Iris glanced at Cassian with a complicated look on her face. Midnight black hair and azure blue eyes with a perfectly sculpted face. 'He is handsome' this was the first thought she had about him, 'But he has an awful personality. He was quite pushy and fierce with his approach. Hearing Lucy's words about their engagement, she was able to discern that this was their first meeting. Then she tilted her head, 'But why did it feel like they met a long time ago?'
Cassian smiled receiving her stare. She was not even trying to hide it and he was amused by that. Even when he turned to face her, she didn't flinch away from his gaze. Iris continued to observe him and he let her. After what felt like an eternity, she finally parted her lips, "You are too handsome Grand duke"
"What?" he asked not believing his ears. Did she just call him handsome? His Wolf in his mind was jumping in joy and his heart was beating furiously because of her words.
Iris nodded her head seriously, "You have a handsome face" then she looked at his body and a blush crept to her face.
Cassian was dumbfounded, He didn't expect his mate to be so bold. When he met her in his wolf form, he thought that she was a little silly by naming him 'Mr wolf', but never in his wildest imagination did he think of her as someone so outspoken and fierce. Well, he likes it!
Wearing a cheeky grin he asked, "Then do you like my handsome face?"
"Of course I like it" she answered without hesitation, "I'm a vain person, I'm biased towards good looking people and things"
Lucy almost choked on her saliva, 'What are you saying my lady?' she screamed in her mind. Then she glanced at Cassian and noticed him being shy and flustered. Wasn't he the one who blatantly addressed her young miss as 'Honey?' just a few moments ago, then why was he getting shy now?
Cassian fidgeted in his place, "You are too honest with your words my lady"
"Did my words offend you someway?" she asked with a frown, "But you are really handsome Grand duke" She was just being truthful, Was being truthful not accepted nowadays?
"It's not that....." he started but closed his mouth and sighed, "Thank you for your compliment, You are beautiful too"
"I know" she replied once again making him speechless.
Lucy couldn't bear to hear any more, her young miss was really something else, "We are getting late my lady" she said trying to stop their awkward exchange.
Only then did, Iris turns her eyes away from Cassian's extremely handsome face, "I want to eat something first" then she glanced at Cassian, "Will you join me for the lunch Grand duke?"
'Was she asking him out on a date?' "I'm not asking you out on a date" and she just burst his happy bubble with her piercing words, "Because of you, I was not able to buy a dress for the princess' tea party, and very importantly was not able to eat the snacks offered to me by lady Delaney" Cassian looked at her dazed as she added, "I'm hungry now, Please buy me lunch Grand duke"
"My lady.....?" Lucy looked at her with wide eyes but Iris calmly turned to her and said, "What's wrong? Aren't I Grand duke's honey? It is only right to buy food for his honey" then she looked at Cassian with innocent eyes, "Right Grand duke?"
His eyes flickered, "Lady Iris, are you still angry about what I said inside the boutique?"
"Ah!" she exclaimed, "So you are aware that you did something wrong?"
Cassian nodded, "I apologize for barging in without notice and calling you 'Honey'"
"That's not what I'm angry about your grace" he was confused so she explained, "I got angry because you kept pushing although I informed you about my memory loss. I never remember getting engaged to you, so please refrain from crossing the limits"
"I understand" he replied. His heart swelled up with pride and adoration for his mate. His woman is the perfect Luna for both his heart and pack.
Iris beamed at him and once again he went into trance, "But you being handsome is true Grand duke" she chuckled, "That was not part of the act"
He smiled sheepishly, "I'm glad then"
After their exchange, they went to a restaurant and had lunch together. The atmosphere between them was amicable and serene.
Iris learned so many things about Cassian. She only knew him as Grand duke but was surprised that he was also the eldest son of the current emperor, "Then I should have addressed you as 'your highness'" she said and he shook his head and smiled sadly, "I have never considered the royals as my family and vice versa. My mother was just a concubine and I as a concubine's son is disdained by my father. My half-brother, Louis is wary of me and my stepmother hates me"
He noticed pity in her gaze and fretted, "Please don't look at me like that, I don't want you of all people to look at me with sympathy" Not you, I always want to look admirable in your eyes. He added in his mind but didn't say it aloud.
Iris put her fork on the plate, "Look at me Grand duke" he was avoiding her eyes, "Please look at me"
Cassian lifted his head and froze looking at her warm smile, "I'm very proud of you" his gaze flickered as she continued, "You did not succumb to harsh circumstances and fought to become the man you are today. You are stronger than you believe, and I really admire you Grand duke"
His throat choked up because of the overwhelming emotions in his heart. The world aside from the woman in front of him suddenly felt meaningless and empty. Only now did he realize that nothing or nobody mattered other than this young maiden in front of him. Cassian never cared about his so-called father or family, but he started to worry about that after meeting Iris. 'What if she deems me low and shuns me like others?' 'What should I do if she rejects me because of my background?' Although a prince by birth, he was just a concubine's son and she was the beloved and only daughter of Duke Kenworthy. These thoughts occupied his mind for the past few weeks but hearing his mate's words, those thoughts got dispelled in thin air.
"Your food is getting cold your grace" her voice brought him out of his thoughts. She smiled and gestured for him to continue eating. The remaining time passed with some random exchange of words. Iris didn't want to talk more about his family because she didn't want to upset him and Cassian didn't want to talk about them because his only worry about him being despised by Iris vanished, as for the royals, he never cared about them in the first place.
After finishing the lunch, both walked out of the restaurant to only face Clifford's seething face, "Brother?" Iris looked at him in confusion, "What are you doing here?"
Clifford glanced at both of them and his gaze landed on their intertwined hands. And in the next instant, he separated their hands and pulled her towards him, "I should be the one asking you that. Why are you here with the Grand duke?"
She blinked her eyes, "I met his grace by coincidence in Madam Delaney's boutique and he wanted to escort me back to our duchy"
Clifford nodded and looked at Cassian, "So you are telling me that you met the Grand duke by 'CHANCE' inside the Ladies' boutique?"
Iris frowned, why is he making such a big issue out of this matter? Weren't she and the Grand duke engaged? and Clifford understood her look and answered, "Your engagement with the Grand Duke is annulled" Cassian's face turned dark as he continued, "So you are not obliged to meet him because he is just a stranger now"
She parted her lips to say something but Cassian's voice stopped her, "General!" Clifford looked at him and Cassian said, "His majesty has not yet approved the annulment. So I and lady Iris are still engaged to marry in the future...."
"That won't happen" Clifford cut his words and said in a sharp voice, "My father has already decided to end it, so don't unnecessarily drag it your grace" Remembering his other sister's death, his voice turned colder, "Or you will have to face my sword before reaching my sister"
"Are you threatening me right now?" Cassian asked in a menacing voice.
Clifford shook his head, "I'm just reminding you of the lengths I could go to keep my sister safe" After saying his words, he tugged Iris' hand and walked towards the Kenworthy wagon.
Cassian watched as his mate got inside and the wagon drove away. His Beta who accompanied him got down from his horse, "What are you going to do now Alpha?"
Cassian smiled eerily, "I do not mind cutting a few heads to reach my mate"
"Alpha...?" James shuddered in his place and his Alpha just smirked at him, "No one can take her away from me...NO ONE!"