Chapter 239: Fair Competition

Cassius pov contd..

"Ah, you are finally awake. Are you feeling better now?" asked Marianne's mother, looking at me with concern.

I did not want to accept, but the way she talked to me as if we have a strong bond, and the way she called me son occasionally left a strong impact on me. As if a dead feeling suddenly awoke. I have finally found a place where I could belong. It still turned me a bit stiff but eventually I nodded.

Marianne must have made some excuse for me. 

"Oh, I hope the food and other things are up to your liking, son. How did you suddenly become ill?" she asked as she pointed at me to sit beside her. Only then did I notice that Monique Baringstone was also there.

"Your highness" they all greeted me as I sat there. I nodded in reply and then they even forgot my existence there and continued chatting like before. This was something new that happened to me.

After the incident of Elizabeth, I have always thought that lower nobles were greedy and flattering to higher nobles like me. They never cared about feelings, but look at them, how they were sitting and laughing together like a one big family.

I don't even remember when was the last time I went to the royal palace to spend time like that!

"Try this son, it's freshly baked cookies by Marianne" she said and my hands that were about to take the cookies stiffened. 

I saw that everyone had a piece of it. Didn't that crude say that Marianne cooked only for him.

I took a cookie hesitatingly. If I said that I did not have any expectations then it would be a lie. This was the first time I was going to taste something she had made. 

I took a bite and it melted in my mouth leaving a strong taste of chocolate and mints. It was one of the best cookies I had ever tasted! Its texture was so perfect that for a moment I doubted her mother was telling a lie.

"God, Mari.. I never thought that James would share his cookies with us. It had been ages since i last ate these cookies yet it feels you have become better at them, i so much want to kiss those hands that had baked it" said the lawyer and the taste suddenly turned bitter in my mouth.

'Glutton, starved, moocher, beggar. Had he not the chefs at his palace?! Why do I always see him at another house and that also as if the palace belongs to him?' I gritted my teeth.

"Well i was not about to share them, mother forced me to do so. Eat less all of you so that i can have more." said Jamie and everyone laughed. Was this even a joke!

"Ha! Brother Jamie. I would have all of them. I would not leave any for you." chirped Roselia as she took a handful of them and started eating.

I looked at the plate only to see that it had only one cookie left though I had just tasted one so I moved to take another but that crude took it before me.

"Don't bicker like kids, look at Killian, he did not even make a sound and eat peacefully" said mother in law.

"But grandmother I have already eaten a handful when they were taken out of the oven" he replied with a giggle. I never knew he could giggle like a kid! 

His posture was also relaxed and laid back, and his face had genuine happiness. He truly was enjoying his stay here.

The place which had no relation to him. I had never seen him this happy when he used to go to Wiltshire palace though they were the one blood related to him.

"Alright, we are not here to eat all day. Lets play some game. Or how about music and dance?" asked Damien, poking his nose again!

I wonder how he was so free today! It's not like it was the weekend or any other holiday today.

"Let's play cards. The game becomes best when there is something at stake" said Roselia, rubbing her hands. 

I always knew she was not that like other knights but this was a whole new version of her.

"Sure, but do not cry when you lose one of your precious things. Have you ever won when Mari and I became partners." that black suit spoke again.

'Who the hell was his partner now!'

"Since we all are playing, shouldn't Marianne be my partner?" I spoke even before I deduced the situation well and I heard Marianne coughing.

Mother in law chuckled and nodded, "sorry Dami, i guess you don't have a partner for today"

"Oh, aunt. What shall I say. I have lost my partner the day she decided to marry someone else. Sigh, only loneliness is left as my partner now." he said, like a poet. 

Did this even need that much exaggeration? wasn't she choosing him in the end! I was the one who was alone here.

"I don't think that you are going to stay alone for too long. Soon there will be a permanent partner with you, Dami." she said, chuckling and my grip on the cup tightened.

"Cassius, are you okay?" asked Mother in law and I saw all of them looking at me.

I frowned why they were all looking at me when I finally the metallic iron smell wafted to my nostrils. I looked down only to see that my hand was covered with blood and the cup was on the floor broken into pieces, yet I did not feel the pain.

All I felt was the necessity to compete and win against the lawyer. I knew I did not deserve her forgiveness. Yet I want to compete for her love and affection fairly. 

'Get ready for a tough battle lawyer, you have a competition now"