Cassian never knew he would be on the receiving end of somebody's protection, and he certainly didn't expect that someone to be a five-year-old. When Adeline called him by his name in front of his mother, he knew that she would be pleased. Calling each other by their names was a level of closeness people had to reach. But at that moment he didn't care about his mother, he blushed when she called him by his name.
The Empress sent Adeline off with the maids so that she could be dressed and cleaned up. If Adeline got sick under her watch, it would put her in trouble with the Marquess.
She looked at her son up and down, the redness on his shirt was clearly visible but she acted like she didn't notice.
"I see that you became closer. Good."
