The carriage rolled steadily through the quiet streets of the capital.
Its wheels rolled over uneven cobblestones while the horses maintained a steady gait, their hooves striking the road in a slow, rhythmic cadence that filled the silence.
Neither Cassandra nor Draven had spoken more than a few words to each other since starting on their journey to the palace.
She welcomed the quiet.
After everything that had happened inside Ravenshire Manor, words felt exhausting.
Still, she sensed his curiosity. He had asked remarkably few questions considering everything that had happened, and she suspected it was only because he knew she wasn’t ready to answer them.
But Cassandra wasn’t ready to reopen that particular wound with him.
In the absence of a compelling discussion, she rested her temple lightly against the cool glass and watched the city drift past.
Shops had long since shuttered for the night, though a handful of taverns still glowed with warm light.
Ordinarily, Cassandra would have found a carriage ride through familiar streets to be comforting. But tonight, they only reminded her how much had changed in the span of a few hours.
How long would she have to avoid her parents? She couldn’t even return home.
She slowly opened her eyes again, refusing to let herself dwell there any longer.
There would be time enough to grieve the entire thing later.
Another thought quietly pushed its way to the forefront of her mind as she looked towards the opposite side of the carriage.
Draven sat exactly as he had since they left Ravenshire Manor, one hand resting lightly on his lap, his attention seemingly fixed on the streets beyond his own window.
He looked every inch the wealthy duke, with all the refinement and authority his rank commanded.
In her previous life, Draven had not attended the engagement banquet. He disliked William Ravenshire and his wife, Agnes.
They were on opposing sides politically. William was a staunch traditionalist and Draven was one of the most vocal reformists, second only to the queen. So the two frequently butted heads whenever they were both in the capital at the same time.
She remembered the celebration from her past life clearly but she could not recall catching a glimpse of Draven at the event.
She absentmindedly played with the fabric gathered in her lap.
Things were already changing, just like the ruler of death had warned.
It might be only one minor event but she hated to know what else had been altered since she came back.
Would the conspiracy against the queen change as well?
Would Queen Delphine still die the way she remembered?
So deep in thought, she scarcely noticed Draven turning towards her until she felt his heavy gaze on her.
Their eyes met and in that moment she realized she no longer knew how to behave around him.
He was checking on her state with every glance he directed her way. Her recent behavior must have been puzzling to a person like him.
A question weighted incessantly on her mind, becoming harder and harder to ignore the closer they got to the palace. And as much as she liked the silence between them, she also wanted answers.
"Your Grace?" She began and a second later she had the full force of that intense stare on her, his attention wholly hers to command.
"Yes?" If he was bothered that she still chose to address him formally, he didn’t show it.
Cassandra hesitated a bit. She wasn’t entirely certain how to ask without sounding strange.
"You are not the type to attend meaningless social events to maintain appearances. So why attend mine?"
If Cassandra remembered correctly, he had once remarked that only an idle person could find genuine pleasure or fulfillment in the elaborate spectacle of balls and banquets.
He had also complained that he always felt as though he were being watched whenever he attended one. On that point, he was not entirely mistaken. Many of the eyes fixed upon him belonged to ambitious mamas determined to pair their unmarried daughters with the elusive duke.
"I would hardly call your engagement meaningless and lord Ravenshire went out of his way to invite me. It would have been discourteous to decline."
Something inside her knew that there was so much more he wasn’t telling her and as much as she wanted to press him on the matter, she resisted the urge to.
She would let him keep his secrets for now. Everyone carried secrets. If anyone understood the necessity of them, it was her.
They descended back into silence and the carriage continued on its way.
Only when it came to a complete stop did Cassandra realise they had arrived.
She blinked and watched as the footman hurried forward to open the carriage door.
Cool evening air spilled inside.
Draven stepped down first before turning back towards her.
Without a word, he offered his hand to her and she accepted it. He was being courteous after all.
His grip was steady and light, releasing hers the instant both her feet touched the ground.
The Royal Palace stood before them, large and stark in its grandeur.
Countless windows glowed warmly against the night sky.
Cassandra had taken only a few steps towards the entrance when his voice stopped her.
"Lady Cassandra."
She turned back and found that he still stood beside the carriage.
It was his turn to hesitate, just enough for her to notice he was choosing his next words carefully.
"I realise this evening has been rather... difficult. If there should ever come a time when you require assistance, I hope you won’t hesitate to ask." His blue eyes held her in place. "You will always find a friend in me."
Her breath caught. A friend.
He was offering her his help with such genuine sincerity that it almost hurt. But how was she supposed to trust him now when every man she had ever cared for had either tormented her or abandoned her in one way or another—including him?
Where were you?
The question surfaced unbidden, lodging itself at the back of her throat.
She wanted to ask it. She needed to ask it.
But she couldn’t question him about something that had not happened yet without risking that he would think she’d lost her mind.
Instead, she managed the smallest nod.
"Thank you." Her voice was barely audible.
Draven inclined his head, seemingly understanding there was nothing more she wished to say.
Cassandra turned and climbed the palace steps.
The great doors opened before her.
Warmth spilled out to meet her as she crossed the threshold. The familiar scent of beeswax candles, polished oak, and fresh lavender greeted her almost immediately.
Palace servants scurried past her, rushing to finish the last of their assigned duties before retiring for the evening.
"Would you inform Her Majesty of my presence? And if she isn’t currently preoccupied, I would like a moment with her." Cassandra said, stopping in front of the nearest guard.
The queen’s familiar voice drifted from somewhere behind her. "I believe I’ve already been informed."
Cassandra turned to find the woman in question approaching her from behind, a light woolen shawl draped loosely over her shoulders to ward off the night’s chill.
She had long since exchanged the magnificent gowns she wore for court for a far simpler dress of deep emerald silk. Without the crown resting upon her head, it was easy to forget, for just a fleeting moment, that she ruled an entire kingdom.
Delphine’s smile appeared the moment their eyes met. "My dear." She closed the remaining distance between them.
Cassandra instinctively dipped into a curtsy, but Delphine reached forward and took both her hands to stop her before she completed the action.
"There’ll be none of that." There was a hint of mirth in the Queen’s voice, amused by Cassandra’s behavior. Despite how long they had known each other, Cassandra still greeted her formerly, a habit she wasn’t quite ready to part with.
But the amusement faded quickly when Delphine truly look at her, taking note of the shadows beneath her eyes, the stiffness in her shoulders, the faint redness around eyes.
She didn’t ask what had happened, or why Cassandra had come. Instead, she reached up and brushed an escaped strand of blonde hair behind Cassandra’s ear.
"You look exhausted." She commented worriedly.
Cassandra could only manage a faint smile. "I fear I’m not presenting the finest company this evening."
"Nonsense." Delphine squeezed her hand affectionately. "Some of my favourite conversations have taken place when neither of us looked particularly presentable."
A chuckle escaped Cassandra before she could stop it, surprising her. She didn’t think should would be able to feel anything but anguish after the night she just had.
Delphine smiled a little wider. "There you are. I was beginning to think I wouldn’t be able to hear that sweet laugh. Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow. Tonight, you need sleep."
Cassandra lowered her gaze. She hadn’t realised how desperately she’d needed someone to make her smile, even for a moment. "Thank you, your majesty." She said. Then more quietly, "I didn’t have anywhere else to go."
Delphine slipped an arm through hers and led her further into the palace. "You will always have a place here. Never forget it."
The Queen had ensured Cassandra had her own chambers in the palace because Delphine knew Cassandra disliked sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings. And it had been that way since Cassandra was a girl.
They walked through the halls together. Not another word passed between them as none was needed.
At last they stopped before a familiar door.
Delphine released her arm. "You’ll find everything you need inside. Have a good night’s rest."
Cassandra nodded. "Thank you, your majesty... for allowing me to stay."
Delphine looked almost offended. "My dear." She cupped Cassandra’s cheek with the same affection she had shown since Cassandra was a little girl. "You will never need permission to come here." Then she leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Sleep well so you will be rested enough to join us for breakfast."
Cassandra remained rooted to the spot, watching Delphine disappear down the corridor before quietly slipping into the room.
The room looked exactly as she remembered.
While she was inside, several servants rushed in, no doubt sent by the queen to make the room a bit more comfortable.
One of the servants crouched by the hearth and a few minutes later, a fire crackled softly to life, chasing away the lingering chill in the room. A warm bath was drawn for her as well.
When all the servants were gone, Cassandra stood up from the chair she had perched on and walked across the room slowly to the edge of the large bed.