The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 67: Cassian?

Chapter 67: Cassian?

With forbidden magic, anything is possible. Edward smiled to himself as he set the next step of the plan in motion. It was convenient that the river that flowed through the Capital just so happened to originate in the mountain nearby.

All he needed to do was poison the source.

He couldn’t wait for the Emperor to confront them and then take action. With the border situation and the plague... He doubted the Emperor could have a peaceful night.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adeline’s return to the estate with her father was both a relief and a weight lifted. The journey to the Northern Duchy had been filled with tension. Yet, despite the success, her father seemed unusually quiet on the ride back.

The Marquess was lost in thoughts about his daughter. Almost all the mages, including him, would feel the toll it takes on the physical body when they overexert themselves.

But Adeline felt very energetic. She just used immense amount of Holy Power, but that took no effect on her.

Upon their arrival at the estate, Alaric approached his father almost immediately.

He made his way to the Marquess’s study, knocking softly before entering.

"Father," Alaric’s voice was low and cautious. "There’s something we need to discuss."

The Marquess looked up, frowning. "Is it about Adeline?"

"Not this time," Alaric responded, shaking his head. He placed a rolled-up parchment on the desk, the seal already broken. "This came from the border earlier today."

His father took the parchment and unfurled it. His frown deepened, lines forming on his forehead. "Casualties have increased," he muttered. It was the issue that stood out the most.

"Too many and far too quickly," Alaric confirmed. "Something is wrong, but that’s not the worst of it. The healers from the Holy Temple... they’ve been recalled."

The Marquess’s hand froze mid-air. "Recalled?" he repeated, disbelief in his voice. "That violates the agreement with the Empire..."

Just what were they thinking? What was their plan? He had long feared about her powers being exposed. When she went to the banquet that had the representatives from the Holy Temple, he knew there was a chance that she was exposed.

Now, the Temple finally made a move.

He needed to confirm some things first.

Alaric nodded grimly. "I don’t know why. There was no explanation. Since the situation deteriorated quickly, I sent the Captain... With him there, I am sure the soldiers would feel more confident."

Alaric kept looking at his father hoping to find a smile of approval. Although he was the man of the house when his father wasn’t there, there are still some things he shouldn’t do.

He was hoping he did well...

"Good thinking, Alaric."

It was no time to smile, but those words were enough for him. Alaric felt confident and giddy with enthusiasm.

Once Alaric left, the Marquess quickly dropped the brave face he put on.

This was a dangerous matter. He needed to act quickly.

The Marquess set the parchment down, his gaze distant as he considered the implications. "Without the Temple’s aid, the situation could spiral out of control. The Emperor will not take kindly to this." He muttered to himself.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, Adeline remained blissfully unaware of the scrutiny she was under. She felt an odd sense of normalcy as she moved through the estate.

Despite everything that had happened, she found herself quite cheerful. She was humming as she walked through the halls.

Of course, why would she feel worried? She thinks that she gained an ally and that she stopped Benedict’s condition from worsening. She didn’t know the Temple already put a target on her.

That evening, she received an invitation with a familiar seal, a Griffin. It had to be Victoria!

The parchment was simple yet elegant, the handwriting unmistakable. Victoria.

A very bright smile bloomed on her face as she opened the letter. After the stressful situation she had been through, a cheerful- no, a deadpan familiar face was what she needed!

"Dear Adeline,

I would like to invite you to visit me at our estate. I would appreciate your company.

Sincerely, Victoria."

It was indeed her style of doing things. Straight to point and concise.

It was a stark contrast to the over-the-top, emotionally charged invitations Adeline usually received from others. Adeline cherishes her friendship with Victoria even more because of this.

Most of the children who send her invitations are either forced by their parents or just want to use her because of her high status.

In such a society, it is to be expected. She would have to deal with these kinds of people anyway in the future. Why rush into it? She wanted to spend time with people who were genuine, like Victoria.

She didn’t fawn over her or approach her with ulterior motives.

Adeline decided to respond to the letter in her way, the ’extra’ way. She grinned as she picked up the pen.

This was exactly what she needed right now.

Adeline sighed in relief as the carriage rolled to a stop in front of Victoria’s grand estate. It had been a chaotic few days, and all she wanted was to escape the chaos that came with being associated with the male leads.

Victoria’s invitation had come at the perfect time.

The gates opened, and Dimitri stepped out first to help Adeline down. Her father insisted she go with someone. He did not trust her one bit. Alaric and Aaron had their own things to do, they weren’t as free as a five-year-old.

She wanted to be away from all the male leads... But she couldn’t avoid Dimitri. It was alright, she thought. Dimitri was a good boy. There won’t be any drama surrounding him.

As they approached the front door, Adeline expected to be greeted with a "Welcome," from Victoria with a deadpan expression.

But when the door opened the first person she saw was Cassian!

He had the usual lazy smirk on his face as he stood in the foyer. He was not surprised, it was like he knew this was going to happen.

"Adeline," he greeted, his voice dripping with amusement. "What a pleasant surprise."