"Young man, didn''t your parents teach you not to spy on people?" Russe''s voice caught Cassian off guard. She hadn''t turned around, yet somehow, she''d sensed his presence. When she turned to face him, her expression was mildly stern.


    Cassian, realizing he''d been caught, stepped into the room with an awkward grin. "Uh… sorry about that. But… I''m actually an orphan, so I guess I missed out on that lesson."


    Russ''s stern look softened as she turned back to the altar, which Cassian noticed was empty. She gave a small bow before ncing over her shoulder at him. "Well, it''s still something you might want to learn. I don''t mind, since I was only praying, but next time, be careful—some people might take it personally."


    "I understand, and I apologize for spying on you, Lady Russe," Cassian said, bowing respectfully.


    Russe gave a slight nod. "As long as you understand, it''s fine." But as she rose, Cassian noticed her limbs trembling. She suddenly lost her bnce, and before she could fall, Cassian stepped forward, catching her just in time.


    Cassian''s arm wrapped around Russe''s waist, supporting her as she leaned into him, her trembling body settling against his chest. He steadied her with his other hand gently ced on her shoulder, preventing her from falling forward. It was fortunate she was only a few inches taller than him, unlike Cassandra and Das, who each towered over him by a foot or more; this way, he could hold her steady without struggling.


    "You don''t look well, Lady Russe," he said, concern evident in his voice. "Should I call for someone to help?"


    Yet as he held her close, Cassian couldn''t entirely ignore the softness of her body pressed against him or the light, exotic fragrance she wore, like a blend of citrus and rare fruits. He shook the stray thoughts from his mind, focusing on keeping her upright as she took a steadying breath.


    "No, don''t…" she blurted out, startling Cassian with the urgency in her voice. He hadn''t expected such a strong reaction to his simple offer, but he just nodded, then asked gently, "Can I at least help you to your room?"


    Russ tried to stand on her own but struggled, finally nodding with a resigned sigh. "I''d be grateful if you would…"


    "Alright, where''s your room?" Cassian asked, steadying her as they began to walk. It took nearly a full minute to get her out of the room at her slow pace, with him practically supporting her weight. He thought about carrying her but doubted he was strong enough—and wasn''t sure she''d approve of it anyway.


    Russ was still trembling, even her lips quivering as she broke into a heavy sweat. She managed to gasp out in a single, hurried breath, "Just across the corridor."


    Cassian nodded, tightening his grip around her waist to support her as he slowly guided her down the short hallway. Halfway there, she whispered betweenbored breaths, "Don''t… tell anyone… about this…"


    Her voice was faint but determined, each word strained. "Not even… my husband… I do this… for the vige''s well-being…"


    "I won''t, don''t worry, mydy, just rest," Cassian reassured her with a smile. His eyes briefly nced over her shapely chest, particrly focusing on the object she held in her hand while praying. Your next journey awaits at mvl


    At first nce, it appeared to be a silver ne—or so he thought. Instead, it seemed like a natural object with a silvery shine, perhaps a piece of tooth or bone. His curiosity was piqued about what she was praying to and the significance of the item, as well as her religion. However, there was no time to ask, so he gently helped her lie down on a nearby bed. He wasn''t sure if it was her bedroom, but he was certain it wasn''t the room where Aiden had entered, as that was on the opposite side of the house.


    ''She sleeps away from her husband?'' Cassian wondered, ncing at her lying there, trembling and breathing heavily. Concerned, he asked, "Is there anything more I can do to help, mydy?" He pulled a nket over her, but she quickly pushed it off, shaking her head.


    "No...you''ve done enough... I just need to bear through it. You can...go," she murmured, her voice weak but resolute.


    Cassian hesitated. He couldn''t just walk away, not while she was clearly in pain, and from what he''d seen, she was a kind woman who didn''t deserve to suffer like this. Ignoring her protests, he gently grasped her leg, surprising her.


    "I asked you to leave. What are you doing?" she demanded, startled.


    "I can''t stand by while ady is in distress," he replied softly. "Let me help." He then began to apply a massage technique to her leg, hoping it might bring her some relief.


    "You can''t…ahhh…" Russe''s words broke into a gasp, her trembling hand reaching out to stop him before clutching the bed sheets tightly.


    Cassian didn''t stop, though, even as her cries of pain filled the room. He continued massaging her legs and feet with focused determination. He believed it might help, and he could see it starting to work; her condition reminded him of Lady Katherine''s tension, only far more intense. Her muscles were so tight they trembled with the strain, and he knew the only way to ease it was through this deep massage.


    Russe kept trembling and gasping, but slowly, her cries quieted, and her legs finally began to rx. With tear-filled eyes, she looked at him, surprised and relieved. "How did you do that?"


    "Forget about that—are you feeling better now?" Cassian asked with a smile, wiping his own forehead, a bit sweaty after minutes of focused effort. He''d been massaging her legs so intently that he even forgot his usual wandering thoughts.


    Russe nodded weakly, her body still trembling slightly but far less than before. "Thank you… you can stop now," she murmured.


    Cassian, still working on her thighs, shook his head. "I can''t just yet. I''ve noticed that the tension in your muscles starts toe back a few minutes after I stop. If I leave it like this, you might start trembling again."


    The relief that had shone in her eyes quickly faded into a hint of sadness as she replied with a forced smile, "Well, it can''t be helped. It''s not like you can massage me all night."


    Cassian would have shocked her if she knew just how long he could go, but he wasn''t about to mention that. He didn''t want to spend the entire night giving her a massage, either. The only way he could think to help her was with a proper massage, but he hesitated. Lady Katherine had specifically asked him not to give these kinds of massages to anyone else. Sure, he''d made an exception for Lucy since they were close, but this was his first time meeting Russe. He wasn''t sure if he should proceed, especially since he needed her to be naked for that and would have to touch areas he doubted she''d befortable with.