Chapter 234: Oasis in the Desert

Cassius pov 

I still did not understand how roaming in the palace and looking at furniture was better than having tea and snacks. Yet here I was waltzing in the grand hall of the palace and entering an empty music room.

They both were talking but my attention was on the room. I was looking at the instruments while walking around when my steps halted. My eyes widened and I stood there stunned. 

This tune.. This was my tune! The tune I used to play in the academy every time i had an argument with the father or Charles and I were not talking. The tune was designed by me then how did she know that?!

I turned back only to see a serene girl playing the piano with her closed eyes, there was a beautiful smile on her face and a young boy standing beside her bending a bit as his hands were on the corner of the frame of the piano. His face was on his hands as he looked mesmerised at the girl. Suddenly my eyes started swelling for both the past and the present as I continued looking at them. 

Their faces turned blurry as mother and mine face at their places.

"Cassius, be  good boy and listen to your father, will you?" I heard my mother's voice ringing in my ears. When I continued looking at them.

There was so much peace in this moment, the peace I had lost years ago. Only I knew how much I was surrounded by darkness and nightmares this whole time.

How much time had passed as I just stood there like a carved sculpture when I felt a hand on my shoulders. I turned to see Monique, Marianne's mother standing there and smiling at me.

"Is there tears in your eyes, son?" she asked, raising a brow and I shook my head.

"Of course not. There must be some dust around there.'' I said with the best voice I could muster at that time.

She nodded, "i will call the servants to clean the room again" 

We both knew that I was lying, yet she was kind enough to accept and support it.

"You want to be part of them, don't you?" she asked again and i tilted my head and looked at happy pictures of Marianne and Killian this time instead of the flicker of the past.

"I am already part of their family." I replied , confused, and she shook her head.

"Why, are you there standing with them or can be part of the time they spent with each other. Except for sharing your lineage, and name, I do not see you as part of them" her words were like a bucket of cold water splashed over my face.

If it would have been a mocking expression on her face, I would have made sure to tell her, her place and my place in the peerage system but her eyes were calm as a lake. And the way she patted my shoulder and touched my hairs were filled with love and care.

"Earn their love Cassius. Marianne may sound like a resentful woman filled with wrath. It is just her way to protect her fragile heart that you have broken many times. To be honest if it had been past, i would not have been standing here and having this conversation with you. But I can see that you are changing. 

The barriers that you have created around you are crumbling, and this has given me hope." she said looking at me while my eyes were still set on the girl who was playing music and smiling. 

Killian said something and she chuckled. She ruffled his hair and he smiled heartily. My expressions soften looking at them.

"It's still not late, my son. Go and try to create your place among them." said monique again, giving me an encouraging look and I sighed.

She was as stubborn as Marianne, and I knew she would not let the matter go unless I moved so I did.

I walked towards them and sat at the bench near Marianne. Her hands stopped and she looked at me bewildered. The space we were sharing was very less and our thighs were touching. Soon a crimson blush spread on her cheeks.

"I want to play the piano too." i announced before she could push me and throw me away like she was intending to.

"Father, do you know this tune?" asked Killian, surprised and I nodded.

"It is your grandmother's tune, Killian. She used to play it whenever i was sad in my childhood days and later i became of habitual of listening to it that i started playing it in my academy days.'' I replied as I looked at her, who was stealing her eyes away. 

"Let's play together, shall we?" I asked as I put my hand gently over her still fingers. She tried to move her hands away but I held them right there. There was a pleading look on my face when she looked at me.

She sighed and nodded. I smiled at her kindness and soon we both started playing the tune. I looked above and saw Monique standing there with her son who was still looking at me with kind eyes. There was a proud smile on her face and it swelled my heart. A genuine smile formed on my face which made James glare at me.

The music flowed in the air and after a long time I felt that calm, as if the storm was finally coming to an end. I looked again at the girl who came barging into my life and turned it upside down.

Was she the cure, i was searching for all my life. Would she be the oasis in the desert I was imprisoned in since immemorial time?!

"How do you know this tune, Marianne?" I asked as my hands stopped capturing her hands in the process and she turned stiff. I could feel her beating heart like a thief was caught while doing the crime.