Home / the Villainess they took for granted / Chapter 283: v3 - 44: a new beginning V

Read free on Ficlyn

the Villainess they took for granted

Chapter 283: v3 - 44: a new beginning V · Oct 27, 2026

Prev Chapter Novel Info Next Chapter

Chapter List (304)

Page number / 7

251 Chapter 251: v3 - 12: training grounds I 2026-10-27
252 Chapter 252: v3 - 13: training grounds II 2026-10-27
253 Chapter 253: v3 - 14: training grounds III 2026-10-27
254 Chapter 254: v4 - 15: Training grounds IV 2026-10-27
255 Chapter 255: v3 - 16: the first duel I 2026-10-27
256 Chapter 256: v3- - 17: the first duel II 2026-10-27
257 Chapter 257: v3 - 18: the first duel III 2026-10-27
258 Chapter 258: v3 - 19: the first duel IV 2026-10-27
259 Chapter 259: v3 - 20: the first duel V 2026-10-27
260 Chapter 260: v3 - 21: the first duel VI 2026-10-27
261 Chapter 261: v3 - 22:First duel’s aftermath 2026-10-27
262 Chapter 262: v3 - 23: changing seasons 2026-10-27
263 Chapter 263: v3 - 24: unexpected guests I 2026-10-27
264 Chapter 264: v3 - 25: unexpected guests II 2026-10-27
265 Chapter 265: v3 - 26: challenged 2026-10-27
266 Chapter 266: v3 - 27: the challengers I 2026-10-27
267 Chapter 267: v3 - 28: the challengers II 2026-10-27
268 Chapter 268: v3 - 29: the challengers III 2026-10-27
269 Chapter 269: v3 - 30: the challengers IV 2026-10-27
270 Chapter 270: v3 - 31: the challengers V 2026-10-27
271 Chapter 271: v3 - 32: the challengers VI 2026-10-27
272 Chapter 272: v3 - 33: the challengers VII 2026-10-27
273 Chapter 273: v3 - 34: a gamble I 2026-10-27
274 Chapter 274: v3 - 35: a gamble II 2026-10-27
275 Chapter 275: v3 - 36: the first recruit 2026-10-27
276 Chapter 276: v3 - 37: a way forward I 2026-10-27
277 Chapter 277: v3 - 38: a way forward II 2026-10-27
278 Chapter 278: v3 - 39: a way forward III 2026-10-27
279 Chapter 279: v3 - 40: a new beginning I 2026-10-27
280 Chapter 280: v3 - 41: a new beginning II 2026-10-27
281 Chapter 281: v3 - 42: a new beginning III 2026-10-27
282 Chapter 282: v3 - 43: a new beginning IV 2026-10-27
283 Chapter 283: v3 - 44: a new beginning V 2026-10-27
284 Chapter 284: v3 - 45: a new beginning VI 2026-10-27
285 Chapter 285: v3 - 46: Count Carlo of Almery I 2026-10-27
286 Chapter 286: v3 - 47: count carlo of almery II 2026-10-27
287 Chapter 287: v3 - 48: count carlo of almery III 2026-10-27
288 Chapter 288: v3 - 49: His first appearance I 2026-10-27
289 Chapter 289: v3 - 50: His first appearance II 2026-10-27
290 Chapter 290: v3 - 51: years in passing 2026-10-27
291 Chapter 291: v3 - 52: the final six months 2026-10-27
292 Chapter 292: v3 - 53: securing the crown 2026-10-27
293 Chapter 293: v3 - 54: the rewards of victory I 2026-10-27
294 Chapter 294: v3 - 55: the rewards of victory II 2026-10-27
295 Chapter 295: v3 - 56: the truth I 2026-10-27
296 Chapter 296: v3 - 57: the truth II 2026-10-27
297 Chapter 297: v3 - 58: the truth III 2026-10-27
298 Chapter 298: v3 - 59: the road home I 2026-10-27
299 Chapter 299: v3 - 60: the road home II 2026-10-27
300 Chapter 300: v4- - 1: the life she had chosen I 2026-10-27

Chapter 283: v3 Chapter 44: a new beginning V

The doors to the Crown Prince’s dining chamber opened.

Marcus entered first.

The four men followed.

Lorenz was already seated at the head of the table.

His attention moved toward them as they entered.

Then it stopped.

On Cassian.

For a moment, Lorenz simply stared.

He had seen the man only hours earlier.

Yet somehow, seeing him now was different.

The beard and tangled hair had concealed far more than Lorenz had realized.

He glanced toward Marcus.

Then back at Cassian.

A faint smile appeared.

Marcus noticed.

”What?”

Lorenz leaned slightly toward him as the men approached.

Quiet enough that only Marcus could hear, he murmured,

”Now I understand why the woman chose him.”

Marcus’s expression remained perfectly composed.

Lorenz’s eyes returned to Cassian.

”He doesn’t only walk better than you.”

A pause.

”He looks better than you.”

Marcus’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

Lorenz continued, clearly enjoying himself.

”And he fights better than you.”

Marcus stared straight ahead.

Three defeats.

He had no intention of acknowledging any of them.

Lorenz’s smile widened.

”A triple defeat, Marcus.”

Marcus’s eyes narrowed.

You insufferable bastard.

But aloud, he said nothing.

Lorenz finally turned his attention to the four men.

”Come. Sit.”

The men approached the table.

Robert, Alex, and Gary were visibly more cautious now.

The room was unlike anything they had ever eaten in.

The table was properly set.

There were several utensils beside each plate.

Glasses.

Napkins.

Everything arranged with a precision that made them suddenly aware of how little they knew about any of it.

Cassian, however, showed no hesitation.

He took his seat naturally.

His posture was straight without being stiff.

His movements were controlled.

The meal began.

Robert, Alex, and Gary were noticeably more cautious than they had been in the Arena.

The table was unlike anything they were accustomed to.

There were several utensils beside each plate, each seemingly meant for something different.

Robert stared at them for a moment.

Alex did the same.

Gary glanced at the others, clearly hoping someone else knew what to do.

None of them said anything.

Across the table, Cassian simply began eating.

There was no hesitation.

He picked up the appropriate utensil as naturally as breathing and continued with the meal as though he had done so every evening of his life.

Lorenz noticed.

So did Marcus.

Neither commented.

Robert eventually chose one of the utensils.

Alex watched him.

Then followed.

Gary followed Alex.

They managed well enough.

Cassian remained entirely unaware that the simple act of eating had drawn attention.

His posture was relaxed but precise.

He knew how to hold himself at a formal table.

He knew when to speak and when to remain silent.

Even after nearly two years in the Arena, whatever refinement had been instilled in him before had not disappeared.

If anything, the contrast made it more noticeable.

Lorenz watched him for another moment.

The man could pass at a noble table without anyone questioning him.

That was becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss as coincidence.

The dinner proceeded.

For the first several minutes, conversation remained light.

Then Lorenz set down his glass.

”There is something I want all four of you to understand before we continue.”

The lightness that had remained in the room disappeared.

His expression became composed and serious.

”I called you here tonight so that there would be no misunderstanding about what I expect from you.”

The four men straightened.

”First and above all, I expect loyalty.”

His gaze moved from one man to the next.

”Not blind obedience. I expect you to understand the orders you are given, carry them out faithfully, and keep what you learn within these walls.”

He paused.

”You are now serving me.”

His voice remained calm.

”That means your loyalty is to me and to the cause I represent.”

Robert, Alex, Gary, and Cassian listened without interruption.

”You should also understand why that loyalty is necessary.”

Lorenz leaned back slightly.

”Being the Crown Prince does not mean my succession is secure.”

The words were simple, but their weight was not.

”My father is ailing.”

A brief pause.

”And the question of succession is no longer something that can be left for the future.”

His expression hardened.

”I am the legitimate heir. By law and by birth, the throne should pass to me.”

He looked around the table.

”That gives us an advantage.”

”But it does not guarantee victory.”

The room remained silent.

”The court is divided.”

”My brothers have their own supporters, their own alliances, and their own ambitions.”

Lorenz’s gaze became colder.

”At present, my second brother’s faction is stronger than mine.”

Robert’s expression shifted slightly.

Lorenz continued.

”That is precisely why you are sitting at this table.”

He placed one hand against the arm of his chair.

”I did not bring you here because I needed four more swords.”

His gaze moved toward them.

”I brought you here because I need men I can trust.”

”Men who can protect me.”

”Men who can gather information.”

”Men who can move where others cannot.”

”And men who can help me build the support I need before the succession is decided.”

He paused.

”You will receive further instruction as you serve. You will learn our methods, our people, and the responsibilities attached to your positions.”

His tone sharpened.

”But understand this clearly.”

”You are not waiting here to become useful.”

”You are already in my service.”

The four men nodded.

Lorenz turned toward Robert.

”Robert.”

Robert straightened.

”You are quick on your feet, observant, and naturally personable.”

Robert listened carefully.

”You will work with our intelligence and reconnaissance personnel.”

His eyes widened slightly.

”You will assist with gathering information, carrying reports, observing movements, and cultivating contacts.”

A pause.

”You will learn how information moves through the kingdom—and how to determine which information is worth bringing to me.”

”Yes, Your Highness.”

Lorenz then looked toward Alex.

”Alex.”

Alex straightened.

”You are disciplined and steady.”

”You will serve with the household security.”

”You will be responsible for patrols, internal security, and the protection of designated members of my household.”

Alex bowed his head.

”Yes, Your Highness.”

Lorenz turned to Gary.

”Gary.”

Gary sat straighter.

”You have strength and endurance, and you are young enough to develop considerably.”

”You will serve with the field security forces.”

”You will accompany patrols and field operations when required, while receiving further instruction from the senior officers.”

”Yes, Your Highness.”

Lorenz’s gaze finally settled on Cassian.

He paused.

Cassian met his eyes.

Lorenz’s attention lingered on him for a moment.

He seemed to consider something.

”Regarding your duty...”

He paused.

”We will discuss that after the meal.”

Cassian inclined his head.

”Yes, Your Highness.”

”Good.”

Lorenz lifted his glass.

”Then let us eat.”

The conversation returned to lighter matters.

The four men gradually relaxed.

Robert was still visibly fascinated by everything around him, occasionally glancing at the table as though he still could not quite believe that he was actually sitting there.

Alex was quieter, but no less attentive.

Gary seemed determined not to make another mistake with the unfamiliar formalities.

Cassian simply ate.

Lorenz occasionally observed him from across the table.

Marcus did the same.

Neither said anything.

But something had clearly changed in Lorenz’s mind.

Tbc

Prev Chapter Novel Info Next Chapter

Recommended Novels

Transmigrated as the Villainess, my University Romance went Off Script champilyn

Genius Doctor Black Belly Miss Dạ Bắc

The Deadly Hitwoman: The Heiress's Special Abilities Seven-leaf Hibiscus

Genius Doctor Black Belly Miss North Night

Peaceful Farm Life Evergreen Tree

The Golem Mage mystic dark

Reborn In The Three Kingdoms Tang12

Stop Fooling the Us, China Really is Doing This! Shen Qian Zhi Jian

My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead Mo Qi Jian

From Folly to Fortune：I Rewrite My Life After Rebirth! Lu Chengfeng

The Feng Shui Treasure Appraiser Chao Ji Xue Ba

Epoch of Twilight Don't Play People Fo

The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me! Chu Qianmo

The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming Zhan Xiye

African Entrepreneurship Record Evil er er er