the Villainess they took for granted

Chapter 172: Chapter 172: closed gates

Cassian was five days from his wedding when he first heard that something was wrong in the capital.

They had stopped at an inn late in the afternoon to change horses.

Cassian had barely stepped inside when a conversation near the entrance caught his attention.

"They’ve closed the capital."

"Completely?"

"That’s what I heard."

"Since when?"

"Several days."

Cassian stopped.

His expression changed.

The capital.

His first thought was Marian.

He had been on the road for nearly eleven days already, and every mile had been measured against the same thought.

Two weeks had been the usual journey.

He had not intended to take that long.

He had pushed the pace where he could, determined to return with enough time before the wedding.

Now he was only days away.

And apparently the capital had been sealed.

He remained where he was, listening.

"No one gets through?"

"Not unless they have authorization."

"What happened?"

"No one knows."

"I heard something happened at the palace."

"An attack?"

"An illness, perhaps."

"That’s only a rumor."

Cassian turned toward his secretary.

"Find out what you can."

"Yes, Your Grace."

His secretary approached the innkeeper and made discreet inquiries.

The answers were no better.

The gates had been closed.

Travelers were being turned away.

Only essential supplies were being permitted through, and even those were being subjected to strict inspection.

No one seemed to know why.

Cassian returned to the carriage.

"Anything?"

"Nothing reliable."

Cassian looked toward the road ahead.

"Then we continue."

The capital was still two days away.

He could not afford to lose time.

Perhaps the matter would be resolved before he arrived.

Perhaps it was nothing more than an abundance of caution.

But he couldn’t ignore the uneasiness settling in his chest.

Marian was in the capital.

She was preparing for their wedding.

And he had not been able to write to her since the letter he sent upon arriving in Ashford.

He had assumed she understood the delay.

The journey itself explained much of it.

But now—

If the capital had been sealed, correspondence might be affected too.

She might be wondering where he was.

Cassian stared through the carriage window.

"How long until the next relay?"

"Two hours."

"Then we change horses as soon as we arrive."

His secretary nodded.

Cassian leaned back.

--

The journey continued.

The rumors became slightly clearer.

Not because anyone knew the truth, but because the capital’s restrictions were impossible to ignore.

At the next stopping point, Cassian heard that several noble households had been prevented from entering.

At another, a merchant complained that his entire caravan had been held for inspection.

Someone claimed the Emperor had collapsed.

Someone else insisted there had been an assassination attempt.

Another swore that the palace had simply ordered a precautionary quarantine.

Cassian believed none of it.

Not until he could hear from someone who actually knew.

But the rumors had accomplished one thing.

They had made him increasingly anxious.

The wedding was three days away when the capital finally came into view.

Cassian immediately noticed the difference.

The road leading toward the gates was almost empty.

There were soldiers everywhere.

The usual movement of carriages and travelers was gone.

The great gates remained firmly closed.

Cassian stared at them.

His heart sank.

"Stop."

The carriage slowed.

He stepped down before it had fully settled.

A senior officer approached.

"Your Grace."

Cassian looked toward the gates.

"I assume these restrictions are still in place."

"Yes, Your Grace."

"Can I enter?"

The officer’s expression tightened.

"I’m afraid not."

Cassian didn’t argue.

"Who is in command here?"

"The garrison commander, Your Grace."

"I’d like to speak with him."

The officer hesitated.

"I can send word."

"Do so."

The officer turned away.

Cassian remained where he was.

His eyes stayed fixed on the capital.

Three days.

That was all.

Three days until he was supposed to marry Marian.

He had finally made it back.

And now he couldn’t even enter the city.

His secretary came to stand beside him.

"Your Grace."

Cassian looked at him.

"I’ve sent a message to Lord Harrow."

Harrow was one of Cassian’s longstanding political allies and held a senior position within the Imperial security administration.

"If anyone can tell us what is happening, it will be him."

Cassian nodded.

"Good."

They waited.

It was nearly half an hour before a palace official arrived at the checkpoint.

He bowed deeply.

"Your Grace."

Cassian recognized him.

"Lord Harrow."

"I apologize for the delay."

"You know why I’m here."

"I do."

Cassian’s voice was controlled, but there was unmistakable urgency beneath it.

"What happened?"

Harrow glanced toward the guards before lowering his voice.

"His Majesty is seriously ill."

Cassian’s expression hardened.

"The Emperor?"

"Yes."

"How serious?"

"We don’t know."

That answer immediately concerned him more than a specific diagnosis would have.

Harrow continued.

"The physicians have not established the cause. Until they do, the palace is treating the situation as a potential security matter."

Cassian understood.

"Poisoning?"

"Among the possibilities."

Cassian’s jaw tightened.

"Is His Majesty conscious?"

"I cannot tell you."

"Has the Crown Prince taken control of the palace?"

"His Highness is overseeing matters while the Emperor remains incapacitated."

Cassian nodded.

Of course.

Adrian would have to.

"How long has the capital been sealed?"

"Since the Emperor’s collapse."

"And nothing enters or leaves?"

"Essential food and medical supplies are permitted after inspection. Otherwise, movement is restricted."

Cassian looked toward the gates.

Then back at Harrow.

"And me?"

Harrow’s expression became apologetic.

"You cannot enter."

Cassian gave a small nod.

He had expected that answer.

His father was the Emperor’s brother.

Adrian was the Emperor’s only child.

Cassian stood immediately behind Adrian in the line of succession.

If someone had attempted to poison or assassinate the Emperor, Cassian could not reasonably expect the guards to simply open the gates for him.

If anything, his position made him someone they had to watch carefully.

"Even though I’m his nephew."

"Precisely because you are."

Cassian nodded.

There was no insult in it.

It was protocol.

And he understood protocol.

"What about my household?"

"No one can enter."

"My secretary?"

"No."

Cassian glanced toward his secretary.

"Understood."

Then his expression changed slightly.

"Marian."

Harrow looked at him.

"Lady Valmont?"

"She’s inside the capital."

"Yes."

"Can I send a letter?"

Harrow hesitated.

"Correspondence is being inspected before entering the city."

"Then inspect it."

Cassian turned toward his secretary.

"Paper."

A sheet was brought to him.

He wrote quickly.

He didn’t waste words.

He told Marian that he had arrived at the capital.

That he was safe.

That he had learned about the Emperor.

That he understood why the city was sealed.

And that he was waiting outside the gates.

Then he added the one thing he knew she needed to hear.

I am here. Don’t worry. As soon as they allow me through, I will come to you.

He folded the letter.

Sealed it.

Then handed it to Lord Harrow.

"Please make certain this reaches her."

Harrow accepted it.

"I will have it sent through the proper channels."

Cassian nodded.

He looked toward the capital again.

Three days.

His wedding was in three days.

He had crossed half the Empire to get home, to her.

Marian was only a few miles away.

And he still couldn’t reach her.

For the first time since leaving Ashford, Cassian allowed himself to feel the full weight of the situation.

He wasn’t worried about the wedding itself.

Not yet.

He was worried about Marian.

She had spent the past several days preparing for their marriage, believing he was on his way home.

Now the Emperor was seriously ill.

The capital was locked down.

And she had no idea that he was sitting just outside the gates.

Cassian exhaled slowly.

There was nothing he could do by force.

He would wait.

He would follow the rules.

He would send every message he was permitted to send.

And the moment those gates opened, he would go to her.

He turned away from the walls.

What he did not know was that the letter he had just entrusted to the Imperial authorities would never reach Marian.

It would be delivered elsewhere first.

--

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