Once the doors clicked shut behind the priestess, Cassian let out a soft sigh and turned to look at his father.
"That went well... I guess."
"Very well indeed," Cedric agreed, leaning back in his chair.
Cassian nodded, but his thoughts suddenly drifted back to Sora. An unexpected wave of guilt washed over him.
'Although I feel quite apologetic to Sora, the truth is I will never be able to fulfill this marriage promise after all if it takes a year to be decided on. I am going to leave this world soon. I can only imagine how broken and confused he will be once I am gone.'
"So, the final trial of the tournament is tomorrow," Cedric said, snapping him out of his guilt.
"Are you prepared, my son?"
Cassian forced his confident, princely mask back into place, tilting his chin up.
"Father... have you forgotten who I am? I am always prepared for any challenge. Those kids I trained will never disappoint us. So just trust me, and we will honor you and the empire with a glorious victory."
"That is very good to hear," Cedric said proudly.
"Although..." Cassian trailed off, intentionally slowing his words.
The Emperor looked up, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Although?"
"I wonder if my imperial father still remembers what we talked about the other day," Cassian said, leaning forward slightly. "In regards to our celebrated hero, Sir Lucien Arden, and his marriage prospects?"
Cedric frowned slightly, recalling the conversation.
"Cassian, Sir Arden seemed entirely unknowing of this matter when I briefly mentioned it to him before."
"He was only taken aback by the suddenness of it, Father," Cassian lied smoothly, his voice steady.
"After all, that was a private matter that he and I had only talked about together."
Cassian took a deep breath, pushing down the strange, heavy ache forming in his chest.
"Listen, Father, I want you to find that specific noble woman as soon as possible and match them together. Sir Arden is truly lonely these days. With his retirement beckoning much sooner than we originally expected, his marriage should follow quickly. A future Duke needs all the help he can get to properly build and manage his family line."
Cedric stared at his son, sensing something unusual beneath the surface.
"Cassian, what is with all this immense haste?"
"Father, the sooner the better," Cassian countered, weaving his lie carefully through his teeth.
"This particular lady... well, I've heard rumors that she might leave the continent very soon to embark on a long journey across the seas. If that happens, won't it be a massive loss for our honorable Sir Arden?"
Cedric looked at Cassian for a long moment, trying to read the unreadable expression on the prince's face, before finally exhaling a heavy sigh.
"Goodness! Fine, then. Just tell me the lady's name and her family details, and leave the rest of the matchmaking to me."
Cassian smiled warmly, though the grin didn't quite reach his eyes. Inside, his mind was already mapping out his final mission to escape this world.
By having Emperor Cedric orchestrate the meeting, he would effectively push Lucien into the arms of the woman meant to be his first true love according to the original story. It felt entirely bittersweet, and a sharp, nagging pain twisted in his heart at the thought of giving the knight away. But Cassian knew it was the only way to save himself. If he didn't anchor Lucien's fierce, desperate yearning to someone else, the knight would undoubtedly find a way to stop him from leaving. He had to sever the bond completely, even if the thought of it hurt far more than he cared to admit.
*****