”This is not the future I wanted for him,” Lady Evelyn said, standing by the towering window. Her watered eyes stared at Valerian’s misty skyline, grey and gold blurred the buildings.
”This is the only way your house has a chance at survival,” Lucian spoke softly, standing by his wooden desk, a black gloved hand resting on it. “His name needs to be stripped, his power revoked. He can no longer be the leader of your house. He would only be a noble by blood, but not by the crown.”
“But he is not to be harmed in any way. He is still my—“ Her voice wavered.
”I know,” Lucian said, “The only harm that could fall on him, is the one he invites himself.”
She sniffled. “You do not understand. He is reckless, like his father. He will never stop struggling.”
”You have my terms, this is your only choice. Either this, or the destruction of your house.”
Lady Evelyn exhaled slowly, masking her expression into something unreadable before she turned to face him. ”No harm will come to him.”
”You have my word, Evelyn. I have no wish to harm Aeren’s son,” Lucian reassured, studying her.
Lady Evelyn straightened. ”Just make sure he can’t sway those loyal to him. You have to destroy not just his inheritance, but his reputation among his subjects. Some of them would follow him to the grave just because of their loyalty to his father.”
His sharp and calculating gaze had fallen to a dull, unfocused stare into nothingness. Cassian sat, his back pressed against the cold marble wall of his meticulously kept chamber. It was no dungeon, no criminals would be kept here, only nobles. There were no rusted iron bars, no damp stone or foul odors. Instead, polished marble walls with brass fixtures gleaming under the flickering gaslight. A prison dressed in finery.
Cassian''s elbows rested on his knees, his fingers clasped loosely in front of him, curling repeatedly. As if his fingers had an itch that were impossible to scratch. His fine navy-blue tailcoat lay discarded on the bed, and the top buttons of his shirt undone, in an attempt to lessen the burden of the situation.
Time had lost meaning, as hours had passed but he had to way of telling how many.
His eyes closed briefly, his mind beginning to work against him.
"Cassian Vaelthorne, you are placed under arrest." Echoed painfully in his head.
His fingers twitched again, as a sharp click echoed through the quiet chamber. The door opened.
He opened his eyes slowly to see an imperial prison guard let someone in.
Cassian did not move, he remained seated.
A familiar worn waistcoat, slightly disheveled, as if they rushed here without the time to properly straighten themself. Professor Thaddeus Wren''s spectacles caught the dim light, reflecting flickering gold for a brief moment, before revealing a worried frown.
Cassian exhaled, tilting his head slightly. "Wouldn''t think they''d let a scholar into the lion''s den."
Wren gave a dry smile. He waited for the cell door to click shut before he spoke. "Knowledge is harmless in the hands of a delusional old man," he said, then his expression darkened, "but there are always limits."
Cassian''s brows furrowed. He gestured slightly to the seat across from him.
Wren sat without hesitation, straightening his coat as he seated. "I finished decoding your father''s work," he said quietly, "you were right, the pattern does exist."
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"You''re certain?" Cassian''s eyes widened slightly, then shot his eyes quickly to the cell door.
Wren gave a nod. "More certain than I would like to be." He reached a hand into his coat and pulled out a small, folded page. He handed it to Cassian.
Cassian picked it up without hesitation, casting watchful eyes.
"Cassian," Wren said, a sinister seriousness in his tone, "It''s linked to you."
"Explain."
Wren leaned forward, his voice almost reverent. "You father wasn''t only mapping the storms in the mists. He was tracking an anomaly, something that disrupts the cycle. Something that shouldn''t be there." His eyes locked onto Cassian''s. "All the calculations point to you."
The words hung in the air.
Cassian chuckled. "This is ridiculous–"
"This is the truth," Wren interrupted. "You are your father''s greatest work. He hid a code inside the equation, the location of his secret workshop, something no one knew about, not even his closest, most trusted allies."
Cassian let out a slow breath. He swallowed.
“None of this matters anymore, Wren,” Cassian said, “my legacy is over, my titles are to be revoked, and the power in my name will be erased from history. Lord Ravencourt is probably opening a bottle as we speak.” He chuckled dryly.
Wren let out a sigh. “We will find a way to make it right with the Empire, my lord.”
”You don’t have to call me that anymore, Wren. I’m not a noble anymore.”
The sharp click echoed once again in the chamber, as a guard opened the door. “On your feet,” he barked, his voice sharp and indifferent.
Cassian did not reply, just stared back at the guard, then slowly rose to his feet.
The guard entered the chamber and pulled a pair of restraints from his belt. “You’d better take your leave now,” he said to Wren, as he cuffed Cassian’s hands.
Wren’s breath hitched. ”Everything will be just fine Cassian, you will be okay, just do what they say and I will talk with Lady Evelyn. House Vaelthorne’s lawyers can still help you—“
“Shut it. Leave, now,” the guard snapped, as he pulled Cassian with him out of the cell, leaving Wren standing by the chamber door.
”Take good care of Aldric, Wren.” Cassian spoke as he was being pulled forcefully.
Cassian exhaled, following the guard with as much dignity as his weakened body could force out. Thick, scarred arms pulled at his restraints without remorse. It was clear all he cared about was to get Cassian to the destination as fast as he could.
“Where are we going?” Cassian asked, wincing slightly from the chafing on his wrists.
The guard said nothing, only pulled at his restraints to follow. Cassian nearly stumbled, but steadied himself and squared his shoulders with a hiss.
“Not a talker,” Cassian murmured under his breath.
The silence of the guard finally settled in Cassian’s head. The urgency, the restraints. Something was off.
“Where—“ His voice cut off when they reached towering brass doors with inlays of the Empire’s insignia.
The guard shoved the doors open to blinding sunlight and a thunderous roaring from what seemed to be the entire population of Valerian.
Cassian blinked, as the sunlight warmed up on his skin, his breath catching in his throat.
The Grand Imperial Plaza. Thousands of people surrounded the platform, chanting and screaming at him. Atop the platform stood a retinue of Imperial officers and the High Chancellor, along with Lucian. They all stared at him, awaiting his arrival.
Cassian’s gut twisted violently. “Aunt?”
Lady Evelyn stood, unreadable, next to Lucian. Dressed impeccably, with her hands neatly folded in front of her. She looked at him only for a moment, then turned away.
The prison guard, pulled Cassian and threw him down to his knees on the center of the platform, a public display for the people. The crowd roared into a cheer.
Then with a raise of the High Chancellor’s hand, they hushed. “Before you today, you see a symbol of greed, betrayal and chaos,” he began, speaking slowly, “Cassian Vaelthorne has gone against not only law, but the people. His greed for knowledge is a danger to humanity as we know it. Let him be an example. And he is therefore…”
Cassian’s vision blurred, his pulse slammed into his ribs, his lungs refusing air. The world spun as his mind caught up too late. Lucian’s softness to the boy was nothing but a ruse. He had followed his father’s exact footsteps, and failed just like he did. Cassian was no better. He was a Vaelthorne that had failed to calculate the outcome, that had failed to outsmart.
”Sentenced to death.”