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the Villainess they took for granted

Chapter 130: My Brother’s Son · Oct 27, 2026

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Chapter List (304)

Page number / 7

101 Chapter 101: I Missed You 2026-10-27
102 Chapter 102: A Moment of Peace 2026-10-27
103 Chapter 103: The End of Questions 2026-10-27
104 Chapter 104: Beside Her 2026-10-27
105 Chapter 105: The First Move 2026-10-27
106 Chapter 106: The First Ripple 2026-10-27
107 Chapter 107: The Crown Prince Moves 2026-10-27
108 Chapter 108: The Last Olive Branch 2026-10-27
109 Chapter 109: Between Storms 2026-10-27
110 Chapter 110: The Name 2026-10-27
111 Chapter 111: The distance between us 2026-10-27
112 Chapter 112: What do you want? 2026-10-27
113 Chapter 113: Just Cassian 2026-10-27
114 Chapter 114: Then What? 2026-10-27
115 Chapter 115: The Audience 2026-10-27
116 Chapter 116: A Father’s Argument 2026-10-27
117 Chapter 117: And What of My Son? 2026-10-27
118 Chapter 118: Why Him? 2026-10-27
119 Chapter 119: If I Refuse 2026-10-27
120 Chapter 120: The Future 2026-10-27
121 Chapter 121: The Weight of a Crown 2026-10-27
122 Chapter 122: My Son Deserves Better 2026-10-27
123 Chapter 123: For the Best 2026-10-27
124 Chapter 124: Good News 2026-10-27
125 Chapter 125: The Road Ahead 2026-10-27
126 Chapter 126: Letting Go 2026-10-27
127 Chapter 127: The Proceedings 2026-10-27
128 Chapter 128: His Nephew 2026-10-27
129 Chapter 129: How Did This Happen? 2026-10-27
130 Chapter 130: My Brother’s Son 2026-10-27
131 Chapter 131: The Price 2026-10-27
132 Chapter 132: The Cost 2026-10-27
133 Chapter 133: Ashford House 2026-10-27
134 Chapter 134: Patience 2026-10-27
135 Chapter 135: Yours 2026-10-27
136 Chapter 136: Spring 2026-10-27
137 Chapter 137: The Invitation 2026-10-27
138 Chapter 138: The Season 2026-10-27
139 Chapter 139: Afterward 2026-10-27
140 Chapter 140: Questions 2026-10-27
141 Chapter 141: Attention 2026-10-27
142 Chapter 142: Answers 2026-10-27
143 Chapter 143: Waiting 2026-10-27
144 Chapter 144: His Grace, Duke Ashford 2026-10-27
145 Chapter 145: Home 2026-10-27
146 Chapter 146: Welcome Home 2026-10-27
147 Chapter 147: The Space Between Them 2026-10-27
148 Chapter 148: This Dance 2026-10-27
149 Chapter 149: Reality Returns 2026-10-27
150 Chapter 150: The Ring 2026-10-27

Chapter 130: Chapter 130: My Brother’s Son

Cassian remained seated.

The laughter from moments earlier gradually faded.

Silence settled over the office.

For the first time that afternoon, neither man seemed particularly eager to speak.

The Emperor leaned back in his chair.

Studying him.

Not Duke Ashford.

Not a noble.

Not the man who had somehow managed to create the greatest political headache of the season.

Simply Cassian.

His brother’s son.

After a long moment, the Emperor spoke.

”You look more like him these days.”

Cassian immediately knew who he meant.

His father.

A faint smile appeared.

”I’ve been told that before.”

The Emperor snorted.

”By people trying to be polite.”

That earned a laugh.

The Emperor pointed at him.

”Your father was a menace.”

”That isn’t how most people describe him.”

”Most people are liars.”

The answer came so quickly that Cassian laughed again.

The Emperor looked entirely unapologetic.

”He was stubborn. Reckless. Impossible to control.”

A pause.

”Far too charming.”

Cassian winced.

”That sounds familiar.”

”It should.”

The Emperor pointed at him again.

”You inherited all the troublesome parts.”

”I’ll take that as a compliment.”

”It wasn’t one.”

For a while, silence returned.

Comfortable this time.

Then the Emperor sighed.

”He would have hated this situation.”

Cassian nodded.

”Probably.”

A pause.

”Though he also would have found it funny.”

That earned an unwilling laugh.

”Unfortunately.”

The amusement faded.

The Emperor folded his arms.

”Listen carefully.”

The tone changed.

Cassian straightened immediately.

Because this was no longer family reminiscing.

This was advice.

The kind rarely given.

The kind that mattered.

”People think love is the end of a story.”

The Emperor shook his head.

”It isn’t.”

A pause.

”It’s the beginning.”

The room fell quiet.

”The difficult part comes afterward.”

Cassian listened.

”Anyone can fall in love.”

The Emperor shrugged.

”Staying in love is work.”

A pause.

”Choosing the same person every day is work.”

Another.

”And if you stop doing that work, life tends to remind you.”

For several moments neither spoke.

Then the Emperor said:

”I understand Marian.”

The statement surprised him.

The Emperor noticed immediately.

”Do not look so shocked.”

”I’m not.”

”You are.”

Cassian wisely remained silent.

The Emperor continued.

”I understand why she made her choice.”

A pause.

”I understand why she couldn’t marry Adrian.”

Another.

”I understand why I approved the dissolution.”

The room grew quiet.

Then:

”That does not mean I like it.”

The words were simple.

Blunt.

Honest.

The Emperor looked toward the window.

”For years she stood beside my son.”

A pause.

”For years she believed she knew what she wanted.”

Another.

”So did everyone else.”

Silence.

Then:

”And then she didn’t.”

The words weren’t angry.

Which somehow made them heavier.

”I don’t think she is wicked.”

A pause.

”I don’t think she is cruel.”

Another.

”I don’t even think she was wrong.”

The Emperor’s gaze returned to him.

”But if you expect me to be pleased with her, you will be disappointed.”

Cassian almost smiled.

”I wasn’t expecting that.”

”Good.”

The Emperor looked entirely satisfied.

”Because at this moment, she remains the woman who broke my son’s heart.”

Silence settled between them.

Then the Emperor sighed.

”Marian is fortunate.”

Cassian blinked.

That was not what he expected to hear.

The Emperor folded his arms.

”If she had chosen another man, this would be easier.”

The room grew quiet.

”I could remain angry.”

A pause.

”I could dislike her properly.”

Another.

”I could look at what happened to Adrian and decide that was the end of it.”

The Emperor shook his head.

”Instead she chose you.”

There it was.

The real problem.

Not Marian.

Cassian.

The Emperor pointed at him.

”You.”

A pause.

”The son of my brother.”

Another.

”The nephew I watched grow up.”

Another.

”The man I trust.”

Silence.

The Emperor sighed.

”Every time I try to remain angry at her, I have to remember that you chose her too.”

The room became very quiet.

Because that was the truth.

The Emperor wasn’t protecting Marian.

He was protecting Cassian.

”If I spend the next ten years resenting her, who does that hurt?”

A pause.

”You.”

The Emperor shook his head.

”And despite everything, I find that I care more about your happiness than I do about my resentment.”

For a moment neither spoke.

Then:

”Do not misunderstand me.”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes.

”I am still displeased with her.”

A pause.

”Very displeased.”

Another.

”Understanding her does not mean I have forgiven her.”

The room fell quiet.

”But you.”

The Emperor pointed again.

”You make it impossible for me to dislike her as much as I would prefer.”

Despite himself, Cassian laughed.

The Emperor looked offended.

”What is amusing?”

”Nothing.”

”It was clearly something.”

That only made it worse.

Eventually the Emperor sighed.

Then:

”If she chooses you today, give her a reason to choose you tomorrow.”

The humor disappeared.

”Do not become complacent.”

The words landed heavily.

”I am not worried about Marian.”

The Emperor pointed at him.

”I am worried about you.”

Cassian grew still.

The Emperor’s expression softened slightly.

Only slightly.

”You are your father’s son.”

A pause.

”Which means you love deeply.”

Another.

”And men like that rarely notice danger until it is standing in front of them.”

The room became quiet.

Then:

”If she leaves you someday...”

The Emperor stopped.

As though weighing his words.

Then:

”Come see me before you do anything stupid.”

Silence.

Then Cassian laughed.

The Emperor did not.

Which somehow made it funnier.

”I am serious.”

”I know.”

”Good.”

The Emperor nodded.

”Because I have already dealt with one heartbroken idiot this season.”

That finally left Cassian without a response.

For several moments neither spoke.

Then:

”Thank you.”

The Emperor frowned immediately.

”For what?”

Cassian smiled faintly.

”For not making this worse.”

The room grew quiet.

The Emperor stared at him.

Then:

”You assume I was tempted?”

Cassian laughed softly.

”Your Majesty.”

The Emperor snorted.

That was answer enough.

”It is already costing you dearly.”

A pause.

”The compensation alone would make lesser men cry.”

”I know.”

”Good.”

The Emperor appeared satisfied.

”You should.”

Silence settled briefly.

Then Cassian spoke again.

”It could have been worse.”

The words were quiet.

Honest.

The Emperor’s gaze sharpened.

Because now they both understood what was actually being said.

Not compensation.

Not money.

Not politics.

Something heavier.

Cassian met his uncle’s eyes.

”You loved Adrian more than anyone.”

A pause.

”No one would have blamed you.”

Another.

”If you had made it worse.”

Silence.

The Emperor said nothing.

Because there was nothing to say.

The statement was true.

Cassian continued.

”I didn’t wait because I thought you would agree.”

A small shake of his head.

”I waited because I knew you would decide.”

The room fell quiet.

Then:

”And because whatever that decision was...”

A pause.

”I knew it would be one you could live with afterward.”

For the first time all afternoon, the Emperor looked genuinely annoyed.

Not because the words were wrong.

Because they were correct.

”You are becoming entirely too perceptive.”

Cassian laughed.

The Emperor pointed toward the door immediately.

”Get out.”

Cassian’s smile widened.

Unfortunately.

The Emperor looked deeply dissatisfied by that.

Then:

”Go before I remember that all of this is technically your fault.”

That finally made Cassian laugh outright.

He rose.

Then bowed.

A proper bow.

Not merely to the Emperor.

To the man.

”Thank you, Uncle.”

Silence.

The Emperor froze.

For exactly three seconds.

Then picked up the nearest document.

”Leave.”

”Yes, Uncle.”

”Faster.”

The door closed.

The room became quiet once more.

For a long moment, the Emperor stared at the empty chair.

Then sighed.

Because despite everything—

the boy had understood.

Not the decision.

The restraint.

And somehow that felt far more personal.

The Emperor looked toward the window.

And found himself thinking that his brother would have been unbearably pleased with the man his son had become.

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