BLOOD OATH

CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE HEART THAT REFUSED TO HATE

CHAPTER ELEVEN

A HEART THAT REFUSED TO HATE

The days passed quickly.

Everywhere I turned, servants were busy preparing for the wedding. Expensive fabrics arrived one after another, while the kitchens worked almost without rest. Even the guards seemed more occupied than before.

I had slowly become a familiar face within the empire. The guards no longer questioned me whenever I brought Cassian's meals. Some of them even greeted me with nods.

Good.

The less attention I attracted, the better.

"Isabella!" Maria called as she hurried into the kitchen with a basket of fresh vegetables. "Young Master specifically requested your cooking again today."

I paused briefly before continuing to chop the carrots.

"He requested it?"

Maria nodded excitedly. "Olivia was smiling when she heard it. She said you've become quite valuable."

"Hm."

Maria pouted. "Can't you be happy for once?"

"I am."

"You don't look it."

"I rarely do."

She sighed dramatically before walking away.

I couldn't help the tiny smile that tugged at my lips.

She really talked too much.

......

By midday, lunch was ready.

I arranged everything neatly on the tray before making my way to Cassian's quarters.

The guards stepped aside immediately.

"You may enter."

I nodded and walked in.

Cassian wasn't reading today.

Instead, he stood by the large window with his hands behind his back, staring into the gardens below. Sunlight streamed through the glass, making his black hair shine faintly.

He turned when he heard the door close.

"You're here."

"I brought your lunch."

"Thank you."

Again with the gratitude.

I placed the tray on the table before uncovering the dishes.

"I added less spice today."

He looked surprised.

"Why?"

"You looked tired yesterday."

He stared at me for a brief moment.

"I did?"

"You did."

He smiled faintly.

"You notice more than you let on."

"I observe."

"So do I."

His answer made me look at him.

He pulled out a chair and sat down.

"You've been watching everyone since you arrived."

I froze inwardly.

Had he noticed?

"You don't talk much," he continued. "But your eyes are always moving."

"I like knowing my surroundings."

"A good habit."

He didn't sound suspicious.

Only curious.

I quietly poured his tea.

"You're different from the other cooks."

"In what way?"

"They all try too hard to impress me."

"And I don't?"

"You don't seem interested in me at all."

I almost laughed.

Interested?

If only he knew.

"I'm only here to cook."

"Hm."

He took a spoonful of soup before closing his eyes briefly.

"This is good."

"I know."

His eyebrows lifted.

"Confident."

"I've earned it."

A small chuckle escaped him.

That was... new.

"You laugh?" I asked before I could stop myself.

"I do."

"I thought smiling was your limit."

He laughed again.

"I'll remember that."

......

After clearing the table, I picked up the empty dishes.

"I'll leave now."

As I reached the door, his voice stopped me.

"Isabella."

I turned.

"If you ever need anything, you can ask me."

I frowned.

"Why?"

"You work hard."

"I get paid."

"That's not what I meant."

"I know."

For some reason, neither of us spoke after that.

I simply nodded once before leaving.

The moment the door closed behind me, I exhaled softly.

That man...

He was difficult to understand.

......

The wedding preparations became even louder as evening approached.

Everyone seemed excited.

Everyone except the groom.

As I passed through one of the gardens on my way back to the servants' quarters, I spotted Cassian sitting alone beneath a large tree.

No guards.

No servants.

Just him.

He held a small silver locket in his hands, staring at it silently.

Curiosity got the better of me.

I quietly hid behind a nearby pillar.

Cassian opened the locket.

Inside was the faded portrait of a beautiful woman.

His mother.

His thumb gently brushed across the picture.

"I miss you."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"I still don't understand why you had to leave so soon."

A long silence followed.

"I tried..."

"I really did."

"I tried becoming the son Father wanted."

"But every time I remember you..."

"I can't."

He lowered his head.

"I know you would've hated all of this."

His shoulders trembled ever so slightly.

Not from fear.

From grief.

I remained hidden.

Something about watching him like this felt...

Wrong.

He wasn't pretending.

There was no audience.

No reason to lie.

For the first time, I wasn't looking at the son of a mafia boss.

I was looking at a boy who still hadn't recovered from losing his mother.

Without thinking, I stepped back.

A dry twig snapped beneath my foot.

Cassian immediately looked up.

"Who's there?"

I quickly hid behind the wall.

Footsteps approached.

I held my breath.

The footsteps stopped.

For a few seconds, neither of us moved.

Then...

"They've already gone."

He murmured to himself before walking back to the tree.

I waited another minute before quietly leaving.

......

That night, sleep refused to come.

I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling.

Every time I closed my eyes...

I saw Cassian sitting beneath that tree.

"I miss you."

His voice echoed inside my head.

"Tch."

I turned onto my side.

"What is wrong with me?"

I shouldn't be thinking about him.

I shouldn't care.

He was my target.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Yet...

For the first time since arriving in Sundown...

The thought of killing Cassian didn't excite me as much as it used to.

That realization irritated me more than anything else.

Michael had always said emotions weakened assassins.

I had laughed back then.

Now...

I was beginning to understand what he meant.

Far away, hidden within the darkness beyond the empire walls, a pair of eyes quietly watched the brightly lit mansion.

The mysterious flower seller smiled to herself.

"The Ash Vein has begun to awaken..."

She whispered into the night.

"And Vivian..."

"You'll soon have the entertainment you've been waiting for."