Return to the Castle

Cassian's POV

Cassian was in the meeting when the knock disturbed the room. Three officials looked over at him as he stood up.

"Your highness, I'm so sorry!" Matilda wailed as she run in, panting and sweating, her cheeks red and her hair falling out from underneath the cap.

"What happened?"

"Her majesty… she's gone."

"Gone?" Cassian looked at Matilda with his eyes wide open. He dropped the documents he held onto the table.

"I took her to Ariadna. We were at the market. It was busy. And then she disappeared. I've searched wherever I could but she was not anywhere near the market so I rushed straight here." Matilda spoke quickly, barely coherently.

"How long ago was it?"

"Perhaps an hour or two."

"Samuel, get the search party going. Until we know whether she run off or whether she was captured we cannot stop. We need to ensure her safety." Cassian ordered as he started walking out of the room, ignoring the curious gazes of the officials.

"Run off?" Matilda repeated with her eyes wide open as she followed him out.

"It's a very real possibility," Samuel said as he walked out behind her.

Cassian didn't care for dressing up and putting a coat on. He saddled his horse and he was out of the castle grounds within barely minutes. Samuel wasn't far behind with tenths of guards mounting the horses.

Cassian rushed through the city, trying to spot Isabelle within the crowd. He didn't care about bowing on the sides of the streets. He was frantically going around and searching every small alleyway. Once guards joined him, they started questioning the pedestrians.

It was another hour of him running around, panicking, before Samuel caught him.

"Cassian!"

"Do you know anything?" He asked sharply. His lips turned blue from the cold.

"Kingsley send a notification that they've captured a woman," Samuel said with a faint smile. "By the crossing to Valarie."

Cassian stopped and looked at Samuel in thought. He wouldn't put it past Isabelle if she attempted to make her way to Valarie. The thought of her running away from him stung deeply. But right now he needed to know that she was safe. Cassian rode to the base where Kingsley was stationed without a moment of break. Kingsley waited by the gate as Cassian arrived. The snow started falling.

"Where is she?" Cassian asked shortly.

"In the cell, your highness," Kingsley answered, following the Prince with surprise written all over his face. "She tried crossing through the woods. We thought it suspicious and when guards tried to question her, she tried running off. She refused to answer any of my questions."

Kingsley opened the cell and Cassian walked in. It was Isabelle. At the sight of him, she curled up, instinctively putting her arms over her head as if she wanted to protect herself from the hit. She shook violently, but her sobs were quiet. After Kingsley left her alone she realised that she had no escape. She was going to be punished for her disobedience.

Cassian stopped in his step. He couldn't watch her being like that.

"Samuel, take her home." He turned around and left the cell. Kingsley was flabbergasted as he watched the reaction of the woman to the Prince as he never saw anyone quite so terrified, never mind that she was standing tall when with him. "Make sure that she's comfortable." Cassian finished once out of Isabelle's sight.

Samuel nodded in agreement and Cassian left.

"What in the world was that?" Kingsley asked.

"For the future, please do not lock her up again. It may not end well for you." Samuel advised him.

"What? Why?"

"It's her majesty, our princess."

"Princess?" Kingsley looked behind his shoulder. "She's one feisty fighter, I can tell you that." He then furrowed his brows. "Why was she trying to cross to Valarie?"

"We are yet to work that out."

"Has Cassian done something to her?" Kingsley asked in a whisper.

"Of course not," Samuel said in a tone that suggested the idea be offensive.

"When I spoke to her she was defiant. Nothing like this."

"What do you mean?" Samuel furrowed his brows.

"She almost scratched the face off Jasper. She told me that it was none of my bloody business when I asked her why she didn't use the official crossing. God, if looks could kill I would have been right cold on the ground." Kingsley laughed.

"Really? Her?" Samuel checked.

"Oh yes." Kingsley nodded. "She dared to say that it was self-defence. I don't think Jasper would agree."

"That's interesting. She's been the most timid person I've ever seen." Samuel pondered before entering the cell.

Isabelle's POV

"It's Adeline, isn't it?" He asked her but she hasn't answered. "We need to go back to the castle."

Isabelle remained quiet. She lost her only chance to be free. She was going to be brought back into the castle and killed for her disobedience. She could try to lie or bargain. She could try to pretend that she was lost or that someone tried to kidnap her. Not like his highness would believe her or let her live long enough to even explain herself. No, she didn't have it in her to lie. She was going to face consequences head-on. She stood up with a wobble and followed Samuel out of the cell, silently, holding her head low.

Samuel felt pity for her. He didn't think that his master was bad, of course. He knew Cassian well enough to know that he wouldn't hurt Isabelle. But someone else did. He wasn't sure what to tell her or how to reassure her. He helped her up onto the horse and they rode towards the city. There, Samuel rented a carriage and bought a few blankets to make Isabelle comfortable.

Isabelle sat in complete silence throughout the entire ride with Samuel, not acknowledging his presence nor paying attention to what was happening outside.

Samuel came out first of the carriage offering Isabelle his hand to help her. Isabelle looked at it with a frown. Samuel managed to steal a glance at her, for the first time properly, realising just why his master was so smitten with her. She was truly beautiful. Her eyes were bright, and although she was incredibly pale, her skin was smooth. And her lips were plum and the colour of raspberries. Samuel lost his breath momentarily as Isabelle looked him directly in the eyes.

Isabelle looked at him, studying the very right-hand man of her husband. He was rather tall and average built, with brown tidy hair and warm brown eyes.

Isabelle was surprised that he reached his hand towards her. She hesitated but she gently placed her fingers on his palm as she stepped out. His hand was warm, reminding her how cold her fingers have gotten throughout the day. Only now she noticed white flakes that fell from the sky, sticking to her cape.

"Thank you," Isabelle mumbled.

"Now, please don't do that again," Samuel grumbled. Isabelle looked at him curiously. "My soft skin and the nimble body can't stand the cold." He gave her a radiant smile as he said it. Isabelle let out a short half-laugh and half-sneer. Having had a reaction from her, Samuel smiled smugly. "You know that there's no need in running away, right?"

"You wouldn't know," Isabelle replied coldly, looking down as she started climbing up the stairs to the main entrance.

"His highness isn't holding you a hostage," Samuel said as he watched her beside him, seeing the top of her head which hung lower and lower. Isabelle slowed down, feeling the dread of how she was going to be punished. "Go on, don't stand in a cold. You're going to turn into an icicle. I will turn into an icicle!" Samuel complained.

"I wish I did," Isabelle said in response. She found Samuel rather irritating but not scary. She knew that he will never lift his finger at her. He was the first person that she wasn't afraid to be her true self in front of. He had a natural capability of making people trust him. He made people feel safe. "I wouldn't have to listen to you complaining." She added after a moment.

"You're the sole reason I'm complaining! Get inside!" Samuel urged her. "If you didn't decide to run off in the middle of the winter, I wouldn't have spent hours in freezing temperatures searching for you! And that madman of a Prince didn't let me stop until you were home. Honestly, he should've just left you out there."

"You shouldn't call your master a madman." Isabelle scowled at him.

"His royal highness is my best friend and I've called him worse to his face. Don't you worry, princess"

"Like what?" Isabelle asked curiously.

"Like a horse-faced piece of shit," Samuel said casually. Isabelle widened her eyes.

"Why?"

"Because he pissed me off. Now, off you go." Samuel grabbed her by her arm and walked her up the stairs. "My arse is getting numb from the cold."

"How are YOU the royal advisor with such a foul mouth?" Isabelle asked and Samuel laughed loudly.

"I'm the best there is, your highness. Maybe you'll find out for yourself soon." He winked at her with a mischievous grin resting on his face.

"You must be a true joy to have around," Isabelle said sarcastically.

"Oh, I think I'll enjoy having you around," Samuel said happily. "And here I thought that you're a timid terrified little girl." Isabelle looked to the side with surprise. She wasn't a timid little girl. She didn't used to be, at the very least. She didn't realise that that was what she was perceived as within the castle, or was it just Samuel. "And for the future, think of me before you do shit like that again, because if you do it I'm going to suffer the consequences too." Samuel huffed as he pushed the door with his hand, still gripping onto Isabelle's arm with another. It wasn't forceful. He was gentle but stern. Isabelle looked up at him, studying his face in the warm light of the large hallway. His hair was tied at the back, and only now she realised that it was rather long, it must've been at least shoulder length. He had thick stubble, bushy eyebrows, very distinctive cheekbones, and a pointy chin. "Have you had a good look yet?" He asked as he looked directly into her eyes. "What do you think?"

"What am I supposed to think?" Isabelle asked sharply. "I only question his majesty's choice of his royal advisor."

"Really? That's daring of you." Samuel smiled as he let go of her arm. "Questioning his highness and offending me."

"Killing two birds with one stone," Isabelle mumbled.

"Indeed." Samuel's smile didn't wane as he bowed in front of Isabelle. "Have a good night, your highness."

"Oh my goodness! You're alright!" Matilda screamed excitedly as she run towards Isabelle, hugging her tightly. "No one hurt you, right?" She asked as she started checking Isabelle out. "You have a few rather nasty scratches. Let's get you in a bath. Then I'll bring you something to eat and then you need some good rest." Isabelle followed her, her head hung low again. She couldn't hide behind Samuel from Cassian's wrath. Not like Samuel would defend her. But he had better chances than poor Matilda who was even shorter than Isabelle.