Chapter 381: Cassius Maximus

"Are you sure about revealing him so quickly to the public?" Horace asked Magnus quietly. The two stood by the edge of a ballroom watching the nobility dance and laugh with one another. Few people tried to approach them, drawn to Magnus’ title and the mystique surrounding Horace, who was able to converse with him like an equal.

"You underestimate His Majesty. He will know about Ash’s existence in two weeks at most. How do you think he kept power? Every noble, commander, and clergyman has a secret. All of them have spies near them. Friend or foe, the Emperor has something on a person."

"A smart man." Horace smiled but quickly clicked his tongue. "What are the chances he discovered my existence?"

"Knowing you’re here is one thing, but chances are he finds out who you are, however. That depends on how well you hide your identity. From what I can tell, he will have difficulty."

The music died down, followed by a large fanfare. "Announcing the arrival of Commander Cassius Maxiums!" The main door to the Ballroom opened. Magnus and Horace turned to face, and soon a man with similar looks to Magnus proudly strolled in.

"Let’s go." Magnus pushed through the sea of people who stared at Cassius and approached the man. "Cousin." Spreading his arms towards Cassius, the man squinted for a few seconds in confusion before widely smiling and hugging Magnus.

"Magnus." Kissing each other’s cheeks, they pulled back, "Forgive me. Your Grace." Cassius quickly stood back and lowered his head.

"Enough, come. Let us drink." Cassius ignored the rest of the guests at the party as the music started again. Many of them were annoyed at not being able to get close to Cassius, but quickly let themselves be distracted by the party.

Cassius looked at the glass of wine in his hands and took a sip. His face scrunched in disgust as he put the half-drunk glass on a nearby table. "I don’t know how you drink that expensive stuff."

"An acquired taste." Looking over at Horace, he indicated for him to come over, "Cassius, please meet Felix. He’s a friend of mine."

"A friend." Cassius looked at Horace. With a soft smile that made him approachable, Cassius shook his head. "You don’t have anyone this happy near you."

"Associate would be a better word." Magnus looked around. "And we have an offer for you. One that has to be said in private."

"Shall we go to my study then?" Cassius quickly offered, but Magnus shook his head.

"No, we can’t be seen going together. You never know who’s looking. Felix and I will leave the ball in ten minutes and sneak back in through the back. We will be waiting in your study until this finishes. Do not rush its end." Cassius looked at Magnus with a strange gaze.

"You don’t take prequations like this unl...." Cassius’ eyes widened as he stared at Magnus. "Is it time?"

"Quiet fool." Handing a drink to his cousin, he forced him to hold it. "A toast to you. To your glory and the Empire’s." Cassius took it and downed the drink.

Bringing in Cassius for another hug, he leaned closer to his ear. "Make sure not to reveal anything yet. Meet me." Magnus kissed his cheek and quickly pulled away. "It is good to see you, cousin, but I have taken up too much of your time. Excuse me." Saying out loud, he walked off with Horace. "Try not to talk to guests. Your accent is no good."

"I know," Horace said bitterly. "I haven’t studied your lands enough."

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The sky was pitch black when Cassius got to his study. Horace sat with his eyes closed, resting whilst Magnus flipped through one of he few books kept by his cousin. Only when the door closed did the two give him any attention.

"So, cousin." Sitting down with an exhausted sigh, he looked between Horace and Magnus. "Who is he?"

Looking at Magnus, he nodded to Horace, it was okay to reveal his identity, "I am Count Horace Underwell, Commander. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"His accent and name aren’t from our home, Magnus. Westerner." Magnus nodded, and Cassius’ eyes hardened slightly, "Dangerous to trust an outsider." It was apparent to Horace that Cassius didn’t trust him, but he didn’t mind. It was good that he didn’t.

"He’s from the Ammary Empire. Despite his rank, he holds immense influence over there." Cassius stared at Horace for a while but sighed, trusting his cousin. "Thank you for being understanding. Shall we begin then?"

"I know what you want to ask already. Then, the men under me are loyal. That prick, Albus, has been letting his authority slip over the years. The fight for his position has already begun."

"But you have no chance to take over?" Cassius bitterly nodded, clicking his tongue.

"Don’t get me wrong. I am proud of our family, but it is a curse. The Emperor knows never to give our family too much power."

"That will change. We have been given a chance." Magnus turned to Horace, and the man smiled.

"I shall be honest, Commander. Magnus does not trust me, and neither do you. But this goes both ways. I have no trust in foreigners; you don’t serve the same master as I." Cassius frowned deeply, "But we both want the same thing, albeit for different reasons. I need a Severian Emperor favourable to my home, and you want influence on the throne. Luckily, we have someone who can be used as a puppet, ready."

"Is this true?" Cassius turned to Magnus.

"A bastard of Theodosius. His motive isn’t the throne but to ruin the man. Once he sits on the Throne, it will be mine to use. In a few weeks, my daughter will marry him." Cassius looked at the two, breaking into a full grin.

"The throne and military. You’ll make me general if it succeeds."

"Of course. There is no one more trustworthy." Cassius felt his heart beating with excitement. As it was, there was never a chance he could hold the top position. His family was too strong for Theodosius to risk making him it. But if they were the ones in power. He chuckled at the thought.

"A Maximus will sit on the throne in the future." Cassius could barely contain his excitement.

"The bastard we have has no love for his father. He even rejects his birth name, opting instead for that of a commoner. If I play my cards right, I could have him take my daughter’s name. Of course, that will have to wait until after he sits on the throne."

"What do you need me to do, cousin?"

"Gather your forces and slowly move them into my lands. Try to persuade the other commanders you are on good terms with to join you. I’ll work with the nobles."

"And what about him?" Cassius nodded towards Horace, and Magnus looked at him with a slight chill.

"Like he said, I don’t trust him. When I need it, I will use him." Magnus paused, his eyes getting sharper, "You have no objections, Count?"

"Use me as you see fit. His Majesty has already ordered me to be of any service to you whilst you still align with us." Magnus smiled. It was the best he would get.

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"My Prince." Asmond softly called out to Ash, who sat beneath a tree in Magnus Garden. With his long grey hair flowing and loose clothing, he looked straight out of a painting. "How are you feeling?"

"Bored," Ash said softly, "But I’ve been told to wait."

Asmond stared at him with a conflicted look. "You’re going to be a puppet, Ash. Surely you can’t accept this." Unable to take the bitter thoughts that had been building up, Asmond finally asked.

Looking up at his oldest friend, he faintly smiled before leaning back on the tree and looking up. "I don’t care if I am a puppet, Asmond. I would be no good as an Emperor anyway. I was never taught to be one. I am a mercenary. All I want is to see that man pulled from his prize possession. Let him taste the same misery that my mother and I felt when he got rid of us."

His voice still carried the same deadpan tone, but Asmond knew that behind it lay a deep-seated rage. "I just..."

"It is what it is." Ash cut him off, "We must simply make the most of it."

With a sad gaze, Asmond sat on the opposite side of the tree. "Have you met your future wife?"

"She’s fine. She was raised to be married off. At least she is happy that it isn’t an old man."

Asmond chuckled at his words and sighed, "It’s hard to believe. You as Emperor. I had dreamed about it for so long, but to think it’s this close. That it could be possible."

"We must be patient. This is a battlefield we have never been in before."

"I know." Asmond paused and looked down at his hands. Clenching his fists, he nodded to himself, "Even if this fails, I promise to protect you with my life, Ash."

Ash didn’t reply, closing his eyes and listening to the birds sing.