CASSANDRA: The Unfavored Princess-Chapter 61: Off-Limits

Princess Valeria entered the Empress Palace.

"You called for me, mother." Princess Valeria said as she eyed the guards that were standing in front of the Empress.

Princess Valeria knew why she was summoned but she didn’t care. She ignored the greetings of the guards as she sat on the chair beside the Empress.

"You tried to burn your palace." The Empress said in a low voice. The anger that she was trying to suppress was evident."

"I was not trying to burn the palace," Princess Valeria rolled her eyes. "I was trying to kill the man who disobeyed me."

The Empress looked at her daughter with raised eyebrows. "Trying to do what? Do you even know the meaning of your actions?"

The Empress’s tone was increasing by the minute. But Princess Valeria did not care. Her eyes were looking at her mother as if she was seeing someone who did not have a brain.

"What is the meaning?" Princess Valeria smirked. "We are royals. My father the Emperor is the strongest mage who can control all four elements. Why should I be afraid."

"VALERIA." The Empress shouted. Her anger reached its limit. "HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND? DO YOU TAKE ME FOR A FOOL?" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Princess Valeria flinched at her mother’s voice. The Empress had never used such a tone with her. Princess Valeria could not understand what was happening. Was something wrong?

’I have said nothing wrong.’

’Why should I be guilty.’

Princess Valeria looked at the guards who stood, standing like puppets, awaiting orders. Her rage increased. "It’s all their fault. If they would have just listened.."

Before Princess Valeria could finish her words a tight slap was placed on her face. Princess Valeria’s eyes widened in shock. She could not understand what had happened for a moment. It was as if a silence filled her brain.

The pain soon followed as Princess Valeria placed her hand on her cheeks. She looked at the Empress in disbelief. "You ..."

"Don’t blame your mistakes on others." The Empress said in a firm tone. She waved her hand as she indicated the guards to leave.

Soon the room was filled with silence along with the Empress and Princess Valeria.

"How can you do that?" Princess Valeria’s eyes were red. "You cannot DO THIS TO ME!"

Princess Valeria’s voice increased suddenly. She looked at the Empress with a vicious gaze. "NO ONE CAN DO THIS TO ME." The anger boiling in her heart was about to explode but before Princess Valeria could take any actions, His eyes shook.

Princess Valeria’s hands crawled towards her chest as she tapped on it. Her eyes that were red with anger were now popping out due to suffocation. Princess Valeria looked at the Empress with a helpless gaze.

"Valeria, never forget that I am your mother." The Empress folded her legs as she twisted her hand. "And a powerful wind mage."

Princess Valeria was choking, she banged on her chest as her other hand went up and down her own neck. Her nose expanded trying to inhale as much air as she could but could not. Just when Princess Valeria was about to close her eyes, the Empress released her hand.

Soon the supply of air could reach the Princess, as Valeria coughed hard. Her eyes looked at the Empress with blame, but her mother had a smile on her face.

"You .. You .." Princess Valeria struggled to say words.

"I? I what?" The Empress laughed as she held the glass filled with water in her hand. She drank it slowly eyeing her daughter who was staring at her as if she was a witch.

The Empress smiled as she raised her eyebrows asking what the Princess was looking at. Princess Valeria’s eyes were still red, as she narrowed her gaze.

The Empress laughed at the childishness of Princess Valeria as she poured another glass of water for her daughter. As soon as the glass was offered, Princess Valeria drank it as if a fish was given her life.

"I am the Empress of this Empire first and then your mother. I have tolerated your stubbornness because you are my daughter but don’t forget your place, Valeria. If you try to bring me down I will not think twice to abandon you."

The Empress raised her lips as her eyes narrowed. "Do you think I was quite so far because of my love for you? Yes, I was silent about your treatment. I never said a word when you killed countless people in anger. I never objected when you tried to attack the other Princesses or the guards for fun. But you have crossed your line now."

"Do you think everything has gone your way because you are the first Princess or because you are one of the powerful mages?" The Empress laughed. "No, It was because I was protecting you. Always remember in the Empire, there is always someone more powerful than you that you may not know of."

The Empress got up from her chair as she walked towards the window. "The special army of any Dukedom is off-limits for the royals. It is a treaty that we have followed throughout the centuries. We are royals due to the prophecy and never forget that."

The Empress turned around and looked at her daughter. "I have protected you because anyone of the heir can become an Emperor. If my son cannot then my daughter can." The Empress smiled. "But if my daughter cannot honor the treaty then she is useless to me."

"Don’t make your mother kill you, Valeria." The Empress smiled. "Behave like a proper Princess honorable enough to be the leader."

The Empress looked outside the window again as she admired the cool breeze. "Write an apology to Duke Salvador for attacking a black eagle and hope that the matter is buried before it reaches the ears of the Emperor. I do not want to defend you in front of the father because you were foolish enough to start a war between the royals and Salvador Dukedom."

Princess Valeria was silent as she rubbed her neck continuously. She had always known that her mother was a powerful mage, but she did not know that the Empress could make her breathless.

Princess Valeria could still remember the feeling of dying due to suffocation. Her body trembled with the mere thought of it happening again.

The Empress looked back suddenly. "Go and start writing."

Princess Valeria swallowed as she clenched her hands. She nodded in surrender as she walked back towards the palace to obey the Empress.

------

Cassandra was writing the dairy on the pages. Her eyes were turning red due to the continuous work she was doing.

She rubbed her eyes in frustration as she complained in her heart. ’When will this finish?’

Cassandra sighed as she counted the pages that still had to be copied. ’Still this much left. When will it get done?’

Cassandra closed her eyes as she tried to rest but the surrounding voices of the people never stopped bothering her.

[How can there be fire at the first Princess’s palace again.]

[Who might it be this time.]]

[Was it a thief?]

[The first Princess called the Royal guards and Empress’s guards as well.]

[I hope the thief is caught.]

[How can Princess Valeria attack the black eagle.]

Cassandra’s eyes opened in a hurry. She swallowed hard at the last words.

’Princess Valeria attacked the back eagle?’

’Why?’

Cassandra’s breathing increased as she turned around in a hurry. Her eyes searched for someone but she couldn’t see a single soul in the room.

"Ed?" Princess Cassandra called.

"Ed?" She said in a low tone again.

"Princess .." Soon a man in black emerged from the dark.

Cassandra was scared. Her heartbeats increased. "Don’t frighten me. I have a weak heart." Cassandra closed her eyes.

Aiden looked at Princess Cassandra’s behavior as a smile spread on his face. He was happy that there was a black cloth on her face, making his actions invisible in the eyes of Cassandra.

’Was she always this talkative?’

’No, she was like a frightened sheep always running away from me like I am a wolf ready to eat her.’

Aiden was happy but soon his happiness turned sour. ’Is the Princess this talkative with everyone else except me?’

’Is she this open with her expression with Lord Bentham?’

’Has Achard seen this side of her?’

Aiden’s hands formed a fist as he controlled the rage brewing in his eyes. For some unknown reason, he wanted to march to his friend and throw a punch in his face.

’I should control myself.’

’I cannot let Princess Cassandra know who I am.’

’She will go back into being the scared Princess again, never saying another word out of place.’

Aiden looked at the Princess who was staring at him.

’She will not look at me with such a gaze again.’

’Yes, I cannot let her know that I am Aiden Salvador. The man she is afraid of.’

Aiden controlled his feelings as he lowered his voice, turning it huskier. "Why did the Princess call me?"