novelraw Chapter 41: The Two Fronts
Chapter 41: The Two Fronts
I woke to a pounding headache, and the rain outside still hadn’t let up. The weather in this place was truly awful. I was honestly surprised the entire capital hadn’t flooded yet, considering how hard it had been pouring.
Faye was still beside me when I woke up, and the bed was an absolute mess. I could still feel the stickiness on my skin.
But despite the lingering aftermath, I could honestly say it had all been worth it.
"Hey, Faye."
I shook her shoulder to wake her, and her eyes fluttered open before settling on me, a soft, tired smile immediately appearing on her face.
"Is it morning already?"
"Yeah, another conclave to attend."
"Mmmh... I don’t even think I can attend a conclave right now," Faye replied, forcing herself to sit up on the edge of the bed as she tried to gather her bearings.
The two of us were still completely naked, the aftermath of the previous night still clinging to us. This was definitely going to be something the servants wouldn’t enjoy washing.
"Carry me to the bathroom?"
"You remembered."
"Of course I did."
***
Breakfast was waiting for us in the dining room when we finally made it downstairs, and Faye had been right about not being able to attend the conclave. She was walking funny, and every time she sat down, she made a small, pained sound that made the servants exchange glances.
But she was smiling.
I poured her a cup of tea and pushed it toward her across the table.
"So," she said, wrapping her hands around the warm cup, "what’s on the agenda today? More conclaves? More training? More..."
She trailed off, her cheeks flushing.
"More what?"
"Nothing." She took a quick sip of her tea, and I watched her wince at the heat. "I wasn’t going to say anything."
"I’ll write you an excuse to skip today’s conclave. What about you rest at my estate for today?"
My words alone were enough to make the servants present in the dining room blush and avert their eyes. Guess they already saw the mess back in my bedroom when they did their morning cleaning.
And Faye also seemed to be a little embarrassed by it, but... after everything, she mostly seemed more proud than actually embarrassed.
"And what about you?"
"After breakfast," I said, "I have to meet with the generals. The crisis in my territory is getting worse, and I need all the time I need to prepare for Helios Factory."
Faye nodded, her expression shifting into something more serious. "What can I do?"
"Stay here. Rest. You’re in no condition to be running around the estate."
"Don’t underestimate me, Cassian."
"I know you’re capable, Faye. I’ll let you help in the future, but for now, just get some rest. Even my servants would agree with that, don’t you all think?"
I looked around, and their faces were even redder now, and they were all just pretty much forced to nod at my comment, which had far more implications than I had honestly expected.
But...
I’m the duke here. I shouldn’t mind their embarrassment over my actions. It doesn’t exactly scream tyrant like the original Cassian. In fact, this is definitely better than being seen as a tyrant.
***
Ravenhold, capital of the Noctierre line, stood as Cassian’s current stronghold against the endless tide of oncoming beasts, the greatest barrier between the magical hordes and the collapse of the Nimean Empire.
Its walls rose to triple the height of any ordinary fortress, the ramparts lined with gunmen and cannons that fired without cease into what looked like an ocean of beasts clawing at the stone.
"This is it."
Edward spoke as he looked over the battlefield while in the sky, bracing himself against the edge of the rotor-bladed aircraft’s doors. Beside him stood Anastasia. Even with her skill, she was taken aback by the sheer number of beasts clawing at the walls.
"How have you managed to keep this up for years...?"
Anastasia could hardly believe it. It looked less like a capital and more like a battlefield.
"By my— I mean, our lord’s skill, of course. I trust you won’t disappoint." Edward then pointed out a particular man on the rampart, Rerick, the newly hired general, the same as her.
"He’s already making an effort. I trust you’ll be able to match his skill?"
Anastasia let out a disbelieving laugh. For a second, she almost blurted out something stupid, like saying this was above her pay grade or beyond her skill, but...
Of course, she wouldn’t let this get to her, especially when she had no intention of disappointing her new lord.
"More than that, General."
"Good. We’ll be landing soon, so be careful not to hit your head."
"Don’t patronize me."