Villains also get Second chance

Cassius [pov]

"Your highness"

"Yes, why did Marianne call you?" I asked once Ian entered the office, an hour ago when he was called, the maid was looking scared, though these days her maids used to roam around like they are the future heiress of her chamber.

"Your highness, her highness, know about Daisy." he said with a long pause and the grip of my hand on the paper tightened, turning it crumpled in the process.

"It was for her benefit too," I said and then sighed, "did she say anything?" i asked as i knew she were not among those women who would stay silent after knowing the truth.

"Your highness, I am leaving the palace,"  he said with a sigh, and my eyes widened.

"No, you can not, i will talk to her, it was my instructions, you were just following them" i added shaking my head, Ian is the only confidant i had, and i am the only friend he had.

"I am going to claim my title as earl, and take its responsibilities, i would not come back, until i will take all the work over," he added and only then i took a deep breath.

"You should have said it in the first place, good, but it's not a punishment, did she just order you to do that only?" i asked and he bit his lip, as i had guessed there was more to it.

"Would you need an assistant for the meantime?" so he was not going to tell me.

"I do, but chose the assistant wisely, Ian," he nodded, taking my hint well and walking out.

'What had she asked him to do that he could not share with me?' I ran a hand in my hair as I realised I was spending more and more time of my day, thinking about her.

"Cassius, do you have sometime?" asked Philip as he entered the office.

Even if i  would not have, you would still enter and ask, wouldn't  you!

"Of course, Philip, come in." he entered with a smile and sat on the chair in front of me.

"I was wondering if i could go to the market, and take a round or two, to get the practical knowledge of working environment of the market" though he was asking i was sure he had already made up his mind, 

"Sure, but since you want to learn about their working, i would advise you to go in a disguise.'' I added, remembering the days I used to go to inspect the market with my father.

"Camouflage, as a commoner?" he added and I nodded.

"Which part of market did you want to go, if you want to go to a commoner market, go as a commoner, if you are going to nearby town to noble stores, go as a nouveau riche.'' I added and he nodded.

"Would you accompany me?" he asked and I shook my head.

"I have other things to do. You can take anyone from the staff with you.'' I added and he shook his head.

"No one would have a better knowledge than you." he added and I sighed as I looked at the document of relief fund policies. I had to burn the midnight oil again.

"Fine, I will see you in a carriage in half an hour." i said and he stood smiling.

The whole journey he kept barging all types of questions, though a few of them were good, rest of all the questions were foolish just like him.

"Come, lets walk from here.'' We both had worn simple and attractive clothes with a cloak to hide our face, even the carriage we used was the one used by servants to travel in the town.

We randomly entered a few shops as I showed him the transactions, we bought a few things randomly doing haggling.

When we were walking we heard a ruckus from one of the most popular shop and we stopped in our tracks, i entered the shop and he followed when we saw a crowd being collected there, that's when i saw Isabella was being dragged by Roselia, while Marianne was standing on the other side with closed eyes, and Damien was standing there patting her shoulder. 

Why! Was she a kid, that she needed consoling that also in public, i clenched my fists.

Then my eyes fell on disheartened Killian, he still cared for Isabella, I had to cut the rest of the ties soon.

"Brother what happened here"?" I asked a worker who was already gossiping with other men.

"That lady was having an argument with a new tailor here, and her highness interfered and saved the girl from the lady's wrath. 

But then no one knows what happened, and that lady tried to slap her highness, the knight interfered, and now they were taking the lady to prison." explained the man and my brows furrowed.

Isabella,  had been playing this game for a long time, how could she lose her temper easily in public, where people would support Marianne more than her.

And why the hell was Damien still standing there with her.

"I have to go back to resolve the matter first, you go ahead and look around.'' I said, turning to the man when I saw his ugly expressions and clenched fist, why was he so agitated, was he worried about Marianne, so he still had not improved his ways.

Without saying another word,

I left the man alone and decided to look further into the matter.

I saw Marianne asking something to that clingy lawyer when he held her hand and took her to the corner.

My brows furrowed when she did not protest, but let him hold her wrist. Then he took her to an abandoned corner where heaps of clothes were spread and hugged her.

And surprisingly, she did not move, she did not shout, did not push him, i stood there for a while hoping she would react someway, but she did not. At the end, Damien was the first to leave while she just stood there as if still reminiscing his touch.

So, at last she loved someone else too.