Exiled Prince: I'm the Unexpected Extra in the Novel-Chapter 161: A Reunion of Friends

The War for The North [49]

Chapter 161: A Reunion of Friends

Even the howling of the wind was not enough to break the stifling silence that remained on the vast, snow-covered grounds before Winter Castle following the clash of two immense powers.

Cryomara and Cassian weighed each other up without saying a word, using only their gazes.

Their eyes seemed to be waging a war where words fell short. While disappointment and rage roamed in the sapphire blue eyes of the Mystical Beast, there was unwavering determination and defiance in Cassian’s crimson eyes.

It was Cryomara who finally broke the silence. It was so obvious that she was gritting her teeth that the muscles in her jaw were twitching. Her voice was as sharp and cold as the sound of fracturing glaciers.

"That woman" she said, pointing a finger at Lilith standing in the back. "The one who cursed you and turned your life into a living hell! She is the sole reason for the unbearable pain you have suffered since the day you were born, for being abandoned by your family, for rotting in laboratories!"

Cryomara took a step forward, her aura making the snow around her tremble.

"Are you so dishonorable to ignore what she did to you, the wounds she opened in your soul, and claim the source of your curse as my woman now, little lizard?"

Cassian did not even flinch in the face of these heavy accusations.

He simply tilted his head slightly to the side. However, the glint in his eyes was too dangerous to be taken as a joke.

"It is not your place to question my actions, Cryomara!" Cassian thundered. His voice pierced through the pressure of the Mystical Beast.

"If I had to judge or punish people based on what happened in the past"

Cassian took a step, closing the distance between them.

"I would have killed you, the killer of Kaiser, already!"

These words were like an invisible slap across Cryomara’s face. The rage in the Mystical Beast’s eyes flickered for a moment, leaving its place to an old, deep regret.

She pulled her wrist from Cassian’s hand and withdrew the crushing, freezing aura she had spread around.

With the lifting of the pressure, the witches in the back took a deep breath, filling their lungs.

Cassian also slowly exited his sovereign form, reverting to his normal state.

However, his anger had not subsided. He looked at Cryomara sternly.

With the dissipation of the sovereign form, his human emotions returned.

"Have you lost your mind?" he asked, his voice still tense. "You almost killed even me just now! What did you think would happen if that mass of ice hit us?"

Although Cryomara tried to cloak herself in her old cold and distant demeanor, the worry in her voice was palpable.

"Heir of Kaiser... You do not know what kind of person that woman is! She is the most insidious being history has ever seen. I do not know how she deceived you or how she entered your mind, but you cannot trust her. She is disaster incarnate."

Just then, a spoiled and equally audacious voice rose from the back.

"Hey! I can hear you, old butterfly!"

Lilith had her hands on her hips and was sticking her tongue out like a child. She was as relaxed as if she had not just faced the threat of death moments ago.

Cassian sighed deeply, brought his hand to the nape of his neck, and rubbed his tense muscles. Being stuck between these women was more exhausting than fighting gods.

"I know what you mean, Cryomara" he said in a calmer tone.

"What she did in the past, what she put me through... These are not things easily forgiven. But"

He glanced at Lilith behind him out of the corner of his eye. "I believe I can trust her for now. And this is my decision."

Cryomara looked at Cassian for a while longer. This boy’s stubbornness was even greater than Kaiser’s. She turned her back, her white hair swaying in the wind.

"Your naivety will lead to your death one day, heir of Kaiser" she said in a voice like a whisper. "And when that day comes, I hope there will be someone to save you."

As soon as she finished her words, her body turned into thousands of blue beams of light, gliding among the snowflakes and vanishing towards the castle.

The moment the danger passed, Lilith ran to Cassian’s side with feline agility and jumped onto his shoulder without hesitation.

"My Prince! You were so cool!" she chirped, wrapping her arms around Cassian’s neck. "You put that old block of ice in her place! The way you said my woman... Ah, I thought my heart would pop out!"

Cassian stumbled slightly under the weight on his shoulder but did not push her away.

However, at that moment, Cordelia intervened with an icy gaze. Although she did not separate Lilith from Cassian, she built a wall with her presence.

"Do you want me to carry you?" Cordelia asked, fixing her blue eyes on Cassian.

There was concern in her voice. She knew well how exhausted Cassian became after using his Sovereign form and the price of that power.

Cassian smiled faintly at this unexpected affection. He gently placed his hand on Cordelia’s head and ruffled her hair.

"Don’t worry" he said with a tired but reassuring voice.

"I didn’t push myself too hard. It was just a brief show of power. I can walk."

Then he held Cordelia’s hand. This simple contact was a silent assurance for both of them.

"Let’s go" said Cassian, signaling to the group of witches behind him. "There are people waiting for us."

When they arrived at the massive walls of Winter Castle, the sky was covered with gray clouds, but a silhouette atop the ramparts instantly caught Cassian’s attention.

There was a tall man standing right above the gate, at the edge of the walls.

His hair was tied back in a tight ponytail. He wore thick, black, fur detailed clothes suitable for the northern cold, but his stance was majestic as always.

Fredrinn.

Cassian’s steps slowed the moment he saw him. He felt himself tense up involuntarily.

"Damn it" he muttered to himself. "I guess I’ll have to get scolded all day..."

But there was nothing to be done. The escape was over.

He put on his usual carefree, slightly mocking mask. Opening his arms wide, he stepped forward with a joking attitude.

"Partner!" he shouted from below. "Did you start working as a sentry on the wall? Is the salary good at least?"

Fredrinn stared daggers at Cassian. His eyes drifted down to the group on the snow.

His stern facial expression changed in an instant. He quickly jumped down from the wall and rushed out the gate.

Seeing Fredrinn coming towards him with fury, Cassian prepared himself for a lecture.

However, when Fredrinn approached, instead of shouting or getting angry, he opened his arms and hugged Cassian tightly.

"Huh!?"

Cassian froze. His arms hung at his sides, looking at Fredrinn’s shoulder in astonishment.

He hadn’t expected this. This man... Was he always this kind? Or had his absence worried him that much?

Fredrinn was the first to break the hug. He pulled back, placed his hands on Cassian’s shoulders, and looked him over.

Just as Cassian was about to speak...

WHAM!

Fredrinn’s heavy fist landed on the top of Cassian’s head.

"Ah!"

Cassian faceplanted into the snow with this unexpected blow. As his nose met the cold snow, he muttered "I should have guessed this..." his voice muffled. He could feel Fredrinn’s anger even while his face was buried in the ground.

After casting a brief glance at his partner lying on the ground, Fredrinn raised his head and looked at the crowd standing behind Cassian.

His eyes narrowed. A wave of unease he couldn’t define washed over him.

These women standing before him... They were not ordinary peasant girls or refugees.

Their auras were different. They radiated something darker, more ancient, and definitely more dangerous.

Especially the girl standing at the very front with white hair and red eyes... There was a familiarity in her gaze that made the hairs on Fredrinn’s neck stand up.

Noticing Fredrinn’s gaze, Lilith stepped forward. Her walk was elegant, her demeanor noble enough for a princess. Holding the skirts of her dress slightly, she curtsied.

"Lord Fredrinn, is it?" she said, her voice like a melody. "I suppose this is our first meeting. What a great honor."

She straightened up and placed her innocent yet equally cunning smile on her face.

"I am Lilith" she said, placing a hand on her chest.

"Cassian’s first wife."

Fredrinn’s brows furrowed, his mouth slightly agape.

Lilith continued, as if talking about the most normal thing in the world. "Cassian spoke of you often. It seems you are like a reliable big brother to him. I am grateful to you for looking after my husband in my absence."

Fredrinn’s brain came to a standstill. His gaze darted between Lilith and Cassian, who was lying on the ground trying to get up with a groan.

Wife? Husband? Cassian? When had this kid gotten married? And this woman... The name Lilith... Why did this name sound so familiar and ominous?

Fredrinn couldn’t take it anymore. He grabbed Cassian, who was on the ground, by the scruff of his neck just like a naughty kitten and hauled him to his feet.

"Walk" he said through gritted teeth. "We have a lot to talk about."

He turned his back and began dragging Cassian towards the castle. Turning to the guards, he signaled to the group of witches in the back with a nod.

"Arrange a place for the ladies to stay. And do not take your eyes off them."

Lilith giggled looking at Cassian, who was being dragged away and struggling helplessly, and waved cheerfully.

"See you later, honey! I’ll be waiting for you tonight!"

While trying to escape Fredrinn’s grip, Cassian muttered to himself "Damn witch... She constantly causes me trouble."

Fredrinn dragged Cassian all the way inside the castle.

As they passed through the corridors, they were subjected to the strange looks of servants and soldiers.

Finally, they reached the upper floors, arriving at the room reserved for Fredrinn.

Fredrinn flung the door open furiously and threw Cassian inside.

"Get in there!"

However, Cassian did not hit the floor as expected. He performed a somersault in the air and braked himself with wind magic.

Now he was standing upside down from the ceiling in the middle of the room. His white hair hung down towards the floor, obeying gravity. He crossed his arms over his chest, looking at Fredrinn upside down.

"We meet after a long time and is this how you treat your friend, your partner?"

"Shut up, idiot!" Fredrinn shouted, slamming the door shut behind him.

"Where have you been?! We thought you were dead!"

Cassian descended to the floor on his feet, dissipating the wind. In the center of the room, he formed a black, smoky throne made of chaos and slowly sat on it. Crossing his legs, he looked at Fredrinn with a relaxed demeanor.

"I was fighting demigods on the path to becoming a prince" he said in a casual voice. "Oh, but don’t worry. I won."

Fredrinn paused for a moment.

"Do you realize what you did?" he said, his voice lowered slightly but his anger undiminished.

"We were supposed to fight alongside them! That was the plan! We were going to move together. You didn’t need to go alone and get yourself killed!"

Fredrinn approached the table, leaned on his hands, and bent towards Cassian.

"What if you lost? What if you died?" "What chance do we have of winning this war without you? Did you ever think about that?"

Cassian averted his eyes. Fredrinn’s concern was so sincere that it made him uncomfortable.

"Calm down, partner" he said lightly. "It was impossible for me to lose."

Then his voice dropped a little lower, adding as if muttering to himself "I mean... that’s how I felt at that moment..."

Fredrinn put his hand to his forehead and sighed deeply. Dealing with this kid was harder than fighting an army.

"Just for once..." he said in a tired voice. "Can’t you stop getting into trouble or going off plan for just once?"

"Hey! Don’t blame me!" said Cassian, moving to the defense. "Getting kidnapped by witches wasn’t my fault! I was just taking a leak! In the forest, innocently relieving myself and bam! I was surrounded."

Fredrinn looked at him suspiciously. "Witches... Those girls. What were you thinking bringing them here? As if we don’t have enough problems in the castle, are you going to burden us with a coven of witches?"

Cassian grinned. "Hmm... I couldn’t abandon a group of beautiful and sweet girls to their fate, could I?"

Then he scratched his chin with his finger. "You know, they keep calling me my prince. It felt annoying at first, I admit. But once you get used to it... it makes a man feel good. Maybe I should establish a kingdom, huh?"

Fredrinn’s eyes narrowed. He took a step towards Cassian and looked carefully at his face.

"Cassian" he said in a serious voice. "Did the Crown of Madness... cloud your mind or something? Or that god you made a contract with?"

Cassian’s smile faded. His face turned serious. He shook his head.

"No, neither."

"The Crown of Madness hasn’t made a sound in a long time. That damn thing is lurking in a corner waiting. As for Zevstyle..."

His eyes darkened. "Things are pretty bad between us right now."

"What about that girl? Lilith?" Fredrinn asked. "Her name... cannot be a coincidence."

"Lilith" said Cassian, his voice becoming clear. "You don’t need to worry about her. She is under my control."

"How can you be so sure?" Fredrinn couldn’t believe it.

"I thought you didn’t even trust me fully. Now you appear before me claiming to control one of the darkest figures in history."

Cassian stood up. The dark throne he created in the room turned into smoke and dispersed. He stood before Fredrinn and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Ahaha! Partner, you’re breaking my heart" he said laughing, but there was a weary wisdom in his eyes.

"I trust you. You are one of the rare people I trust in this world. But there is something I trust more..."

He looked at his hand; a black chaos flame appeared in his palm and danced.

"My own power."

He extinguished the flame and looked into Fredrinn’s eyes.

"I don’t know... It might sound a bit arrogant but..." His voice turned into a whisper, yet every word was as heavy as a boulder. "For now, Lilith, Zevstyle, or the Crown of Madness... none of them are strong enough to cause me trouble."

He turned his back and walked towards the window. He looked out at the Winter Castle lying under the snowstorm and the darkness beyond.

"Right now, we shouldn’t be worrying about witches or my ego" he said, his voice becoming serious. "There is only one thing we need to focus on."

He pointed to the horizon with his finger.

"Obsidian Dawn."