Chapter 364: Did not feel guilty

Marianne pov contd.

The dinner did not last long when I was lost in the worry of my father. Killian, realising the change in my mood did not ask me much. He was just elated that his parents were not taking divorce.

"Mother, are you sure you are okay?" asked Killian, looking at me and I nodded.

"Yes, I am fine. I am just worried about my father a bit. But tell me, do you still have any doubt about being loved or your parents getting divorced?" I asked him as we both laid on bed. 

Instead of him being in the middle, I was in the middle. Cassius was on my left side and Killian was on my right side. Thank god, the mahogany bed was large enough even if there would have been two more kids.

He shook his head as I continued to roam a hand in his hair. "Thank you, mother for clarifying everything to me. I just hope you achieve your goal soon and we all can happily stay together." His words were filled with dreamy hopes for the future.

"Then I would like to have a young brother and a cute little sister too." he added with a smile and the man who was laying on the side with the excuse that he was tired, sat up with a start.

"You are right son. Even i think that you are feeling lonely because you do not have any siblings. Look at Carl, he has two sons. But I would prefer a cute daughter who will call you brother and always look at you with admiring eyes. What do you say?" I could see that Cassius was trying to tempt him, allure him so that he would support Cassius. 

It has only been once, that we have.. How could he even expect a daughter. Though I was denying, my eyes have already imagined a cute little girl who had green eyes and dark hair like me and she was holding my finger with her tiny hands. As she smiled and said, "mama.. Daddaa" her touch felt so soft like a feather.

"Yes, mother. When are you giving me a sister?" he asked with so much innocence, as if it was in my hands.

"We will think about it later, Killian. Right now, I want you to do one thing. Your aunt would come and apologise to you. Then you have to stay strict and not forgive her. She would try a few times but since she was sure she was going to be the archduchess anyway. She would try to insult you again, you have to make sure that it would be seen by the knights or your other instructors who go to teach other nobles too.

She had almost ruined her image, just one or two more strikes and then her reality would be out in the public. Then your father can deny marrying her. I am sure then her father would try to use another trick, if only he would make a single mistake. This would be the end of his game." 

"Marianne, is it necessary to include him in all this?" asked Cassius, looking hesitantly at Killian but i nodded confidently.

"Yes, he needs to learn. You can not protect him all your life by keeping him safe in your arms. You are just keeping him in the dark from all the realities of the world which he has to face soon."It was necessary for him to change his habit of hiding everything. Or else he would not be able to gain an ally ever. 

"Killian, would you be able to flare your aunt?" I asked looking back at Killian who was looking like a brave soldier receiving his first command.

He nodded his head and only a salute was left to complete the image, "I will not disappoint you mother."

"I know that, you are my son after all." I kissed his forehead gently, "now you should sleep. We will discuss other things in the morning" he closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around my waist.

I waited till his breathing turned normal when I looked at Cassius.

"Philip and Isabella are having an affair. Isn't it enough to ruin their image? What if we try to bribe a few of their maids to bring some kind of proof or anything" he contemplated my words for a while and then nodded.

"I have started taking the investments back from Marquess' business which I have given him through my hoax names. His business is completely ruined without those investments. I am sure his treasure would not last more than two months in that case." 

"So, once their image is gone and they lose financial stability, would our proof be enough to keep them in prison for lifetime?" I asked as I still felt something was missing.

"Well, we just have to break their support and send them to prison. Many prisoners die in internal duels and due to disease that spreads in those cells. Who knows what calamity befall on them." he said, shrugging his shoulders, as if killing them was not a big thing.

Though i felt a bit of guilt but i have suffered enough and if this was the only solution that i did not care much.

"But what about Philip? What did he want from us?" I still did not understand him at all.

"I will try my best to know about it. Marianne, he seems to be a dangerous person. Just stay away from him or at least stay alert." he said in a grave voice. 

I closed my eyes as the morning incident passed through my eyes, should i tell him about the drowsiness. But what if it was just the after effect of last night. No, I have to be sure first or he could stop my meeting with Philip completely. Why do I suddenly feel that Philip was more dangerous than Isabella?!

"Marianne i think you should talk to James to go and search for your father too."