Chapter 99: nurse back to health

As I sat in the carriage to go home, Charles' words kept replaying in my mind. 'You love her, Cassius, talk to your parents before they choose someone else for you.' how absurd the whole idea was! I am just 17, it's 6 months left when I would be 18, father would not think about my marriage this early, right. 

I shook my head, to get the thought out of my head, but it kept on repeating till i reached home.

I walked to my parents' chamber, my mother was making a portrait there, she always did painting in her free time.

"Mother,"

"Oh, Cassius you are here. I was waiting for you." she replied, giving me a hug. 

"Is there something special occasion, mother?" i asked, as i could see the smile on her face.

"Yes, first tell me, how is my new portrait." she asked and i was surprised to see a young girl, around 13 or 14.

"Who is she, mother." I asked looking intently but no one clicked, i only know a young girl that was Ian's sister.

"She is Marianne, I told you that day, that I was going to meet a girl who had come first in studies all over the empire. She was even invited to the nearby empire to represent our empire just at the age of 13."she kept praising her, and I just did not understand her intention behind it.

"Yes mother she must be very intelligent." i said and her eyes sparkled.

"Cassius, I know it's early, the girl is just a kid, but she has a good temper, beauty and brains. I liked the girl a lot. So i was thinking, why not your father and i go and ask her parents for your marriage." she asked and i was stunned, once again Charles words ran through my mind.

'Now or never' 

"Mother, I wanted to tell you something." i said and she felt suspicious looking at my instant reaction.

"Mother, i already like someone in the academy, her name is Elizabeth, she is the elder daughter of marquees Wiltshire." I replied and her expressions hardened.

"Mother, you have met Elizabeth, she has come here with Isabella. I really like her mother" i added when she still didn't say anything.

"Cassius, it's not that I did not want to support you, but your father did not like marquees Wiltshire. He always asks for favour and other benefits. If our family did marriage alliance with them, their demands will increase further.

You know how honest and disciplined your father is." she explained and I nodded.

"As you deem fit, mother, you know i would never go against you." I replied and without waiting for an answer I left their chamber.

************

It had been days since I had started avoiding Elizabeth. I often used to bring some sweet treats for her but I stopped. Charles looked at my change in behavior but said nothing. 

Elizabeth came to ask me a few times, was i okay, but i always made an excuse and sent her back.

My family also saw the changes in me, I stayed more silent at home. Only shook or nodded my head when needed.

"Are you troubled with something, my son?" my father asked me, calling me to his study room and once again I just shook my head.

"Is it about your marriage alliance with Elizabeth." he asked and my eyes widened. I was about to shake my head, when he added.

"Your face had already given the reply, no need to shake your head." His tone was cold and I bit my lip.

"It's only my wish father, it had nothing to do with her, if you want to punish someone, punish me, father." i said and he raised a brow.

"Your affections are deeper than your mother had told me '' he replied and I did not know whether he was complementing or complaining.

"Don't worry, our family had never imposed marriage on any generation forcefully. I will talk to Marquees Wiltshire about you and Elizabeth." he said and my face bloomed. I was so surprised that I hugged him tightly.

"Hope, you stay happy with your decision my child." he said cryptically and I did not know what it meant. But I was too happy to care so I just nodded my head hard.

Soon our marriage was decided and so was Charles, Elizabeth and I was very happy. We did all our shopping together, visited everywhere together and took our meal together. Soon our marriage became the talk of the empire. They started calling it two biggest love stories of the century.

When I saw her walking down the aisle, it was the best day of my life. I was so happy that I could not describe it in words. But it was overwhelming when she told me she was pregnant, I remembered I had distributed silver coins in the whole palace and nearby area. It was like over the moon feeling.

I had started coming home early, my education in the academy was about to end and soon I started working with my father. Whenever I came home my mother would always be with Isabella, they were talking about the child, it was the best days of my life. Soon I had a son within 8 months.

The physicians said that the child was pre born and needed extra care. My mother spent her whole time caring about the child with Elizabeth. My father, who was about to pass the dukedom to me, gave me more time looking at my desire to go home early everyday.

I was grateful to them, they loved me and Elizabeth so much. My parents put their every effort in making our life better.

Soon, Killian was nursed back to health, he started laughing and walking around with his tiny legs. He was nothing but a wonder to me. I used to spend all my free time with them, the life was just perfect and there was nothing which I desired more.

"Cassius, you have to go to Vistertia town to see the condition there. The Drought has badly impacted, I want you to be the head of the relief fund group, it will be a good experience for you." said my father one day calling me