CASSANDRA: The Unfavored Princess-Chapter 49: For Today!

Cassandra closed the door and panicked.

She entered her room and looked around. She could see anyone other than herself but her mind was not stable.

Cassandra took the book hidden under her clothes out and placed it underneath her bedsheet. The diary she was carrying was a boiling pot in her hand.

Even though Duke Salvador had taken permission from the Emperor, it was a crime to possess something which was forbidden.

Cassandra knew that she had to write the content from the book as soon as possible and get it over with but Princess Cassandra had to do it when she was alone.

’I have to hide it from Amy too.’

’She will be too worried about me if she knows.’

Cassandra thought back at Amy’s words that she said to her over her journey back. Amy hoped that now that Princess Cassandra was engaged to Lord Bentham, she should stay away from Duke Salvador and Cassandra herself wanted to do it but was afraid.

Cassandra shook her head as she removed the thoughts from her mind.

’When should I start writing?’

’Maybe today?’

Cassandra was thinking about what to do when many voices penetrated through her head.

[Is the fifth princess really getting married to Lord Bentham?]

[How can the Lord like someone like her?]

[How will the other princesses react?]

[He’s a powerful man but he doesn’t have any interest in the dukedom]

[When did Lord Bentham and Princess meet?]

[When did Lord Bentham have such a good impression about the fifth Princess?]

[What will happen next?]

[Was Lord Bentham attracted to the fifth princess’s beauty?]

[Never thought that the Lord was someone who would fall for the face rather than the power?]

Cassandra heard a lot of things but ignored them. Many guards’ voices penetrated her ears and Cassandra knew that the maid was saying the same things. Suddenly Princess Cassandra had become a center of attraction.

’I only did this to get Empress out of my back.’

Cassandra sighed.

"I need to rest." Cassandra’s voice was low as she rubbed her forehead. Many things had happened in her life since the morning, the proposal in front of the Emperor, going out with Lord Bentham, going to Duke Salvador’s mansion, and helping to copy the diary and now experiencing the judging and prying eyes of everyone around her. Cassandra was exhausted.

Cassandra did not think anything further as she closed her eyes in silence hoping that all the voices around her would quiet down soon.

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Duke Salvador walked through the forest attached to the fifth princess’s palace.

He looked around only to see the darkness engulfing it. He knew that people usually ignored the fifth princess but he didn’t know it was to this extent.

Only a small light was burning in the princess’s room.

Duke Salvador also knew that many more princesses were staying in this castle. After all, only the most powerful ones would get their own palaces like the first princess, Princess Valeria.

Duke Salvador looked up and smiled, He knew which room the fifth princess occupied. He walked up to her balcony as he sat there looking inside.

A small light was burning at a corner giving a slight glow on the princess’s face.

Duke Salvador looked around but there was no one inside. Aiden found it odd but did not dwell on it.

’Her lady in waiting might be sleeping in another room.’ Although Aiden thought so, he did not know that Princess Cassandra had specifically asked Amy to let her sleep alone. She wanted some peace and maybe write the contents of the diary.

Duke Salvador’s lips curled up subconsciously as he entered the room. He walked quietly as if a hunter walking towards the prey.

Duke Salvador could see Cassandra’s eyes fluttering in the darkness as her breathing was steady.

Duke Salvador smiled as his hand twitched. He did not know why he was here yet. Duke Salvador wanted to see Princess Cassandra as soon as possible even though it had only been a few hours since she had left the mansion.

It was true that Dave Salvador wanted to talk with Cassandra. He wanted to know why she agreed to the marriage. Even though he knew the reason he wanted to have an acknowledgment from her side. And before Aiden could work on the strategy, he was already on his way here. It was as if his legs had a brain of their own.

Duke Salvador sat on the bed beside the princess. He looked around the room. The decoration was still minimal, the same as Aiden had seen the last time he had visited.

Duke Salvador’s gaze moved towards the Princess. Her clothes were clean and plain. Not at all like a princess.

’She is neglected.’ was the thought that circled Aiden’s mind.

Even now when the fifth Princess was sleeping, her blanket on her body could not keep the cold away. Aiden touched the blanket softly to feel the material, but he soon knew that it was a cloth that the royal usually gives to their maids.

As the thought crossed Aiden’s mind, he looked around once again. There was a slight annoyance in his gaze before his eyes set on Cassandra’s face.

Under the dim light, her skin glowed like gold. Her parted lips the plain but the colors still suited her.

Aiden could not understand his own feelings as he suddenly stopped his fingers that were about to touch Cassandra’s cheeks.

’What am I doing?’

’I should not be doing this?’

’Why am I here?’

Duke Salvador stared at the Princess without any reaction. His mind was busy with the self-blaming as he suddenly moved his gaze away from the fifth Princess’s face. But his sight was not honest.

Aiden’s eyes still peaked at Cassandra from time to time.

’I just wanted to have a talk with the fifth Princess.’ Duke Salvador thought.

’I’m here to make the Princess understand that even if she marries Lord Bentham, she has to provide me with information.’

’The Princess cannot go back on her words.’

’Yes, that is why I’m here.’

Aiden closed his eyes before taking a few deep breaths. He looked out of the window. The moon was glowing in the sky. There was still silence in the atmosphere.

At times like these, Aiden felt peaceful. Duke Salvador observed that he never felt frustrated whenever he was near the fifth princess which was a very unusual thing for him. All Aiden could feel was that his body would relax instantly. His vicious mind would calm as the bloodthirstiness in him lowered.

’Is it because I am with her?’

Duke Salvador looked at Cassandra again but this time he did not touch her cheeks. He stretched his arms as he took a strand of hair into his fingers, twilling it.

Duke Salvador’s mind was relaxed. He saw that Princess Cassandra’s other hairs were spread on the pillow looking like waves. Aiden’s lips curled up subconsciously as his gaze softened.

But the fifth princess had no idea that the man she was afraid of was looking at her. Cassandra moved around suddenly bringing the Duke back to reality.

’What am I doing?’ Duke Salvador took a deep breath as he calmed his mind.

’This is getting out of hand?’

’The fifth Princess is only helping me to understand the content of the unknown knowledge.’

’I cannot have her.’

’She will be getting married soon.’

’Yes, she is marrying my best friend.’

In such a trail of thoughts Duke Salvador suddenly stopped. ’Why did I think I cannot have her? Do I want Princess Cassandra?’

Aiden’s gaze sharped as he looked at the innocent features of the Princess. He shook his head suddenly in fear of getting involved in things that he should not.

Duke Salvador was about to leave when he felt a strong force touching him.

Cassandra moved towards the Duke in her sleep but she herself was clueless. All Cassandra knew was that she suddenly found a source of heat near her and thus she tried to get close to it.

The soft-touch feel on Aiden’s hand. Duke Salvador was new to the warmth he was feeling.

’Is she cold?’ Aiden thought as he looked out of the window again. He could see his light fog covering the forest.

’It is a little cold today?’

Aiden only realized it now. He was a fire mage. His body had a natural resistance towards cold but the fifth princess did not. She was sensitive.

Duke Salvador knew that if Princess Cassandra would have not touched his skin, he wouldn’t have known how cold her skin was. Aiden wanted to help Cassandra subconsciously. He wanted to make her feel comfortable.

Duke Salvador looked into Cassandra’s closed eyes as he touched her cheeks. He tried to give his warmth to her, trying to make her a little relaxed.

Cassandra could feel the warmth traveling through her, making her more comfortable.

Seeing the Princess moving towards him more as if a hungry child wanting more of the warmth, Aiden’s lips curled up as he smiled silently.

’Yes, this is only for today?’