His Highness's Second Wife
His Highness’s Second Wife Chapter 75

“Your Highness? Your Highness, did you hear me?” Blaine asked, his voice suddenly sounding distant and incoherent.

“Give him a minute.” Raena’s voice came from his side, and he instinctively looked at her. How badly is he injured?”

“Well.” Blaine started, glancing at Kassian before returning his attention to her. “From the news we got from the Imperial palace, he is unconscious and fighting for his life. They said there is nothing else they could do for him, he either wakes up in the next few days or he doesn’t.”

“We’re going there,” Kassian announced and Blaine nodded readily, stepping towards the door. Kassian turned to look at her. “Stay here. I”

“I’m not staying.” She interrupted him, raising her chin stubbornly. “I have things to take care of at my residence and at the…” she glanced at Blaine then returned her eyes to Kassian. “… and the restaurant staying.”

“Somebody just tried to kidnap you in the middle of our own home. Do you really think you’ll be safe out there?” Kassian snapped. “You heard Blaine, didn’t you? Vega and her entire household were killed. Somebody got to my brother in the damn Imperial Palace. And you want me to let you go outside? Do you hear yourself?”

“Blaine, can you step outside and call for someone to bring me a change of clothes, please?”

She asked his aide, who blinked in surprise at the sudden request, looking at Kassian for approval.

When he nodded, Blaine sneaked outside and closed the door. Kassian turned to face her, putting his hands on his h**s. “Here.” She said, suddenly raising her hand. Kassian looked down, only to realize she was handing him the token. “Hold on to that until we have the time for the rest of our conversation. I am not stupid, I realize the danger hasn’t passed, but not doing anything is not going to make me any safer.”

“ls the restaurant that important right now?” He frowned. “Or is it that you think you can quickly sell it and run while I am distracted by something else? It’s not going to work.”

“It’s not that.” She said. “I am not going to run.” He gave her an incredulous look, and she sighed. “l promise l will not run before we finish our conversation. If you then decide to let me go, I will leave.

“You want to leave that badly, huh?” He said with a grim expression.

“Let’s leave that conversation for later.” She sighed, looking away from him. “Please don’t stop me from leaving the residence. You already have people watching me, don’t you? I promise not to try to lose them today. They can keep an eye on me and report to you what I do if that makes you feel better. I just need to get to the restaurant.”

Kassian sighed. Arguing with her was just as exhausting as arguing with his brother.

“Fine.” He said at the end and she gave him a small smile, pressing the token with one finger against his chest. When he finally took it she strode to the door and opened it without a hint of shame from the fact that she was wearing nothing but a nightdress. Kassian shook his head and by the time he looked at her again, she was striding back with a maid trailing after her. A second servant stepped in, bringing clothes for him as well.

Kassian slipped on the new shirt and then changed his pants, looking around the room for Raena, only to realize the maid must have led her to the bathroom. He was already ready and waiting impatiently when she appeared from the bathroom door, fully dressed and with her hair pulled into a ponytail. The traces around her neck looked even more striking, with her skin exposed to the light, but she didn’t look bothered at all.

She seemed surprised to see him waiting, but then quickly followed him outside as he opened the door. Blaine met them with an impatient expression, taking the lead and setting on a quick pace, which she seemed to struggle with. Kassian was just going to tell him to slow down when they finally reached his outer rooms.

They stepped outside, side by side, both squinting against the blinding sun that greeted them on its way to the top of the sky. Kassian looked away, his gaze locking on the two figures waiting for her at the base of the steps. She was just taking a step towards them when Kassian reached out and caught her hand, forcing her to stop. She looked back at him with a question in her eyes, so he moved closer, leaning down so he could speak in her ear. His eyes remained on the silver-haired guy who kept watching them with a stiff expression, eyes dark with frustration.

“Don’t go anywhere alone with that guy.”

He said. “And keep in mind that if you do try to run away from me now, I will replace you, no matter how fast or how far you run. So keep your word.”

He stepped back, looking down at her face, only to replace her swallowing nervously.

“I won’t.” She replied quietly, holding his gaze, then turned around and walked down the stairs, lifting her skirts so she wouldn’t trip on them. Kassian watched her as she joined her maid guard, picking up the path leading to the main garden. Kassian looked back at the guards standing on duty by the door and made them a sign to follow her. The two men saluted him, then hurried after the three.

“Your Highness,” Blaine called impatiently and Kassian sighed, tearing his eyes away from her and focusing them on his aide. “I’ve called for a carriage so it should be waiting for us at the gate”

“I don’t have the patience for a carriage. We are riding” Kassian announced, moving past his aide and heading down the path, leaning around the Main Palace and towards the outer gate. There was indeed a carriage waiting for them, but Kassian quickly dismissed it and ordered horses to be prepared instead. As the stable hands rushed to fulfill his command, Gerrin and two of his men joined their entourage with his second-in-command pretending to be conveniently deaf when Kassian told him he didn’t need an escort.

“With all the attempted murders around the capital last night, you need a few extra pairs of eyes to watch your back anywhere you go,” Gerrin said in a surprisingly calm voice. Usually he was the first one to call for retaliation and draw his sword, so his sudden restraint was actually concerning. “One poisonous arrow is all it takes. And we can’t have our Commander dying in the middle of this shit-show.”

“All around the capital?” Kassian frowned, glancing towards Blaine who shook his head that he didn’t know anything about it.

“Yeah. The attack on your wife and the concubine were not the only ones.” Gerrin said quietly, moving closer to Kassian. “I was out on a patrol, so I heard the news even before the sun was up. There is already word all over the city that the crown prince is dead. Besides that, there was an attack on the Prime Minister’s mansion and two in a brothel downtown, the one on that street that suddenly turned really popular.

“Ruby Street?” Kassian and Blaine said at same time.

“Yeah, that one.” Gerrin nodded, his eyebrows almost connecting on his forehead as he frowned. “Two people were stabbed there, but the attacker escaped. These many attacks at once… it feels like someone is trying to clean house. But I can’t see the connection. Even if your wife was attacked because of her connection to the Prime Minister, what about your concubine, a prostitute, and a brothel owner? Not to mention the crown prince – if that is true at all.”

“We’re not going to talk about this here.” Kassian cut him off, glancing at the stable hands who were just bringing out the horses. “Gerrin, you’re coming with me. You two – go watch the North Palace and if you see my wife leaving, follow her. Keep your eyes open, she might be in disguise or have someone with her. If you lose her, don’t bother coming back.”

They saluted him without hesitation, then left to fulfill his orders. Gerrin glanced after them, looking back at Kassian with an inquisitive expression. Kassian ignored him, climbing on horse instead.

He barely waited for his aide and second-in-command to follow before kicking his horse in a gallop and leading it out of the residence.

He barely slowed down on the way to the Imperial palace, his body falling into the habit of legs squeezing the back of the animal, body leaning forward for a better grip and balance, one hand squeezing the reins while the other one remained free so he could draw his weapon if necessary.

Nobody spoke on the way, so his mind quickly slipped back into its chaotic state and every single word Raena uttered came back into his head, bringing him the worst headache he ever had after his mother died.

If what she said was true… if the fables and all beliefs were true… if people really got reborn in a new world after dying on their one then…. that would explain so much. But it was so bizarre and so phantasmagorical that Kassian wasn’t sure if it made sense or if he just wanted to believe her that badly. There were probably hundreds of other plausible explanations for her actions, but she had chosen this one while she stared at him with those calm eyes and a beautiful smile.

He wanted to believe her. He really did. He didn’t care if she had been born into this body or woke up into it when she said she did. But she had lied so many times already.

Yulien was probably going to kill him if he survived this. And if going against his orders wasn’t enough, he had offered her immunity against all crimes. But he had been at the end of the rope already. It’s just that there was something in the way she looked at him that was kind of sad, like she really wanted to say something but was afraid to speak.

There was no going back now. He had chosen to put his trust in her and if she betrayed him, it would be all on him. And if she was finally telling the truth..

Kassian pulled the reins of the horse, forcing it to an abrupt stop, frowning at the solid metal grid that had been lowered over the gates.

The guards on the other side stood at attention, but none of them moved to raise the grid for him to pass.

“What is the meaning of this? Don’t you know who I am?” He snarled at the one closest to him. The man looked up hesitantly, bowing down.

“My sincerest apologies, Your Highness, but the Imperial Palace has been put on lockdown. No one can go in or out. We are not allowed to open the gates.” He replied in a shaky voice “Once the investigation…”

“l am a member of the royal family and commander of the lmperial army. You’re telling me I don’t have the trust of the royal family, is that it?”

Kassian barked at him. The foot soldier curled down, eyes darting helplessly around, but his comrades remained silent and staring aside as if pretending not to notice anything. Kassian was about to shout at him again when he noticed a figure hurrying towards them.

As one of Yulien’s aides reached the gate, Kassian quickly got off his horse, holding the reins while watching the young, energetic man discuss something with the leader of the guards, gesticulating excitedly.

“I sent word we’re coming before I came to tell you.” Blaine’s voice answered the question that was floating in his head. “I figured they will put the place on lockdown and won’t let us in without an imperial order.”

Kassian glanced at Blaine, who stared back with tired eyes, dark circles forming around them. The sound of steps made them all turn just as Yulien’s aide stopped next to the grid.

“I apologize for this, Your Highness, but you know the protocol.” He said awkwardly. “They’ll let you in through the side door, but you won’t be able to leave until the case is closed and they lift the lockdown.” His eyes darted towards Blaine and Gerrin, and he gave them an apologetic smile. “l am sorry, but only His Highness can come in.”

Kassian gritted his teeth but then nodded, turning around and passing the reins of his horse to Blaine. He was just opening his mouth to tell him to take care of the residence in his absence when Blaine spoke.

“I’ll take care of it.” Kassian held his eyes for a second, nodding. He looked towards Gerrin, who gave him his usual crooked smile.

“I’m taking over the captain’s position until you choose a new one so I’ll make sure not even a bird goes over that place. And I’ll keep an eye on your precious lady.”

“You better stay away from her.” Kassian nodded, and Gerrin scoffed.

“What? Scared of some competition?” He chuckled, but there was no amusement in his eyes.

“Go on, Your Highness. We’ll hold the front. Your brother needs you more than we do right now.”