The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 219: Guilt

Chapter 219: Guilt

Cassian’s grip tightened as if sensing his defiance. "Don’t bother," Cassian said, his voice a low growl. "You’re finished."

But Lucas was not finished. Not yet.

He raised the shard of ice, his hand trembling from the effort. Cassian’s eyes narrowed, expecting another desperate attack. But Lucas didn’t strike at him. Instead, with a final, defiant glare, he turned the shard inward and plunged it into his own chest.

Cassian’s eyes widened in shock, his grip on Lucas faltering as the ice shard pierced through his ribcage. The world seemed to freeze for a moment, the storm of frost and fury around them coming to an abrupt halt.

"What are you—" Cassian began, but his voice was cut off as Lucas’s body convulsed. With no hesitation, he let go of Lucas’s neck. He let him drop to the ground.

The shard of ice glowed faintly, a soft, eerie light emanating from within. Lucas gasped as the cold seeped into his chest, spreading outward like tendrils of frost wrapping around his heart. His vision cleared for a brief moment, the suffocating haze lifting just enough for him to meet Cassian’s startled gaze.

"This... Is on my terms," Lucas rasped, his voice weak but resolute. He did not know if he would get a third chance. Years of preparation. Hundreds of assassins, and yet, he died to this man again.

But no... The only way he could have a moment of peace is to go knowing that Cassian did not succeed. Cassian did not kill him! He left on his own accord.

Cassian let go, and Lucas crumpled to the ground, coughing and gasping as air rushed back into his lungs. He clutched at the shard embedded in his chest, the faint glow intensifying with each passing second.

Cassian took a step back, he maintained his composure though. He hadn’t expected this, but his eyes remained cold, one way or the other, his goal was achieved.

"What have you done?" Cassian demanded, his voice edged with frustration and something that almost sounded like concern.

Lucas gritted his teeth, a pained smile tugging at his lips. "You... Don’t get to decide when I die," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

He came out of the flashback and looked at Adeline with sadness in his eyes.

She looked fragile, almost doll-like, as she lay there, unmoving. Her chest rose and fell faintly with each shallow breath, a sign of life that brought him both relief and guilt.

He had come here under the cover of night, avoiding the prying eyes and whispered judgments of others. This was the only time he could bring himself to face her. Seeing her like this, knowing he was the reason she ended up here, was unbearable.

He clenched his fists at his sides, his nails biting into his palms as he struggled to contain the storm of emotions brewing within him.

When he heard that she hadn’t woken up yet, his worry had consumed him. The image of her lying unconscious on the ground, her lifeless body cradled in his arms, haunted him relentlessly. No matter how much he tried to push it away, the memory clung to him, a constant reminder of his failure to protect her.

He would not stay here any longer. He did not feel like he deserved to. Hah... It was going to be goodbye again...

When Cassian had withdrawn the barriers he’d created during his fight with Lucas. The professors, finally free from the confines of his icy magic, rushed to the scene. Their expressions shifted from shock to disbelief as they took in the aftermath.

The second prince, Lucas, lay lifeless on the ground, his body marred by frost and shards of ice. It was undeniable—Cassian had killed him. The weight of what had transpired settled heavily over the onlookers.

Cassian did not bother defending himself. He simply stood there, cold and detached, as the professors exchanged hurried whispers. They speculated about his powers, wondering if they had just awakened or if he had been hiding them all along. Either way, the truth was evident: Cassian possessed an immeasurable amount of ice magic, far beyond what anyone had imagined.

The consequences were clear. The Crown Prince had killed the second prince, and the news would soon reach the Emperor. The professors’ faces were pale with fear and uncertainty. How could they possibly explain this to the Emperor without igniting chaos within the empire?

But Cassian didn’t care about their concerns or the fallout that would follow. He had only one priority: Adeline. Without another word, he turned and carried her limp body toward the infirmary, ignoring the stares and murmurs around him.

And now, here he was, standing by her bedside in the stillness of the night. He knew he could not linger.

The guilt was suffocating, and the thought of her hating him cut deeper than any blade. He had already failed her once—he couldn’t bear to face her anger or disappointment if she woke up and saw him.

Cassian reached into his coat and pulled out a small note, carefully folding it before placing it on the table beside her bed. It was a simple message, an apology and an explanation, though the words felt inadequate.

By pulling away once, he caused her a lot of pain. He thought he was protecting her... Hah, look at how that turned out. It would be best if he didn’t show her his face until all the threats were eliminated.

He hesitated for a moment, his fingers lingering over the note. It was a pitiful gesture, but it was all he could do. He couldn’t bring himself to face her directly, not after everything that had happened.

Cassian turned and left the infirmary, his footsteps echoing softly in the empty halls. He was leaving the academy early, a decision that had been made for him. The Emperor had summoned him back to the palace, and it was clear that his actions had consequences.