Chapter 322: I Love You

I walked behind Cassius trying to know what they were going to talk about but before I could do so, I felt a hand on my wrist. I turned to look that Cassius was there, I looked towards the room again and then at him in confusion.

"I want to live this night, before your games would destroy everything." he said in a cold tone and i closed my eyes. Was this my game! I wanted to shout and ask him how I was the instigator of them when he was the one who had planned everything but only a cold laugh left my mouth.

He held my hand and brought me back to the party. He walked straight to the dancing area and held my hand. In cue the music started and he took me in his arms.

Soon we started waltzing to the rhythm. His ears closed to my ears as he whispered, 

"Do you really want to do this?" His voice was strained but I nodded.

"Would you ever forgive me then?" he asked again and I stayed still in his arms.

'Would i?'

He twirled me with music and I looked around, the happy faces of everyone. The smiles.. That I was going to take.. Their hearts that I was going to break, but it started with my heartbreak, didn't it?

The dances touched its intensity as the new couples started doing close dance. Just yesterday we were dancing like them. Much closer than them. 

Cassius looked at me and I shook my head.

"I did not feel like dancing." I said and left the floor.

Many looked at me and then at him. I smiled and held his hand as we moved towards the cake. 

They all collected around us as the cake was cut and they all clapped. Cassius took a small piece in his hand and fed me, and I repeated the process. I waved towards Killian and he moved. I pecked his cheek as I fed him the next piece. 

He smiled brightly. 

"This is the best gift I could have for my mother." he whispered and my hands were about to take another piece stilled for a second. I smiled at him and took another piece that i shared with mother and Jamie. 

Jamie looked at me with suspicious eyes, and I bowed my head. I should have known he would notice the changes in me.

"The party is rather simple, duchess." said Rosamound from the sidelines. "I thought that it would be rather dramatic like the last one." she added when no one replied. 

Many nodded accepting her words 

"I have also thought that you would have planned something," said another noble lady. 

"How can I disappoint so many people. Since you all want to have a special night, how could I deny." o said as I looked at Isabella, who frowned, feeling my gaze on her.

"Why don't we play a game?" I offered and finally they all seemed to be interested.

"What kind of game would you  like us to play this time?" they asked with curiosity.

"It is a simple game. I will pass the napkin to everyone sitting in a circle. And the person on which the song stopped would do one thing his or her partner would ask him to. And if the person is single, the chance of asking the question would be passed to me since I am the host.`` I said and they all looked at each other and nodded.

Since most of them were already married, they were not worried about my questions.

So we all sat in a circle even after my mother glared at me many times. She knew there was something cooking in my mind. She always knew.

The music started and when it stopped the handkerchief was in Rosamond's hands.

"Tell me what was your most beautiful memory?" asked Charles, with a smirk.

"When I was late for the academy, the wheel of my carriage broke. Even as a crown prince, you stopped and invited me to share the carriage with you. Then you talked respectfully, cracked jokes, and made me laugh all the way. You made my heartbeat for the first time and since then I was mesmerised by you." she replied with dreamy eyes, her smile was reaching his eyes but my eyes searched for Katherine.

I wanted to console her but she was looking unaffected as if she did not care at all. She had nothing to do with their public display of affection. I sighed as I released her affections have really died down.

But when I turned I saw Jamie also looking at Katherine with worry in his eyes and my eyes narrowed at both of them. Katherine had no idea and I wondered what her reaction would be if she found out.

The music started again and the handkerchief started passing around. It stopped when the handkerchief was in Cassius's hands.

Everyone looked at me and then at him.

"Since he is the host too, we would be the one asking him the question." announced Charles, and I nodded. There was nothing I had to ask him anyway.

"Tell us Cassius, whom do you love more, Elizabeth or Marianne?" he asked with mischief in his eyes and I held my dress tightly in my fist.

I looked at Charles with a glare but he just smirked. How could this fool be the emperor?!

"There is no doubt in it, that I love Marianne only." he announced and the time stopped. Everything turned blurry as I looked at him. 

I did know what I should feel. I was in a mess. But his eyes were looking honest as he looked at me. He put his hand in his pockets and took out a small box. He stood up from his seat and walked towards me slowly.

He kneels and opens the box in front of me. My breathing stopped as I looked at the ring in his hands and then towards him.

"Marianne. I love you."