Gertrude soaked the towel inside the water, which was in a blue bowl, then she cleaned the wound on Cassian's arm. Cassian studied her face; her eyebrows were furrowed, her amber eyes had darkened and her nose had scrunched up in anger. She was angry.
"I thought the king always told you to carry guards when you are going out" she said as she took the bandage. "I am a retired general. I can take care of myself" he said and she smacked his wound.
He winced, "If you can take care of yourself, why do you have such a wound on your arm?" she asked and he smirked, "Seven people were sent after me...only two returned and one escaped with only one arm".
Gertrude wrapped the bandage around his arm, "You are really retired. In your war days, you could kill seven men without any of them escaping". "I had to protect Zemira as well" he said and she rolled her eyes and tied up the bandage.
"Did you happen to find out who sent those people?" she asked and he looked at his arm, "Isander" he said and she looked at him. Cassian raised his head and looked at Gertrude, "Are you certain it is not your wife's ex-lover? Or perhaps one of your enemies?"
Cassian removed his arm from Gertrude's lap, "Stern and most people of this kingdom, regard women as people who should not be seen on a battlefield, let alone hold a sword. Only Soteria and I know that women are capable of doing a better job than men on the battlefield. In the last war with Isander, I am certain he picked up a few tips about women, considering the way the female soldiers cut down most of his minions". Cassian looked at Gertrude, "In those seven people that were sent after me, there were three women" he said and brought out something from his pocket.
"Also I picked this up from one of the women's corpse" he said and handed it over to Gertrude. It was a button which had an eye so dark that one could mistake it for midnight. The dark eye also bled from the tear ducts. "The kingdom of Oculus" Gertrude said and Cassian scoffed, "More like a band of mercenaries, only they are not paid for their work" he took the button back.
"Isander has brainwashed all of them to do his bidding" Cassian shoved his hands in his pockets. "What happened to the scientists that gave him those powers?" Gertrude asked and the room door opened.
Zemira peeked in and saw them, "Am I interrupting something?" she asked and Gertrude bowed and was about to leave but Cassian held her and whispered in his ears, "He murdered them all...like the cold-blooded murder he is" he said and she bowed and left the room, after bowing slightly to Zemira.
Zemira looked at her then at Cassian who gave her a smile. "You seem to be smiling more" she giggled as she skipped to him, "Well, after our little outing, I have decided to smile more" "And it suits you" she smiled.
"Are you okay?" he asked and she nodded, "How is your arm?" He looked at his bandaged arm, "One of the men will not have an arm to worry about" he smirked.
"Now let us complete your last wish" he said and she smiled, "Perhaps you should rest. You are wounded. We can do it tomorrow" "But---" "Cassian, you need to rest" she said and he nodded.
She was about leaving but he held her, "Are you in love with me, Zemy?" he asked and she looked at him. Dilated pupils, flared nostrils and parted lips. She was definitely in love with him.
She smiled, "I thought we have had this discussion. I am not in love with you. Perhaps you are in love with me and you are just trying to cover up your love for me". He smirked, "Two words of advice if you ever think about falling in love with me..." he bent and whispered in her ears, "...do not" then he released her arm and she walked away.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Zemira smiled as she felt the wind in her hair and the sun on her face. But what made her the happiest, was the fact that Cassian was sitting right behind her, with his hands on hers. She could smell the mixture of whiskey and cloves on him and she loved every whiff of it.
Gerta galloped around the field again before two carriages rolled into the compound. The carriages rolled to a halt and the footman came out and opened the door, Soteria stepped out then he stretched out his hand to someone in the carriage. A slender, pale hand slipped into Soteria's rigid palm. Noelle came out in a pale blue dress, adorned with white pearls.
The smile on her face dropped into a deep frown when she saw how close Zemira and Cassian were. Zemira gave her a smug smile and Noelle's frown deepened more.
Soteria smiled and they walked up to the field where Gerta was standing. Cassian hopped down from the horse then he gently carried Zemira down. Noelle clenched her jaw when she how Cassian tightened his hold on Zemira's waist.
A servant came and took the horse away, after bowing to the king. Zemira and Cassian bowed then Soteria smiled, "I see you were spending quality time together. By the way, I thought it was not right for a pregnant woman to be seen on horseback" he said and Zemira nodded, "Indeed it is, but Cassian..." she slipped her arm around Cassian's arm and Noelle's eyes darkened.
"...wanted me to have a ride on Gerta since he knows how much I love horses" Zemira smiled, "That is quite a passion, Lady Cobain" Soteria said and Zemira grinned then she stuck out her tongue, slightly at Noelle.
Noelle scoffed then she remembered the stab wound Zemira had given Cassian. "Cassian, how is the stab wound?" she asked and Zemira's grip on Cassian's arm, loosened a bit. Soteria looked at Cassian, "You were stabbed?" he asked and Cassian gave a light smile, "It happened when I was doing some light sparring" "Are you okay?" Soteria asked and Cassian bowed, "I am alright. I appreciate your concern, your majesty".
Zemira quietly blew raspberry at Noelle who stuck out the tip of her tongue at her. Cassian's grey eyes wandered from Zemira to Noelle then they behaved themselves. "What brings you here, your majesties?" Cassian asked.
Soteria smirked and clapped twice, then a servant came with a briefcase in his hands, then he opened and Soteria brought out a mallet, "Are your pall mall skills still good?" he smirked and Cassian clicked his tongue and smiled.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Cassian cracked his gloved knuckles and looked at Zemira who a servant was helping to wear her gloves. "Have you ever played pall mall?" he asked and Zemira looked at him, "I started playing when I was ten. My father loves this game so he taught my siblings and I, so you could say I am a professional at this game...also at chess. My mother adored the chess pieces so she learnt how to play and she also taught me. In other words, you can trust that this game is already ours, since I am on your team" she smiled.
Soteria walked towards them, "I was thinking we could get to know ourselves better with this game. I would like to get to know Lady Cobain. Her passion for horses intrigues me" he said and Zemira took her mallet from Gertrude, "You want me to be on your team?" she asked and Soteria nodded.
Noelle smiled inwardly. Soteria would do anything for her. She had told him that they should get to know each other better so she had suggested the partner switch. She would get to play with Cassian while Zemira would play with Soteria.
"I think that is a wonderful idea!" Noelle spoke up as she walked towards them. Zemira glared at her, "Of course you do!" "Cassian and I were friends before I became the queen. We had almost gotten married" Noelle laughed then Soteria raised a brow in confusion. Noelle composed herself, "What I am trying to say is that we could do a lot of catching up while his majesty, enjoys a wonderful discussion with Lady Cobain".
Cassian looked at Zemira who furiously shook her head as a signal for him to not agree. Cassian gave a slight bow, "If it is what your majesties desire, who am I to refuse?" Noelle's face brightened up, "Very well!" she said and Zemira glared at her.
Noelle grabbed a mallet and walked to Cassian. As she passed Zemira, Zemira subtly stretched out her leg and Noelle tripped. "Are you alright, my queen?" Soteria asked and Noelle stood up straight, "Perhaps her mind is foggy and she can not seem to see properly" Zemira said and Noelle glared at her, "I am alright, your majesty" she curtsied and stood beside Cassian.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Zemira swung her mallet at the boxwood ball and it flew and passed through the iron hoop. Soteria clapped, "I never imagined I will ever find a woman as sportive as you" he said and she curtsied, "You flatter me so much, your majesty" "Flattery has nothing to do with facts. You are a prodigy at pall mall and I admire that" "You are also very good, your majesty" she said and held her protruding belly, "Forgive me for not being able to play at full strength, for I am with child". "I would love to play against you after you safely deliver your child" Soteria said and Zemira remembered the condition of her marriage to Cassian.
They were to be married till their child is born and then quietly dissolve the marriage, leaving Cassian with his heir. With all that had happened, Zemira was not sure she wanted to leave her baby...or Cassian. She wanted to be there when the child spoke his or her first word, when he or she took his or her first walk. She wanted to be there when the child had a nightmare, she wanted to watch her baby grow. She also wanted to take walks with Cassian in the market, with their fingers interwoven, she wanted to see him with that boyish and childish grin he had on his face when he had gotten an apple with his mouth. She wanted him to fall in love with her as much as she had fallen in love with him. But all that could never be possible, because of the woman in the painting above the hearth.
Her thoughts were cut by the laughter she heard. She turned and saw Noelle laughing at something Cassian had said. Zemira looked at Soteria who was also looking at them, "Pardon me for my insolence, your majesty" she said and he nodded, "Do you know?" she asked and he looked at her, "About what?" "About---" "My queen is in love with another man?" he chuckled. "I have known for quite a while now".
Soteria cleared his throat, "When I first met Noelle, I fell in love with her immediately. Her smile, her laughter, the way she was poised, I loved it all and I wanted to marry her. But she was in love with my friend who was also in love with another woman. I was so furious at that time; what does she see in a general? I am the crown prince, I will ascend the throne after my father's demise" he looked at her, "Those were my thoughts. After Cassian and Nola got married, I thought I had a chance to win her, so I tried. I wooed her and then she agreed to marry me. I was elated, but then I saw her hug Cassian at our wedding and it was not a friendly hug. She was still in love with him, so I decided that we have a baby. I thought that perhaps if she is with my child, she will love me" he chuckled and shook his head.
"She still loved him. I had my suspicions but they were proved on the night the duke of Leorda's first son, almost assaulted you. The way she had gazed upon him, like he meant the world to her" his shoulders slumped, "I do not know if I should continue trying to win her".
Zemira looked at Cassian who gave her a small wave and a smile. She waved back and smiled then she looked at Soteria, "Cassian and I are not really married" she said and he snorted, "Oh, I knew!" She was taken aback, "You knew?" "I am not a fool, lady Cobain. I only act like one so I can see the true intentions of people around me" he chuckled.
"How did you know?" "Cassian cried when Nola died. He did not even cry when his parents died. He loved her so very much, so I was suspicious when he had remarried and the woman was pregnant" he smirked and Zemira waved her hands frantically, "This baby is Cassian's!" she said and he laughed, 'I know. I am guessing it is the result of a night's pleasure". Her face burned red and he laughed.
Zemira gently slapped herself, "What I was going to say is...I am in love with Cassian". Soteria tried to hold back a laughter. Zemira's eyes widened, "You know that too?" "I am not blind, Lady Cobain" "Is it noticeable?" "Only to those who decides to see it, Lady Cobain".
Zemira cleared her throat, "I am in love with Cassian and I know he does not love me. But I will keep on trying, and if he does not reciprocate the love, I will not hide these feelings of mine. When I am bold enough, I will tell him every single day that I love him".
Soteria found that quite inspiring. He gently touched her shoulder and when he saw Cassian's jaw clenched, he smirked and removed his hand, "Do not worry, Lady Cobain, I think you will not have to try as much as I am trying" "What?" "Cassian may not love you like the way he loved Nola, but he feels something for you" "No he does not! He slept in a wet room just because he did not want to be near me". "But he saved you from the duke's son" Soteria said and Zemira thought about it. Could it be---she shook the thought out of her head. She was with his child. He had saved his child, not her.
"He did it for his unborn child" she said and Soteria smiled, "You can think of it like that, but it was not solely for his unborn baby" he said.
"I thought we came here to play pall mall, not talk mall" Cassian joked and Soteria grinned, "Still want to go against us when we have almost claimed the game?" "There are five wins left. A miracle can happen" Cassian smirked and Soteria picked up his mallet, "Keep on hoping for a miracle while Lady Cobain and I will be making...our own miracles" he grinned.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Cassian pushed the ball and it rolled pass the iron hoop. "Still waiting for that miracle?" Soteria sneered and Cassian rolled his eyes, "It is a matter of time" he said and made way for Noelle.
She gripped the mallet tightly and Soteria smirked, "You do not hold a mallet so tight, my love. You will miss the hoop". Noelle still kept her strong grip on the mallet and swung it against the ball. "And miss!" Zemira muttered to herself. The wooden ball flew out of the court and landed somewhere in the bushes.
"Next time, tell your partner to listen to the king, perhaps, the miracle will come" Zemira said to Cassian then she swung her mallet and the ball flew out if the court. Cassian smirked, "Perhaps you should tell yourself to not be overconfident. Overconfidence only made one lose" he said and Zemira gave him a fake smile then she went to get it.
"Your partner flunked, it is a sign that the miracle is coming" Cassian sneered at Soteria, "Even if your so-called miracle happens, you will not win. Lady Cobain and I have five wins. You only have two wins and there are three wins left" Soteria smirked. "How about we make a wager? The one who wins the last win, takes the other's win" Cassian rolled his sleeves as Soteria put his hands on his hips.
"Is that not against the rules?" "Are you scared?" Cassian cocked his scarred his brow. "The one who should be scared is you...not me" Soteria said and Cassian clicked his tongue, "Do we have a pledge?" he asked as he stretched out his hand. Soteria looked at him then at his gloves hands before he shook him.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Noelle picked up her ball and then she saw Zemira jumping down from a rock, with her hand on her swollen belly. She was going to two months in her pregnancy.
"Be careful" Noelle said as Zemira picked up her ball, "You might not want to kill the only thing that is keeping you in this manor" Noelle said and was about walking away but Zemira stood in front of her.
"Why? If I kill it and I am thrown out of this manor...will you forsake your place next to the king and come take my place?" Zemira asked with spite. Noelle scoffed and walked closer to her, "Your place is too low for someone of my status. I will raise Cassian back to his exalted position, you are just holding him back" she said and walked past her.
Zemira turned, "Are you not ashamed of yourself? You are a queen, married and loved by the king! You even have his heir! Yet you are doing all you can to get together with a man who only gives you a friendly glance". Noelle turned, "I always get want I want! Cassian will not be an exception!"
"What you want is already in front of you! You want a man who loves you, a man who cares for you, well that man is already married to you! That is the king! The sooner you open your eyes, the sooner you stay away from Cassian!" Zemira stormed past Noelle.
"So you are in love with Cassian" she said and Zemira turned, "So what if I am?" she said and walked away.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
"So all we have to do is win this last win and we win" Zemira cracked her neck and rolled her shoulders. Soteria smirked, "No more honorifics?" he asked and Zemira bowed, "Pardon my insolence, your majesty" he smiled, "I shall allow it".
Noelle looked at Cassian, "What if you miss?" she asked and he picked up his mallet, "I will not. I have been noticing the way Zemy plays" "Zemy?" she asked and he looked at her, "Have you gotten more familiar with her?" she asked and he sighed, "Your highness, I---" "Can you not call me by my name?" she sobbed.
"Do you love her now?" she asked, tears almost falling from her light blue eyes. Cassian sighed, "Let us talk after the game" he said as he held her shoulders lightly. She nodded and he looked at Zemira and Soteria who were chatting.
Cassian whistled and they looked at him, "The final win is here" he smirked and Zemira smiled. "Ladies first" he smiled and she gripped her mallet skillfully; her right hand at the middle of the mallet and her left hand right above it.
Zemira sighted Cassian from her peripheral vision. As expected, he was staring at her hands. She smirked, "If you keep on looking at me like that, I may just fall in love with you" he looked at her, this time, at her eyes. The plan was working.
She gave a little twirl, covering her hands with her dress for a split second then she swung the mallet at the wooden ball across the court. Soteria took the spyglass and checked if the ball had passed through the hoop. "Damn it!" he cursed and Zemira looked at him, "It landed just in front of the hoop. It did not roll in" he said as he gave the spyglass to a servant.
Cassian clapped, "Overconfidence, my lady" he smirked and Zemira rolled her eyes. Cassian took a stance and held his mallet the way Zemira had held hers. But why did she give a little twirl? he thought and swung the mallet at the ball.
All of them watched the ball fly in the air and across the sky. Please miss, please miss, please miss, Zemira begged in her head. The ball landed and Soteria took the spyglass and checked.
He gave it back to the servant and looked at them, "Lady Cobain, you are the true pall mall master" he said and she screamed, "We won?" she asked and he nodded, "We won". Cassian dropped his mallet, "Impossible!" he said and Zemira looked at him, "You fell for our little trick" she smiled and Noelle scoffed.
"Soteria noticed you stared at the way I kept my hands on the mallet so we decided to use that to our advantage. I held it the wrong way and spoke to you, which distracted your gaze from my hands to my eyes, so I gave a little twirl and changed my hands and then delivered the blow" Zemira grinned and Soteria laughed.
Cassian smiled, "You outsmarted me, Zemy. I am impressed" he said as he walked to her and she giggled. Noelle just watched them. It made her sick in her stomach. Cassian was slowly falling in love with Zemira but he did not know.
Soteria watched her as she watched Zemira and Cassian smile at each other. He knew that she knew that Cassian was falling in love with Zemira. He just wished he could take her mind off Cassian and make her only think about him, and their future.
A/N: Please, no hate for the mistakes I made about the game. I did some research, but I did not quite understand.
For all those who love the original game, I am sorry for making few errors🤧