I could imagine it was.

I was then surprised when Cassius did not relent.

“Horatia, before, you had limited choices on the actions you took to end your own suffering. But now, you have the opportunity to make the right ones. With that, and the many who will benefit, the many who will not be forced to live the existence you did, will you not make the right ones?” Cassius pressed.

“I have already told you, Your Grace,” she stated, “I feel I have been making the right ones.”

All in the room and out of it remained silent until Cass broke it.

“I am sorry all that befell you,” he said quietly.

“I am sorry, for I do not believe you, as you lived in the very same home as me, and you did naught to help me.”

I got closer to Cassius after he flinched at her words.

“I am sorry for that as well,” he shared, but he offered no excuses about the fact he was near as powerless as she.

“Your apology means nothing to me,” she spat.

Cassius took that.

But I would not allow him to absorb it.

“Did you share with him what you were enduring?” I asked.

“He knew,” she returned.

Maybe he did.

But at his response to what he saw happening to Domitia, I had a sense he did not.

“It is my understanding he had as little to do with his father as he could,” I noted, not entirely pleased with myself she conceded that with her expression, though I hoped Cassius caught it. “It is also my understanding he was but a boy when you came to the Citadel.”

She looked away.

I decided that would be enough, thus I said no more.

“As you said, you can do naught about the past, but you can about the future, so please,” she stepped back in a mock curtsy, before righting herself, looking to Cassius and finishing, “use me as your example. I shiver in excitement at the opportunity to be exposed and humiliated in order to liberate the females of my realm.”

Cassius studied her a moment before he returned a quick bow and turned, his mantle flashing out behind him as he strode to the door.

Hera and Jasmine leaped out of his way as he exited the room

“Take me to my father,” I heard him order Reginald. “Swiftly.”

I looked to Horatia. “You have my apologies as well.”

“I don’t very much care.”

I drew in breath.

So be it.

I then exited the room, doing it quickly in order to catch up with Cassius.

When I did, I called, “Cass.”

“I need her testimony,” he decreed, not breaking stride on his descent of the stairs. “I need it on record. I need those who support me to understand I do not do this on a whim. This is no power play. I need it as evidence of the righteousness of our cause, for now and for history.”