"We should return to the bedchamber to speak in private. There are too many ears throughout the castle, eavesdropping on private conversations. Unless you both had sowhere else in mind," Lilith said.
"The chamber shall do," Diana agreed. She waited for Lilith to lead the way.
Diana kept a careful distance between herself and Lilith. There was still a royal present, regardless of what Cassian had done.
Upon entering the bedchamber, Lilith dismissed Mary.
Diana’s eyes moved around the chamber, taking in the weapons she recognised at once as her son’s. "Forgive for asking, but are the two of you sharing a chamber before you wed? I understand the wedding is set for tonight, but isn’t that a little hasty?"
"It is my chamber, but we did not share it. I slept elsewhere when Her Highness ca here. I am a gentleman through and through," Cassian assured Diana.
"We shared a bed in the doctor’s chamber," Lilith said, undoing Cassian’s lie without a flicker of hesitation. "But he did not bed . He is a gentleman in that regard."
"I see. One must be careful about such things before marriage," Diana said, the concern evident in her voice. "Son, I have already spoken to you alone. I would like a mont with Her Highness now. Would you be so kind as to leave us?"
"I do not think that is a wise idea," Cassian said.
"Her Highness will be in good hands," Diana assured him.
"It is not her I worry about. It is you," Cassian said, his gaze moving briefly over the weapons within Lilith’s reach. "I shall step out for a mont."
Lilith watched him go. His step was reluctant at first, but then the door closed, and it was just her and Diana left in the chamber.
"I shall be informal since we are alone. What do you think of this union, Lilith? Do you want to marry my son?" Diana asked, seeking only the truth. "You may be honest with ."
"At first, I did not want it, but I have since accepted it. I wish we could skip to the point. Are you going to tell that you don’t think I am good enough for your son?" Lilith asked, cutting straight through.
"Why would I think so? You are a princess. There is no lady better suited for my son than you. In truth, it is an honour," Diana replied.
"That was a very good answer for getting into my good graces, but we both know what I ant. Do you think of as a woman, without the title and without the na, as good enough for your son? The Beaufort na holds very little power right now," Lilith said, watching Diana’s expression closely.
"With all due respect, I do not know you well enough yet to answer that fairly. I hope the coming days will provide one, but I have other questions that need answering first. Why did my son kill your father?" Diana asked, yet to figure out why Cassian acted so unusually.
"Only your son has that answer," Lilith said, moving to sit on the bed. "I cannot answer for him since I don’t have the power to see into his mind. He ca to this castle seemingly desperate to wed . I know now that his family did not know of his plans."
"No, we did not. The news caught us all by surprise," Diana confessed.
Diana looked down at the floor for a mont, sothing passing across her face before she composed herself. "I do not know you well, but I raised my son to be wise. Whilst I cannot say why he wishes to be king, I am certain there is a reason behind it all. I will not be your enemy unless you try to harm him."
"I will not harm your son unless he becos my enemy. I have no wish to quarrel with you," Lilith said, seeking only peace.
"Nor I with you."
"I know you regularly t with the queen. Cassian told it was to protect your land, but if there was a friendship there, I won’t judge you for it. I will simply watch my back so as not to be stabbed. We can get along," Lilith said, but the more they spoke, the more she got the sense it wouldn’t co soon.
"I have only ever wished for my son to find love and settle. Once the wedding has passed and the castle has cald down, I shall return to our land. Soone will need to be there in my son’s stead, so I ask only that you bear with my presence for a few days," Diana requested.
"Your son will be king before the day is out, so please think of the castle as your ho. You may stay for as long as you wish. Since you had a long journey, I won’t keep you any longer. You must rest before the wedding," Lilith said, having nothing more to say.
"I want you to be front and centre," Lilith added, her opinion of Diana made final.
"I take it as an honour. Since you are without your mother, I thought perhaps I might act-"
"No," Lilith said before the offer could be completed. "I have only one mother and don’t need anyone to stand in her place. But it was kind of you. You should simply be Cassian’s mother tonight. Enjoy watching your son marry."
"As you wish," Diana agreed without conflict.
"I think we have left him alone long enough. I have wedding plans to oversee, so if you wouldn’t mind," Lilith said without flatly ordering Diana to leave.
Diana bowed her head and curtsied. "Good day, Your Highness. I shall borrow my son for a mont."
Lilith smiled and said nothing. She watched as Diana left the chamber, the door closing softly behind her.
Lilith’s smile dropped the instant she heard the latch click. "She is awful at pretending," she said quietly to herself.
Diana would not be a dangerous enemy, but rather the tireso kind. The sort who would cause trouble even when she didn’t intend to.
Lilith noticed a gaze filled with judgnt and uncertainty about the marriage and Lilith herself, but regardless of what Diana thought, the marriage would continue.
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