Cassian's POV
"I can't tell whether it went well or not," Samuel observed as he watched Cassian return to the meeting room.
"She didn't collapse," Cassian said with a grunt as he sat down.
"I consider that progress." Samuel nodded with faked enthusiasm. "Persevere. All will be good. Have dinner with her. Take her for a walk."
"Why does she not recognise me?" Cassian asked with sadness in his voice.
"I do not know. It has been years since she last saw you."
"You know, I wrote her letters. I wrote to her for such a long time."
"Ahhh, so, that's who you were writing to on the battlefield."
"She never once replied, but I kept sending them. I hoped that she'll wait for me, that she'll be there when I come back, that we can build a life together."
"And she is. She is still your wife."
"It appears that she is my wife unwillingly. I suspected that she didn't get much say when it happened but I hoped that she would be at least somewhat happy that it was me and not some stranger."
A knock sounded on a door and Matilda entered.
"Good evening, your highness."
"Anything to report as of recently?" Cassian asked as he rubbed his face.
"Adeline, or rather Isabelle, has been doing well. She's getting more confident around the castle." Matilda smiled. "She is very keen on the people around the castle and she's very liked by everyone. She's admired by many. She's already an idol to Jane and Gilbert and many more. None of them expected a lady which treats them as an equal and is keen to help wherever she can. They think that because she knows of their hardships, she's more empathetic."
Cassian smiled at Matilda's words. "Isabelle has always been like that. She knew everyone in her grandfather's palace by name and she knew what hardships they were facing."
"She showed an increased interest in yourself and your family in recent days, your highness."
"See, that's good," Samuel said with an encouraging smile.
"Maybe." Cassian agreed. "I guess it depends on which dark secrets she tries to dig out."
"She asked about your brother."
"My brother?" Cassian furrowed his brows. "Why is she asking about Julian?"
"I do not know, your highness. Perhaps she's interested in your childhood."
"It would be good to introduce her to my family anyways. They are to visit during the Spring Equinox."
"I'd advise you to do it beforehand. Spring Equinox will be busy for everyone. I recommend a more unofficial meeting first." Samuel chipped in.
"You're probably right. I'll send Julian a letter and maybe he'll respond instead of sending bounty hunters for me again."
Samuel laughed at Cassian's comment.
Isabelle's POV
Isabelle was surprised when the following night Matilda found her and told her that she was asked to eat in the dining room.
"His majesty would like to dine with you tonight."
"Why?" Isabelle answered automatically.
"Ehhhh…" Matilda tried to come up with an answer but she couldn't. After all, wasn't it obvious? "Well, he would like to eat his dinner with you." Isabelle tilted her head and furrowed her brows but she followed Matilda. "Go on." Matilda encouraged her.
Isabelle hesitated suddenly filled with dread. She wondered why the Prince suddenly requested her presence. The guard opened the door for her and she stood still for a good couple of seconds before she uttered the courage and walked into the dining room.
"Good evening, Adeline," Cassian said, flinching slightly at her pretend name. It didn't feel natural to call her Adeline. She was Isabelle. But if she wanted to be called Adeline, he will comply.
"Good evening, your highness." Isabelle curtsied by the door.
"Samuel recommended that we eat together," Cassian explained as Isabelle sat down at the other end of the table. Cassian was watching her carefully, curious as to why she sat as far away from him as possible. She nodded silently. Once Cassian took the first bite, she started eating. But she barely touched the food in front of her. "Is the food not to your taste?"
"It is rather splendid, your majesty."
"Did you have a good day?"
"Yes, your majesty."
"Was the book any good?"
"It was, thank you, your majesty."
Cassian closed his eyes as he felt a sudden rage at her referring to him as 'your majesty'. He slammed his hand on the table which made Isabelle flinch.
"I'm your husband! The least you can do is call me by my name!" He raised his voice.
"I'm sorry, your majesty," Isabelle uttered quietly. She turned red from embarrassment.
"Do you not know your husband's name?" Cassian asked as he tilted his head.
"I'm so sorry, Prince Yvelone."
"For goodness sake!" He stood up and strode the length of the table. He pinched her chin and made her look up at him. "What is my name? Do you even know?" He was angry that she still didn't look up at him nor did he use his name. She made it seem like they were strangers.
"Of course. You're Prince Cassian Yvelone of Ariadna." Isabelle said in terror. Her lower lip quivered.
"Cassian. I am Cassian. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Isabelle answered.
"Then say it."
"Of course, Ca-Cassian." She stuttered.
"Thank you." Cassian let go of her chin and her head bowed as low as it could. He let out a long sigh, too frustrated to continue his meal and too upset at his own outburst to make Isabelle suffer his presence. "Good night." He uttered as he marched out of the dining room, slamming the door behind him.
Isabelle's POV
Isabelle sobbed silently as soon as she was left alone.
She didn't understand what she did wrong. She didn't understand why he was so angry at her saying 'your highness' or 'your majesty'. Queen Beatrice always used those terms as she spoke to King Edgar. She only ever heard people refer to the king, her own father, by his royal title or by the title of respect whilst addressing him. He would never accept being called by his name or father or husband. And those applied to everyone equally.
She hasn't touched any more food on her plate and she walked out of the dining room, quickly making her way towards her bedroom. She curled up on her bed sobbing, not understanding why she was failing so badly.
The following evening Isabelle was brought to the dining room again. She sat down in silence, looking down at her plate. Once Cassian started eating so, did she.
The air seemed dense within the room. The only thing you could hear was the cutlery scratching on the plates.
Cassian finished his meal and stood up walking towards the door which was behind Isabelle. He stopped by her, looking at her as if he tried to work out what to say. Isabelle stood up and bowed in front of him.
"Are you content within the castle?" Cassian asked with worry. "Do you have everything you need?"
"Yes, of course, thank you, your highness." Isabelle gulped as she realised that she didn't call him by his name.
"That's good." Cassian nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow, Adeline." Cassian swallowed hard, trying to contain his feelings. He was increasingly hurt by how things were with Isabelle but with Samuel's encouragement, he persevered.
The following day Jane dragged Isabelle outside taking her out for a walk. Isabelle followed around obediently, as Jane pulled her through the inner courtyard towards the very back of the castle. Gilbert joined them on the way, chatting with Jane about some gossip spreading through the castle about one of the maids.
The loud clanking of metal could be heard from a distance. Isabelle was rather curious about it. As they walked around the corner, there was a large field where tenths of men practised their fighting skills. They bashed their swords against the shields. Isabelle was surprised that this was where Jane wanted to go but she quickly realised why. Jane's googly eyes went straight to one of the men training.
Isabelle smiled at Jane, curious about the training regime herself. They walked a path by the edge of the field as one of the younger trainees dropped a sword.
"Your wrist is too stiff," Isabelle noted as he came to pick it up.
"Is it?" He smiled, but his smile was condescending rather than kind. "And does a lady know how to wield a sword to criticise a knight in training?"
"As a matter of fact, I do," Isabelle said confidently. She walked up to the man and reached her hand out. "Let me show you how it's meant to be done."
"I don't want you to hurt yourself, Miss," he responded looking Isabelle up and down. Jane stood on the edge of the pavement with her eyes and mouth wide open, unsure whether she should interfere.
"If you're not shown how to do it properly, you aren't going to learn," Isabelle said sternly. He passed her the sword at last with a mocking smile. Isabelle looked at his opponent.
"I'll take it easy. Don't worry." Her new opponent said with a smile.
"Sure." Isabelle agreed. She let him charge at her before she swiftly dodged his attack and punched him to the ground.
The man grunted as he got up. His face twisted into a frown as he charged again. Isabelle didn't dodge this time, instead using the sword in her hand to deflect the blow. The man was surprised at the strength she had. She managed to stop his swing, push him back and swing the sword in her hand at him. He fell again, this time backwards. He grunted heavily as the force at which he fell hurt his entire body.
"Nice one." A familiar voice sounded from the side. Samuel smiled at her. "I should recruit you to train them. Or even better, I should get you to fight in the next battle. With you and Prince Cassian, we would have ended the last battle in half a time." Isabelle looked at Samuel in stoic silence. "Now, you lot better learn from her highness," Samuel grumbled at a younger man. "Your wrist was too stiff."
"Her highness?" The man repeated looking back at Isabelle.
"Yeah, you're never going to live down the shame of being beaten up by a princess." Samuel laughed. "Now, your highness, tell me where you learnt to wield a sword like that?"
"By sneaking around and fighting knights at Galbore," Isabelle answered.
"Show me what you can do," Samuel said in a daring tone taking off his cape.
Isabelle hesitated but she gave him a nod. She managed to fight him well. She was quick and strong. Samuel definitely didn't cut her any slack. She charged at him with a lot of force, knocking him off his feet, and falling onto him as she slid across the mud.
Isabelle started laughing at the unexpected end of their fight.
"I think I've won." She said smugly.
"I've tripped. It was an unfair fight." Samuel replied straight away with a pretend hurt in his voice, but his wide smile and glimmering eyes sold him.
"Who knew that you're a sore loser." Isabelle laughed as she stood up, pushing herself off Samuel's chest. Samuel stood up straight after, standing right next to her.
"It's all a part of a great plan, your highness." Samuel leaned in and said to her in a whisper. He instinctively reached for her cheek and wiped the mud off it. "Seeing that you've hurt my ego in front of my knights, I feel like you owe me."
"Owe you?" Isabelle looked at him curiously. "If anything, you owe me. I'm teaching your knights how to actually wield a sword not just swing it around like a boy with a stick."
"Perhaps a lunch?" Samuel suggested. "As a thank you for teaching my knights that a princess can beat their asses up."
Isabelle recoiled from him, realising that his face was way too close to hers.
"I don't think it would be appropriate," Isabelle said coldly.
"You don't think it appropriate to have lunch with the royal advisor?" Samuel tilted his head. "That's funny. A moment ago you laid on top of me, and now you think it inappropriate that we eat together?" Samuel looked at Jane who was a few metres behind Isabelle. "Bring a chaperone if you're worried that something might happen between us." He gave her a mischievous sort of smile before he shouted at the trainees to get back on with their regime.
Isabelle looked at him with her eyes wide open. She retreated and walked towards Jane.
"That was spectacular, Adeline!" Jane clapped happily along with Gilbert.
They continued their walk but Isabelle couldn't stop thinking about Samuel. She didn't like his attitude or the way he seemed to openly provoke her. And she definitely wasn't going to accept his invitation to lunch.
She thought that she dodged the lunch when she sat down to her meal in servants' quarters and no one called for her.
Maids were quick to load her plate, as usual, encouraging her to try more of the dishes. But her joy of avoiding Samuel waned as she looked up and he stood by the door. He walked into the servants' quarters and sat next to Isabelle. The maids moved to give him space, bringing him a plate and passing him all the plates with the food on the table.
"I knew that you will not accept my invitation so I thought I'll join you where you feel comfortable." Samuel smiled at Isabelle.
"I don't feel comfortable anymore," Isabelle said honestly as she stiffened.
"Why? Am I making you nervous?" Samuel asked as he leaned in closer.
"Does this entertain you?"
"Indeed."
"People might misunderstand."
"Misunderstand what? What exactly is it that they can misunderstand? You obviously don't love, nor even like, his highness. You maybe even hate him. You didn't marry him out of your free will. Everyone can see that. It's not a secret, princess." Samuel said seriously. "You hide at the mere sight of him. At the very least, you can speak to me. I can be your ally. I can be your support. I can be your friend."
"Aren't you his majesty's friend?"
"Indeed. I've told him from the get-go that this whole marriage thing was fated for a disaster. But he's stubborn." Samuel shrugged.
"Why are you telling me all of this?" Isabelle looked at him coldly.
"I am barely stating my observations. You avoid his highness. You're miserable. I am barely offering you help. A friendship."
"A friendship?" Isabelle didn't trust his words. There was this new glimmer in his eyes that she didn't like. "I do not need your help. And I am not seeking your friendship. Nor do I need your opinions on MY marriage. It is, frankly, none of your business." Isabelle stood up and walked out of the room heading up for her bedroom. Isabelle stopped in her tracks as she realised that Cassian was before her. She hung her head low and curtsied in front of him.
"Your highness!" Samuel ran behind her. He stopped a few steps behind her as he, too, noticed his highness. "Oh, your highness." Samuel bowed lightly. "Princess, until later, right?" He gave Isabelle a nod and run off, leaving her with Cassian.
"I saw you on the training grounds," Cassian said carefully to Isabelle who still avoided his gaze. "Congratulations on beating Samuel."
"Thank you, your highness," Isabelle said as she curtsied again.
"I shall see you at dinnertime," Cassian said shortly, walking off.