Great. Just what I needed before the trial, more gossip.
"Your Highness."
I turned to find Lucien approaching from the opposite direction, and the temperature in the corridor seemed to drop several degrees as he and Cassian locked eyes.
"Duke Asterion," Cassian said, ironing all the emotion out of his expression.
"King Cassian," Lucien replied with equal coolness.
Oh god. Not this crap again.
"Gentlemen," I said firmly, "King Cassian, Duke Lucien, can we please not do this right now? I have the pleasure of facing my would-be assassin in open court today. I would rather not deal with this on top of that."
Both men had the grace to look slightly sheepish.
"Of course," Lucien said quietly. "My apologies, Your Highness."
Cassian just squeezed my hand. "Understood. You'll be fine. And if you need to leave at any point—"
"I know." I squeezed back. "Thank you."
The doors to the grand courtroom opened, and the crowd began to file in.
