Lowly Farmer? Or the Exiled Prince… (ANW Character Spotlight)

My mask itched against my face, the rough wood compared to the silk around me a fitting ode to how far I had fallen. How far I could still fall if Mouse King found me.

~ Cassian ~

This was why I needed to hide. Why the prince could no longer exist. The mere mention of my old self didn’t just put me in danger—it was deadly to everyone.

Cassian Erich’s life was thrown upside down when the Mouse King took over his kingdom, killing his parents and sending him on the run in a neighboring country under the guise of a simple nut farmer.

There, he met the young Lord and Lady Stahlb’rin, Fritz and Marie.

“Look who decided to finally show himself.”

My heart leapt in my throat and I whirled around, my hand moving to my side before the familiar voice registered. 

A tall Ninari stepped out onto the balcony, a young lady dressed in the warm colors of the festival at his side.

The Stahlb’rin siblings. The rare exception to the rule that nobles were to be avoided at all costs.

I huffed out a breath and shook my head. “Look who can’t resist popping up whenever I turn my back.”

The man smirked. “Marie’s idea.”

“And yours!” Marie swatted him with a huff.

Cassian is very introverted, and becomes extremely silent and awkward when in crowds. XD But if he’s around just a few people that he knows well, it is basically impossible for him to keep his sarcastic side quiet. It’s a nightmare for poor Marie to keep him and her brother in line.

Fritz perked up out of the corner of my eye, a mischievous grin flickering across his face as he called across the small meadow. “Do I get one what-ever-that-is too?”

Fritz Stalb’rin— My gaze flickered towards his poorly-concealed mirth before returning to Cassian’s red face. 

Cassian shook himself, his expression smoothing into a carefully blank look as he eyed Fritz flatly. “Not if you keep trying to watch while I’m working.”

I bit my lips to hold back a laugh, digging my free hand into the warm wool of my heavy cloak. 

Shooting another glare at my brother, Cassian turned back to me. “I might accidentally break his now. Oops.”

~ As a Character ~

Cassian was the first character to pop into my head when I claimed the Nutcracker retelling slot for the Cornerstone Series. And…he did nothing more than pop into my head. XD All I had was a blurry image of a dark-haired young man, who claimed to be an exiled prince and absolutely refused to give me his name.

Eventually…I don’t remember quite when, but I had outlined over half the plot already, and was itching to start writing…he started throwing out the odd name every now and then, only to give me a “you have to be kidding me” stare with each one I tried out.

The name Cassian was suggested multiple times, turned down multiple times…and eventually the stubborn prince gave in and let me name him Cassian. (I mean, it was better than a few of the alternatives. Keven? Bob, anyone?)

The rest of his character kind of formed around his name. A quiet, introverted prince who preferred swords to finery, fighting to dancing, and thinks nobles are spoiled and disgusting. He’s a bit jumpy, after living in hiding for two years after losing his parents to the Mouse King and almost dying himself…But he’s also extremely protective over those he cares about, and is super thoughtful in a very quiet and sometimes awkward way. XD

Oh, and he’s sarcastic. That’s an unexpected trait he kinda threw in my face half way through the novella…

He’s got dark brown hair and eyes and really pale skin…like basically every other Eisyberian ever. XD

~ In the Story ~

A Noble Warrior starts two years after the coup that destroyed life as Cassian knew it. He’s hiding from any trace of his old life, clinging desperately to the safety of the life he’s built for himself as a Ninari nut farmer. He thinks he might have finally found peace and safety, and will do anything to preserve that.

But what he doesn’t know…

Is that the Mouse King has found him.

Only my mask—only my fragile identity as a farmer—kept me safe during this festival. And now I was without both, stepping back into a world of people who I used to know by name. Unfortunately, two years, a coup, and a whole lot of farm work couldn’t change a man enough for me to continue to pretend I was a lord.

But Fritz and Marie had no idea what danger lay ahead, and continued to drag me right into it.