Cassian entered the bedchamber, finding Lilith seated on the bed with the cat curled in her arms. The plates, once filled with food, were now all empty, as Lilith had eaten every bit.
Lilith smiled as she stroked the cat’s fur. She wore an expression Cassian longed to have directed at him.
Once again, Cassian felt jealous of the cat and regretted bringing it to Lilith so soon.
"Did you kill the high priest?" Lilith inquired, looking up from the small animal to Cassian. "I didn’t hear any yelling, so a fight couldn’t have ensued. Did you impress or disappoint ?"
"I sent the priests on their way. They ca to object to our marriage, and I am certain the high priest is going to turn to the nobles for support. He keeps speaking about the will of God," said Cassian.
Lilith set the cat down, allowing it to run free across the floor. "I’m sure he did. We need to cut off the head of the church, but the people are too fond of the high priest."
Lilith didn’t need the townspeople uprising to kill her.
"You should be the one to kill him. You’re already the tyrant who killed the king, whilst I am the poor princess, dragged into a marriage with the bastard who wanted to own her. There will be hope for the people with the princess who cares for them," Lilith plotted.
"Are you done?" Cassian asked, unimpressed by Lilith’s plans.
"Not quite. The high priest is not an easy foe. I’ve been trying to kill that bastard for years," Lilith confessed, still angered by not succeeding.
"Because he tried to fix you? Many believe he can guide others to righteousness. Were you sent to the church before?" Cassian inquired, testing to see how much Lilith would share.
Lilith stared at Cassian for a fleeting mont before looking away. She bit her tongue, her hands gripping the blanket beneath her. "Don’t the nobles send all their misbehaving children there as well?"
"I never misbehaved in my youth, so I wouldn’t know. The high priest wants to speak to you," Cassian shared.
"Well, I don’t want to speak to that man. I don’t want to see him unless you’re bringing his head. He’s one enemy we need out of the way now, before he causes more trouble. So, dear future husband," Lilith said, leaning forward, her eyes filled with mischief.
"So I don’t need to co up with a drastic plan. Will you kill the high priest for and take all the bla? One of us should remain well loved by the people," Lilith suggested.
"Do you still fear him?" Cassian’s question slipped out before he could stop it.
Lilith’s eyes fluttered as the mory of a cold room in the church and the high priest’s hand resting on her shoulder ca back to her, uninvited.
Lilith laughed it off. "Why would I fear a priest now? Why would I fear him at all? My father thought Virgil could pray the evil out of , so he sent to the church for a few days. I wreaked havoc and was sent back. That is all."
"Lilith-"
"Let us not pry into each other’s private affairs when they have nothing to do with our plans. I won’t ask about your childhood, so don’t inquire about mine. Make that another one of the rules," Lilith said, not wanting to delve into the past.
"My close guard fears Virgil. I only ant to say that I would keep him from you, if you fear him," said Cassian.
"We both know you were trying to pry. We were going so well for a mont, so don’t let us take three steps back. I say we kill him so there are no obstacles in my path to the throne. I will never bend to the will of the church," Lilith declared.
"And I won’t ask you to. Virgil will die, and the church shall remain a place only for prayer. It is important we gather the nobles, which makes the timing of my family’s arrival and our wedding even more important," said Cassian.
Lilith tapped her fingers against her arms as she thought. "His only argunt will be that the queen lives, and so does her young son. That prince has more right to the throne than I do. We must be rid of the queen and her son in due ti."
"The young prince is rely seven," Cassian reminded Lilith.
"We can take him from his mother and send him sowhere he shall never know of his royal background. Don’t go soft on , Cassian," Lilith said, not wanting to see pity for her half-brother. "He is a child, but he is also an obstacle in my path."
"Arthur was once young and innocent, then he grew to follow in our father’s footsteps. The castle is cutthroat, and you are well aware of this, so don’t go soft now," Lilith advised Cassian.
"You don’t have to pretend with , Lilith."
"About what?" Lilith inquired.
"That you don’t feel badly about plotting to ruin your young brother’s life," Cassian clarified.
Lilith blinked, letting Cassian’s words settle, before light laughter filled the chamber. "Ruin? I could go ahead with killing him, but I have considered sending him far away instead. My family plotted to kill , and when that didn’t succeed, they wanted to marry a man my father’s age."
"Sending her son away is a kindness, not ruining his life. No one spared . Don’t start by telling that I should be the one to extend kindness or care. I hate being told to be the better person," said Lilith.
Lilith leaned back on the bed, arms folded, her chin lifted in quiet defiance. Whilst her young brother was innocent in this battle, it was only a matter of ti before he got in her way.
A long, happy life awaited the prince far from the castle and far from the battle for the throne.
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