CHAPTER 17. The Hollows

　　?

　　The silence and sheer confusion on both Gideon’s and mine’s face prompted Cassian to continue on with his explanation.

　　“I am six years older than her, I knew her since she was a baby and I watched her grow. I know that my father or Emperor Herman, would not deem it to be a proper excuse. So to avoid any complications between our families, I decided to use you as a way to escape,” he finally confessed.

　　“Using me?”

　　Cassian smiled. “And if you choose me to be your husband, you will be using me as well right? That is the meaning of a marriage of convenience after all.”

　　I let out a small and polite laugh. “Oh? But it sounds to me that you are just running away from the situation entirely?”

　　“No offence, princess, but you would not understand the ways of noble and high society. You may be a princess by title alone but what do you know of the burdens of expectations?”

　　My smile vanished into a thin line as I held Cassian’s gaze. I was not sure if he was trying to get back at m