His Highness's Second Wife
His Highness’s Second Wife Chapter 65

“Ka… Your Highness?” Her soft blonde hair brushed against his cheek, tickling him until he reluctantly pulled back so he could meet a pair of blue eyes full of surprise and a hint of relief. Her hands rested on top of his while he still held her against him, her fingers tensing an relaxing, as if she was debating whether she should push him off or stay still.

She smelled of delicious food and faint perfume, the exposed skin on her arms and shoulders covered in goosebumps. She turned away from him, looking around as if she was searching for something. The crowd had stopped pushing and was now forming a circle, where a few dancing couples were already swaying and laughing in amusement.

She still hadn’t pulled away, Kassian realized. She stayed still in his embrace as if she didn’t mind being there at all. Just as the thought crossed his mind and a pleasant warmth filled his chest, she tapped his hand.

“You can let go now,” she said with a hint of a smile in her voice, those big blue eyes holding him so firmly, he almost forgot how to move. It had to be her, everything in his head screamed. He couldn’t be feeling the same thing for two different Women.

“What if I don’t want to?” he heard himself say, feeling absolutely stupid the moment the words left his mouth. One of her eyebrows went up and small wrinkles formed around her eyes as if she was smiling.

“What would your wife say if she knew you were holding another woman so closely?” she chuckled, pushing his hand. Kassian reluctantly let

“I don’t know, what would you…”

“Ah, here you are!” Yulien’s voice interrupted him and Kassian looked away from her, his eyes stopping on his brother who had appeared with Vyn by his side. The bodyguard looked around with a scary expression, his threatening look stopping everyone from moving too close. “You disappeared so quickly, I thought somebody stole your purse!”

Yulien’s eyes shifted to where Madam Lydia stood awkwardly, his smile growing. “I don’t believe we’ve officially been introduced, Madam Lydia. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“The pleasure is mine, You..”

“It’s Yulien tonight,” he interrupted her before she could finish, giving her a sign to stop as she prepared to bow. She stared at him with a calculating gaze, then nodded.

“Nice to meet you… Yulien,” she said in a tense voice. “Are you enjoying the festival?”

“oh, yes!” Yulien nodded excitedly. “The food is delicious, I got a new interesting book and the fireworks were marvelous. Well done!”

“It wasn’t all my doing.” Lydia replied in a polite tone. “But thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.” Yulien beamed. An awkward silence fell between them and he looked between Kassian and her. “Did I interrupt something?”

“Not at all” Lydia replied quickly, glancing over her shoulder at two men standing not far away, laughing and swaying as they tried to stay on their feet. Somebody called her name and then a small figure wiggled her way between the people, stopping in front of Madam Lydia. It took Kassian a few seconds to recognize her, considering she wasn’t wearing her maid’s uniform this time, but there was no way he would forget the face of someone who indirectly caused him so much trouble. The maid didn’t even look at him, her eyes locked on the blonde woman.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” Madam Lydia was just saying. “Are you hurt? Where is Marden?”

“There was some problem at his work so he went to…” Kara started replying when she finally looked around, her gaze stopping on Kassian’s face. Her eyes widened, and her words trailed off.

As if realizing what she had seen, Madam Lydia turned as well.

“Ah, you must know Kara. After all, she works for your wife,” she said, her eyes stopping on Kassian. For a moment she seemed stiff as she waited for their reactions, her hands still holding Kara’s shoulders.

“That’s right” Kassian spoke first. “How are your hands, Kara?”

“Um, they are fine, Your… sir,” she said in a small voice, looking away from him. Her eyes landed on Yulien and she turned even more anxious. It was, strange to see her so unnerved when every time Kassian visited the North Palace, she was perfectly composed and always one step ahead of her mistress’s needs. Kassian’s eyes moved to Madam Lydia, who had let go of Kara’s shoulders and had wrapped a protective arm around her, as if preparing to drag her away.

“Well, it was a pleasure meeting you tonight, gentlemen, but I have a business to run. Please excuse us!” Madam Lydia said, turning around to leave.

“Wait..” Kassian called at the same time Yulien did. The two exchanged a quick glance before turning to the two women. The song the musicians played ended and people erupted in deafening cheers that died down the moment a new, slower melody started.

“Dance with me,” Kassian said, his eyes locking with Lydia’s.

“Excuse me, what?” she asked witha stunned expression.

“Would you dance with me?” he repeated, more confidently this time, eyes darting to the place where a few couples were already swirling and smiling at each other. She opened her mouth as if searching for the right words to decline when Yulien clapped with his hands.

“What a great idea! I’ve always wanted to see that. You two go ahead, I’ll make sure to keep Kara company,” he said with a bright smile, making a gesture with his hands for them to go. Kassian wanted to tell him to shut up. The situation was more than embarrassing already, and he was just making it more awkward.

Stepping toward Madam Lydia, he offered her his hand. After another long moment of hesitation, she slowly placed hers in his. Her fingers were so thin and fragile, he was afraid he’d break them as he pulled her toward the crowd of enthusiastic dancers. They made their way through the clapping and laughing people until they were just outside the circle of dancers.

Kassian stepped forward when she pulled on his arm. He turned to look at her.

“Are you sure you can dance to this?” she asked, glancing at the swaying couples. It was that the music was much slower and there were no strict set of steps and positions one had to follow, but watching the couples move, he didn’t think it was going to be that hard.

“I’m a fast learner.” He smiled, pulling her again. She didn’t resist this time, and they stepped into the empty space between two couples, facing each other. Kassian raised his hand for her to take, sliding the other one around her waist. She didn’t protest, so he pulled her closer.

Her veil moved as if she had sighed, then she placed her hand on his shoulder.

Kassian counted a couple of moments before taking the first step and joining the other couples.

He glanced at the other men to make sure he was doing it right, then he focused on his partner’s tense expression. After the third time she stepped on him, he realized that her worry that he couldn’t do it must have actually been her last attempt at hiding the fact that she had never danced this before. And that she was really bad at it.

Lydia stepped on his foot again, and Kassian pursed his lips, trying to hold back his laughter. She glared at him for a second before returning her eyes to the other dancers, as if she tried to keep up by watching what they did. Another minute passed – and after a few more steps on his feet- she sighed in defeat.

“Do you want me to pick you up and carry you for the rest of the song?” he chuckled.

“l dare you” Lydia hissed in a threatening voice, stepping on his foot again. “Do it and “I’ll ban you from entering my restaurant.”

“Your restaurant?” Kassian asked, raising an eyebrow. She shot him a glance before looking away. “That’s a bold statement coming from a mere manager.”

She held his gaze as she stepped on him again, and something told him this time she had done it on purpose. He looked away, afraid that he might laugh in her face and make her even angrier. He couldn’t remember when was the last time he felt so at ease even though he was surrounded by people, each of which could turn out to be an assassin. Yet looking into that burning gaze, at that pale skin and the shining blonde hair flying softly in the air, he could almost forget about them.

Kassian let go of her waist, spinning her again just as the others did, then pulled her back toward him. He let his fingers trail over her lower back, traveling up the ties of her dress until they disappeared in her long hair.

He pressed her closer against his chest, just as she stepped on his foot again.

“What do you think you’re doing, Your Highness?” she asked in a low voice, her eyebrows raised. He had to give it to her, her self-control was impressive. Most women would have either slapped him or turned bright red by now. There was barely any space left between their bodies and he could feel every breath she took, every move of her body, every beat of her racing heart.

Kassian smiled. Self-control or no self-control, some things people just couldn’t hide.

“Do I need to spell it out fora smart woman like you?” He let go of her hand, moving it to her face, so he could push away a strand of golden hair that had fallen out of place. He tucked the lock behind one of the hair ornaments hanging on her head, then let his hand trail to the side of her face before sliding underneath her veil. Her face was hot and soft, making his fingers tingle with excitement.

He hadn’t realized it at first, but the music had stopped and so had the dancing. She continued to stare at him with that same unreadable look in her eyes, her chest barely moving as if she had stopped breathing. Kassian’s fingers moved under her chin and he gently guided her to raise her head.

She caught his wrist and squeezed, then she pulled his hand away from her face.

“Thank you for the dance,” she said in a polite but cold voice. “Please enjoy the rest of the festival. I have to go back.”

Using his stupor, she wiggled out of his grip and turned to leave, so he instinctively grabbed her wrist. He heard her hiss in pain, head snapping back to glare at him. He let go immediately, and she pulled her hand, pressing it to her body.

“Please, excuse me!” she muttered, quickly disappearing into the crowd. Kassian stared after her, his breath stuck in his throat when his eyes landed on Yulien watching him with his eyebrows raised. Kassian strode to his brother.

“It’s her.” he breathed. “Madam Lydia is Raena. I’m sure of it.” Yulien smiled at him – one of those almost condescending smiles he often offered the other nobles when they reached the conclusion that he had long figured out. Kassian scanned the crowd for Madam Lydia-no, for Raena – and for a moment he thought he saw shiny blonde hair. He headed after it, distantly hearing his brother calling his name.

He made his way through the crowd, trying his best not to push people, but their slow movements annoyed him and a few elbows later, they were readily jumping out of his way. When he neared the restaurant, he stopped, searching for her. The crowd was still as thick, lining up in front of the food stalls while waiting for more of those small strange sandwiches to be prepared.

He spotted her then, climbing up the stairs of the restaurant with Kara by her side. The two stopped on the top step as a dark-haired man with a long cloak and a sword hanging from his waist halted in front of them. Kassian narrowed his eyes as the man moved closer to Raena, leaning down to say something in her ear. His hand settled on her lower back, staying there as he continued to whisper, their heads almost touching. She nodded and he led her inside, giving the crowd one last look over his shoulder.

Kassian’s eyes widened as he recognized his face.

Raena’s guard disappeared inside the restaurant along with her, his hand still resting possessively on her waist. Kassian gritted his teeth and took a step toward the building when a hand grabbed his shoulder. He spun around, ready to smash his elbow into the face of the annoying stranger, when Vyn caught his elbow just before it landed in Yulien’s nose. Yulien raised an eyebrow, giving his brother a dark look.

“Was that her quard that used to be a slave?” Yulien asked, glancing over Kassian’s shoulder.

Kassian nodded, not sure if he could rely on his voice. Vyn let go of him and stepped back, eyes still wary. “I know you won’t like what I am going to say, but you’ll have to trust me and do as I tell you.”

Yulien looked at him, waiting until Kassian met his eyes. “You’re not going to confront her or show her you know her secret. Not tonight, not the days to follow.”

“What?” Kassian frowned, indignation rising in his chest. “You pushed me to find out her identity and now you’re telling me to do nothing?”

“Yes.” Yulien declared with a cold, serious expression, his eyes turning sharper than a knife.” Because l foolishly overlooked one important detail.” Kassian stared at him defensively, his body trembling with anger and malcontent. “Your wife is in contact with both the Empress and numerous Craidal citizens. She has money, resources, connections, and questionable loyalties which would make her the perfect enemy collaborator.

Think about it – she lied, deceived, went behind your back, and even created a whole new identity for herself as if she was trying to make Raena Magrath disappear. What if she is working with them and plans to run away the moment they are ready to act? We need to find what she knows about the Empress’s plans and Craidal’s movements and what role she plays in them.”

“She is not collaborating with either of them. She can’t be!” Kassian said with all the confidence he could muster. Yulien’s face hardened as he stared at his brother.

“I sincerely hope that is the case,” Yulien said, stepping closer to him. “But I can only afford to trust facts. So I need my brother to step back and my General to take his place.” Kassian froze in his spot, looking at the crown prince with surprise.”

You will keep pretending that you don’t know her identity. You will keep getting closer to Madam Lydia until you find out everything you can about what she is planning. And you will report every little detail to me because right now, this is the only way you can save your wife from seeing the inside of the dungeons.”