To His Hell and Back-Chapter 46: If Only There’s Kindness

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Chapter 46: If Only There’s Kindness

What Arabella had learned about Cassius was frustratingly little, yet each piece only deepened his mystery of him. He always drank something red, but when she dared to lean in, the scent betrayed that it wasn’t blood. He was distant and ruthless whether it was to his subordinates, cutting to his stepsister and stepmother. And yet with her... he was cruel, but controlled. He let her suffer, but would never let it truly ruin her. As if he was testing her endurance rather than seeking to break her.

It made her wonder... was there a version of Cassius hidden beneath the sharp edges and icy indifference? Or was he truly as merciless as he wanted the world to believe?

And then there was that night when he sent her back to the dungeon, why? Was it because she had almost touched his heart and come toward his core which seemed to have made him hesitate?

And tonight, the anger in his eyes when he saw her sad.

Why did it bother him? Shouldn’t he be pleased that the world was finally grinding her down? That she was slowly breaking, just as he had once warned she would?

Was she reading everything too deeply?

She wishes for Ariel to answer her bewilderment, to tell her that she had mistaken everything that this wasn’t... that she was putting her hope in something that had never existed.

"Thinking too much aren’t you?" Cassius’ words entered her ears as she had followed him quietly like a mouse, her head down on the floor that she didn’t even notice she had stepped into the cold stones of the castle’s entrance.

She lifted her head, surprised to see that she was only half a step away from Cassius’s body. Her body jumped backward, her feet struggling to find a stable position when he caught her by her shoulders and put her in place.

Before she could think, he had bent down and this hadn’t only startled her but also the vampire maid she had seen before- the maid who seemed passive and cold as ice. The maid with the sharp black hair and the deep red eyes seemed momentarily flustered as she advised, "Your Highness, you do not need to bend, I shall do it."

"No one should touch her other than me," Cassius answered, making the maid to go rigid, her red eyes widening for the briefest of moments before she bowed her head.

"As you wish, Your Highness," the maid murmured, her voice carefully devoid of emotion, but Arabella did not miss the way her fingers twitched at her sides, as if restraining some unspoken thought.

Sometimes she forgot the fact that Cassius is the Crown Prince due to how subtle he had styled himself and his eased attitude, not to forget how he never punished her for speaking out of turn.

Arabella, on the other hand, barely had time to process his words before Cassius’s presence overwhelmed her again. His grip on her shoulders was firm, and possessive, sending a shiver down her spine. He was close... too close!

She could see the flicker of something unreadable in his dark gaze, something that made her breath hitch.

"Stand still," he commanded, his voice softer now but no less demanding.

She wanted to resist, to question, but her body betrayed her, as she saw the top of his head in her view. He had bent his knees to crouch on the ground, placing one knee on the floor while the other one bent to his chest. Then he picked a pair of red boots, the color so similar to his eyes while the small gems around it were akin to the green color of her eyes.

Inside the boots were fur, made up of the softest animal’s fur which was soft and also warm to comfort her feet. She could tell at once that this was something luxurious. Although she had never worn anything luxurious, this felt immensely too comfortable for it to be anything cheap.

"This..." she blinked while looking at his satisfied smile. "It’s for me?"

He nodded and she quickly opened her mouth, "Wh-"

"Stop asking me questions," Cassius seemed annoyed by her endless question of ’why’ as if he didn’t want to face the answers. He stood up and looked at it, "I was just making sure you wouldn’t embarrass me by stumbling around like a half frozen fool. And plus if any monster comes running to chase you again, make sure that this boot won’t cause you to slip into its mouth."

Arabella’s lips parted, but no words came. The warmth of the fur still wrapped around her feet, sinking into her skin, a stark contrast to the cold detachment in his voice. She knew better than to believe his excuses. Cassius never did anything without reason, and yet... this was kindness.

A reluctant, begrudging kindness, but kindness all the same.

She looked up at him, at the way he refused to meet her gaze as if the act of giving itself irritated him. "Thank you," she said softly, almost uncertainly.

Cassius clicked his tongue, crossing his arms. "I don’t need your gratitude," he muttered, but the corners of his lips twitched as if fighting against a smirk. "Besides I told you I take care of my pets very well."

Arabella watched him for a long moment, something in her chest tightening. Why did it feel like the more he pushed her away, the closer he was pulling her in?

She patted her chest which he eyed, "What? Illness?"

"No!" She grumbled, "How could a human get easily ill? Anyway, it’s dark outside, all I can see is the moon and the stars, there’s nothing else, not even birds would be out at this hour why would you be searching for someone so late at night-" her lips were hushed as Cassius cupped her mouth.

"Yes, yes, little birdie, can’t be quiet unless you know everything there is in this world hm? Get in the carriage, less question asked and the faster will be finished."

She furrowed her eyebrows but despite that walked toward his carriage, the boots feeling so gentle on her feet that she wanted to try running around with it. But with Cassius watching, she felt embarrassed to do so. Instead, she made an eye contact with a blue haired vampire who was wearing a light blue tunic with a crest of a snake.

The knight who found her eyes at him smiled but he seemed to recollect himself and stopped the smile on his lips.

"Renard," called Cassius and the blue haired vampire rushed beside him almost immediately. The knight seemed nervous upon being near Cassius but from where she watched, she could tell the glimmering admiration sparkling from Renard’s eyes. It was really the look of someone who wished to serve their master for the entirety of their life.

But why Cassius?

That being said, even the vampire maid who had always appeared so quietly like a ghost never showed so much emotion on her face but when it came to be around Cassius’s demands and orders, she would obediently obey each word as if the loyalty was embedded in her blood.

True. After all, it wasn’t only Cassius’s face that was charming but something about his air, his demanding aura was so secure that it made others feel demanded to follow him.

"Your Highness but!" Renard let out a gasp and quickly Arabella walked to listen whether it was a fight between a subordinate and the Crown Prince.

"Oh shut your mouth, I have given you the order, no more complaints," Cassius crossed his arms while rolling his eyes, annoyed that Renard kept complaining which made it seem as if he had forced a task on the poor Renard who didn’t want to do it.

Surprisingly Renard then muttered, "But so much gold coins for me is not necessary, Your Highness. My sister is indeed sick but..."

"No more buts," Cassius then shut him, "I didn’t do this for you, noisy fool. I did it because I despise incompetence, and I can’t have you distracted by your sister’s condition while serving me."

Renard’s eyes widened, his hands clenching at his sides as if he wanted to protest further but knew better than to push his luck.

Arabella, secretly staring at him from beside the carriage, felt her breath catch. So that was it, Cassius had paid for Renard’s sister’s treatment. And yet, he refused to accept even a shred of gratitude for it, as if admitting to kindness was a weakness he couldn’t afford.

Renard bowed deeply, his voice laced with quiet emotion. "Even so, Your Highness... thank you."

Cassius scoffed, turning his back to him. "Get out of my sight before I start regretting my generosity."

As Renard hurried away to the horse, Arabella found herself watching Cassius more closely. The way he tilted his head slightly, exhaling as if shaking off something uncomfortable.

His red gaze then fell on her, almost immediately but she didn’t flinch or run away from meeting his gaze now, instead, she looked back at him and smiled.

Cassius frowned, making his way toward her with a small huff, "Any words, birdie?"

"Do you find it pleasing to be hated?"

"Is there anyone who likes to be hated?"

"You?" She pointed and he scoffed.

If only he had been this nice, if there was kindness in his heart that he showed to everyone, she was certain he would be the best Crown Prince in the history, or even the best heir to the crown, the best king of Versailles.

His hands raised and it landed on her head, as if knowing what she was thinking. She could see his lips curling faintly which he seemed to hide, "Fool. I just dislike him putting me in danger. I can’t have my knight who is supposed to protect me die because his mind is somewhere else."

She couldn’t help but smile, sniding, "I didn’t say anything."

Cassius’s gaze lingered on her, his fingers idly brushing against her hair before he finally pulled away. "Stupid," he murmured, his voice quieter now, almost thoughtful.

Arabella tilted her head, studying him. But before she could study his face or that faint smile on his lips, he had walked inside the carriage as if to stop her needless poke into his heart. He then sat down on the seat, crossing his legs as he demanded her, "Come and close the door."