CASSANDRA: The Unfavored Princess-Chapter 58: Protective

The day started in a hurry.

No one could understand why things were progressing the way they were. The Vivere Kingdom’s people were about to come in a few days giving the Elvira Empire enough time to prepare, but no one knew how the period was reduced. The Vivere Kingdom’s people will be arriving tomorrow.

"Why are they coming so early?"

"How could you not know?"

"Why are they in a hurry?"

"Is it because of the peace treaty?"

Many discussions were going on in the palace. Many people were discussing the process in a murmur. The Emperor had gotten information that the Vivere Kingdom’s people would come but so soon.

"Why are they coming tomorrow? They should have been here in a span of a few days. Why are they coming so soon?" The Emperor raised his eyebrows as he looked at his subjects.

The room was filled with all the Duke’s who were looking at each other. No one replied as the Emperor grew angrier.

"So no one has an answer to it?" The Emperor banged his hand on the table.

"No one knows the reason why the people are coming in a hurry." Duke Crawford said in a low tone.

"So what should we do? Bend on their demands?" The Emperor looked at each and everyone with a narrowed gaze. "We have won the war and yet we have thought twice about our arrangements regarding a simple peace treaty that too with a defeated Kingdom. Do we not have pride?"

Lord Bentham looked up at the Emperor as he gave his opinion. "As the Emperor said, the Vivere Kingdom is the one that was defeated. We can provide them with a minimum of things on the pretense that they arrived before the estimated time."

"But won’t it leave a bad impression of us on them?" Duke Garfield said with a worried tone.

"Yes, but it can also prove that as a victorious Empire we are not obliged to think for them." Duke Bentham suggested.

The Emperor was in thoughts. He did not want the people of the Empire to think that the royal family cannot honor the defeated Kingdom’s Crown Prince but he also wanted to prove to the Vivere Kingdom’s Prince that they do not keep their Kingdom in their eyes.

"Then what is Duke Bentham suggesting?" Duke Salvador asked with a smile.

"I feel like the arrangements that have been made so far are enough. As per the living arrangement for the Crown Prince. We should leave it to the Vivere Kingdom’s Crown Prince to decide." Duke Bentham said as he looked at the Emperor. His gaze was full of confidence.

"Leave the living arrangement to their Crown Prince?" The Emperor was confused. He raised his eyebrows as he said in a low tone.

"Yes." Duke Bentham nodded. "Their Kingdom’s carriage waited in our territory. As per what my informants have said, the Crown Prince does not like living in the palace. It is estimated that he might ask if he could live in the mansion of one of the Duke’s."

"Their Crown Prince is interesting." Duke Salvador said in a low tone. It was almost like a whisper making only the Duke’s hear his words.

"So that means the Crown Prince might live with any one of our mansions?" Duke Crawfield asked. His wrinkled face was full of questions.

"It is a possibility." Duke Bentham nodded.

"Then we all should also be prepared." Duke Garfield said. His sight moved towards Duke Salvador who was observing Duke Bentham closely.

The Emperor listened to all of this as he raised his face. He looked at his secretary and asked in rage. "So your informants do not know about these possibilities?"

The secretary was quiet for a long time, only listening to their talks. He was confused why his informants were so dull that they did not give him important information.

"I apologize, Emperor." The secretary looked down. His gaze filled with shame.

"Your apology cannot hide your incompetence." The Emperor’s gaze was filled with rage.

The Emperor looked at the Duke’s and asked. "So we should listen to Duke Bentham."

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Once they moved out of the court, Duke Salvador went towards Duke Bentham.

"Duke Bentham has a lot of knowledge when it comes to the Vivere Kingdom’s Crown Prince." Duke Salvador said in a low tone. His gaze narrowed.

"I learn from observation." Duke Bentham laughed. "You will learn when you grow up till my age."

Duke Salvador smiled. "I hope I do. After all, even my information ring did not have such a strong network to gather some minute information."

"Duke Salvador is thinking too much into the matter. The information network that you possess is the strongest in the Empire. After all, you are the war god." Duke Bentham smiled. His lips curled up as his eyes glittered.

Duke Salvador did not say another word regarding the topic but shifted it to something else. "I will be sending Black Eagles to protect the Princess’s."

Aiden’s voice was high as he looked at the Dukes. His voice conveyed the determination he had in his decision. Seeing that no one else gave any opinion, Aiden continued. "It was the Emperor’s decision to assign Black Eagle there. The others can decide who they want to protect."

Duke Garfield smiled as he raised his eyebrow. "Are you sure that the Emperor had asked you for this?"

Duke Salvador raised his lips as he looked at his friend. "If you doubt my words then you are free to ask the Emperor yourself. I am sure he would say the same."

The tone of Aiden was as if giving an ultimate command proving that the Emperor might really have said it.

Duke Crawford said after giving it much thought. "If that is the case, I would like to send my people to protect the Queens and the Empress."

"We will send for the Emperor," said Duke Garfield.

"Then all the Prince will come under our protection." Duke Bentham added.

Soon everything was decided without a complaint. Aiden smiled as he walked, leaving the others behind.

Duke Salvador wants to keep an eye on the fifth princess. And for doing so he needs an excuse. He didn’t mind telling a lie that might affect his future decisions but for the time being, it was needed.

Duke Salvador knew that Lord Bentham had told him to stay away from Princess Cassandra but looking at her he could not help but be protective. He wanted to protect the lady that was working so hard for him. The lady who forgot her night’s sleep just to copy the diary only she could read. So Duke Salvador decided to tell a little lie. He did not care who protected the other princesses but he wanted to protect Princess Cassandra personally.

"Something is off?" Duke Garfield said as he looked at Duke Salvador’s left-back. "He looks tired."

"The Duke is having large responsibilities on his shoulders. We need to be considerate about him as well." Duke Crawford said in a dull tone.

"Duke Crawford cares about Duke Salvador a lot." Duke Bentham laughed.

"I have seen him grow up like a child. I am a little protective of him." Duke Crawford said as his gaze looked at a distance.

"Duke Crawford knows us as well." Duke Garfield smiled. "But he is not that protective of us."

Duke Crawford smiled. "You have your wife to take care of you. What will happen if she knows that you are asking for comfort elsewhere?"

Duke Garfield’s smile erased from his face. His eyes narrowed at the Duke who was enjoying his reaction.

Duke Bentham looked at the back of Duke Salvador who was now nowhere to be seen.

’Why did he ask me something like that?’

’Does he know something?’

’No. It is not possible.’

’Something is off.’

’I have to talk about this with Achard.’

’He will know what to do.’

Duke Bentham looked at Duke Garfield and Duke Crawford who were arguing. He did not know what to think as he moved towards the two. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"We have less time in our hands. We should get to work." Duke Bentham said, breaking the conversation in between.

"This Vivere Kingdom’s people are making us work harder." Duke Garfield said with a sigh.

"That is our life in the Empire. Always unpredictable." Duke Crawford smiled as he walked out.

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In the darkroom, a man was standing. His face could not be seen as his body was engulfed in the darkness.

"How is she?" The man sitting on the chair asked with a smile on his face.

"She is good. She had started gaining her confidence back. Maybe she will realize her true self soon." The man in the dark said.

"I heard she is close to that person now. Is it true?"

There was silence in the room. The man in the dark refused to give an answer.

"Are you not answering me now?"

"No. She is in contact with him but they will not stay in contact soon." the man in the darkness said.

"Hmm ... Make sure that they will not grow close. We do not want history repeating itself again."