the Villainess they took for granted

Chapter 169: Chapter 169: one month before the wedding

Cassian arrived at Ashford shortly before noon.

The gates opened as the ducal carriage approached, and his steward was already waiting at the entrance.

”Your Grace.”

Cassian stepped down.

”How are matters?”

”Much as they were described in the latest correspondence.”

Cassian nodded.

He had expected that.

The reports had been arriving in the capital for weeks. The first had been manageable. The second had been more concerning. By the third, it had become impossible to continue handling the matter from a distance.

That was why he was here now.

He had tried to delegate it.

He had tried to have his officials manage the situation while he remained in the capital.

But the latest correspondence had made it clear that his personal presence was required.

He handed his gloves to an attendant.

”Bring the latest reports to my study.”

”Yes, Your Grace.”

”And have the northern commander ready to meet me.”

”Immediately.”

Cassian entered the residence and went directly to his study.

The reports were already waiting.

He spread them across the desk.

Supply routes.

Patrols.

Fortifications.

Trade caravans.

He had already read most of the earlier reports. Now he wanted to see what had changed since the last one.

”What has happened since the previous report?”

The commander stood beside the desk.

”Two additional incidents.”

Cassian looked up.

”Where?”

The man indicated the map.

Cassian studied the marked locations.

”And the missing shipments?”

”One has been recovered. Two remain unaccounted for.”

”Patrols?”

”They’ve been increased along the eastern route.”

”Enough?”

The commander hesitated.

”We can increase them further.”

”Do it.”

”Yes, Your Grace.”

Cassian moved closer to the map.

”The fortress?”

”Repairs have begun.”

”How long?”

”Approximately ten days.”

Cassian frowned.

”Too long.”

”The damage is more extensive than initially thought.”

”Bring in additional workers.”

”We’ll need supplies.”

”Take them from the western depot.”

The commander nodded.

”And the neighboring estates?”

”We’ve contacted them.”

”Have they increased their patrols?”

”Some.”

”Some isn’t enough.”

Cassian pointed toward the map.

”Coordinate the rest. I want the routes properly covered.”

”Yes, Your Grace.”

He continued through the reports.

Questions.

Decisions.

Instructions.

One after another.

There was no point dwelling on the inconvenience of being there. He had come because the matter required his attention, and now he needed to settle it.

The sooner he did, the sooner he could return.

--

By late afternoon, Cassian had reviewed the immediate situation.

It was serious enough to require attention.

But it was manageable.

That mattered.

He looked toward the calendar on his desk.

The wedding was one month away.

The journey back to the capital would take nearly two weeks.

He wanted at least a week in the capital before the ceremony. At the absolute latest, he needed to leave Ashford twelve days from now.

Preferably sooner.

He turned to his steward.

”I want everything stabilized within the week.”

The steward looked at him.

”That soon?”

”My wedding is approaching.”

The steward immediately understood.

”Of course, Your Grace.”

Cassian returned his attention to the reports.

”Everything that can be settled here needs to be settled before I leave.”

”We’ll make every effort.”

Cassian looked up.

”Don’t make an effort.”

A pause.

”Make it happen.”

”Yes, Your Grace.”

The steward bowed.

Cassian returned to work.

--

By evening, the immediate arrangements were in motion.

The northern patrols would be reinforced.

The damaged fortress would receive additional workers.

The disrupted supply route would be temporarily redirected.

The neighboring estates would coordinate their patrols.

And every new report would come directly to him.

There was still work ahead, but at least there was now a clear course of action.

Cassian finally sat back in his chair.

His gaze fell on a blank sheet of paper.

Marian.

He knew she would be waiting for his first word from Ashford.

He also knew the letter would take several days to reach her.

That could not be helped.

Still, he wanted her to hear from him immediately.

He dipped his pen into the ink.

Then began.

My dearest Marian,

I arrived safely.

I have now had the opportunity to see the situation for myself. It is more involved than the first reports suggested, but nothing that cannot be brought under control.

I have already given the necessary instructions, and everyone is working on it.

Don’t worry about the wedding.

I will leave Ashford as soon as the remaining matters are settled. I intend to be back in the capital with plenty of time before our wedding.

By the time this letter reaches you, I may already be on my way home.

So continue everything exactly as planned.

And don’t allow yourself to worry about me.

I miss you.

Cassian

He read the letter once.

Then folded it carefully.

He knew Marian.

She would probably calculate the days herself.

But that was precisely why he had written it this way.

He wanted her to know that he had already calculated them too.

He was coming home.

Cassian sealed the letter and handed it to his secretary.

”Send this tonight.”

”Yes, Your Grace.”

The secretary bowed and left.

Cassian looked toward the calendar again.

One month.

He had twelve days at most.

Then two weeks on the road.

He could make it.

He had to.

He looked back at the reports.

”Let’s get this done.”

--

Meanwhile,

One month before the wedding, Marian finally closed her wedding notebook.

She stared at the last page for several seconds.

There was nothing left to add.

The invitations had been sent.

The guest list had been finalized.

The entourage had been settled.

The cathedral was reserved.

The reception venue was confirmed.

The flowers had been arranged.

The menu had been approved.

The musicians had been engaged.

Her dress was finished, along with the veil and the rest of her wedding attire.

Even the smallest details had been decided.

Marian ran her fingers over the page.

For weeks, there had always been something else to do.

Another letter to approve.

Another appointment.

Another decision.

Another detail that somehow needed her attention.

Now there was nothing.

She closed the notebook.

”Finally.”

Her secretary looked up from the documents she was sorting.

”Everything is complete, my lady.”

Marian nodded.

”It is.”

There was a faint smile on her face.

She should have been relieved.

Instead, she felt strangely restless.

Because the wedding was no longer something they were preparing.

It was simply waiting to happen.

And the only thing missing was Cassian.

Marian glanced toward the calendar.

One month.

She knew he had arrived in Ashford only that day.

She hadn’t expected a letter yet. Even if he had written immediately, it would take days for his correspondence to reach the capital.

So there was no reason to worry.

He had promised he would return.

And she trusted him.

Still, she found herself looking toward the window.

Her secretary noticed.

”You have nothing else to arrange, my lady.”

Marian smiled.

”I know.”

”You could rest.”

”I could.”

She looked at the closed notebook.

Then laughed softly.

”I suppose I should learn how.”

--

That afternoon, Marian walked through the reception venue one final time.

There was little left for her to decide.

The arrangements were already underway.

The room would be transformed over the coming weeks, but everything had been planned.

She stood in the center of the ballroom and looked toward the entrance.

In a month, she would walk into this room as Cassian’s wife.

The thought still made her smile.

She imagined the music.

The guests.

Her father.

Her friends.

And then Cassian waiting for her.

Her smile deepened.

She turned away.

Everything was ready.

--

That evening, Marian returned home.

Her wedding notebook remained closed on her desk.

For once, she didn’t open it.

There was nothing left to plan.

Nothing left to correct.

Nothing left to arrange.

She had done everything she could.

Now she simply had to wait.

And somewhere, two weeks away by carriage, Cassian had just arrived in Ashford.

He would do what he had gone there to do.

Then he would come home.

Marian had no reason to believe otherwise.

She had his promise.

And for now, that was enough.