"I... don't know," Cassia whispered, voice fragile. "They just told me that the guy is good and he is from a Tier One royal family."
Tamsin and I froze, our faces mirroring the same stunned horror as if we had heard a ghost scream. A Tier One royal family? Of course her parents were pushing this. The Viremonts are much wealthy for a Tier Three family; they had the connections to arrange and manage such a marriage. And if Cassia wed into a Tier One family, it would catapult the Viremonts straight into Tier Two.
This was a massive event. That was probably why I hadn't heard about the rejection until much later—only fragments had reached me back then.
"Wait... Cassia," I said, leaning closer, eyes locked on hers. "Do you happen to know someone who is a Tier One royal? Anyone ring a bell?"
I asked just to see if she could recall any overlooked detail. She shifted her gaze away, not meeting mine, thinking hard.
"There are many... I..."
"Do you know his age?"
I interrupted, the question clearly jogging something in her memory. She looked at me with tired, red-rimmed eyes, but a flicker of recognition crossed her face.
"He is the same age as me..." She paused, thinking harder. I leaned in closer to catch every word.
"That's it. I'm not sure but I think he might be—"
Just as Cassia was about to say it, a loud knock echoed through the door.
The sound caught us completely off guard. Our hearts slammed in unison.
For a second we didn't move, just breathing in the heavy silence. Cassia fell completely quiet. My eyes shifted toward Tamsin.
"Should I open the door?" she whispered.
After exchanging a quick glance with Cassia, I nodded. Another firm knock came. Tamsin moved slowly toward the door and turned the handle. We rose from the bed, hearts pounding.
When the door swung fully open, a young man stood there.
He was dressed in a black suit so deep it seemed to absorb the light around it, paired with crisp white gloves and a white shirt. Tall—toweringly so; you would need a stool to kiss him unless he leaned down. His hands were tucked lightly into his pockets. Not overtly muscular, though it was hard to tell; every inch of him was covered with the kind of precision that spoke of pride in his appearance. Smooth, mid-length hair framed a face as clean as polished marble, the facial structure carved with sharp, aristocratic perfection.
His eyes were keen, almost unnervingly perceptive, as if he could read the thoughts swirling in our minds. A faint sheen of sweat glistened on his skin, and he was clearly working to control his breathing.
His sharp gaze landed on me first. Then his expression softened. His eyes narrowed slightly, and a natural, effortless smile appeared.
Is this the guy?
Cassia shot me a look—wide-eyed, confirming that this was exactly the name she had been about to speak.
He stepped inside, keeping that calm, confident smile, hands still tucked lightly in his pockets. The sound of his footsteps echoed strangely loud in my mind. Even with his mature appearance, I could tell he was the same age as us. He stopped directly in front of me, and I became painfully aware of the unfair height difference. First my breasts were too small, and now I looked short. I needed help.
He leaned in slightly and took a long, deliberate look at me. Tamsin and Cassia stood frozen behind me. Cassia was still visibly worried about the marriage situation, her face tight with anxiety.
He let out a small, low giggle. His voice was deep and commanding; even that brief sound carried the weight of someone who spoke with confidence and structured thoughts.
"My my," he began, sweetening his words with deliberate charm. "Aren't you a fine young lady?"
Before I or anyone else could react, he moved with elegant precision. He lifted my hand gently, fingers lightly cradling mine. My hand betrayed me instantly, forgetting how to twitch or pull away, simply surrendering to his touch. He leaned down further and pressed his lips to the back of my hand in a soft, lingering kiss.
My mind went completely blank. Heat flooded my cheeks. The moment his lips touched my skin, a shiver raced through me. My hand felt like it was melting under the warmth of his mouth.
Tamsin stood frozen, both hands clamped over her open mouth. Neither of us knew how to react. My heart hammered wildly against my ribs. This wasn't normal. I felt unbearably hot, cheeks burning. Cassia, do something…
After a second that stretched like an hour, Cassia finally found her voice.
"Aurelian!" she started, her tone sad and frustrated, almost disrespectful. Then she softened it, though the pain still lingered. "My deepest apologies. I–I'm not in the right mind."
She stuttered mid-sentence, struggling to steady her own voice. Aurelian slowly, smoothly released my hand. I clutched it to my chest, trying to stop the trembling. I shifted my gaze to a distant corner of the room, desperate not to feel so overwhelmed. He turned toward Cassia, and she continued.
"But what business do you have here?"
Cassia looked straight into his eyes, silently praying her intuition about him was right. Aurelian cleared his throat and straightened his posture with practiced elegance. Meanwhile, I fought to gather my scattered senses. I really needed help right now. My eyes flicked toward the doorway… Wait, where was Tamsin? I glanced around quickly and realized she had vanished into thin air.
"Pardon," Aurelian began, voice calm and measured. "Let me just get straight to the point."
I moved toward the doorway, both to check on Tamsin and to put a little distance between myself and Aurelian so I could catch my breath. There was no sign of her in the hallway. Where had she run off to?
Aurelian continued, his voice steady.
"I presume you were unaware that I was the guy your parents were pairing you with."
He maintained his confidence, though a concerning rhythm threaded through his words. His actions and tone told me the events were repeating, yet my heart still pounded wildly. Cassia lowered her eyes, clenching her fists tightly. Tears clung to the corners of her eyes, threatening to fall.
"I was… hoping it was you. Look, we—"
"There is no need."
Cassia tried to speak, attempting to convince him, but Aurelian gently interrupted. She looked up, fresh tears slipping down her cheeks. He exhaled softly and added,
"It was a stupid decision from my parents. I apologize for them. I have convinced them to cancel the announcement."
Aurelian spoke with a gentle but direct tone, making sure every word landed clearly. Cassia's eyes widened, a wave of relief and fragile hope washing over her face. She couldn't hold herself together any longer. She sat down heavily on the bed, trying to steady her breathing. I felt a rush of relief too.
The event had repeated.