Chapter 310: v4 - 11: tomorrow I

Chapter 310: v4 Chapter 11: tomorrow I

Cassian stood before the mirror in his room, one hand resting against his jaw.

The short growth of facial hair had become more noticeable during the journey.

He had not bothered shaving properly for several days.

Before leaving Milicia, he had made rather more effort with his appearance.

At the time, the thought of seeing Marian again had made him want to look his absolute best.

Now, with the capital only a day away, he found himself reconsidering.

He could shave.

He probably should.

Marian would see him soon.

The thought sent an unfamiliar tension through his chest.

He had spent almost six years imagining this moment.

Now that it was close, he found himself thinking about everything he had deliberately refused to consider.

What if she was happy?

What if she truly loved Adrian now?

What if the life they had built together was something she would never willingly abandon?

Cassian looked down.

For the first time since beginning the journey, he wondered whether returning was selfish.

He had spent years wanting to come home.

But Marian had not been waiting in an empty room for him.

She had lived.

She had married.

She had built a life.

And if she was happy in that life...

Perhaps he had no right to destroy it simply because he had finally found his way back.

The thought hurt.

He pushed it aside.

No.

He had come to see her.

To tell her the truth.

What she chose afterward belonged to her.

Still, his hand remained against his jaw.

He could shave.

He almost reached for the razor.

Then he stopped.

There was no reason to make recognition easy.

The Empire believed Cassian Ashford was dead.

Six years had changed him regardless.

His face was older now.

His jaw had sharpened.

His features had matured.

The facial hair added another small difference.

It wasn’t a disguise.

It simply made him less immediately recognizable.

And perhaps...

Cassian’s mouth twitched faintly.

Perhaps that was not entirely a bad thing.

If Marian looked at him tomorrow and did not recognize him immediately, he could blame the beard.

Six years.

The distance.

The changes.

He could tell himself she simply hadn’t known.

That would be easier than wondering whether she had looked at him, recognized him, and chosen not to show it.

Cassian exhaled softly.

Ridiculous.

He was preparing excuses before the meeting had even happened.

But he left the facial hair as it was.

Better this way.

He would remain Carlo.

At least until Marian knew the truth.

A knock sounded at the door.

"My lord?"

Cassian turned.

"Come in."

"The King has asked for you."

"I’ll be there shortly."

The servant bowed and withdrew.

Cassian took one final look at his reflection.

Then he left the room.

--

Cassian arrived at Lorenz’s rooms shortly after supper.

Lorenz looked up when he entered.

"There you are."

His eyes lingered briefly on Cassian’s face.

"You decided to keep that?"

Cassian touched his jaw.

"Apparently."

Lorenz studied him for another moment, then smiled.

"Actually, it’s quite good."

Cassian raised an eyebrow.

"For practical reasons," Lorenz added.

"I thought so."

Marcus glanced up from the documents.

"It certainly won’t hurt."

Cassian nodded.

Lorenz gestured toward the chair.

"Come. Have a seat. We’re just going through the final details for tomorrow."

Cassian joined them.

Marcus had several documents spread across the table. He picked up the first.

"All right. First things first."

He glanced down the page.

"All right. First things first."

He glanced down the page.

"The Imperial reception."

Lorenz leaned forward.

"The reception will take place at the capital gates."

Cassian listened.

Marcus continued.

"And according to the final program, the Emperor himself will receive us."

Lorenz’s eyebrows lifted.

"He will?"

"Apparently."

Lorenz sat back.

"That’s surprisingly generous of him."

"It is," Marcus agreed.

Cassian gave a faint nod.

"That’s Adrian."

Lorenz looked toward him.

"He’s always been a stickler for protocol."

Cassian glanced at the document.

"Receiving you personally is also a considerable gesture."

"Especially given the circumstances," Marcus added.

Lorenz looked at him.

"You mean Milicia."

Marcus nodded.

"We’ve spent the past several years dealing with internal turmoil. The Empire knows that."

"And yet he is receiving you as a sovereign."

"Personally."

Lorenz gave a thoughtful smile.

"That’s respectable."

"It is," Cassian agreed.

There was no reluctance in his acknowledgment.

Whatever Adrian had done to him was one matter.

His conduct as Emperor was another.

Cassian had already seen enough of the Empire on their journey to know that Adrian had not squandered the years since taking the throne.

The roads were maintained.

The towns were prosperous.

Trade moved freely.

The countryside was peaceful.

And wherever they had passed, the people had spoken of their Emperor with unmistakable regard.

The evidence was everywhere.

Marcus turned another page.

"Then there is the procession."

"After the reception, the delegation will proceed through the capital before we reach the palace."

Lorenz smiled faintly.

"That will be quite a spectacle."

"Probably deliberately."

Cassian glanced at the document.

"They want you to see the capital."

"We’ve already seen enough of the Empire to know it’s prosperous," Lorenz said.

Marcus nodded.

"True."

"But showing us the capital is different."

"It tells us what the Empire wants us to notice."

Lorenz looked toward Cassian.

"Which is?"

"Strength."

"Stability."

"And prosperity."

Lorenz considered that.

"Fair enough."

Marcus continued.

"The formal banquet will be held that evening."

"Music and several cultural performances have also been arranged."

Lorenz smiled.

"They’ve certainly prepared for us."

Cassian said nothing.

It was exactly what he would have expected from Adrian.

Lorenz glanced at him.

"You’re quiet."

Cassian looked up.

"Because you’re discussing the program."

"And?"

"I’m listening."

Lorenz laughed softly.

"Of course you are."

Marcus closed the program and reached for another document.

"There is also the report on the Emperor."

Lorenz’s expression became more serious.

"Let’s see it."

Marcus read from the page.

"Adrian is twenty-nine."

"Crowned at twenty-three."

"His reign has been regarded as highly stable."

"The Empire’s economy has strengthened considerably during the past six years."

"Trade has expanded."

"The treasury remains strong."

"The military is well funded."

"And his popularity among the population remains high."

Lorenz listened carefully.

"Practical?"

"Very."

"Reserved?"

"By most accounts."

"Strict?"

"Certainly."

Lorenz smiled faintly.

"Sounds familiar."

Cassian gave him a look.

"You’ve never met him."

"Neither have you in six years."

Cassian said nothing.

Marcus continued.

"The reports consistently describe him as disciplined and deliberate."

Lorenz nodded.

"That matches what we’ve seen."

He looked toward Cassian.

"So."

He paused.

"That’s not particularly good news for you."

Cassian’s expression remained calm.

"No."

Lorenz raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"That you aren’t worried."

"I didn’t say that."

Marcus’s mouth twitched.

Cassian looked down at the report.

"Adrian is competent."

Lorenz waited.

"Very."

Cassian leaned back.

"I’ve seen enough on the way here to say that."

"The Empire is prosperous."

"The provinces are orderly."

"The people seem content with him."

"And I’ve known Adrian since we were children."

"He was never careless about anything concerning the throne."

Lorenz nodded slowly.

"So you agree with the report."

"Yes."

Cassian’s voice was even.

"For all that happened between us, Adrian is good at what he does."

He paused.

"Whatever happened between him and me was personal."

Marcus looked at him.

"And you can separate the two."

"I have to."

Cassian glanced toward the papers.

"If I couldn’t, I would be lying to myself about the man I’m about to face."

Lorenz nodded.

"Fair."

He tapped the report.

"Then at least we know what we’re dealing with."

Marcus gathered the papers into a smaller stack.

"Which brings us back to tomorrow."

His eyes shifted toward Cassian.

The room went quiet.

Cassian already knew what they were thinking.

"If the Emperor is receiving you at the gates," he said, "I’ll be there with the delegation."

Lorenz nodded.

"Of course."

Cassian glanced toward the schedule.

"I’ll simply let you have the Emperor’s attention."

Lorenz smiled.

"I imagine he’ll have plenty to occupy him."

Cassian gave a faint nod.

"Exactly."

Marcus turned the page.

"Then we’ll proceed as arranged."

--

Tbc