CASSANDRA: The Unfavored Princess-Chapter 54: Murmurs and Whispers

"Princess Valeria?"

As soon as the words were said everyone was stunned. Many voices were questioning the decision. The whis[peres had filled the royal hall as all the nobles started discussing the topic.

"Can we really send the first Princess?"

"She is more powerful than the rest."

"Princess Valeria is a beauty as well. The Vivere Kingdom’s Crown Prince will fall for her."

"Will the Emperor agree?"

"Doesn’t the Emperor want the first Princess to marry Duke Salvador?"

"But if the first Princess does go there, then if war breaks out, won’t she be powerful enough to bring the Vivere Kingdom down from within?"

The whispers did not stop. Everyone had their own opinion to share but none of them asked the first Princess, Princess Valeria, if she wanted to sacrifice herself.

The Empress and Princess Valeria had wide eyes. They looked into the eyes of each other before the Empress shouted, making the room go quiet.

"No, the first Princess cannot be a sacrifice."

The Empress tried to reason out with the remaining people present but could not. She wanted them to understand that her child was destined to marry Duke Salvador, the war god. How can Princess Valeria marry a Crown Prince of a Kingdom they look down upon? Won’t it be a shameful thing for her as well as for Princess Valeria?

[I have to stop this.]

[Valeria cannot be sacrificed.]

[Who can help me?]

The Empress tried to come up with an answer but failed until her sight rested on her brother. Duke Crawford.

[He can help me.]

The Empress thought. Although the two were not blood related, Duke Crawford and the Empress were cousins. The Empress knew that the Duke would definitely help her in such a situation.

[Yes, brother is sensible.]

The Empress took a deep breath as she looked at Duke Crawford. "Brother, how can we send her to the enemy Empire?"

Cassandra looked between the Empress and Duke Crawford. She felt funny seeing the uneasiness in the Empress’s gaze. But Cassandra could understand what the Empress was going through.

’This is how the Queens had felt when the Empress killed their sons and daughters.’

’Helpless.’

’Abandoned.’

Cassandra sighed. She had listened to many thoughts of the people. Cassandra knew the emotions the Empress was feeling. She desperately wanted to cling to her child, not ready to give up on her.

’Maybe karma is coming to bite the Empress back.’

Cassandra waited to see what the others were about to say but before that Princess Valeria’s messy thoughts entered her mind like a storm.

[How can Duke Salvador have such thoughts?]

[He loves me.]

[Yes, he does, so why?]

[Is this a test?]

[Does Duke Salvador want to see if I am loyal to him or I will marry another man? It should be.]

[I will never marry another person in this life ever.]

[I am destined to marry Duke Salvador.]

[Yes, that is my destiny. And will destroy everything that comes in between it.]

[Even if it causes a war.]

Princess Valeria’s thoughts were of a blizzard. Cassandra’s eyes dimmed when she heard the last word. ’War ..’

’Princess Valeria is thinking about the war if she cannot marry Duke Salvador?’

’Is she crazy?’

’How can such a thing occur?’

Cassandra swallowed as she waited for the others to react. And soon Duke Crawford’s words fell, making the people’s hearts stiffen.

"Isn’t it a great honor, Empress?" Duke Crawford smiled as he looked at his cousin who was many years younger than him. "The Princess will be able to help the Elvira Empire. I think the first Princess would feel the same way. Isn’t it?"

"Brother ... You ..." The Empress was lost for words. She could not understand why her family would abandon her at this point.

[Don’t they know that the future Emperor will be my son?]

[How can they disregard me?]

Although the Empress thought so, she could not say another word. She stood abruptly as her gaze turned murderous. The air around her turned violent as she looked at the four Dukes sitting in front of her. It was as if her authority was directly challenged.

The air pressure around the royal hall suddenly decreased as the Empress’s eyes narrowed.

The Emperor who had been quiet looked at the situation and the panicking nobles with a sigh. He always thought that the Empress was never in control of her power and now she let her emotions overpower it.

The Emperor banged his hand on the chair as he stood up. The room turned quiet as the Empress was frightened by the sudden moment. Her gaze shook as she looked at the Emperor with a heavy heart.

"I will think about the situation. If the Vivere Kingdom has such demands, I will make the last call. As for who to send, it will be decided by me. All of this is an if situation. Everyone present here should understand their position and act accordingly." The Emperor looked at the Empress before he continued.

"The Dukedoms should follow thought with their words and send people over."

Without waiting for anyone the Emperor turned around and left the room. The room that was like death was soon filled with murmurs and whispers.

Duke Salvador looked at the Princess that was ready to go when his gaze collided with the first Princess. Her sight was filled with complaints as if demanding answers from her lover. But Aiden Salvador ignored her as he swept his sight further.

Just as Duke Salvador’s eyes were about to look at Cassandra, she turned around as she walked away with her lady in waiting.

A smile played on Duke Salvador’s face as he sat down to discuss the arrangement with the remaining Dukes. Many things were about to happen and he wanted to utilize them to the best of his ability.

--------

"Duke ..." Blazh said as soon as Duke Salvador entered his study.

Aiden could feel that something was wrong. His subordinates’ face said it all, but Aiden could not pinpoint it.

"What happened?" Aiden asked as he sat on the chair as he took the report that was placed on the table in his hand. He turned the pages slowly as he read through it.

"Lord Bentham is here." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Oh." Aiden’s lips curled up as he closed the report placing it on the table. "That is the work of the butler. Why are you reporting it to me?"

"Something else happened."

"Shouldn’t you focus on it then Blazh? Don’t take other people’s work on yourself."

Blazh was embarrassed as he nodded his head. He did not waste any more time as he reported. "The Empress had caused trouble in the palace. She had killed two of her servants in the fit of anger."

Duke Salvador nodded. It was an understandable thought. Looking at the past records of the mother and daughter duo, it could be predicted. "And?"

Blazh swallowed as he continued. "The Empress feels that the Duke likes one of the Princesses so he wants to sacrifice Princess Valeria. According to rumors, the Master does not want the Royal to force a marriage on him."

"Isn’t it obvious?" Duke Salvador smiled as his gaze blinked.

"The Empress had called all the Princess’ in her palace," Blazh looked up at the Duke. "Including the fifth Princess."

"The fifth Princess? Why? Aiden’s gaze turned darker. "She is now engaged."

Blazh nodded his head. "It is still unclear but the Empress is beyond angry."

"Hmm ..." Aiden tapped his finger on the table. He wanted to help Cassandra, after all, she was an asset to him now, but there was something in his heart that was telling him otherwise.

Aiden wanted to save the fifth Princess because he had some ulterior motive.

"Pay attention. The fifth Princess should not get hurt."

Blazh nodded as he disappeared. Soon the butler came in asking for his master’s permission but before he could speak Aiden said. "Send Lord Bentham in."

-----------

"What you did today was remarkable." Lord Bentham said as he looked at his friend who sat across the table.

"What was so remarkable?"

"You thought deep and came up with some interesting theories."

"Don’t I always?" Duke Salvador sat back as he rested his head in a leisure manner. "I go to wars, strategizing is an important task so that we don’t get killed in the borders."

Duke Salvador stood up straight as he rested his head on one of his hands as he tapped on the table with the other. "But you tell me, what do you think? You are not here to have an after-meeting discussion? Are you?"

Lord Bentham chucked as his gaze turned darker. "I am not."

Aiden waited for Lord Bentham to continue. He knew that his friend should not have come here if it was not important.

"I have a request."

Aiden nodded his head as an indication for Lord Bentham to continue.

"Given the current situation we are in, I want you to stay away from Princess Cassandra."