CASSANDRA: The Unfavored Princess-Chapter 50: Don’t Joke

Before the sun was up, Duke Salvador walked into the mansion. But the mansion he entered was not his.

"I am here to meet Achard." Duke Salvador’s voice was low as if he was ready to kill someone, making the Bentham’s butler shiver in fright.

Duke Aiden Salvador was a war hero. He was someone who everyone feared and now the man was standing there in the Bentham ground demanding for their young master as if he was ready to murder.

"The Master is in the study." The butler replied before continuing. "Should I inform the Lord of your arrival?"

"No need.’ Duke Salvador said as he made his way towards Bentham’s study.

All the staff looked at the butler asking silently if they had to stop the Duke from entering, after all, Duke Salvador did not have the permission but the butler shook his head.

Lord Bentham and Duke Salvador were childhood friends. Since the time Achard Bentham was adopted into the family, he had known Aiden Salvador. The type of relationship they shared was unique and no one understood them.

Although at times it felt like the two would kill each other at any instant, they would never go that far.

Duke Salvador’s gaze was sharpened as he walked in the silent hallways. The road to the study was silent, just the way Achard liked it. Duke Salvador knew that his friend liked to have quietness while ready, thus Duke Bentham had specifically built a study away from the main mansion only for his eldest son.

’Should I kill him there?’

’But I am at Bentham’s.’

’I can still defeat them and walk out unharmed.’

’But Achard is still my friend.’

Duke Salvador did not know how to react. The first thing he did after leaving the palace was to come here.

’Will she be cold tonight as well?’ Aiden wondered but before he could dwell on it further, he realized that he was standing in front of the study.

Aiden looked at the closed door as his eyes darkened. He pushed the door open without any care as he entered it with steady steps.

"Achard .."

"Duke Salvador?" Lord Bentham said with a smile. He was sitting on a chair near the large bookshelves, away at a distance, with a book in hand. Seeing his friend coming in Lord Bentham closed the book and walked towards the couch that was there near the entrance. "Or should I call you Aiden?"

Duke Salvador smirked as he sat down. "Does it make any difference?"

"Well ..." Lord Bentham smiled as he looked at the Duke with an innocent gaze. "It does. If I am talking with the Duke, I have to be formal, thinking twice before I open my mouth but if I am talking to Aiden, my friend, then I can be myself."

Lord Bentham blinked. "So who am I talking to?"

Duke Salvador laughed as he relaxed. This is the Achard Bentham he knew. Someone who was sly like a fox. "I am a Duke for people in general but for you, I am a friend at this moment."

"This moment?" Lord Bentham chucked. "Are you trying to trick me? Then will this moment be over? When I say something that offends you, will I be talking to Duke Salvador then?"

Aiden raised his eyebrows as he moved forward. "Do you think I am this petty?"

"Are you not?" Lord Bentham also moved forward. The two men were facing each other as if they were the two enemies who would kill one another if the person on the opposite side made the slightest mistake.

"Let’s not talk about this. I am here for business." Duke Salvador said as he smirked. His body moved back as his spine rested on the couch.

"Why are you here Aiden?" Lord Bentham asked.

"You know it." Duke Salvador replied.

Lord Bentham looked into his friend’s eyes for a few seconds before he smiled. "Yes, I know. But you took longer than I expected though."

"Don’t play with me, Achard. Answer me. Why do you want to marry the fifth Princess?"

Lord Bentham raised his eyebrows. "The fifth Princess?" He laughed as his gaze turned sharp. "She has a name. Princess Cassandra. Show some respect, Salvador."

"I am in no mode for this. Why do you want to marry her?" Duke Salvador was losing his patience. He was trying hard to maintain his composure but could not. His fingers formed a fist as Aiden looked at the smiling face of Achard that looked like a mocking smile.

"You have the information in your hand and yet here you are asking such useless questions to me." Lord Bentham rubbed his chin as he continued. "Tell me Aiden from how long have you instructed Blazh to follow the Princess?"

Duke Salvador was silent as he refused to reply. His eyes were burning with rage. He knew that Achard was one of his closest people and he knew everyone that was near him.

"Does that matter?" Duke Salvador said after a few seconds of silence.

"That does. I want to know why my best friend is interested in my fiancée."

Duke Salvador laughed as if he had heard a joke. "Fiancée? Don’t joke. You don’t love her."

"Yes, I don’t. But love is not important for us." Lord Bentham said as his gaze softened. "She had suffered a lot and I wanted to give her a helping hand."

"Helping hand by sacrificing your happiness. What a tradeoff Achard." Duke Salvador said in a sarcastic tone.

"What if I sacrifice myself. It is in between us two. Why is the Duke bothered by it?" Lord Bentham raised i=his eyebrows in question.

"You approached her by badmouthing me. Didn’t you say that I am an unreasonable man and would ask her to visit soon? You are not sacrificing yourself, Achard. What else are you planning?"

Lord Bentham looked down before his gaze softened. "So Blazh is reporting every single detail to you. You have a loyal man by your side, Aiden."

Duke Salvador’s eyes narrowed as the temperature in the room suddenly increased. Achard Bentham laughed before he sighs.

"That’s enough. Do you want to burn my study to the ground?"

"Then answer without being sly. I am an impatient man."

Lord Bentham sighed as he closed his eyes. He took some deep breaths as he looked at Aiden Salvador. "The Empress was forcing her to marry and fathers wanted to see me settle down. We both want to get out of the situation so we decided to help each other."

"Are you going to marry her for real?" Duke Salvador asked.

"You are very curious about her, Aiden. You are making me worry."

"Answer me." The temperature rose suddenly, making Lord Bentham sweat. He removed the water droplets that were formed on his forehead.

"It depends." Lord Bentham said in a low tone.

"Depends on what? The situation, Achard? She has suffered a lot and maybe being with you will make her suffer more."

"Aiden." Lord Bentham looked at Duke Salvador. "You are overly concerned about her. Do you have feelings for her?"

Duke Salvador was taken aback by the words. He could not understand why someone would feel that he had feelings for the fifth Princess.

"No." Aiden denied it without a second thought.

"So if you don’t then don’t interfere in my matter." Lord Bentham said. "The fifth Princess and I do not love, but I respect ’love’. If the Princess or I fall in love before we both get married, I will leave the Princess be. Even if there is a man who truly loves the fifteen Princess, I will not come in between their happily ever after."

Lord Bentham looked at Duke Salvador as he continued. "But you should not interfere. If these things did not happen then we both would get married. Of course, we both will respect one another and have a fulfilling life together but you should not say it again that I sacrificed myself. It was my decision and I stand by it."

Duke Salvador laughed. "Reading only books is corrupting your mind." He stood up as a smile played on his face. "You should stay on your word. If the Princess falls in love with anyone else before the marriage, you will leave her alone."

"Of course." Lord Bentham nodded.

Duke Salvador nodded. He knew that Achard Bentham was the man of his words and even though at times, his friend was like a fox, he was still loyal.

"I understand." Duke Salvador turned around before continuing. "I just want you to have a happy life, Achard. And I feel that the life you want cannot be given to you by the fifth Princess."

Lord Bentham did not reply. He looked at the walking back of his friend before he murmured. "You don’t care about me at all, Aiden. You care about something else that you are refusing to acknowledge. But for how long. One cannot run from their destiny."