lคץ ๓є l๏ฬ

[assassinrue]

Cassius sighed. "I have to believe there was a reason, otherwise it feels like it was for nothing." He cleared his throat. "One more thing." His voice was back to servant mode. He walked over to the dresser and opened a small wooden box on top. He was glad that he had paid attention to the chatter among servants, although he had only stepped foot in this room once before, he could guess where everything was based on the various gossip of the hand maids. He pulled out a set of earrings and a necklace that matched the hair pin. He dropped the earrings in her palm and returned to standing behind her. He rested the emerald charm against her chest as he clasped it behind her neck. When it fell, it hung low enough to draw attention to the neckline of the dress, but not so low as to be distracting.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Averyl put on the earrings and then looked into the mirror. She took a deep breath. Even she had to admit, he'd done a good job. Her suitor would be speechless. The thought of the impending meeting made her sad, though. Her marrying wouldn't be because she loved a man; it would be a business transaction to benefit her family.

[assassinrue]

"May I give you a word of advice, my lady?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Of course," Averyl said. "I could use some advice."

[assassinrue]

"Follow your gut, your heart. I know there are a lot of requirements made of you, but listen to yourself first. I find that doing otherwise lands you in situations you never wanted to be and and can never get out of. It is not worth it ma'am, not even for the lady of a manor."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Averyl's face hardened and she stood up. "You wouldn't understand," she said. "You don't know what it's like to be a noblewoman. What the pressure is like."

[assassinrue]

Cassius held his hands up in surrender. "I don't, I know that. But please just think about your happiness." Cassius left before he could say anything else. That had been so stupid of him. He ran down to the kitchens and the moment he entered, socked Kalleb right in the face. "If you pull one more stunt like that, I'll murder you." He growled.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Averyl went to meet her suitor. The conversation was light, but though he was handsome she felt no connection to him. In the end, she agreed to see him again, but she returned to her chambers in a dour mood. This would all be so much simpler if she'd been born a commoner. She could marry who she wanted and not have to worry about how her choices affected everyone else. She could marry like Cassius had, for true love.

[assassinrue]

Kalleb had only laughed and kicked Cassius out of the kitchen. Cassius went to hide in his chambers, god forbid the lady needed anything else.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Averyl sat for a long time. Finally, she sent a servant to fetch Cassius, because if there was anyone she could talk to about this, it would be him. If he'd even want to talk to her after the way she'd treated him.

[assassinrue]

Cassius silently cursed as he opened his room door. One of Kalleb's lowly kitchen boys stood there nervously. Cassius knew for a fact that the boy was knew, simply because he kept calling Cassius 'sir' which was completely ridiculous. "Um sir, the Lady wishes you to her room, sir."
Cassius nodded. "Please go tell Kalleb I will be other wise preoccupied."
"Great, sir, as you wish, sir." The boy scurried away and Cassius rolled his eyes as he walked up to Lady Averyl's room and knocked. He cleared his expression, his body language, and waited, a statue of a man.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Averyl took a deep breath and smoothed the front of her dress before calling, "Enter."

[assassinrue]

Cassius walked in and shut the door behind him. He stood, silent and waiting. He would not speak out of turn again.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Averyl walked to the small table and sat down. "Join me, please," she said, gesturing toward the other chair.

[assassinrue]

Cassius swallowed audible and sat on the edge of the chair, feeling extremely uncomfortable, not that he let it show.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"First I wanted to apologize for what I said before," Averyl said. "I didn't mean it to sound so harsh."

[assassinrue]

"If anyone should be apologizing, it's me. I was way out of line."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Averyl shook her head. "I appreciate your words. I don't think anyone has ever been concerned with my happiness before."

[assassinrue]

Cassius shrugged, feeling uncomfortable again. What could he say?

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Averyl looked down at the table's surface. "What does it feel like?" she asked. "Being in love?"