Villains also get Second chance

Marianne pov

"How do you know this tune, Marianne?" he asked, making me stiff.

'Could i say, i know everything about you since ages. Could I say that I have kept my eyes on you all the time to even know all your likes and dislikes! Would i not be called a stalker then' 

"I must have heard it in the academy, i learnt it since i liked it" i precisely replied, "Killian would you like to hear other songs too?" I asked to get rid of the tone that had ingrained deeper in my heart.

He used to look very lonesome while playing it so i did my best to learn it. I thought I would play it with him for the next time and would tell him that he was never alone at that time. What a fool I was! 

Later I came to know that he was a happily married man, and I was the one who was lonely!

"Oh, you all are boring! Let me play a happy tune for everyone. Shall i?" said James as he stood behind me and I nodded and left the bench.

He started playing a lively tune that had strong beats.

"Shall I have the dance, son?" asked mother to Cassius, making both of us stunned.

Cassius was so stiff that he kept looking at here without even blinking an eye until she laughed.

"Why, you don't dance with older ladies?" she asked and finally he came back to his senses.

I narrowed my eyes at her, what was she trying to do now?

"Oh, it would be my pleasure to dance with you, m.. mother" he said with a quivering voice.

I could see even Jamie was looking at mother suspiciously, but said nothing.

They both stood up and walked to the centre where they gave each other a customary bow and started dancing. 

"Mother, shall we?" asked Killian as he walked towards me.

Finally, he was talking normally! I smiled and nodded. We both joined the odd couple dancing there.

There was an odd harmony between us even when we were not able to stand each other just a few days ago!

Soon the tune changed and we took a turn but my mother moved and instead of going back towards Cassius, she moved in the arms of Killian. So that was her plan from the start! 

I rolled my eyes at her antics. Did she think we have not danced before? I marvel at her persistence of creating situations. Why did she not give Cassius a piece of mind if she wanted changes.

Cassius smiled looking at me and he held me.

"How do you know everything so well about me, Marianne?" he asked again, could he not just concentrate on dance?

"Because I am your wife, your highness." I replied and he raised a brow.

"Even Killian did not know about the tune or other members of my family. It was something between me and my mother." he emphasised.

"I did not know. I must have heard it somewhere in the academy."

"Why did I not remember you? Were we close friends at that time?" he asked furrowing his brows as if he was in deep thought, so i stayed silent.

Well for me, we were. But for him, only he could decide!

For the next two songs, he was lost all the time in his thoughts, which my mother noticed too, so finally she decided to end the show.

"Ah, this old lady is tired now. Come lets sit for a while" she she was going all out!

Everyone nodded and we walked back to the living room where we all sat but there was a deafening silence.

"So, is education very stressful these days, Killian. You look too serious all the time." asked my mother and I was glad that the conversation had nothing to do with me for a while.

I took a glass of juice and took a sip leisurely enjoying the peace.

"You know your mother was the best student in her time. She had gained the highest marks in the entrance and came first in the empire. I was so proud. All the higher nobles have asked for her hand at that time. She was one of the finest ladies of that time. Sigh.. she was just a kid then so i denied all the proposals.. Who would have known she would grown up like this" 

I choked on my drink listening to her words. Why! Have I grown into a wastrel? What was the point of being so dramatic?

"You know, even your father have sent the proposal for her, but later the responds were not clear and we did not want to marry her soon so the matter died" 

This time it was Cassius' turn to choke on his drink as he looked at mother and then at me as if asking for confirmation.

I just pridefully raised my chin and continued my drink.

"But who would have thought that they were destined. Marianne met Cassius in the academy and…"

"Mother"

"Yes, darling?"

"I think that Killian did not want to know about these details. He is more interested in the knighthood. Tell him about how brother ran away from home and joined the knighthood course without even telling father. Father was so angry that he disowned him and decided to make me the heir of the marchioness.'' I started and as expected he got distracted. 

My mother gave me a stern look but then continued with the story of my brother. 

I took a sigh of relief and closed my eyes as I barely survived the fall but then I felt a strong gaze on me and felt irritated.

Mother was really  crossing the limits. I was not a child anymore!

I opened my eyes to glare back at her but when I opened my eyes, My green eyes met his icy blue eyes who was gazing at me with complicated expressions.

"Darn it"