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    Chapter <b>100 </b>


    “Your Excellency…” Agape looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him. “We- we would like to apologize again. We just… we didn’t know and that is not an excuse.”


    The room fell into an awkward silence. Chairs scraped faintly against the floor. Boots shifted, but no one dared to lift their head or meet Cassian’s eyes. This was not the first time that Agape had asked for Cassian’s forgiveness. In fact, he immediately asked Cassian to forgive them while we were still at the gates. But Cassian maintained his silence.


    Now, inside the safety of the Cabin, Agape bowed lower, again. “I must beg your forgiveness again. We have been traveling too long without proper food or rest. Our minds were dulled, our bodies weak, and in that state, we failed to recognize you. It was never our intention to be disrespectful. We were blind, and for that, I am deeply ashamed.”


    He paused, swallowing hard before speaking again. “We owe you our lives. Had you not intervened during the beast tide, none of us would be standing here. For that, we are grateful beyond words.”


    Behind him, the others shifted uneasily. One after another, they murmured their own apologies. Eron bowed stiffly. Lani lowered her head and muttered about speaking out of turn. Even Zeryn, who had barely said a word since we met, mumbled his regret.


    Kae was the only one who stayed silent. He stood rigid, jaw clenched, his eyes fixed anywhere but on Cassian


    -or me.


    Agape forced himself to continue. “We had heard stories of the Northern Lord, but none of us had ever seen you in person. Rumors painted you asrger than life, as if no man could truly be what was described. We thought… perhaps the stories were exaggerated.” He hesitated, his face tight with shame. “Now we see how foolish that was.”


    I nced at Cassian, but his expression didn’t change.


    Seeing that Cassian didn’t seem very interested in speaking, he straightened slightly, smoothing his robe as though to gather himself. “Allow me to give proper introductions, Your Excellency. I am Agape Approvan, Elder of the Shadowfen Tribe of the North.” His hand gestured toward the young man lingering near the wall. “This is Prince Kaelith Fen, the youngest son of the Fen Royalty, our ruling line.”


    At that, the others bowed their heads. Agape went on. “With him are his personal guard. Eron Malvek, Lani Dros, and Zeryn Talvek. We are all sworn to his protection.”


    One by one, the guards inclined their heads, their faces stiff but respectful. Yet Kae or Prince Kaelith, did not


    move.


    The room fell into a heavy silence. And I found myself wondering if Cassian meant to crush them with it. How could he keep the tension this high without saying a word? Why wasn’t he speaking at all?


    Soon enough, Agape looked torn between kneeling and pressing his forehead to the floor. In the end, he bowed again. “We were weary, starved, and careless. In our exhaustion, we failed to recognize you for who you are. For that, I beg forgiveness. We owe you our lives. Without your intervention, the beast tide would have ended us. For that, we are grateful.” He stayed bent and repeated, softer, “We are grateful.”


    A


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    Cassian still said nothing. And I watched Agape tremble and the others shift behind him, waiting for any sign from Cassian that wouldn’te.


    When it became clear he wasn’t going to respond, Mendez finally cleared his throat. “Then may we proceed to the real reason you came here?”


    Agape nced between Mendez, Cassian, and then me. His fingers flexed against his robe. “If permitted, I would prefer to speak with the Lord alone<i>.</i>”


    Still Cassian said nothing. Why wasn’t he speaking? Did he enjoy watching them squirm?


    Then, Cassian lifted a hand. The gesture was slight, but everyone in the room, including me, stiffened. This time, I didn’t hesitate, and I pushed my chair back to rise. Just like me, Mendez had already stood and was heading toward the door when Cassian spoke.


    “You stay.”


    I froze and turned. His red eyes were fixed on me. “Me?”


    “You are the Lady of the North. The Northern Consort.”


    The words struck harder than I expected. The others reacted before I had a chance to respond. Agape gaped, then bent forward so quickly his forehead nearly touched the floor.


    “Forgive me, mydy,” he said, voice uneven. “I spoke out of ignorance. I did not mean to diminish your position. I beg your pardon. I beg it again.” He bowed once more, his movements rushed. “I have no excuse.”


    Surprised, I looked at Agape. Why was he acting like this? Was apologizing like this necessary? Yet, I kept my face steady and gave him a curt nod while Mendez left. “Understood,” I said as I sat back down beside Cassian. His arm brushed mine as I settled, and he made no effort to move away.


    Agape straightened slowly, his face still flushed with embarrassment. Then he turned to hispanions. “Outside.”


    They obeyed without hesitation. Lani left first, Eron and Zeryn close behind. The door closed on the muffled noise of soldiers in the hall. Only Prince Kaelith remained, nted by the wall with his arms locked across his chest.


    Agape frowned. “Your Highness Kaelith-”


    “I’m staying,” the boy said sharply.


    Cassian studied the prince in silence, the crackle of the hearth the only sound filling the


    pause.


    Almost immediately, Kae dropped into a chair, jaw clenched tight. Agape’s shoulders eased just slightly before he turned back to us.


    “We came for sanctuary,” Agape said. “And for aid.” His eyes flicked toward the door, then back to Cassian. “Someone wants the prince dead. We lost most of our people on the road. What the assassins started, the


    “Sit,” Cassian said atst.


    7:44 Thu, Sep 18


    beast tide nearly finished. Without you saving us… we … we would have…”


    <b>93 </b>


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    Cassian cut through his pause. “Speak inly. You asked to see the Lord of the North. You have him.”


    Agape wet his lips, then nodded. “Currently, the Kingdom of the Frozen North is… in chaos.”


    Kingdom of the Frozen North? I remember hearing that word before. Seeing my confusion, Agape looked at me. “If the Lady doesn’t know, the Kingdom of the Frozen North is… the Kingdom of Fae’s.”


    Fae’s? I immediately lifted an eyebrow.