Villains also get Second chance

Marianne pov contd..

Thank goodness when I lied, Jamie had signaled his knight to inform mother about it. So when we reached the palace meeting room. She was already there and servants had already filled the table with all types of assortments.

She was visibly surprised when she was Cassius. But she coughed uncontrollably when her eyes fell on his darkened gaze. She glared at Jamie who just shrugged his shoulders.

"Why don't you sit down first brother?" I said as I helped him by sitting on the sofa putting extra pillows for his comfort.

Mother eyes me with thousands of questions but does not ask anything.

"Welcome to our humble abode, your highness" she bowed her head a bit and then looked at Killian and signaled her to come closer.

She hugged him and rubbed patted his shoulders, "how are you dear?" 

"I am fine, grandmother. I am very happy to see you." he said with a bright smile and mother chuckled.

"If you are so happy, then why did you not come with your mother. I asked her so many times why she did not bring it to you, but she did not reply to me at all!" 

Here goes mother again! She could not keep anything to her at all!

"Mother and Sir James refused to bring me with them, grandmother." he said in such an aggrieved tone that I felt guiltier.

"Did they, now? Who are they, owner? Huh!" she said, looking at us with sharp eyes. 

James coughed and I covered. My mother was the sweetest person but her anger was more ferocious than James' sword. She gave us the look that she would settle the scores later and requested everyone to take seats.

I gulped and decided to stay close to Killian, as I was sure she would not do anything to me in front of him.

"Killian, you are my grandson. You don't need ANYONE's permission to come here, darling. Next time if you want to come, come unbridled.'' She put so much pressure on the word anyone, but when i looked at Jamie he was looking not worried at all, so even i faked nonchalance.

"M.. mother, we are here to take Marianne back" the way his tongue shivered as he called mother, it felt like his tongue got burnt.

My mother looked surprised at his request, "oh, i thought Jamie had taken permission for her to stay here for a week." she asked and i remembered how he just lost the game and was not able to say a word.

"I did mother, i have bought Mari here fairly for a week" said Jamie looking straight at Cassius.

My mother nodded and looked at brooding Cassius again.

"Since it's already been 4 days only three are left. I would really be grateful if you let her stay here, son" she said with so much love that Cassius still.

They could not see the difference but I could see the crack forming in his eyes. I repeated the words again in my mind.

Son! It must have been ages, since someone had said that to him, my anger towards him melted a bit but he still deserved the beating for wounding Jamie.

"Then.. we shall go." he said as he assembled himself again and Killian looked at him as if he had asked him to stop breathing for a while.

Even my mother looked at them with an upset face.

"I know you are busy with work and other tasks of dukedom. You have a large estate to take care of, but you also deserve a holiday and so does Killian. Since you are already here. Why don't you both stay here for the rest of the three days and then you can return together." she offered but he did not reply. "In this way, you will meet marquees too." she added but we could see he was not convinced.

"I also want to spend time with my son, won't you give me a chance." she added, surprising all of us. Even Jamie who was laid back nonchalantly straightened.

"Mother,'' he said and she glared at him. Did I tell you my mother never glared at him that way? She sometimes shows fake anger but this time she was angry for real!

"Then, I will have to trouble you," said Cassius, surprising everyone again, except the mother who smiled brightly. Since when did she get this courage!! Was her tongue not shivered calling him son last time when they met?!

"There is no trouble. This old lady mostly stays in this palace alone. It would be nice to spend some time with my children and grandchildren." she said as she served more cake to Killian while we all got served by maids.

"Taste this also, it is the specialty of our palace." she said enthusiastically as she served him more. Killian also nodded and continued eating. He even forgot about me as he was busy with mother.

"I will send some servants to bring your luggage, why don't you get some rest before that, you are looking tired." she said to Cassius once the breakfast ended and the man nodded.

"Good, Marianne, show Cassius your chamber so that he could take rest, you should also rest a bit." she continued speaking but me and Cassius just looked at her surprised.

"Mother, there are many guest rooms, my chamber would not be good and comfortable enough for his highness' 'I tried to convince her but she chuckled.

"For the last time I have seen your room, it was the most luxurious with all the best things this empire had, even my chamber can not compare to you. Thanks to your father who have indulged you a lot. I wonder how the guest room could be more comfortable than your room, care to explain to me?" she was exaggerating, her room was definitely bigger than mine. She even had a larger pool for baths, yet I could not refute her that my room was the best and there was no way a gusset room could compare to it. But that was not the point. The point  was-

"WE BOTH WOULD SHARE A ROOM"