Strike a Deal

Adeline didn't expect him to ask that question all of a sudden. 'I guess I shouldn't be surprised, Benedict was hindering his plans, it's only natural for him to gather information.'

She didn't know if she should tell him the truth about how little they actually knew each other. But if he decided to ask Benedict about it, her lies would unravel. 

"I met him only today."

"And you became such close friends already?"

"Well, of course. It felt like we knew each other for a long time."

"Then, would you call me a friend?"

She couldn't miss the earnest expression on his face. It almost looked like he was pleading. Did he really want to be friends with her? She knew about his intentions, she knew why they arranged their meeting, but his request seemed heartfelt.

'He was just a child after all...' She thought to herself.

"Do you want to be my friend?" Instead of answering his question, she put forth another. 

Cassian inhaled a sharp breath, what was happening? He was supposed to lure her out and make her take the bait, but it seemed to be him who was doing that instead.

She was so uninterested in him that it made him panic. It made him do things he would never normally do. But he still wanted her to answer his question. For some reason, he wanted to be closer to her. 

Not having received an answer from him, Adeline ignored him. Maybe she was wrong, maybe he did want to plot and scheme together. She called herself stupid for even thinking that there was a chance to be friends with the protagonists.

She needed to stay away from them and ensure her and her family's safety. And that included rejecting the Crown Prince and any of his proposals that implied their betrothal.

"I want to go back."

"I want to be your friend."

Adeline couldn't help but laugh that they said something at the same time. She was especially amused by the fact that the proud Crown prince admitted that he wanted to be her friend. 

Her smile quickly turned into a solemn expression. She was going to be friends with the two again, although she changed some of the details, the plot seemed to be progressing in the way it was supposed to.

It was a fine line she had to tread, she can't offend the male leads nor can she be too involved with them.

'Just being casual friends would be fine right?' She thought to herself. 

She didn't know that she had been slowly sealing her fate. 

"Then, let's be friends." 

She would've missed the quick smile that emerged on his face if she wasn't attentive. He quickly coughed to cover it up, "As your friend I would like to invite you back to the palace on a day when there's only two of us."

His voice was dripping with disdain when he referred to the children of the aristocracy who came especially to suck up to him. She didn't know what to say to that, she wanted to refuse.

She didn't want to meet him alone, she was only a child and if things went awry she wouldn't be able to manage on her own. 

"I will make sure to take you up on that offer. My brother and I will be there."

"No, the courtesy doesn't extend to your brother."

Adeline didn't bother hiding her dissatisfaction with the situation. She pouted and looked at him earnestly hoping he would take back the sentence he just said. It worked.

Seeing how the mood changed, he didn't want a third person there when he spent time with her. But to please her he reluctantly agreed. "I guess it would be fine if you were to bring him."

"It's settled then."

Once they headed back Aaron came rushing up to her. She didn't tell him before leaving and he was stuck dealing with the children of the aristocracy sucking up to him since after the Crown prince, he was the one with the most influence.

They weren't familiar with Drogo from the Southern Duchy and the Second Prince refused to talk to anyone. He turned them down immediately which angered the Imperial Concubine to no extent. 

The Emperor loved the throne, he loved his children but not more than his status and reputation. The Empress and Imperial Concubine are forbidden from 'disciplining' them in public but in private... They are free to do whatever they want as long as no one knows.

The two wives had different approaches, the Empress had low chances of conceiving another child, so she focussed all her attention on Cassian making him the perfect heir to the throne at any cost and by any means.

While the Imperial Concubine gave up on her son, she found out she was pregnant again and hoped this one would turn out better. Her 'useless' son was inferior in terms of everything when compared to Cassian.

She wished he would disappear. But until her baby was born, she had to use her son and put on an act in front of everyone so that she wouldn't lose her support.

She had no way of knowing the gender of her baby, but for some reason, she was sure it was a boy. She would never entertain the thought of it being a princess, she HAS to give birth to a prince and he HAS to be even more outstanding than Cassian.