idea why. It wasn’t as if he had any issues getting by currently, but...he guessed he appreciated her effort? It wouldn’t hurt him, and it would also be a good thing if even in the mansion worker’s eyes, Lady Fiona and Lord Blackburn were closer now.
Cass hadn’t forgiven Draken for his outburst, and the way that it had made him feel, but he also wasn’t going to turn down lessons in magic from an older dragon. The lessons took place in that clearing, every time, and Byron remained nearby in case the other dragon got any funny ideas.
Draken had been very polite, very reasonable and calm, like he was trying to show off all the good sides of himself to Cass. While it was something that he expected from the dragon, since he had attempted to do so before with ’checking on his aides’ before now, he had a feeling there was another reason why Draken was behaving this way.
Cass hadn’t brought it up to Draken yet, but Cass had a feeling it might have to do with the fact that there was a rumour going around the mansion that Draken had pulled Vespertine out of his rooms in the middle of the night and the two of them had disappeared into the forest around the mansion.
No one knows when or how they came back to the mansion, but the forest was greatly disturbed for hours after they had disappeared. Rumour also had it that Vespertine’s face was black and blue, and honestly from the sounds of it, he was lucky to be alive. Cass was kind of surprised that he was, considering the weight of his feelings that he’d felt from Draken.
Also, add to Draken being on his best behaviour for the whole week, and Cass not catching a glimpse of Vespertine, Cass had a feeling that they had come to some kind of agreement. Why they had needed to come to some kind of agreement? That was none of Cass’ business.
He wasn’t going to put his head into a situation he wanted nothing to do with. Speaking of that, it appeared that Lady Fiona had done the same with Vespertine and Draken as well. She had come to some kind of deal with them since, just like Cass, she was seen around the town, around the mansion, and even in the gardens with both men.
Cass hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Lady Ava as he traveled around the mansion, his mind busy but his body unable to keep up with it.
Cass had seen more of Lord Ridgewood now that he wasn’t cooped up in his rooms 24-7. He found that the man was dedicated to keeping his body in shape. Listening to the others chatter, he found out that Lord Ridgewood spent most of his time split between the library, and the training area. Cass, being a bit nosy, had gone by the training area during one of the times that Lord Ridgewood was normally around.
Cass had found the man swinging his sword, over and over, sweat pouring down his bare chest and his slightly too long red hair tied back. Cass had gotten an eyeful of skin that he had thought would have been pale because he was a redhead, but no.
He was tan, fit, his abs something Cass had not been expecting, but he should have since he was a sword wielder. Not just any sword wielder. He came from a family so disciplined that they normally worked exclusively for the royal family. Cass had to pick his jaw up off the floor before anyone noticed. He had also made sure that Lord Ridgewood hadn’t seen him. He was never in this part of the mansion, and he didn’t want to have to explain himself.
That did not mean that Cass hadn’t come by a few times since, when Lord Ridgewood wasn’t aware he was there, just to catch a glimpse. It was fine to look, since Cass was never going to touch. Especially after he heard more rumours going about. He had heard that Lord Ridgewood had gone into town with Lady Fiona on a date-like activity.
Everyone was doing date-like activities with Lady Fiona. Cass realised that his own dates were her coming to his office to check up on him, and Cass was okay with that.
He hadn’t forgiven her, but Lady Fiona was doing her best to prove that she was changing, she was growing, and she was learning to respect his boundaries and him as a person. Cass did think it was a bit too late, but at the same time, he had to work with all of them until he could prove to Lady Fiona that he didn’t care enough about her secrets to rat her out.
Then he could ask for a divorce. His first fucking step to changing this absurd future.
Cass was hoping that this progress also meant that the story was turning in the right direction, and that the attention would be off of him soon. He wouldn’t have everyone fawning over him anymore, and that Lady Fiona was going to turn back into the main character that she was supposed to be.
Cass wasn’t blind. he had noticed how it felt like he was getting some special treatment. No doubt it was the fucking manager’s influence, but he hoped that like the influence was fading from him, it was fading from the world as well.
Speaking of, Lady Fiona had spoken more of their plan for Lady Ava. Cass still didn’t know if they had broken up, but if they had it would explain why he wasn’t seeing Lady Ava around as much. Either that, or Vespertine had her confined for his own peace of mind. Cass had seen her normal maids out and about, so it wasn’t as if she was unaware of the going ons of the mansion.
Cass was sure she was blowing a casket, wherever she was.
The plan was formulating more. They had sealed that they were going to the main temple. Lady Fiona had spoken to Vespertine about it, and he had informed his Father. Cass wondered if Vespertine had spoken about Cass to him since it sounded like the old man was excited to see them. Cass hadn’t exactly said that Vespertine should keep it to himself, but he had implied it. After all, Lady Ava had fought to keep it from him.
Lady Fiona had also confided in the older man that something had shifted, worryingly, inside of Lady Ava and that she needed some help.
From his response, he sounded kind and worried, but Cass couldn’t forget how Vespertine had looked when he’d very briefly spoken about his past. Well, he hadn’t even really spoken about it, just alluded to the fact that Cass and Vespertine were both sons of Dukes.
It sounded like they would be ready for them.
Whatever may come of the outcome of the dungeon, which Cass assumed was a cleared, closed dungeon, they were going to the Capitol after and Lady Ava was getting a rude awakening. Cass was a little giddy, excited to see it happen. Not because he wished ill on Lady Ava, but because this would be the first time he’d see something like this happen.
It was exciting. He filled him with anticipation. Something to look forward to.