The morning light streamed through in small slits through gauzy curtains, blurry in Naomi's vision as she stirred awake slowly. She felt the weight of Cassien's arm draped heavily around her waist, his bare chest pressed flush against her back and their legs tangled together beneath the rumpled sheets. Their bodies fit perfectly against one another - hard muscle and soft supplety - stilling for a while longer simply to savor his scent and the warmth of his skin on hers. Naomi felt the apparent bruised tenderness between her legs, and flushed at the recall of their steady lovemaking once she had overcome the initial discomfort of the act. They had continued vigorously, repeatedly, throughout the night, unable to resist the allure of each other's unrestrained touch any longer.

A dreamy sigh escaped her. She owed an apology to Cressida, after all.

She rolled carefully to face Cassien, feeling the tickle of his fingers shifting from her belly to the small of her back. Even in his sleep, his brows were furrowed slightly as they almost always were, but Naomi found it simply made him all the more mysterious and irresistible. She leaned in and pressed a feather-light kiss to his defined lips, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead.

In the midst of the silence and bliss, a pang of guilt cut through her unexpectedly at the sudden recall of Darius's plan. She had intended to speak up just after he had asked if she trusted him - and she did, entirely - but didn't have the willpower to after his touch.

No, not a lack of willpower - pure greed, Naomi thought.

Naomi felt ashamed at the fact that she had been entirely too willing to give into her selfish desire of intimacy, as if he was only a tool for distraction. She knew inwardly that was not the truth, that everything between her and Cassien was raw and entirely real. But would he see it the same way if she were to reveal things now?

Cassien shifted then, arm tightening instinctively around her waist as his head dipped into the crook of her neck. Naomi traced lazy circles over his shoulders as she blushed at his touch, still all too aware of their exposed bodies.

"Good morning," He murmured into her skin, his voice rough with sleep. His eyes stayed closed, though a sleepy grin spread across his face in her presence.

Naomi nuzzled into him, kissing his twisted dark locks. "Good morning."

Cassien shuffled to press a kiss to her temple. "How are you feeling today?"

"Fine." The word came out a little too quickly, and his brows furrowed immediately in concern.

He cradled the side of her face as he searched her for any sign of discomfort, and Naomi had to force herself not to sink into his touch. "Is everything alright? If I did anything wrong last night…"

"No!" Naomi felt angry at herself for even making him think he had wronged her for even a fraction of time. She cleared her throat, her voice softer this time. "It was perfect. You were perfect. I just… have a lot on my mind."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Cassien asked as he shifted up to sit, leaning back against a mound of pillows. His arms wrapped around Naomi, tugging her small frame into him to use as a rest.

Naomi immediately felt her body flood with heat as her chest was fully exposed, but Cassien's gaze didn't drift from her eyes in total sincerity as he awaited her response. She caught herself instead staring at the hardened lines of lean muscle against his ribs, the taper of his slim waist before the rumbling of his chest pulled her back to the present.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Cassien, having mistaken her blatant stares for being lost in thought, lifted her hand, pressing an affectionate kiss to her skin. "But I'm here when you're ready."

His words struck her like a tide against coastal rocks, unraveling the knot of anxiety that had plagued her; this was Cassien, the one man who had never silenced her or dismissed her wants, and the one who held her as if she were the most precious thing in the world. He deserved every ounce of the truth as they had promised one another, to have his own agency in something that ultimately involved the both of them.

Naomi drew a shaky breath. "Before I say anything… I know this might be bad timing after what happened last night. I don't want you to think I did it because I wanted to avoid talking to you about it; I wanted last night with you more than anything, and there's nothing I regret."

Cassien stilled but stayed quiet, his eyes silently encouraging her to continue. Naomi's voice trembled as she spilled out the details of Darius's plan: putting her out in the open as bait to draw Alistair out and away from the city, his request to keep the plan between just the two of them until the last minute. Every word was tangled with regret, relief, and a desperation that he would understand.

Naomi pushed herself away from his body, her back turned to him as she could not bear to look him in the eyes. She felt her lashes wet with tears. "I'm really, really sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

He stayed quiet for a long time, and her heart squeezed at the fact that he hadn't reached for her. When he finally spoke, Naomi thought she caught a sadness in his tone that made her own heart hurt.

"I know putting others before yourself is just who you are," he said quietly. "As much as I wish you'd choose yourself first, that's not your first instinct. It doesn't mean I'm okay with it - but I understand it."

He let out a gentle sigh. "I want to know about things before you do it. I don't want to be stumbling around in the dark while you hold the only light. But… Thank you for telling me."

She felt the touch of his skin on hers, coaxing her back into his embrace. Strong arms wrapped around her like a safety net, and she re-actively clutched his forearm in comfort. "Although this means I'll be justified to kill Aryn's expert for even suggesting such a ludicrous plan," Cassien hummed.

Naomi let out a bubbled laugh in relief. "I really believe that Darius thinks it's the best plan. He knows an awful lot more than he initially led on."

"That might be true but it wasn't right," He kissed the delicate skin above her eyelids, her lashes fluttering in response. "Let's not worry about him for now."

Naomi pressed her lips together. "There was something else last night, too."

Details of Ysonna's unexpected and aggressive visit were revealed, the creases between Cassien's brow deepening with each word. By the end of it, his expression was darker than a nightmare. Naomi nervously played with her fingers, unsure of how he would react. She wasn't even sure exactly what they gained from sharing it, but it didn't feel right to omit the knowledge from him. After all, Cassien was the centre of Ysonna's unrequited affections, and deserved to know how it was impacting his life.

Cassien let out a heavy sigh and rubbed his temple in agitation. "Thom might've hinted before that she had a bit of an infatuation with me, but I didn't think it was that bad until the dance. And now, to deliberately come to your room? That's just…"

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"Unhinged?" Naomi finished for him, though she immediately felt bad. "Sorry. That was mean to say."

"It is unhinged," Cassien gave her a pointed look. "It's bordering on obsession. I don't really know why - she and I haven't ever been involved besides some politicking between our families."

"Well…." Naomi puckered her lips as she rolled her eyes humorously, tracing a circle on his sculpted chest. "I can think of a few reasons."

He grinned, jerking her body closer as his hands began to generously rake against her skin, tickling her ribs and sides. His legs crossed over her lower body, locking her in place as he continued running his fingers over her body. Naomi let out a squeal, squirming uncontrollably with bursts of yelps and laughing as she tried fruitlessly to break away. The mingle of their laughter washed away the heavy tension of the morning's worries, replaced by a heartening playfulness.

After a few minutes, Naomi sunk into his body in defeat, ribs aching from laughing too hard. "I was going to tell you last night, before we.. You know. But I was so tired from everything, and I just wanted to be in the moment instead. I'm sorry if it taints anything for you."

Cassien's armed tightened, his biceps flexing. He let out a low chuckle against her hair. "Naomi, nothing could ruin last night for me. All I've ever wanted was you."

Naomi's heart thudded, and she felt like her whole body was floating in the relief and happiness that his words brought her. Before she could realize it, her voice slipped out, soft and breathless. "I've never loved anyone the way that I love you."

The physical distance between them was practically non-existent, but the echo of her confession seemed to stretch endlessly. But the silence was not tense, but in fact was like a golden revelation that only seemed to make Cassien glow in response.

Cassien lifted her chin with one finger, tilting her head so that their eyes met - shining and full of tenderness. "I love you. More than anything."

He leaned in to kiss her, slow and deep, almost as if it were a worship to the sanctity of her presence. Naomi savoured every moment of his sweetness, feeling that for the first time in her life, she was loved the way she had always hoped for - unapologetically, wholly as she was.

**

The grand council room of Calypsa Castle was booming, filled with casual discussion as they awaited for the remaining aristocrats to arrive. At the end of the long mahogany table, Marchioness Fiona and Ysonna sat in their seats with stoney faces. Others either deliberately avoided eye contact, or snickered in hushed voices with a mix of pity, curiosity, or contempt. Word of their disastrous attempt to upstage Duchess Rosenthorn clearly remained the hot topic at court, and the Archfeld's family name floated around the room like a cursed word.

There were deep shadows beneath Ysonna's bloodshot eyes, clearly worse for wear after last night's indiscretion. Her brown curls were limp and dull, and her body was hunched over the table in an effort to keep her remaining bile down. Beneath her gown were red welts, inflicted by the Marchioness when it had been discovered that Ysonna had passed out in the hallways in a drunken stupor. It was only by the help of a maid - the duchess's personal servant, of all people - had been conveniently nearby to assist before they were seen by anyone. If they had been caught, the compounded scandal of not only their wicked sabotage but of Ysonna's reckless actions would've tarnished their names forever.

Ysonna didn't dare look her mother in the eyes, afraid that she may erupt at any moment. She kept her eyes glued on the wooden grain of the sturdy table, hands tightly clenched. Not long after, the sound of heels clicked closer, and the two women looked up to see an extravagantly dressed woman approaching with a smug expression.

"Marchioness Archfeld," a haughty, shrill voice greeted. Fiona and Ysonna turned to see Baroness Martilla Quinn, formerly of the South, dripping with silvered jewels in her tightly curled blonde hair standing beside them.

She smiled foxily, fanning herself lightly with amusement. "I just wanted to give my compliments to what a… remarkable performance your daughter gave the other night."

Fiona's eyes narrowed into slits. How expected of a southern lady to take the chance to insult them. "Spare me your bullshit, Martilla."

"Ooh! Language," The baroness flashed a syrupy smile. "I don't know what you mean, my lady. Are you implying your daughter's performance was not adequate to have been worthy of our magnificent duchess?"

Fiona's eyes flashed with rage as Ysonna's hands curled tightly in her lap, her knuckles turning white at Martilla's veiled insult. The sting of her words and the humiliation of not only Cassien's public rejection, but the memory of last night's disaster threatened to overwhelm her entirely. Not only that, but her mother was clearly furious at how she had been presenting herself in public currently.

Before the marchioness could retaliate, the double doors at the far end of the chamber swung open as the remaining council members began to enter, though a particular couple of a commanding aura entered: Cassien Rivain and Naomi Rosenthorn, hands entwined in public display. Cassien wore a dark, tailored suit with a peek of a white collared shirt beneath, and a royal navy half-cape that swept around one shoulder with a golden clasp. Beside him, Naomi looked as if she were made of mist and ice, her pale blue dress almost floating above the floor, voluminous locks pooling around her waist in effortless waves. Their expressions were almost glowing - radiating utter power, untouchable and undeniable in their united presence.

The room watched in stunned silence as none dared to continue a single ill-intentioned whisper or gossip, and the lords of the room straightened in their seats - unsure of whether to offer a greeting to the duchess, or if they were even worthy of her gaze. Baroness Quinn tutted a quick farewell to a seething Fiona before quickly swishing back to her seat beside her husband, satisfied with her provocation.

In the corner of her eye, Naomi caught Ysonna's face crack in defeat, her lips bloodless and tightly pressed. Naomi didn't enjoy reveling in another woman's misery, even after she had been wronged. Watching the way Ysonna shrunk at her mother hissing in her ear brought back uncomfortable memories of her own, like a bitter taste that she could never wash from her mouth. She knew exactly how hard it was to speak up in defense of yourself, and even harder to bear the consequences that followed if you did.

It wasn't right. No matter how badly Naomi wanted Ysonna to be held accountable for her actions, it felt even worse to be a willing bystander to someone else's suffering.

What's the mantra? 'Kill them with kindness?' Naomi thought to herself.

She let her hand slip from Cassien's, catching his confused expression from the corner of her eye as she approached Ysonna. He stayed quiet, however, watching in place with curiosity. Members of the council followed suit in their observation, all too absorbed in what was about to unfold before them. A public smack down? Banishment?

Naomi stopped directly beside Ysonna, her hands clasped in front of her. Ysonna turned stiffly, making no effort to hide the animosity that radiated from her. Naomi pushed it aside and channeled as much grace as possible in her words.

"Lady Archfeld," Naomi began warmly. "I wanted to thank you for taking the time to seek me out last night."

Angry confusion flitted across Ysonna's face briefly before realizing that she was about to face the scandal of a lifetime once the duchess revealed the events of last night. She didn't speak, though she forced herself to sit upright, wiping all emotion from her face. There was nothing she could do now before the inevitable public condemnation.

Naomi continued. "Your humility in seeking forgiveness for a mistake is commendable, and I wanted to make it clear that I don't hold it against you. And neither should anyone else."

At her last words, Naomi swept her gaze around the room with a calculated look, all of them averting their eyes.

Understanding of what she was trying to orchestrate struck Ysonna; she could publicly apologize now and earn back some of both Naomi's and the court's good graces, or refuse, and have her brash, petty actions of last night exposed. Either way, Naomi Rosenthorn would win in the end in a display of ultimate compassion. Regardless of her intentions, Ysonna was stunned; of all things the duchess could've done, an olive branch was the last thing. The anger and resentment inside her twisted into something akin to shame and uncertainty.

Why is she doing this? Ysonna was suspicious, but certainly not stupid - this was a way out.

Ysonna swallowed hard, not daring to even glance at her mother's reaction. "Thank you, Your Grace."

"Your kindness certainly knows no bounds," The marchioness said through clenched teeth, practically seething in her seat. "But to be clear, my daughter-"

"Mother," Ysonna interrupted quietly, touching the thin skin of her hand. "Not now."

Fiona halted mid-sentence not at her daughter's insistence, but realizing that every eye in the chamber was fixed on her, including the prince's. Every face had the same question marked on their face: how much further was she willing to embarrass herself and their family by openly challenging the duchess? She had no choice but to back down with the last shred of her dignity intact.

Naomi gave one last nod at Ysonna before returning to Cassien, who pressed a soft kiss to her temple before they took their seats. He cast a single disappointed look at Ysonna who - for the first time - looked away from him.

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