Chapter 280: v3 - 41: a new beginning II

Chapter 280: v3 Chapter 41: a new beginning II

The carriage continued toward the heart of the capital.

Cassian sat quietly beside Marcus, watching the city through the window.

He had traveled before.

He had seen cities beyond the Empire.

But it had been nearly two years since he had last seen a place like this.

And Milicia was not what he had expected.

The capital was prosperous.

Not merely functional, not merely well-maintained for a kingdom that happened to sit beside the Empire, but genuinely prosperous.

The streets were broad and busy.

Merchants filled the open markets.

Carriages moved steadily through the avenues, their drivers navigating around pedestrians and other vehicles.

Buildings rose in orderly rows, many of them built from pale stone, their facades well kept.

There were no signs of a kingdom struggling to keep itself afloat.

Cassian watched quietly.

Milicia was different from the Empire.

The architecture was different.

The streets had a different rhythm.

The clothing was somewhat different.

Even the way people moved through the city carried its own character.

But beneath those differences was something familiar.

Order.

Wealth.

Stability.

The kingdom was not poor.

Nor was it backward.

Cassian had known, of course, that Milicia was powerful.

It was one of the reasons the Empire had never simply swallowed it.

The two countries had stood against one another for generations.

Borders had shifted.

Wars had been fought.

Treaties had been broken and remade.

But Milicia had endured.

Looking at the capital now, Cassian understood why.

It possessed enough wealth, enough resources, and enough strength to remain standing on its own.

Perhaps that was what made the rivalry between the two nations possible in the first place.

They were not worlds apart.

They were competitors.

Cassian’s gaze lingered on the streets.

He wondered how much of this prosperity belonged to the King.

And how much of it Lorenz would inherit if he succeeded.

The thought made him glance toward the Crown Prince.

Lorenz was looking out through the opposite window.

After a moment, he looked back at Cassian.

"How old are you?"

Cassian blinked.

"Twenty-six."

Lorenz’s eyebrows rose slightly.

"Twenty-six?"

"Yes."

Lorenz studied him for another moment.

Cassian knew what he was thinking.

He probably looked considerably older.

Twenty-one months in the Arena had not been kind to him.

Lorenz did not comment on it.

Instead, he gave a small nod.

"I see."

Cassian returned his attention to the window.

--

The carriage eventually passed through the outer gates of the palace grounds.

Cassian looked out through the window.

The buildings beyond were larger than those they had passed through in the city, but the carriage did not continue toward the main palace.

Instead, it turned toward a separate section of the grounds.

Cassian noticed several buildings arranged around an open courtyard.

Military quarters, perhaps.

Or accommodations for those who served within the Crown Prince’s household.

The carriage came to a stop.

Cassian stepped down first.

Marcus followed.

Lorenz descended after them.

For a moment, the three men stood together.

Lorenz glanced toward the buildings ahead.

"I’ll go ahead from here. I have other duties to attend to."

His gaze shifted to Marcus.

"Take him from here."

Marcus inclined his head.

"Of course, Your Highness."

Cassian bowed.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Lorenz gave him a brief nod.

"Settle in. We will see each other at dinner."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Lorenz turned and continued toward the main palace grounds.

Cassian watched him go for only a moment.

--

Marcus waited until Lorenz had disappeared toward the main palace before turning to Cassian.

"Come."

Cassian followed.

They crossed the courtyard toward the inner grounds.

Marcus gestured toward the wide open space to their left.

"This is the training yard."

Several men were already training there.

Wooden blades struck against one another, the sounds carrying across the open grounds.

Cassian noticed the attention directed toward him.

He did not pay it any mind.

Instead, his gaze moved across the grounds, taking in the buildings, the training yard, and the paths connecting the different sections.

Marcus continued walking.

"The armory is through there."

Cassian followed his gesture.

"You will have access to it once you are properly assigned."

They passed beneath an arched passage and entered another courtyard.

This area was quieter.

Several buildings surrounded it, each occupied by men serving within the Crown Prince’s household.

Cassian took in the unfamiliar surroundings as they walked.

It was orderly.

Well maintained.

Nothing like the Arena.

Marcus stopped before one of the buildings.

"You will be staying here."

Cassian followed him inside.

They walked down a short corridor before Marcus stopped before a door.

He knocked.

A moment later, the door opened.

Robert stood on the other side.

His expression changed when he saw Marcus.

"Sir."

Marcus gave him a brief nod.

Then Robert’s eyes moved past him.

They widened.

"Carlo!"

Cassian gave him a small nod.

"You’re finally here."

Robert stepped aside at once.

"Come in."

Marcus entered first.

Cassian followed, giving Robert another brief nod as he passed.

Robert closed the door behind them.

Marcus looked around the room before turning toward Cassian.

"You will be staying here with Robert."

Marcus then looked toward Robert.

"You will assist him with anything he needs to know about the quarters and the grounds."

"Yes, sir."

Marcus gave a small nod.

Then his attention returned to Cassian.

"Get yourself settled first."

"Yes, sir."

"I will go ahead."

He paused at the door.

"You will have dinner with His Highness this evening."

Robert immediately straightened.

Marcus continued,

"Inform Alex and Gary as well. The four of you will dine with His Highness tonight."

"Yes, sir."

"Be prepared accordingly. I shall return for you all at six."

Cassian inclined his head.

"I understand."

Marcus opened the door.

Then he left.

The door closed behind him.

Silence lasted for perhaps two seconds.

Robert looked at Cassian.

Then he let out a breath.

"Well."

Cassian glanced at him.

For a moment, Robert simply stood there.

Then, a wide smile slowly spread across his face.

"We’re really here."