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the Villainess they took for granted

Chapter 167: Of Duties and Parting · Oct 27, 2026

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Chapter List (304)

Page number / 7

151 Chapter 151: Yes 2026-10-27
152 Chapter 152: The News 2026-10-27
153 Chapter 153: A Request 2026-10-27
154 Chapter 154: Closure 2026-10-27
155 Chapter 155: The First Move 2026-10-27
156 Chapter 156: Wedding Plans I 2026-10-27
157 Chapter 157: wedding plans II 2026-10-27
158 Chapter 158: Wedding Plans III 2026-10-27
159 Chapter 159: wedding plans III 2026-10-27
160 Chapter 160: wedding plans IV 2026-10-27
161 Chapter 161: reception venue I 2026-10-27
162 Chapter 162: Reception Venue II 2026-10-27
163 Chapter 163: Invitation letter and program 2026-10-27
164 Chapter 164: wedding dress 2026-10-27
165 Chapter 165: of flowers, other arrangements, and a letter 2026-10-27
166 Chapter 166: food menu, wedding cake, and the second letter 2026-10-27
167 Chapter 167: Of Duties and Parting 2026-10-27
168 Chapter 168: the second move 2026-10-27
169 Chapter 169: one month before the wedding 2026-10-27
170 Chapter 170: decision to leave 2026-10-27
171 Chapter 171: the emperor falls ill 2026-10-27
172 Chapter 172: closed gates 2026-10-27
173 Chapter 173: the letter 2026-10-27
174 Chapter 174: a son who lost his father 2026-10-27
175 Chapter 175: The Succession 2026-10-27
176 Chapter 176: the emperor is dead 2026-10-27
177 Chapter 177: the minister of war 2026-10-27
178 Chapter 178: The Emperor’s Funeral 2026-10-27
179 Chapter 179: the report 2026-10-27
180 Chapter 180: the coronation I 2026-10-27
181 Chapter 181: the coronation II 2026-10-27
182 Chapter 182: V2- - 1: Her Return 2026-10-27
183 Chapter 183: V2- - 2: The Emperor 2026-10-27
184 Chapter 184: V2- - 3- Returning to soceity 2026-10-27
185 Chapter 185: V2- - 4: the marraige market 2026-10-27
186 Chapter 186: V2- - 5: an obvious choice 2026-10-27
187 Chapter 187: V2- - 6: the invitation 2026-10-27
188 Chapter 188: V2- - 7: An attempt 2026-10-27
189 Chapter 189: V2- - 8: The opening ball I 2026-10-27
190 Chapter 190: V2- - 9: The opening ball II 2026-10-27
191 Chapter 191: v2- - 10: the opening ball III 2026-10-27
192 Chapter 192: v2- - 11: the opening ball IV 2026-10-27
193 Chapter 193: v2- - 12: the opening ball V 2026-10-27
194 Chapter 194: v2- - 13: the opening ball VI 2026-10-27
195 Chapter 195: v2- - 14: the opening ball VII 2026-10-27
196 Chapter 196: v2- - 15: the opening ball VIII 2026-10-27
197 Chapter 197: v2- - 16: the opening ball IX 2026-10-27
198 Chapter 198: v2- - 17: the dance 2026-10-27
199 Chapter 199: v2- - 18: his private chambers I 2026-10-27
200 Chapter 200: v2- - 19: his private chambers II 2026-10-27

Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Of Duties and Parting

The envelope was waiting when they stepped out of the fitting room.

Cassian noticed it immediately.

His secretary rose from his seat.

”Your Grace.”

Cassian held out his hand.

The secretary placed the letter in it.

Marian watched the exchange.

She already knew what the seal meant.

Ashford.

Cassian broke it open as they walked toward the carriage.

He read the first few lines.

Then stopped.

Marian’s expression changed.

”What?”

Cassian folded the letter.

”Nothing.”

She gave him a look.

”Cassian.”

He sighed.

”It’s from Ashford.”

”I know.”

”They’ve sent another report.”

”Another?”

He nodded.

”This time, it’s urgent.”

Marian’s smile disappeared.

They had been hearing about the northern situation for days.

At first, it had been reports.

Then a review.

Then a request for him to return.

He had delayed.

There had always been another wedding appointment.

Another fitting.

Another decision that needed his attention.

And, if Marian was being honest, neither of them had wanted to acknowledge what the correspondence might eventually require.

She looked at him.

”What do they need?”

”They want me in Ashford.”

”Now?”

”Yes.”

Her fingers tightened around her notebook.

”For how long?”

Cassian looked back at the letter.

”They haven’t given me an exact duration.”

Marian stared at him.

”Then how are you supposed to know when you’ll return?”

”I’ll know more once I get there.”

She looked away.

The carriage had already stopped.

Neither moved toward it.

”How long does it take?”

”To Ashford?”

She nodded.

”About two weeks.”

”And back?”

”About the same.”

Marian did the calculation immediately.

Four weeks.

Her eyes widened.

”Cassian.”

”I know.”

”We have less than two months.”

”I know.”

”The wedding is in—”

”I know, Marian.”

His voice was gentle.

She stopped.

He stepped closer.

”I know.”

She looked down.

The dress.

The invitations.

The flowers.

The reception.

The fittings.

Everything they had spent the past weeks arranging suddenly seemed frighteningly fragile.

”What will you even do there for two weeks?”

”Whatever is necessary.”

”But what is necessary?”

”I don’t know yet.”

She looked up at him.

”That’s what worries me.”

Cassian reached for her hand.

”I’ll come back.”

”You don’t know that.”

”I do.”

”How?”

”Because I’m marrying you in October.”

The certainty in his voice made her chest tighten.

He lifted her hand.

”I have no intention of missing it.”

Marian swallowed.

”But what if they keep you there?”

”They won’t.”

”What if something happens?”

”I’ll deal with it.”

”What if—”

”Marian.”

She stopped.

Cassian’s thumb brushed over her fingers.

”Trust me.”

She looked at him for a long moment.

”I do.”

”Then trust me with this too.”

She exhaled slowly.

”I don’t like it.”

”I know.”

”I really don’t like it.”

”I know that too.”

She frowned.

”You sound very calm.”

”I’m not.”

That surprised her.

Cassian looked toward the carriage.

”I don’t want to leave.”

The admission was quiet.

”But I have to.”

Marian’s expression softened.

She knew.

That was the worst part.

She knew exactly why he had to go.

Ashford was not simply his title.

It was his duchy.

His people.

His responsibility.

Whatever had happened in the north, he could not remain in the capital simply because he was preparing for his wedding.

Especially not when the reports had become serious enough for the administration to demand his presence.

She sighed.

”I suppose this is where I’m supposed to be sensible.”

Cassian smiled faintly.

”You don’t have to be.”

”I want to be.”

She looked at him.

”That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

”No.”

”Because I don’t.”

He laughed softly.

”I noticed.”

Marian folded her arms.

”You could at least pretend to be sorry.”

”I am.”

”More.”

”Very sorry.”

She narrowed her eyes.

”Not convincing.”

He stepped closer.

”I am deeply sorry that I have to leave you for a few weeks.”

”Better.”

”And I promise to return.”

”Before the wedding.”

”Long before the wedding.”

She hesitated.

”How long?”

Cassian thought.

”I’ll leave tomorrow.”

”Tomorrow?”

He nodded.

”If I leave early, I can reach Ashford as quickly as possible.”

Marian looked at him.

”Then you’ll be gone for at least four weeks.”

”Perhaps.”

She sighed.

”I hate this.”

”I know.”

She looked at the carriage.

Then at him.

”Are you going to spend the entire journey thinking about Ashford?”

”No.”

”Good.”

”I’ll be thinking about you.”

Her expression softened.

”That’s better.”

He smiled.

”I’ll write as soon as I get there.”

”You’d better.”

”Then, every day if you want.”

”I do.”

”Then every day.”

She smiled faintly.

”And I’ll send you updates.”

”About the wedding?”

”Everything.”

”Even the flowers?”

”Especially the flowers.”

That made her laugh.

”And the dress?”

”Of course.”

”You’ll miss the next fitting.”

”I know.”

”I’ll send you the drawings.”

”I’ll look at them.”

”Even if you don’t understand them?”

”Especially then.”

She laughed again.

For a moment, the heaviness lifted.

Then Marian’s eyes fell to the letter in his hand.

The smile faded.

”Cassian.”

”Yes?”

”Come back.”

He looked at her.

There was no teasing in her voice now.

No spoiled complaint.

Just a quiet request.

”I will.”

He stepped closer and drew her into his arms.

Marian rested her cheek against his chest.

She had spent so much of her life being taught how to behave properly.

How to remain composed.

How to accept duties without complaint.

How to smile through difficult circumstances.

But none of that made this easier.

She didn’t want to be reasonable.

She didn’t want to send him away.

She wanted him beside her.

She wanted him at the fittings.

At the flower appointments.

At the tastings.

She wanted to wake each morning knowing he was in the capital.

And, most selfishly of all, she wanted these last weeks before their wedding to belong to them.

Cassian held her more tightly.

”I’ll be back before you know it.”

”That’s what people say when they’re leaving.”

”I’m not leaving you.”

She lifted her head.

”I’m leaving the capital.”

His eyes softened.

”Not you.”

Marian looked at him.

Then she smiled.

”Fine.”

”Fine?”

She sighed dramatically.

”Go do your duty.”

Cassian smiled.

”You make it sound terrible.”

”It is terrible.”

”Very well.”

She stepped back.

”But I’m still angry.”

”I expected that.”

”And when you return, you owe me.”

”How much?”

She considered.

”A lot.”

He smiled.

”I’ll pay it.”

”Good.”

He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

Then her cheek.

Then her lips.

The kiss was gentle.

Nothing like the desperate ones they had shared in the carriage.

This one lingered.

A promise rather than a temptation.

When they parted, Marian looked at him.

”Tomorrow?”

”Tomorrow.”

”I’ll see you before you leave.”

”Of course.”

”And you’re not leaving without saying goodbye properly.”

”Never.”

She nodded.

Then finally stepped toward the carriage.

Cassian watched her.

She turned once before climbing inside.

He was still standing there.

Still holding the letter.

Still looking at her.

Marian gave him a small smile.

”Come back to me.”

His expression softened.

”Always.”

The carriage door closed.

And as it began to move, Marian remained by the window, watching him until the last possible moment.

Only when he disappeared from view did she look down at her wedding notebook.

The next appointment was already written there.

The final fitting.

Flowers.

Reception arrangements.

Invitations.

So much remained to be done.

And now, for the first time since they had begun planning, she would have to do some of it without him.

Marian rested her hand over the page.

October was still coming.

The wedding was still happening.

She would make sure of it.

And Cassian—

he had better come home.

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