Chapter 332: Deserve a punishment

Marianne pov

The biggest mistake of today was I let Killian go and shared the carriage with brother and Philip and took one with mother. when she demanded this kind of arrangement i must have known that i would have to bear the brunt.

I tried to minimize my presence as much as possible but it was almost impossible when we both were the only one present. Even Roselia had taken horse with other knights this time.

"Now would you speak or I have to force you further." she asked in a sweet voice as if asking me for food or candies.

"I am taking divorce mother. What else is there to talk about? You have given me two choices either to accept him fully and stay happy with him or leave him completely and come back to you. I have chosen the second option. Now why are you being so angry?

Didn't you say that my happiness is what matters in the end?" i asked her back and she pressed her lips,

"But I thought you were happy there and so was Cassius." she asked as she looked back into my eyes, i know i would not be able to lie to her this way, even if i did, she would catch it.

"I love his mother, there is no doubt about it. But he had lied to me again and again. And our relationship's base is weak. It had to break one day." I said as I closed my eyes and she sighed.

"Is there no chance?" she asked again and i shook my head. I wanted to tell her the truth but I was afraid she would not be able to keep it to herself and then it would need so much explanation too.

She tired her face and looked out of the window. I was sure I was about to get silent treatment for the rest of the days.

"And what's with that clingy man who has followed us here." she asked again when i wasn't expecting at all.

I stifled a laugh at her apt description of the man. Yet I depicted ignorance.

"Philip? Why did you call him clingy?" 

"He was trying to strike a conversion all the time. I would have taken him as a friendly man if he had not tried to poke his nose in everything I do. From following James for fencing to walking with me in the garden. 

Always being there whenever I spent time with Killian and only leaving once Cassius arrives. I wonder how he is so free.

If I didn't know any better I would have thought that he was exiled from his empire for being this clingy." she said and my eyes widened as her words reverberated in my ears.

How could we never think about it? How and why he was here all this time. And what was his history? There was so much behind his handsome yet innocent face that was still hidden.

But if I would try to investigate him. He would surely know about it

I needed to talk about it to Cassius, I was sure he had more hidden resources than me.

"Your grace, we are here." called the coachman and I finally took a breath of relief as I nearly passed a calamity.

"Jamie, why don't you help lord Philip in settling down well." said mother as she held my hand, "we have a very important matter to discuss. Please excuse us" she added, and then without waiting for a reply she took me with her. 

If this continued how would i get time to act!

"Mother. What are you doing?" I was exasperated at her stubbornness.

"What did I do?"

"Mother, you can not keep me away from lord Philip like that. He is here because of me."

She looked at me amazed and annoyed at the same time.

"So you do know that he is here for you and yet you brought him here with you?" 

"Well, he is a prince too and he is interested in me. So why not give it a try?" I asked , shrugging my shoulders and her face cracked. She even forgot to be angry this time, she was that stunned.

" I thought you have loved Cassius all your life, you even decided to stay unmarried in the past all your life, Marianne. And now you are still married and yet you are thinking of another man?" she said as if she was disappointed in me. 

"Mother. I do not have hopes in my marriage anymore. And I like lord Philip, i am sure i will live happily with him.`` I said finally ending the matter. 

But just then we heard the sound of something falling. I turned to see a man in knight armor had accidentally hit the vase on the table. He was kneeling on the floor to clean the mess he had created.

"It is alright. The maids will clean it. Are you looking for Sir James?" my mother asked and only then did the man look above.

My eyes widened as I saw the face. What in the world was he doing here and what had he done with his face.

"No, my lady. I am the new knight of her highness. I will serve her from today." he replied as he looked at my mother who frowned a bit and nodded.

"Ummm mother, i am tired now. I need to take a rest.`` I replied and walked towards my chamber followed by the man.

It felt like the whole path was filled with pins and needles. 

"Leave" I announced and all the maids bowed and left the room.

He waited patiently for everyone to leave and then i asked,

"What are you doing here?" I whispered in case anyone was still around.

He held my waist and pinned me to the wall in a swift move.

"I am here to keep an eye on my wife who is professing her love for another man in broad daylight with her mother. You deserve another punishment Marianne. You are going to theatre with me tonight"