"They are flying his banners!"
Diana's heart skipped a beat. She could barely believe what she was hearing! If they were flying the banners for the house of Starshard, it could only mean one thing.
Cassian was coming home and he was alive!
Diana grabbed hold of Alex. She had tears in her eyes.
"Alex, are you sure? Are you sure they are flying the Starshard banners?" She asked.
"Yes, milady. Come! Come see it for yourself!" Alex replied as he pulled her along.
Everyone in the hall was stunned by the news. Most couldn't figure out if this was true or simply a cruel prank. Diana didn't know either, she had to see it for herself. The closer she got, the more nervous she felt.
It had been three years since she last saw him. Did he still remember how she looked?
Watching the entourage make their way into the courtyard, Diana immediately sensed something was amiss. She didn't recognize any of the foot soldiers. She didn't recognize the carriage either.
Diana recalled the news she had received from her father. According to the report, there were no survivors. Did her husband return as the sole survivor? She clutched the pendant tightly. Cassian was nowhere to be seen.
He would always ride in the front. But in his place was an unfamiliar carriage and a hooded figure riding on horseback.
"Who's that riding next to the carriage?"
"Is that… a woman under the hood?"
Cassian's battalion only had male soldiers. There were no women.
As the lady of the house, it was her duty to greet anyone who arrived. Diana pushed away the questions and emotions circling her heart and mind. She held her head high as she walked up to the entourage with her personal maid by her side.
"Make way, make way for Lady Diana!"
The entourage came to a halt before her. The hooded figure got off their horse and revealed themselves. It was a young woman. She looked to be just a few years younger than Diana, with unique features not common to the Kingdom of Cinder.
She had distinct dark blue hair and deep sapphire eyes. A beauty. his woman was from a lesser kingdom called Sparks, which shared a border with Cinder. Based on her attire, Diana knew she was either a noble or royal.
Diana stepped forward and held her head high, "I am Lady Diana, Lord Cassian's wife. Who you are and why do you fly my husband's flag?"
The young woman didn't even spare her a glance. She walked past Diana, ignoring her, and addressed the crowd that had gathered.
"Lord Cassian Starshard is not dead! He is alive," She declared.
Gasps and whispers spread throughout the crowd.
Diana's jaw dropped. Tears welled up in her eyes. Her husband was alive! But where was he? She looked towards the carriage, could he be in there?
"My name is Vivette, Crown Princess of Sparks. Lord Cassian was ambushed on his way home. His men lost their lives to protect him and I saved him. I've done what I can to nurse his wounds but he will need more time to heal.
In the time we've shared, we've fallen for each other."
"What?" Diana stumbled back, eyes wide.
She looked at Vivette who had spoken confidently. She did not seem to be lying. The crowd exchanged shocked expressions at the news.
Her husband was alive and he'd brought home a mistress.
"It is Lord Cassian's wish, upon his return to his estate, for me to take charge of the household. He has personally requested King Gabriel to permit our union, to strengthen the bonds between our kingdoms and as the reward for his efforts in the war."
"Take charge of his household? Union? I am his wife!" Diana protested, standing up for herself.
She could not believe anything she was hearing. Though they had not spent much time physically together, they had exchanged letters for three years. They had exchanged hearts.
Did that mean nothing to him?
"Not anymore. Your marriage has been annulled." Vivette announced with a smirk, "See it for yourself."
She threw a rolled parchment at Diana's feet. Diana scrambled to pick it up and read its contents carefully. She recognized her father's royal seal.
"No…" She had tears streaming down her cheeks, "This… this cannot be."
She refused to believe any of this. This could not be real!
Diana refused to believe any of this was real. If it was, she wanted to hear it from Cassian himself.
[My mind and body may be on the battlefield, but I find my heart away. I suspect it might be with you.]
Why would he write that in his letter if he didn't have any feelings for her?
"Once Lord Cassian has recovered from his injuries, we will hold our wedding ceremony here on the Starshard estate," Vivette declared triumphantly with a smug smile as she watched Diana in distraught.
"My son, where is my son?" Lady Katherine cried. She had heard the news of Cassian's return and came running into the courtyard with her maids assisting her.
She pulled on Vivette's dress, begging to see her son.
The young woman looked at Katherine with disdain. She pushed Lady Katherine away and walked over to her.
"Who's the head servant of the household?" Vivette called out.
Arthur, the head butler, pushed through the crowd and knelt before Vivette.
"I am, your highness. My name is Arthur, head butler of the household."
"Lord Cassian is to be brought to his room. He is not to be disturbed while he recovers from his injuries. I will tend to him personally. Have the servants move my chests into his room as well."
Arthur hesitated for a moment, glancing over at Diana and then back at Vivette, "Your Highness, what about Miss Diana's items?"
"Throw out anything that doesn't belong to his Lordship. It has no business being there," Vivette declared.
"Of course, your Highness. For the time being, his Lordship and you can occupy the drawing room. I will prepare refreshments at once."
Vivette nodded and turned to her men. She instructed them to drive the carriage up to the entrance of the mansion.
"No! I want to see my son! Show me, my son! I need to know he's alright!" Katherine screamed as she tried to follow the carriage.
"Katherine!" Diana went after her, not wanting her to get hurt. The men who rode alongside the carriage did not care about the two women.
"Don't get in our way!" they yelled at them, pushing them away. The horses they rode on were fierce and majestic, resembling more like war horses than regular ones.
Lady Katherine stumbled back, shaken by one of the horses. She fell backward, passing out in Diana's arms.
"Katherine? Katherine! Irene, go get the servants to help carry Lady Katherine back to her room and call for the healers to come tend to her."
"Yes, milady." Irene hurried off to gather help.
Diana looked over at the carriage. She too wanted to see him. If she didn't see him herself, she couldn't bring herself to have hope.
'I must see him. If any of this is real, I want to hear it from him,' She thought to herself.
As soon as the servants lifted Katherine off her, Diana scrambled to her feet. She ran across the lawn and got to the carriage. The men Vivette had brought along noticed her. They blocked her path, not letting her get any closer.
Diana watched as they carried Cassian out of the carriage. It was him!
There was no doubt about it.
She recognized the handkerchief in his pocket, the one she had embroidered and given to him on the day he left for war. The handkerchief had red tulips embroidered in the corner. Cassian was wearing soft leather armor. His inner tunic was covered in soil and blood. His side was wrapped in bloodied bandages.
His chest was moving, which meant he was breathing. He was alive!
But on his ring finger was a ring she did not recognize. It was unlike anything she had seen before. A blue gemstone that reminded her of Vivette's sapphire blue eyes.
"Carry him in slowly," Vivette ordered as she folded her arms.
Diana turned to look at the crown princess of Sparks. That was when she noticed the exact same ring on Vivette's ring finger.