As Justinian finally started to calm down, he stared at the hand that held the sword for a brief moment.
Blinking twice.
It was the first time he had killed a man, yet he didn’t react like he expected.
He expected slight resistance, even disgust, but all he got... was neutrality, another proof that he wasn’t just himself anymore.
"Here..."
Justinian handed back the sword to Cassia, then looked back at the corpse.
"I’ll need to take care of this quickly before I get to bed."
Justinian spoke, grabbing another shirt quickly and putting it on.
"Escort me, I’m not sure if another attack may happen."
"Of course."
Cassia answered, peeking outside the door to check if any more suspicious figures could count as an assassin.
"The coast is clear."
Justinian nodded before leaving his room, heading back to the courtyard where he hoped Lucan was still training the men.
CREAK.
"My duke, what’s gotten you in a rush?"
Lucan chuckled, arms crossed as he was preparing to end the training for the day.
"Order the guards around the capital to be on high alert; all citizens walking around at night must be checked."
Lucan’s face broke at Justinian’s orders; he had left with such a good mood, but now he saw nothing but pure seriousness and bloodlust in his face, like a completely different person.
’I guess the rumours of him being possessed might have some merit...’
Lucan took a glance at Cassia, who was just beside him, seeing the blood dripping from her sword, and he knew immediately it was urgent.
"I think I got the gist of it."
Justinian smiled, nodding at Lucan’s quick thinking skills.
"Great, I trust you know the rest..."
Justinian didn’t bother mentioning the Shadow Society; they were too unknown at this point in time. Only Justinian should know what they meant, which is why the assassin answered that in the first place.
He could answer truthfully while giving as little information as possible.
’Unfortunately for him... I know exactly where they are located.’
Justinian snickered, cruelty in his voice that caught Lucan off guard, a voice he recognized and was used to already.
Justinian’s cruel snicker he had heard time and time again from before, just inside his room while he was passing.
’Guess he wasn’t possessed after all...’
"Marshal."
"Yes?"
"I want you to launch a raid at the bakery on Rendall Street."
’The novel should have said that was their HQ.’
Lucan nodded; he didn’t want to bother questioning. At this point, he had just learned to listen to Justinian and his weird omniscience.
"All knights! Patrol the palace! Interview all remaining servants! As for you men, you are dismissed!"
Lucan yelled out across the courtyard, mobilizing everyone immediately as he left the courtyard, already trying to execute Justinian’s command, and he was ecstatic, because he had finally gotten some action after years and months of stagnation.
"What about me, Justinian? Do you need me to do anything?"
Justinian looked at Cassia, laughing at her question; he thought it was already obvious to her.
"Just stay by my side, that is all."
Cassia froze for a moment at his answer. It was a normal answer, something that wouldn’t even bother her, but then again, the way Justinian said it was so different from what she was used to from commanders or other rulers.
"O-okay."
Justinian looked back at his empty courtyard, the dark sky coating the frozen scenery as he crossed his arms.
’I hope that was it... after I go to bed... I’ll need to act quickly tomorrow.’
He wanted to make sure the Shadow Society is gone quickly, not even giving them a chance to grow as powerful as they did in the actual novel.
"Let’s go back."
They returned inside the palace, leaving the courtyard as Justinian returned to his room, Cassia following him inside.
"Oh... you don’t have to stay with me in my room, the locks would be enough."
Justinian gestured to the locks on the door, and even gestured to the glass window in his room.
If the two were ever compromised, Justinian would be woken up before any harm could come to him.
"I cannot allow that."
Cassia shook her head.
"Besides, I think this is a far more efficient way of being your sworn second."
Justinian chuckled, tilting his head.
"Efficient?"
"You did say you want the two of us to be close."
Justinian’s eyes widened at her response, before laughing loudly, holding to the frame of his bed for support as he did.
"Well... I guess you are correct."
Cassia warmed up to his reaction before raising one brow.
"You know... I think a priest should check up on you."
"Hmm?"
"Your mood swings might be caused by a possession."
She joked, with how much she had seen of Justinian just today, she finally decided to warm up to him, seeing that he didn’t just become kind overnight, his small act of cruelty actually making her trust him more.
It meant that Justinian was still the old duke from the rumours, just changed, which was better than seeing a different man entirely, but in the same body.