(BL) The Villain wants a Divorce!

Byron disappeared, blending into the shadows so quickly that it surprised Cass. However, he made the right call as the door opened shortly after and in stepped a rather flushed-faced Duke Vespertine. As if he had rushed to get to this point from wherever he had been in the temple prior.

”I am so sorry for the delay. I-” He blinked, glanced around the room, and then his expression furrowed. ”Why are you in this room?” He asked, before looking back out into the hallway. It was as if he was only realising at that exact moment where he was, where they were, and he seemed rather upset about it. ”Pardon me a moment.” He said swiftly, not exactly looking at either Cass or Lord Ridgewood as he stepped back out into the hallway.

Cass could tell that someone was getting grilled and in the moment that Cass had, he glanced over at Lord Ridgewood.

The expressions he had seen from the man were gone, replaced with the slightly perturbed man that Cass was used to. His arms were still crossed, but he was sat back on the couch, his back straight and he looked ’more relaxed’. Cass had a feeling that he wasn’t and gave a soft chuckle.

Cass reached over, placing a hand on his free knee and giving it a gentle squeeze.

”We should discuss this further after, Gideon.” Cass told him and watched as the mask cracked. Lord Ridgewood looked at him, flustered as Cass pulled his hand back. He pulled his own mask on after shattering Lord Ridgewood’s, a little smirk peeking through his own.

When Duke Vespertine stepped back into the room, his expression was dark, pissed.

”I apologise for the treatment, Cassian. That is being remedied immediately. I should have been informed the moment you set foot onto temple grounds and that fact that I wasn’t is a great oversight on my part. It will not happen again. Are you satisfied with this area or would you like to go to a better room?” He asked and Cass blinked.

This was at the same level of decoration that he had been in before. He didn’t really notice that there was a difference. Lord Ridgewood, however, was aware of the difference and Cass could feel the guard dog awakening in him.

”I’m fine here.” Cass said, speaking up before either Lord Ridgewood could open his mouth or the Duke could decide for them. He made no comment or acknowledgement of how he had been treated until now. He didn’t have to. The way that the Duke flinched was answer enough.

Cass had noticed, and while he hadn’t made a big deal of it, Lord Ridgewood was right. He should not have been treated that way. As an heir to a Dukedom and as the second hero. Duke Vespertine let out a heavy sigh, made sure that the door was closed behind him before he marched over to the couch across from him.

Duke Vespertine was flushed, his eyes darting, and Cass could tell that he was nervous.

”You saw that I needed to speak to you, right?” Cass said, and the Duke nodded. ”I’d rather not waste either of our time, since it appears you are quite busy.” Cass felt a sense of satisfaction from him flinching. ”I’ll cut to the chase, Fiona and Ava are being hidden from the people because Fiona needs stability after everything that happened during the ball.” Cass said.

The Duke blinked.

”What?” He asked, looking confused. ”Why would she need stability?” The Duke sounded the words out, then gave a little laugh. ”Weren’t you...joking about her being with child?” Cass gave him a dead eye stare.

”Why would I, of all people, joke about that in front of my grandfather?” Cass asked. The question filled the air. No one spoke as Cass watched as the silence hung between them and the Duke’s expression faltered.

He went through several phases, almost like grief. He was clearly grappling with the concept that Cass hadn’t been joking. Nor had Fiona.

He slowly slid a trembling hand over his mouth, his white garb flashing as he looked like he was going to faint as he glanced between Cass and Lord Ridgewood.

”Is this...real?” He asked faintly and Cass gave him a firm smile.

”You yourself know that Fiona is a rather sturdy and capable woman. We wouldn’t send her away to get rest and recover if we weren’t worried about that baby. Did you think we were celibate after getting married, Duke Vespertine?” Cass let out a laugh that was light and mocking.

Duke Vespertine paled further. At this point, he was almost the same shade as Lord Ridgewood across from him.

”The events of the ball were...quite shocking to her.” Lord Ridgewood added. Cass was surprised that he participated. Cass would have thought that he would have kept his mouth shut, but with his words he showed off his ability to tell the truth without lying. Cass had a feeling he learned that from Edgar.

”They were. She’s in the early stages, and given how Lucian has already let me know that a human carrying a dragon child can be quite risky, we’re very worried since we don’t know who the father is.” Cass told him and Duke Vespertine let out a shaky exhale.

”O-Oh. Well, of course. I...if she needs the rest, by all means. I am sure the gods are looking after her.” Cass smirked. Yeah, they really were. Cass watched as his expression shifted to one of confusion. ”But if Ava and Lady Fiona are no longer with you, how are you going to manage the work that the hero party needs to do? The demons aren’t going to rest simply because they aren’t with you.” He made a good point. Cass let out a sigh.

”That’s another reason why I am here. To speak to the gods and see what they have planned. Fiona let me know that they did have one, but that they wanted to speak to me personally to tell me. That just tells me that it will take a while.” Cass said with a smile and a shrug.

He didn’t doubt Cass in the slightest.

He was nodding along to Cass’ words, looking shell shocked still.

”Of course they would tell you to come. That’s...very reasonable, actually.” He admitted, then a look crossed his face. ”Do the other Dukes know?” He asked, turning his gaze to Cass. Cass gave him a smile.

”They are receiving letters.” Cass told him and that seemed to soothe something inside of the Duke. He viewed it as him winning over the other Dukes that Cass had told him instead of sending him a letter as well. Cass had, but it was to speak to him. If he had not met with him, he would have sent the back up letter that he had.

While Cass hadn’t been keeping time, he was sure that Byron had while Lord Ridgewood and Cass spoke. It was his job, after all. He had told Lord Ridgewood and Byron 10 minutes, and he had meant it.

”That’s good. I was just speaking to them before this.” Duke Vespertine said, his gaze far away as he thought for a moment, and then glanced towards Cass. ”Do you have any guesses whose it might be?” He asked, curiousity getting the better of him. Cass gave another hard smile.

”We told each other that we would not guess as it would put more stress on Fiona. It’s also the reason why she is with Ava, and not us. Too much male energy.” Cass was lying out of his ass, and from the looks that Lord Ridgewood was giving him, he was impressed. ”We just don’t need to argue about something that really, doesn’t matter. We’ll care for the child no matter what.” Cass said and Duke Vespertine’s face softened.

”That’s very kind of you, Cassian.” There was another moment of silence before he let out a soft sigh. ”I won’t ask about the details of what the gods have decided until after you’ve spoken to them. I don’t want to hold you back from your greater reason for being here, so I will send for another priest to escort you to the grand hall for prayer. I will also make sure that everyone knows that you are to be treated exactly the same as Lady Fiona.” He said, his gaze hardening. It was clear that he was quite angry that he hadn’t been.

Cass wasn’t sure if it was a show or not, but he appreciated the acknowledgement. Cass gave a nod.

”Thank you for your consideration. While I’m sure we could get to the grand hall on our own, an escort would probably put everyone else at ease.” Cass said, a business smile on his face. Duke Vespertine nodded as well. Cass hoped that the gods were watching and feeling nervous.

He was a few steps closer to meeting them and speaking to them. If they didn’t speak to him, he was going to be so beyond pissed that they would regret it. He honestly hadn’t even considered that they wouldn’t answer him until this moment.

Oo, he could feel his blood boiling at just the thought.

Duke Vespertine got to his feet, and Lord Ridgewood and Cass followed suit. They shook hands, Duke Vespertine took them to the door and the priest waiting there was anxiously awaiting to escort them to the grand hall. He was wearing even fancier robes than the one that had escorted Cass, Lord Ridgewood and the invisible Byron the first time. Cass just kept a soft smile on his face, Lord Ridgewood remained stone-faced, and Duke Vespertine sniffed as Byron slipped past him into the hall.

Cass almost laughed at the confused look on Duke Vespertine’s face before he left in the opposite direction of Cass and Lord Ridgewood. Going deeper into the beast.

”Um, my lord, you are going to have to wait a moment as there is a baptism going on. After that, I am more than happy to take you to pray.” The priest spoke softly, scared. Like he thought that Cass was going to hurt him. Cass gave a soft chuckle that did not soothe him.

”I can wait for a child to get a blessing.” Cass told them and the priest relaxed. It was funny because Cass was pretty sure if it was his grandfather in his place, he would not have waited. Lord Ridgewood walked a few paces behind Cass, his head up, scanning. He was taking his knightly duties rather seriously, while Cass was calm, relaxed.

He was thinking about what he was going to say to the gods now that he was done playing mind games with the Duke. Was he going to confront them out of the gate? Or was he going to let them fall into a trap?

They were watching him, after all, they knew exactly what Cass knew. Their own version of trashy television. They even knew what Cass had done with Lucian in the bathroom. Cass pushed that thought violently to the back of his mind. He did not want to recall that, not when he was busy being a busy man. No time for those thoughts.

They were for a weaker, less stable version of Cass. Cass was strong now. A Duke’s son. An heir to a Dukedom. He scared people when he smiled. He was not going to let those thoughts shake him right now.

He was about to go into negotiations with gods. That couldn’t bother him right now.

They halted outside of familiar wooden doors and Cass let out a slow, stabilizing breath. He had this. He could do this. He wasn’t going to run away.