Exiled Prince: I'm the Unexpected Extra in the Novel

The Cold Apple Inn, contrary to its name, had a hot, almost suffocating atmosphere.

The inside was filled with the pungent smell of woodsmoke, spilled ale, sweat, and roasting meat.

The crackling of the fire in the corner hearth mingled with drunken laughter, bellows, and the dull melody of a lute being clumsily strummed by a bard.

This place was a heart where the filthy blood flowing through Veythral's veins collected; a sanctuary for mercenaries, outlaws, weary merchants, and all manner of souls who had been dealt a bad hand by fate.

As Cassian stepped through the door, there was a momentary pause in the inn's general hum.

A few fleeting, appraising glances turned towards a newcomer like him, but seeing no threatening edge, they quickly returned to their own affairs.

In this city, no one cared what another was doing, as long as it didn't spell trouble for them.

Cassian's eyes, however, looked beyond the crowd's indifference and instantly found the table set in the most secluded corner of the inn.

There, under the dim light, sat the five most trusted people of Fredrinn.

The moment they saw him, the low-voiced conversation between them was cut as if by a knife.

Five pairs of eyes locked onto him at the same instant, like a pack of predators spotting unexpected prey.

There was no welcome in their gazes, nor curiosity; only a cold, calculating inquiry and unconcealed hostility.

It was as if they were measuring every step he would take towards their table, searching for a hidden motive in his every move.

Cassian remained unfazed.

With heavy, measured steps, he wove through the boisterous crowd and walked towards their table.

With every step, the intensity of the gazes locked on him grew.

When he reached them, he did not speak, merely stood and surveyed them.

The first to break the silence was Rose, her red hair gleaming in the firelight from the hearth.

Tapping her fingers nervously on the table, she said, "If you don't intend to draw the whole inn's attention to us, you can stop standing there like that and take a seat."

Her voice carried a steely edge hidden within a sweet melody.

Cassian accepted the offer in silence and slowly settled into the empty chair at the table.

As soon as he sat, the tension over the table became almost palpable.

No one spoke, no one moved.

Only their gazes clashed in mid-air.

Growing tired of this game of pressure, Cassian became the second person to break the silence.

"Well," he said in a calm voice. "Why did you summon me here?"

Rose, instead of answering his question directly, leaned back with a sly smile.

"I heard you came from the smithy. You do know I was the one who paid for your sword, don't you?"

Her tone was deceptively casual.

"It was quite a substantial fee. I'd say I gave nearly half a month's earnings for that piece of black steel."

No expression appeared on Cassian's face.

"Thank you for the sword. But I didn't ask you to do such a thing."

"Of course, you didn't," Rose replied, with a triumphant air. "But a favor is a favor. Now, you owe me one."

The others at the table watched silently as Rose expertly steered the conversation in the direction she desired. This was an interrogation, and Rose had seized control from the very first moment.

"No, I don't," Cassian said plainly. "An unsolicited favor is not a gift, but a burden. And I don't like carrying burdens. What do you mean by 'favor'?"

The smile on Rose's face faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered.

"Oh, don't worry. We're not going to ask you to move mountains. We would just... appreciate it if you would tell us some information about yourself, in a friendly manner."

She glanced at the others at the table.

"After all, it's not very safe to embark on a long journey with a stranger whose origins are unknown. I hope you understand."

Cassian laughed inwardly.

'Was this what all this theater was for?'

"I recall introducing myself to you already," he said in a flat voice. "I am a friend of Fredrinn. That's all you need to know."

One of the young warriors at the table, Kael, leaned forward.

"Do you seriously expect us to fall for that nonsense?"

Cassian shrugged sardonically.

"Well, no. I don't expect you to fall for it. You're not that foolish. But it wouldn't be so bad if you pretended you did; it would make things easier."

"Cut the foolish talk and give us a straight answer!" interjected the other young warrior, Rod, this time. His impatience was evident in his voice.

"Alright, alright..." Cassian raised his hands as if in surrender. "I am just an ordinary adventurer. Perhaps a bit more unconventional, but these days, I am just an adventurer. And Fredrinn and I have made an arrangement based on our mutual interests."

This time, the one who spoke was the quietest and most dangerous-looking man at the table, Hebi. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and he was scrutinizing Cassian from head to toe.

"You didn't seem very ordinary to us," he said slowly and deliberately. "The fighting style you used was too erratic and incomprehensible; it didn't seem to belong to any discipline. At first, we thought you were a powerful mage, but then you started using a sword. You fought like a destructive mage and a warrior at the same time. Were you using an artifact or something?"

"Who knows," he said with an air of mystery. "Perhaps I was."

This evasive answer irritated Rose even more.

"And how did you manage to suddenly disappear during the battle? We looked away from you for a few seconds, but the next moment you, who were heavily wounded, were standing in Fredrinn's room, perfectly fine without a single scratch on your body. How was that possible?"

"Hmm, what can I say? I have my own special methods."

"Would you care to explain what kind of methods?" Rose asked, an expression of clear annoyance now on her face. Her patience was wearing thin.

Cassian smiled slightly. He was beginning to enjoy this game.

"I would love to. But revealing my secrets so easily might make me vulnerable. I'm sure you understand."

For now, the best strategy was to evade their questions until they gave up. They could never learn the truth.

Cassian let his eyes roam over each face at the table before continuing. Rose's anger, Hebi's lingering suspicion, the young ones' confusion, and the silent observation of the man at the head of the table...

"I know you don't trust me," he said, his voice turning a little more serious. "But it is enough for you to know this: I have no intention of harming or betraying you. As I said, I am here because I made a deal with Fredrinn. Fredrinn will tell you what the deal is when the time comes."

Just as Rose opened her mouth to say, "But—," Eric joined the conversation.

"That's enough, Rose."

His voice was weary but left no room for argument.

"Our goal was to learn his intentions, and we have learned them."

Rose turned to him in disbelief.

"What if he's lying, Eric?"

Eric answered without losing his composure.

"If he were a fraud, Fredrinn would not have kept him around."

Crossing her arms, Rose leaned back in anger.

"Fine, have it your way," she hissed. "But I still don't trust him."

Sparks practically flew from her eyes as she turned her gaze on Cassian. Cassian, however, met this hostility with only a small, mocking smile.

Eric cleared his throat, as if to dispel the tense air at the table.

"Since we'll be working together, we haven't introduced ourselves properly, have we?" he said in a warmer tone. "I'm Eric. Mr. Fredrinn's right-hand man. As you can tell from my appearance, I'm no mage. I formerly served in the Imperial Knights, but I had to leave when I realized it wasn't the just place I thought it was."

He then gestured to Hebi.

"This is Hebi. He is one of the finest swordsmen in Veythral. Although his mana level is lower than mine, it wouldn't be wrong to say his skills with a sword are even better than my own. He comes from an Eastern clan, but things didn't go well with them, so they parted ways. Fate brought him to us."

Hebi gave a slight nod during this introduction, his serious expression unchanging.

Eric then turned to the two youths at the table.

"And these two are Kael and Rod. They are among Veythral's most promising young warriors. They may be young, but they have proven their skills countless times. They came here as children and managed to survive in this ruthless city."

A comical look of pride appeared on the pair's faces at this small praise, and they puffed out their chests.

Finally, Eric pointed to Rose.

"And this is Rose. The mage and the backbone of our team. She doesn't like to be talked about, so that's enough information for now."

Rose didn't even look at Cassian, her attention fixed on the drink in her mug.

When the introductions were over, all eyes turned back to Cassian. It was his turn.

Everyone expected either another evasive answer or a surprising secret.

Cassian paused for a moment.

'The Duchy of Inferna, Iris, the Duchess, Evelyn, Elara passed through his mind. He remembered who he was beside them. But that person was now dead.'

He put on a serious, even slightly melancholic expression. This was not a mask, but a reflection from the depths of his soul.

"I am Cassian," he said slowly. "I am no noble like you. In fact, you could say I am an orphan."

His eyes drifted into the distance for a moment.

"My only expectation from life right now... is to live a long life."

This simple, sincere, and unexpected answer had the effect of a bomb dropped on the table.

The group, who had been expecting a show of power, mysterious hints, or grand words from him, was stunned by this human and humble desire.

It was as if they had heard a simple truth that even the most complex interrogation techniques could not have uncovered.

For a moment, this answer broke through all their defense mechanisms. Cassian was not a monster, a schemer, or an enemy, but just another person trying to survive.

At least, that's how he had managed to present himself to them for now.