CASSANDRA: The Unfavored Princess-Chapter 103: Dark Clouds
Duke Salvador was looking at Princess Teimei. His hands were itching to attack her but he controlled his brewing rage.
’As per what Princess Cassandra had said, it was not the right time to attack and definitely not the right time to show that I am the Duke.’
’I have to be careful from now onwards.’
’I have to conceal my identity.’
’I will be Ed in front of the eyes of the Vivere Kingdom’s people and in the eyes of Achard Bentham.’
Duke Salvador took a deep breath as he controlled his rage and asked in a low tone. "What happened to Princess Cassandra?"
Aiden’s eyes were flipping between the fifth Princess and Princess Teimei. "What did you do to her?"
Princess Teimei laughed at the Duke’s question. "I helped her relax. She was suffering."
"She doesn’t look relaxed?" Duke Salvador said as he took a step towards the fifth princess but his walk was interrupted by Princess Teimei. Duke Salvador’s sight narrowed.
Aiden looked up at Princess Teimei with a stiff gaze. He stood still but his eyes were about to throw daggers.
"Why is the Princess stopping me?" Duke Salvador asked, but Princess Teimei did not reply immediately.
The Vivere Kingdom’s Princess walked and sat beside Princess Cassandra. A smile was playing on her lips as her eyes sharpened. "As a guard, you are not supposed to touch the Princess. Wasn’t it the basic learning you receive in this Empire? The royals should not be touched unless you have permission and now that the fifth Princess is sleeping you as a guard have no right to extend your filthy hands towards her."
Princess Teimei’s words were sharp as she tilted her head. "So you can leave now and I will take care of the Princess myself."
Although Princess Teimei said those words in an authoritative tone, Duke Salvador did not move. "I cannot leave the fifth princess in your care. I cannot let a person who enters and leaves the premises as they please stay alone here."
Duke Salvador stood still, not taking another word from the Vivere Kingdom’s Princess. His stand was fixed. He will not leave them both alone here.
The air surrounding them that had been relaxed soon became stiff again. Many things happened along the line and soon sometime passed. Cassandra who was in deep sleep rubbed her eyes as her body woke up.
Princess Cassandra did not know how but suddenly she felt refreshed. The initial pain and sorrow that she had been experiencing were nowhere to be seen and only the freshness and lightness settled in.
’Did something happen?’ Princess Cassandra thought as she looked around only to realize that Princess Teimei and Duke Salvador were staring at each other.
"What are you two doing?" Princess Cassandra asked in a low tone.
She felt like something was wrong with her. Princess Cassandra’s eyes widened as her hands moved towards her neck. She didn’t know why she was feeling thirsty all of a sudden. Her throat was running dry and soon her body that felt relaxed a few seconds ago lost all of its strength.
As soon as the fifth princess was going to hit the bed again, Duke Salvador came running as he caught her in his arms. He could feel the fifth Princess’s body turn softer.
’She is losing her strength.’
’It is as if she is going to disappear.’
"What is wrong with her?" Duke Salvador asked in a panicked tone. He looked at Princess Teimei who shook her in confusion.
"I have no idea." Princess Teimei took a step towards the fifth princess but Duke Salvador’s hold on her tightened. It was as if he was shielding the fifth Princess from an evil force. "Let me see her."
Princess Teimei demanded but Duke Salvador did not react.
"Whatever you have done so far is more than enough." Duke Salvador’s voice was sharp. "The fifth Princess is my responsibility and I will take care of her."
Princess Teimei’s eyes widened but soon she realized that princess Cassandra might have lost her strength. "She needs water." Princess Teimei poured the water in a glass as she walked towards the fifth Princess.
"I will do it." Princess Teimei’s eyes widened as she heard Duke Salvador’s words. Before she could react, the glass was taken away from her hand.
Duke Salvador’s eyes narrowed as he made the fifth Princess drink the water. He handled her with care as if she was a glass doll that could be broken with a little pressure.
Soon Cassandra opened her eyes. The first thing that she noticed was that she was in a warm embrace. Cassandra looked up to realize that she was in Duke Salvador’s arms. She got up with a jolt as she blinked her eyes to control her racing heart.
But Princess Cassandra soon realized that the Duke was not alone, Princess Teimei was standing in front of her with worried eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Princess Cassandra asked in a confused voice. Her eyes were moving between the two full of doubts.
"I had a feeling that you were not well." Princess Teimie said as she looked down. She did not want to speak in front of the man who claimed to be the fifth Princess’s guard.
[Who is this man?]
[Why is he here?]
[I need to talk with you.]
[Send him out.]
Princess Teimei thought as her eyes widened. But Cassandra did not pay any attention to the Princess.
Cassandra smiled as she looked at the two. "You two might not know each other or are you, acquaintances, now? Anyway, let me introduce you both."
Princess Cassandra smiled as she moved the hands between the two. "This is the Vivere Kingdom’s Princess, Princess Teimei." She moved her hand towards Duke Salvador as she continued. "And this is Ed. My personal guard. The one I trust the most."
[Princess should not trust anyone.]
[They are not worthy of it.]
Princess Cassandra’s eyes narrowed but she did not say anything. "If the Princess doesn’t have anything to say, you can go."
[I need to talk with you.]
[I need to talk about why you fainted.]
[Princess Teimei tried to explain but Cassandra did not say anything. She raised her eyebrows as if indicating she would say it if she wanted.]
[Very well then I will tell you in this form only.]
[You lost the remaining connections you had with your past.]
[That is the reason why you felt powerless. Like something was taken away from you. A part of your soul was taken.].
[You should have felt it. Like being buried, breathlessness. Didn’t you?]
Princess Cassandra nodded her head. Her eyes widened. She did not know how Princess Teimei knew but there was a feeling that she might understand.
[It is a proof. Princess Cassandra is free from all the remaining essence of the powers left by the others.]
[The one who used powers similar to you was killed by her closed ones. Her powers distorted and people collected them. Although they could not use themselves themself they did manipulate others and maintain their powers or hold.]
[The powers you have are interconnected with the past. It is as if you could feel it through the centuries but now it is removed.]
[The power has been used up completely and now you can start afresh.]
[Your true strength will emerge from this point on and thus we have to leave the Empire as soon as possible.]
[I will try to conceal your powers for now but soon it will not be in my hands.]
[You have to trust us, Cassandra.]
[We want to save you.]
Princess Cassandra did not understand what Princess Teimei was saying. All of her words were meaningless to her but there was a slight feeling that told Cassandra that the lady’s words should be trusted. Her words held meaning that should not be ignored.
Cassandra closed her eyes as she took deep breaths. She nodded her head as she allowed Princess Teimei to come near her.
"Give me your hand Princess." Princess Teimei said as she looked at the man sitting beside her with a provocative gaze.
Duke Salvador raised her eyebrows but did not say anything. He just knew from Princess Cassandra’s expression that the Vivere kingdom’s Princess might have talked to her through her thoughts.
’I feel left out.’
’But if Princess Cassandra had given her hand then she would have thought it through.’
’I have to trust her.’ 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
’Princess Cassandra will tell me.’
Duke Salvador looked at the fifth Princess’s hand held into the hands of Princess Teimei. His gaze narrowed as he waited for them to continue.
Princess Teimei closed her eyes as she swallowed. Her hold on the fifth Princess tightened as she cast a spell under her breath. Soon dark clouds emerged from their interlocked hands, engulfing them.
Duke Salvador’s eyes sharpened as he waited patiently but soon the clouds disappeared as a smile formed on Princess Teimei’s face.
"It is done." Princess Teimei said.
Cassandra did not understand but as she looked down she saw a mark on her wrist.
