His Highness's Second Wife
His Highness’s Second Wife Chapter 77

“So it was all a lie? The attack, the injury, the doctor saying you might not make it through the night?” Kassian exclaimed, his mind jumping between being relieved and pissed off beyond reason. He kept pacing back and forth in the spacious reception room in Yulien’s quarters, his glare moving between his brother, who was supposed to be mortally wounded, and his brother’s bodyguard, who was supposed to be dead. “I waited for hours outside, thinking about how you might be drawing your last breath any moment! Your aide could have told me the truth at least, damn it! Are you trying to put me in an early grave?”

“I’m sorry I kept you waiting but I had something to finish. And I’m sorry that I kept my plan from you, but I had to make a quick decision and there was no safe way to inform you of my intentions.” Yulien said with an even tone, his smile giving place to a serious expression. “Please calm down and I will explain everything.”

“After the night I had and the news of your ‘condition’ I received this morning, I am sorry if I cannot be calm!” Kassian shouted at him. Vyn tensed, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword as if preparing to unsheathe it. Kassian gave him his most threatening look. “Do not tempt me. If you pull that weapon out even an inch, I will not be responsible for what happens to you next.”

Yulien sighed, turning to his bodyguard.

“Please leave us alone for a minute.” He said, returning Vyn’s disapproving look without hesitation. Vyn’s shoulders drooped in defeat and he strode to the door with heavy steps, disappearing into the adjoining room. Yulien returned his eyes back to his brother, nodding towards the seat across from him.

He waited until Kassian finally sat down, then the crown prince bent forward, leaning his hands on his knees.

“l am sorry, Kassian. Truly.” Yulien said quietly, holding his gaze. “And I am relieved to hear that both you and Raena are safe. You also have my condolences for Lady Vega’s untimely passing. I will do my best to help you find her killers. But we have more urgent matters to deal with. Are you ready to listen now?”

Kassian took a deep breath, nodding. His b***d was still boiling and his desire to shout and hit was as strong as ever, but Yulien’s relaxed demeanor and posture were forcefully making him calm. He sat down, copying his brother’s pose, and waited.

“Thank you,” Yulien said, giving him one of his polite smiles. “l got a report that Rissen has met with someone at the brothel next to Raena’s restaurant. One of my Shadows went missing that night, but another one that was watching the restaurant itself caught a glimpse of at least two figures sneaking over the rooftops. He was on strict orders just to observe and not to interfere, so nobody noticed him. He saw Rissen going in almost at the same time the two fiqures did.” Kassian tensed on his spot, nodding impatiently.

“The next day, a large amount of his personal account was withdrawn, but nothing was purchased or delivered to the palace. I figured he was planning to hire assassins or pay off someone to stir trouble, but l wasn’t entirely sure who his target was. With the Emperor still ill and the mood shifting in their favor, the rumors of more rebellions in Craidal and whispers of our inability to handle a bunch of petty troublemakers, this is the right time for them to make a move.”

“You thought the Empress or Rissen will try kill you?” Kassian asked.

“Targeting me alone is too risky and I really don’t think Rissen is smart enough to pull it off without dragging himself through the mud. So the Empress needs to make it look like the attack on me has nothing to do with the succession of the throne. I think all the attacks that night were orchestrated by her and our brother, but their mercenaries were unable to finish the job where it mattered. Or maybe their job was just to cause a ruckus and make it look like a lot of people are being targeted.”

“But why Raena and the Prime Minister? I thought they have some kind of connection to her with all the favors the Empress was doing for my wife.” Kassian frowned.

“l am pretty sure they do, but I am still assessing the extent of it. I don’t think they are on good terms, though. During the Empress’s birthday party, the Empress was trying to unmask Madam Lydia in front of all of us – likely to destroy her credibility and cause a rift between you two, enough for you to cast her away. Which means she knew Raena and Madam Lydia were the same person. But she also didn’t do it directly by ordering her to take her veil off – instead, she kept praising Madam Lydia and used the Emperor to get what she wanted. This makes me think that whatever cards your wife’s holding, they are a threat to the Empress and Empress wants to get rid of all the evidence.”

“Raena said the men that infiltrated my residence weren’t trying to kill her, but to take her away,” Kassian said thoughtfully. “ls it to torture her? Or to keep her mouth shut? Maybe they thought that by keeping her alive they can keep her quiet – her life for her cooperation.”

“Raena said that? To you?” Yulien asked, raising eyebrow. “Did you..”

“I won’t be answering any of your questions until you tell me what you’re up to.” Kassian interrupted him. Yulien looked annoyed for a second, but then sighed and nodded

“Fair enough.” He murmured, picking up his glass and takinga sip. “So, as I was saying, I knew she was about to make a move, so I wanted it to happen on my terms. So I orchestrated my own attack and spread the rumor about my condition. I bet this threw them all in confusion and disrupted their well-devised strategy, so they were forced to rethink their plans. And when plans change, people tend to rush without careful consideration, especially when they think the chance is too good to miss. And those who rush make mistakes.”

“So you’re waiting for them to attack you mere?” Kassian asked. “With just Vyn?”

“Of course not. There are a dozen Shadows on standby. If whoever she sends can go past them and get to me, then I deserve to die.” Yulien shrugged. “But the point is not the attack. The point is catching them in the act. The Empress is getting impatient and sloppy. The attack on Raena, if it was really to take her, failed. The attack on me failed. If they really wanted to hurt the Prime Minister and his family, that failed too. Too many failures will put more pressure on her.”

“What if she finds out you’re not really that hurt?” Kassian asked.

“She won’t. There are only six people that know the truth – you, Vyn, my two aides, one of the generals who has been helping me keep an eye on their known allies, and the doctor that announced my condition. I am absolutely sure about the others’ loyalty” Yulien said, leaning back in his seat. “But even if she finds out, it doesn’t matter. She still needs to take me out.”

“When do you think she’ll attack you? Is this why you called me here, to protect you?”

“No, it’s only for appearances’ sake. If you didn’t come to my side when l am supposed to be dying, people would start to question how serious condition is.” Yulien sighed. “I think she’ll make her move on the Anniversary banquet while everybody is focused on the ball. The security of such a big event will be tight and most of the guards will be assigned to the gathering, so my protection detail would surely be affected. Or at least, that’s what | want her to think.”

“But that’s just a couple of weeks away.” Kassian frowned.

“Don’t worry, I’m ready.” Yulien smiled. “I am tired of looking over my shoulder and holding my breath every time l walk into a room. And I am sick of seeing her smiling face or listening to Rissen’s insufferable babbling at dinner. The Emperor doesn’t have that long. I need to solidify my position and get rid of my enemies before he dies. I have enough to worry about even without them breathing down my neck. Not to mention, those vultures are not even our biggest problem,”

The two of them kept staring at each other for a long moment and even though he couldn’t see his own face, Kassian could tell he was wearing the same expression as his brother.

Kassian looked away first, lowering his eyes to his hands. He had fresh blisters from the fighting last night, some of them already cracked.

He could barely feel them anymore, the skin over his palms and fingers had hardened so much with the layers upon layers of damaged skin, that he probably needed to get a deep cut or get his fingers chopped off to feel it. Yet, when he held Raena’s hand in his, he could feel how soft her skin was.

“Kassian,” Yulien called, pulling him out of his thoughts. Kassian looked up at his brother, who was sitting tensely at the edge of his seat, fingers tapping impatiently on his knee. “Do you have something to tell me?”

He knows, Kassian thought as he studied face. How does he always know?

“I’m done staying away from Raena,” Kassian said, trying to keep a straight face as Yulien continued to study him. His brother closed his eyes, sighing heavily. “She almost got raped last night, Yulien. And as you said, she might have something on the Empress – enough to make that careful viper get out of her hole and strike. And.” he hesitated, growing more and more concerned by the lack of reaction. “All those years, I followed your orders and listened to everything you said. I married Sarea as you suggested, I picked up trade once the war was over – just like you suggested. I never wanted or asked for anything, because I never really wanted or needed anything more than what I had. But l am asking you now – trust me and leave Raena to me. She will not hinder your plans and she will not betray me. I’ll make sure of that.”

Yulien rubbed his forehead, an amused smiled appearing on his lips.

“You lasted longer than I expected.” Yulien snorted at the end, running a hand through his long hair. “Anyway, do as you wish with her. She is your wife. The recent attack on her only shows that she is not as firmly aligned with the Empress as I thought. And anyone who has once sided with the Empress can be turned into a useful weapon. At best, Raena must have realized that she has a better chance of survival working with us than with the Empress. Why else would she open up now when she has been hiding for so long?”

“So you think it’s all because she thinks I’m her best chance of survival2” Kassian asked, a chilly feeling spreading through his chest. The thought did cross his mind – or tried to before he briskly brushed it away. The reason didn’t matter, what mattered was that she did.

“Who knows? Maybe she had started falling in love with you and wanted to come clean and make amends in order to start a proper relationship with you.” Yulien shrugged. Kassian tried not to grimace. He was thankful for his brother trying to cheer him up, but he could have used a little less disbelief in his voice. “Either way, I’ll need you to deal with your problem yourself. Whatever happens, deal with it as you see fit. I trust you know that a relationship without trust cannot last. Not in our world, at least.”

“I know.” Kassian nodded quietly. “So, what is the plan from here on out? When can l leave?”

“The lockdown won’t be lifted for a few more days at least, so make yourself comfortable here. As military personnel and high-ranking royal, you can take over the investigation easily.” Yulien shifted, his back straightening and his hands moving to the armrests almost as if he was suddenly sitting on a throne and giving orders. I need you to be my hands and feet while you’re out there. I’ll tell you exactly what to do so we can set up the last pieces on the game board. Once that is done, we put pressure on them until someone breaks.” An excited smile appeared on his face, eyes flashing dangerously. “Are you ready, brother? We have waited almost twenty years for this. One way or another, l am going to take those two down even if that’s the last thing I do.”

“I’m ready.” Kassian nodded, getting up from the chair. “Let’s do this.”