Chapter 91 The Weight of the Cage

A week has passed, and not once has Elian crossed paths with Lucien.

​He liked it that way.

​He sat in his new room, feeling out of place as he stared around the furnished space.

​He had been released from the infirmary last night, his wound having closed and healing properly, but sleeping down here wasn’t the same. He felt empty sleeping in a room that wasn’t next to Lucien’s.

​He sighed, wondering how Lucien had been, even when he knew he shouldn’t think about him. The past week had been busy in the manor; everyone was occupied preparing for the engagement ball happening in a few nights, and Elian had been left in the infirmary to wonder just what happened to Lucien when he was just a boy, as Lysandra had stated.

​His thoughts were suddenly disrupted by a knock on his door. He stood from his bed and walked toward the door, hating himself for imagining it was Lucien behind it.

​He frowned, forcing himself to understand that whatever was between him and the Duke was over and done with. Lucien was actively trying to remind him that they would never be together by rubbing the engagement in his face. It hurt—it hurt so bad—but there was nothing he could do.

​He quietly unlocked his door and pulled it in. "Finn? What are you doing here?" he asked.

​It was early in the morning, and Finn was not supposed to leave his duty post.

​"She came asking for you," Finn gestured to his side.

​Elian frowned. "Who..." He paused as his gaze traveled down and found Lynda smiling up at him.

​His spirit instantly lifted as he saw the little girl.

​"Hello, angel," he smiled, taking the girl’s hand.

​"I heard you’re sick; mama said to bring you this," she offered him a clean cloth sack.

​Elian suddenly smelled the sweet scent of freshly baked buns, and his mouth watered instantly.

​"Really, thank you." He took it from her, feeling the warm, round buns inside the sack.

​"Do you want to walk?" Lynda asked him, peeking into the dark room.

​Elian glanced back at the room and sighed. "I have nothing to do," he said, stepping out of the room and shutting his door.

​"Let’s go," Lynda took charge, pulling Elian excitedly behind her.

​"Ugh, Lynda, easy," Elian grunted, shielding his chest.

​Lynda gasped, releasing Elian instantly. "I’m so sorry." She hugged Elian’s thigh, looking up at him with teary eyes.

​Elian glanced at Finn beside him and chuckled; they both found her cute and adorable.

​"I’m fine... just take it easy, okay?" He touched her cheek.

​Lynda nodded. "Okay." To show she understood him, she held his hand again and gently walked by his side, not pulling, not tugging.

​They walked through the hallway, and the moment they emerged at the bustling grand hall, Finn stepped away from them.

​"I shall return to the post. Be well," he told Elian, giving him a small, encouraging smile.

​Elian nodded. "Thank you."

​Finn had been his companion in the late, lonely nights at the infirmary. Just before Finn retired for bed, Alaric would step into the infirmary and chat with Elian for a while. And for that, Elian was grateful.

​"Stay close," Elian suddenly pulled Lynda closer as a group of women carried a long table toward them.

​"The Duke is getting married. That’s what the women said," Lynda said, looking around the hall.

​Elian swallowed the heavy lump in his throat. "He’s celebrating his engagement... not the wedding yet." As if his answer would change the fact that Lucien chose Rowena over him.

​Lynda frowned. Then she turned, looking up at Elian. "Will you have a wedding with Mama, too?" she asked hopefully.

​Elian smiled. "I hardly know your mama—"

​"But I want you to be my papa," she pouted.

​Elian chuckled. "It doesn’t work that way, angel. Your mama and I have to like each other before we can have a wedding," he tried to explain.

​"She does like you. You don’t like her?" She asked, her eyes widening in realization. "You don’t like my mama..." she murmured sadly.

​"No, no, I like her. She’s a good woman. She’s very beautiful, too, just like you. But—"

​"What can I say? That is who you deserve—a lowly maid with a lowly man," Rita gently pushed Rowena toward them in her wheelchair, her eyes gleaming in silent victory at Elian.

​"Don’t listen to her. Go wait outside for me," Elian said softly to Lynda, pointing at the exit.

​Lynda stared at Rowena with a frown before walking away, not bowing to her.

​"A stupid girl," Rowena scoffed. "Not greeting her princess properly."

​Elian smiled. "Children don’t hide emotions. They treat each person exactly how they deserve to be treated." He untied his cloth sack and took a bun out, eating it in front of Rowena like he didn’t give a fuck about her.

​Rowena smirked, waving Rita away.

​Rita bowed her head and left, but not after sending Elian a warning look.

​"You know, I’ve come to realize why you’re so hard to get rid of," Rowena said.

​Elian slipped his hand into his cloth bag and took another bun. "Do tell." He nodded at her.

​"You have something Lucien wants, and I wonder what it is that made him refuse my request to send you away from the manor. Instead, he puts you in a room downstairs." She narrowed her eyes at him.

​"Tell me what you’re planning with him. Tell me why he can’t seem to let you go," she demanded.

​Elian shrugged. "You’re a woman. Believe your instincts," he said, locking eyes with her.

​Rowena’s face darkened, her nails clawing at the sand of her wheelchair, her eyes staring daggers at Elian.

​"You’re a bastard," she hissed.

​Elian smiled. "Tell me, why are you still on the wheelchair? Can’t still get him under your gown even with your pretense?" He smirked.

​Rowena chuckled. "Look around you, Elian. It’s my engagement they’re preparing for... I’ll have Lucien under my gown sooner than you think. And my Lucien will never take an interest in someone like you; you’re only bitter I stopped you from seducing him," she sneered.

​"See you soon, Rowena," Elian murmured, walking away as he saw Lucien walking toward them from the stairs.

​He wanted no drama, and he was not ready to face Lucien just yet.

​Lucien looked magnificent as always, breaking his heart all over again when he remembered that the man wasn’t his.

​He met Lynda outside, sitting on the stairs.

​"Did I keep you waiting, my lady?" He asked, standing in front of her.

​Lynda looked up, and Elian’s heart broke.

​"Oh, no. Lynda, why are you crying?" He sat beside her, placing his hand on her small back.

​"The princess said my mama was lowly," she murmured, sniffling.

​Elian gritted his teeth, wishing he could smack Rowena’s face again.

​"Your mama is beautiful, I told you already. And so are you," he told her in a convincing tone.

​"Really?" Lynda asked, turning her face slightly to look at him.

​"Want to know a secret?" Elian asked in a conspiratorial tone.

​Lynda nodded.

​Elian leaned forward, covering his hand beside his mouth as he whispered into Lynda’s ear.

​"Your mama is prettier than the princess. The princess is only a princess because a king birthed her. Your mama is a born queen," he told her quietly.

​Lynda smiled, wiping her tears. "Then you will marry her? My mama?" she asked expectantly.

​Elian chuckled, standing and offering his hand. "You’re corny," he stated, shaking his head.

​"I just want you to be my papa," she replied, taking his hand as she stood.

​"Come on, let’s go," he said, leading her down the stairs.

​"You’re not allowed outside the gates," Lucien’s voice suddenly spoke above the stairs.

​Elian paused, his heart almost flying out of his throat. A week without speaking or seeing him, and now, Lucien was right behind him, reminding him that even though they no longer saw each other as frequently as usual, he was still in Lucien’s cage.

​Slowly, he turned, locking his eyes with Lucien. He almost scoffed when he saw Lucien standing behind Rowena’s wheelchair. Of course—a happy couple.

​He never let his gaze falter from Lucien, his eyes not shy to show his hurt and vulnerability. "I am not stepping out of the gates, Your Grace. I am simply taking Lynda for a walk," he informed him.

​"Do you not have a duty? Why walking so casually?" Rowena asked softly.

​"My duty is beside the Duke. I am temporarily relieved of my duty until I am fully recovered," he answered.

​Lucien tightened his jaw, looking away from Elian.

​Elian never failed to remind him that their destiny was in his hands. Only a word from Lucien could either increase their distance or take it all away. But, as usual, Lucien chose duty.

​"Do not wander out of the walls," Lucien stated and pushed Rowena into the manor.

​"Let’s go," Elian turned, gently leading her away even as his heart bled out.