Chapter 300: Live with me

Cassius pov contd.

I was still in daze when Killian hugged me happily as I was taking James and Monique home with us. How did it turn out like that! I was just teasing James. I swear not even once had I thought that my small family of three would be of five when we would return.

I was still looking at them with wonder as they were sitting in the carriage together. That's right. Marine denied to take the marquis carriage, telling sharing carriage would increase the love and Killian nodded on everything she said like a chick following mother hen in every way.

So here we are.. Sitting in the carriage with James beside me. Marianne and Monique in front of me with Killian in the middle.

They all were laughing and talking like they were going to a fair or festival together. It would have been fine with me if James would not have been there. I still remember the way he punched me on my gut.

Not to say that all his knights troops were flowing us to the duke palace too. First Philp and now these. My home had turned into a guest house.

When the carriage stopped, and everyone came out of the carriage, no one even looked at me.

"Mother, you will stay in the chamber beside me. And Jamie you will shift into the chamber beside Killian. The biggest training ground is there, so you would be more comfortable there. And the knights...." she continued as if the whole palace was hers.

I closed my eyes to calm myself down. Of course, it was hers too now. And that family is mine too. It would have been so easy to accept if James would not have been there. Now I had to bear him too.

"Why don't you all take a rest, and then we will have dinner together. I will order the chef to make all your favourite dishes." Has she ever asked the chef to make my favourite dishes.? 

"Mother come with me, the chamber to my left is empty. We will have a good chat at night. And brother, why don't you stay in the chamber near Killian. There is the biggest training ground there, you can have training anytime you want. And as far as it's about knights…" she continued to give instruction and Killian nodded at everything like a chick following his mother hen.

"Alright then I will take some rest and see you at dinner. Come kid show me the way" said James as he pointed towards Killian and then pecked Monique and Marianne and left.

"We shall go too, mother," she added.

Not even once had she turned to look at me like the conversation we had done at night did not exist at the first place.

"Son, you should take some rest too, i will see you during dinner." said Monique patting my shoulders and i smiled.

At least, there is someone who still remembers me.

"Take care of your mother." I said hugging her while pecking her still looked too awkward to me. Even when i hug her, i could feel she turn stiff.

Slow steps Cassius, slow steps i reminded myself and then turned to look at Marianne, who was chuckling at the reaction of her mother.

"You should take care too, my dear wife" I said as I picked on her lips and her eyes widened and she turned stiff and this time it was my turn to chuck.

"What exactly happened in the woods?" I heard her mother asking her when I turned to leave and I smiled.

My life changed there for the better and now I would make sure that it would continue to be better with time.

I entered my chamber and the doors were unlocked in front of me just as I had ordered as I trust no one in my absence.

I entered and sat on the leather chair looking at the files that were collected there. Even looking at the pile of parchments was giving me a headache. I guess the next three days when they would organise the party, I would be busy in the flies.

I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead, just by returning here and smelling the air made my headache return.

I opened the drawer to take my medicines out when I heard footsteps behind me. I frowned as no one entered without my permission.

"Who.." the words died in my mouth and I stood there surprised for a minute before moving forward and hugging the man who had finally returned.

"So you finally got the time to come back, huh?" I asked as he left my arms.

"I apologise for being late, your highness" he bowed and I shook my head.

"Whatever happened, happened. I hope you have claimed your title now." i asked and he nodded,

"I missed you a lot, your highness. And so do others. This last month felt like years to me" he said in a low voice and I chuckled.

"You are talking like a girl who was married in another town, returned home for the first time." He looked at me with amused eyes, surprised that I joined him and I passed my lips.

"Since you are a noble now, you will enjoy your stay here as a noble and not as my side. We will discuss your estate and its duties first before assigning you any work." I told and he looked at me hesitantly but nodded.

"Good, then choose a guest chamber and shift there from the staff chambers. You are here as a guest not as a staff" i told him as i had never liked that he lived with the staff. He was like my brother yet in the name of equality and rules he always suffered a lot.

"But your highness…"

"There is no one but Ian, just shift in the next chamber to me." I ordered and he scratched the back of his head.

"If that is the case, then can I shift to the chamber next to the duchess. The one on the left" he asked again with hesitation and I blinked.

"Don't tell me even you don't want to live with me"