[color=#b97703][i]More Scourge propaganda,[/i][/color] Cas thought with a subtle shake of his head when Ethan went off about his family. The monarchy wasn’t to blame for the unrest in Aspiria. That was all because of the rebellion. His family had done nothing but work hard to make sure that the kingdom was prosperous, so that everyone could have their basic needs met. If someone wanted more than that, all they had to do was climb the rungs of the social hierarchy by getting a job in a company that offered high born wages and status at the top. It could take a few years, but it was doable. When he was younger, he’d met plenty of children who were the sons and daughters of people who’d immigrated to the capital after receiving their new IDs. The fact that there were so few people working for that status card now wasn’t the monarchy’s fault. It was either because the common people didn’t feel the need to work harder to achieve the luxuries that Aspiria’s aristocrats enjoyed or because their quality of life had improved enough that they were already sharing some of the wealth. In either case, to claim that resources were scarce was ridiculous when he knew the common people were well-off. They had been since his great-great-grandfather’s generation.

Ethan’s insistence that people were dying was even more absurd. Aspiria had access to all the latest healthcare techniques, medicines, treatments, technologies, and more. Their doctors had found cures for most of the diseases that had previously haunted the people of the past. Almost every type of cancer had been eradicated, heart disease could be curbed with routine vaccinations, and surgeries were so advanced that fatalities had dropped below one percent, even in the most dangerous procedures. The only reason his father hadn’t been healed was because he’d contracted his disease from another country, and whatever it was, the physicians in Aspiria had never seen it before. Most people wouldn’t encounter anything like Atlas had, so if they even had the sniffles, they could see a general care provider for medicine and be rid of it in three days. They certainly weren’t dying off in droves like Ethan was suggesting.

[color=#b97703]“We only take the census once every decade, and we aren’t due for another until the end of this year,”[/color] Cas shrugged, not believing a word out of the rebel’s mouth. [color=#b97703]“But even if we arranged one tomorrow, I’m sure it would look the same as every other census we’ve taken before. Surpassing seventy million people with a steady increase in population in urban areas.”[/color] He looked up at Ethan. If his hands hadn’t been bound, he would have crossed his arms over his chest as he stated confidently, [color=#b97703]“The monarchy has kept track of how many people are dying since before my grandfather was born. If you think I don’t know what’s going on in the kingdom I’m supposed to inherit, then you’re the ignorant one.”[/color]

When Ethan suddenly slammed his fist against the bars, Cas startled at the jarring noise. It looked like his quip about Iris had struck a nerve. As the rebel went on, he let out his breath in a low exhale. He knew it had been an act, that she hadn’t actually been interested in him and that she’d taken advantage of his trust. That had already been established. He’d just made the comment in a petty attempt to make the guard mad, and it had worked.

Interestingly, even though Ethan was furious, he didn’t come inside the cell. While the rebel spat venom at him, the prince was quietly observant. Ethan could have easily marched inside and beat him to a bloody pulp, but he didn’t. Cas wondered why he was holding back. Maybe the Scourge was keeping him in good condition to ransom with his father? It still sounded like they were planning to kill him, but perhaps he still had some time before anyone pulled the trigger. He bit the inside of his lip to stifle the smile that threatened to take over his features. If his guess was right, he still had time to come up with a way to escape, and the soldiers had time to find him before he had to stare down the barrel of a gun. He could still get out of this mess with life and limb intact.

[color=#b97703]“I don’t know if she ever caught feelings, but I do know she genuinely enjoyed herself with me,”[/color] he said cockily, gaining bravado now that he was more confident that Ethan couldn’t hurt him. He was going to get the guard back for saying that people only liked him for his wealth and status. [color=#b97703]“Tell yourself whatever you want, but if you actually gave her what she needed, she wouldn’t have been so eager to throw herself into my arms.”[/color]

Maybe his comment had been too much for the rebel, or maybe Ethan was just getting fed up with watching him, but Caspian felt a victorious grin curve his lips as he watched the guard leave the room. The Scourge may have taken him prisoner, but they hadn’t won yet. As long as they couldn’t touch him, he was going to use the only weapon he had left: his tongue. With a yawn, he slid down sideways against the wall until he was lying on his side. Now that he was alone, he was going to try to get some rest, so he could try to get his mind off the feelings of hunger and thirst that were becoming more prominent inside of him.