[color=#b97703]“You owe me nothing, got it?”[/color] Cas met Iris’s gaze solemnly. [color=#b97703]“You’ve already paid me back in full by just being here for me… more than anyone else in my life.”[/color] Really, he felt like she didn’t need to pay him back at all, but there wasn’t time to debate about it now. That was a conversation he could save for the next time they had a moment to sit down properly and discuss the fact that because they cared about each other, there was no reason to always keep score. He was there for her because he loved her and wanted to lift her up, and he knew she felt the same way about him. He didn’t understand why she felt the need to keep tallying up points and worrying about who was doing more for who, but he wanted her to understand that to him, none of that mattered.

[color=#b97703]“I’ll be okay,”[/color] he added to assure her. Although he wasn’t sure what was going to happen from here, and he was pretty sure he was still numb from the shock of finding out his father was dead, he had to keep moving forward. There was no other option. Jacob was right; Aspiria needed a king, and he was the only man eligible for the job. As ill-equipped as he felt, he was the only one with the training, the education, the resources, the connections and everything else he would need to take over as the next monarch. And knowing that Iris would call him after ten helped too. If there was one thing he was certain about, it was that hearing her voice at the end of what was bound to be one of the most stressful days of his life would be the best way to decompress before he went to sleep.

When she pulled him into another embrace, he wrapped her in his arms just as tightly. A part of him was tempted to forget about everything he’d just learned and stay at the hotel with her, but he knew he couldn’t do that to all the people who were waiting for him back home. [color=#b97703]“I will… You don’t have to worry about that,”[/color] he told her when they parted from one more kiss. Even if he chose not to take care of himself, he had an entire mansion full of wait staff and security guards who would make sure he didn’t let himself go. Not to mention the fact that the hired health specialists that once took care of his father would now be assigned to him. There were too many people invested in his wellbeing for him to even think about skipping a meal without facing a series of checkups from doctors who would be worried that he was ill.

At her reassurance, he nodded, a half-smile on his lips. [color=#b97703]“Thank you,”[/color] he said softly, placing his hand on top of hers and giving it a grateful squeeze. [color=#b97703]“I love you too, Iris.”[/color] Touching one last kiss to her forehead, he reluctantly stepped away from her and turned for the door, heading out into the hall that would take him to the elevator. On the way, he noticed a few housekeepers and guests walking to and from different rooms, most of whom gawked in surprise as he passed by. However, he didn’t care about hiding anymore. His father was gone, so there was no reason to duck his head or turn his face away. Instead, he was focused on pulling up Jacob’s number on his phone and calling the guard. The dial tone rang for no more than two seconds before he heard the other man pick up.

[i]Prince Caspian, forgive my bluntness but where in the hell have you been?[/i] Jacob asked sharply.

[color=#b97703]“It doesn’t matter. I’m on my way back right now,”[/color] Cas sidestepped the question. [color=#b97703]“My phone was off until this morning. I just got your messages… Is it true?”[/color] He swallowed. [color=#b97703]“What you said about my dad?”[/color]

There was a pause on Jacob’s end before the guard replied, [i]It is. The funeral is scheduled to happen this evening at nineteen hundred. The news that His Majesty passed away last night was released no more than an hour ago, and there are already reporters swarming the palace hoping for a word from you. We’ve managed to hold them off by telling them that you want privacy to mourn alone, but be prepared for crowded roads when you come back.[/i]

[color=#b97703]“Thanks for the heads up,”[/color] Cas exhaled, glancing away from another staring man in the hallway as he waited for the elevator to pick him up on the top floor. [color=#b97703]“I’ll be there in about half an hour.”[/color]

[i]I’ll send someone to meet you at the gate,[/i] Jacob promised, then paused again before adding: [i]It’s good to hear your voice again, Your Highness. I’m glad you’re safe.[/i]

[color=#b97703]“Me too,”[/color] Cas agreed in a low tone as he stepped into the lift. Ending the call, he slid his phone back into his pocket and leaned back against the elevator’s wall, letting his eyes drift up to the ceiling. [color=#b97703]“Well, dad… looks like we’ll finally find out if I’m strong enough to handle being king,”[/color] he murmured, swiping his key and pressing the button to go down to the garage below the hotel. It was going to be a long week.