CASSANDRA: The Unfavored Princess-Chapter 184: Ayah

Duchess Cassandra walked out of the royal palace.

Emperor Cedric has called her, to discuss things. Lord Bentham had sent word that he had found some people who were a darkness mages. Although he was traveling with them now, he wanted to bring them back to the Empire.

Duchess Cassandra was called into the palace to discuss their fate. Although they could not be introduced as a darkness mages, they needed to be brought back. One cannot completely overshadow its true power. Cassandra knew that as well. Although they could control other elements as well such as fire, wind, water, or earth, they only got it after a long time.

Emperor Cedric was worried about how the people would react. Maybe they will fear that the Vivere Kingdom’s people were still alive and would take over them.

"What do you think?" Duke Salvador asked as he raised his eyebrows. They were walking outside of the palace. Although they had the carriage waiting for them, Cassandra wanted to see people and know their thoughts. She wanted to be sure that the remaining darkness mage would be accepted by the people.

"I don’t know. I feel the people should not have so many problems." Duchess Cassandra smiled. Her eyes shined as she listened to people’s thoughts.

They had started a rumor that said that some Vivere Kingdom people had been found and they wanted to stay in their Empire. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

[Why should we accept them?]

[The Vivere Kingdom was defeated anyway, so even if the people enter, they cannot do any harm.]

[What if the Vivere Kingdom’s people rebel and try to destroy our Empire from within? Will the Emperor take this risk?]

[They must be frightened. Their royal family was destroyed and none of them were alive. Maybe we can help them.]

Duchess Cassandra looked at Duke Salvador. "They have mixed emotions." She whispered as they walked through the path into the marketplace.

"That was acceptable." Duke Salvador said as he saw Cassandra looking at the earring in the stall. Aiden had realized that Cassandra loved walking and buying things from the local market. She sometimes dressed as a commoner and bought things that excites her. She was her way to observe and know people.

Aiden had once asked Cassandra why she loved doing that. It was then he knew that as a Princess she was not allowed to leave the royal palace. Maybe that’s why she loved to roam around and see things that she could not. It was more fun this way.

Aiden looked at Cassandra who smiled as she touched the pair of earrings. It was made of silver as it was relatively plain. There were no gems attached to it, but Aiden knew that Cassandra loved it a lot.

"Pack this up," Aiden said as he gave a golden coin to the shopkeeper whose eyes were wide.

"No, it’s only for two copper coins." The shopkeeper refused, but Aiden simply kept the coin in his hand as he took the earrings.

"It’s because my wife likes it."

Cassandra smiled as she linked her hand over Aiden’s. She was happy as she saw him keeping the earrings in his pocket.

"I thought it was for me?" Cassandra asked.

"It is." Duke Salvador said as he touched Cassandra’s nose. "But I will help you with it once we get home."

Cassandra nodded as they walked deeper. After walking a distance Cassandra remembered. "There is an orphanage here."

Aiden knew that Cassandra helped a lot of orphanages because of Amy. Her best friend was an orphan as well. "Do you want to have a look?"

Cassandra’s hold of Aiden tightened. "Yes, let’s go."

—-----

The Salvador couple entered the orphanage as they saw kids running around. There were laughter and joy in the air.

A lot of things have changed after Cassandra started donating to the orphanages. The kids got good food and proper education. They were taken care of.

Initially, people thought that it was a random decision for the fifth Princess to look good in the eyes of Duke Salvador but when they saw Salvador’s Black eagle’s knights visiting all the orphanages randomly just to check how kids were doing made everyone’s mouth close.

The kids were trained in many things and were made sure that once they were adults they could earn and live a good life. And seeing the black eagles involved, the orphanage’s people dared not use the funds for their own personal profit while ignoring the kids’ wellbeing.

Cassandra smiled as she saw people but as she took a step forwards she heard a child’s cry. Unsure of where the cry was coming from, Cassandra’s eyes started looking everywhere else.

Soon Duchess Cassandra saw a baby girl in a pink dress. She must have been a few weeks old. She was so tiny in the hands of the caretaker that she looked like a doll. But the doll was crying. There were tears in her eyes.

Cassandra could not control herself as she walked towards her. He took the baby girl in her hands as she looked at her soft tiny face. The girl quieted down when she felt someone touching her. Her big eyes looked at Cassandra. They were filled with curiosity as she extended her tiny hands to touch her. Maybe the girl loved Cassandra’s blue eyes that shone and wanted to touch them but she could not reach them.

The girl tried hard but yet did not succeed. Cassandra laughed as she saw Aiden holding the girl’s hand. He looked at the girl as he imagined Cassandra standing in the garden with their child in hand.

Soon the caretaker took the child with her, but the girl refused to leave Cassandra.

"What happened to her parents?" Cassandra asked as she looked at the child. Her brown eyes reminded her of Amy.

[If Amy had a daughter, she would look like this.] Cassandra thought as she took the child again in her arms.

"They died in an accident. The child was left alone so she was brought here." The caretaker said.

"Do you know her origin?" Duke Salvador asked as he looked at Cassandra and the girl.

"No. But she must be from a wealthy family. The carriage was of some rich merchant."

Duke Salvador nodded.

Cassandra felt unusual energy from the girl. She touched her hands as she closed her eyes.

[Aiden, she will be a darkness mage.] Cassandra thought as her heartbeats increased. With the current situation of the people, it was not known if the darkness mage would be accepted in the Empire or not. The kid might be in danger if it was known that her powers were of the fallen kingdom.

[Does she remind you of Amy?] Aiden asked Cassandra though. It was a way that they have developed to communicate if they wanted to keep things private.

[She does. You know Amy once told me that if she had a daughter she would name her Ayah. I think the name suits her well.]

Duke Salvador nodded. He saw the mother’s love that he had never seen before in Cassandra’s eyes. He wanted to see it in Cassandra more.

Aiden also knew that Cassandra would be worried sick at home if she did not make sure that the child was safe. After knowing that the girl had an element of darkness in her, Aiden knew that Cassandra’s mind would never be calm, especially when she was connecting the girl with Amy.

"We would like to adopt her." Duke Salvador said as he looked at the caretaker.

Cassandra’s eyes widened as she looked at Aiden. "Wait. we need to talk first."

The caretaker understood that the couple needed to talk as she took the child from Cassandra’s hand and gave the couple space.

"Aiden..."

Duke Salvador touched Cassandra’s cheeks as he made her look at him. "The child reminds you of Amy?"

Cassandra’s breathing hitched. She nodded as she looked at Aiden.

"Will you be comfortable leaving the child alone here?" Aiden asked.

Cassandra knew that she would not be. She felt an unusual attachment to the child. Maybe it was because she looked like Amy or because she was so small and cute that Cassandra always wanted to touch her and love her. But adopting the child was a huge step.

"But what if we have our own .."

"Butterfly." Aiden cut Cassandra’s words as he smiled, "Our love for our kids will never be less. We are yet to become parents but I can tell you this that no matter what we will not differentiate between them. If you feel so strongly about that child, then why not adopt her."

Cassandra wanted to say something when Aiden continued. "Look even now, your gaze moves towards her. She has already grown on you. Isn’t it?"

Cassandra was silent but soon she nodded. When she saw the child looking at her, extending tiny hands, Cassandra wanted to run to the child and hug her. "Yes."

Cassandra was determined. "Let’s adopt Ayah."