CASSANDRA: The Unfavored Princess-Chapter 80: Red

Princess Cassandra looked at the man who was standing there listening to all her commands.

"You only listen to me and obey my commands now." Cassandra did not shiver. She was calm for the first time instructing someone. Maybe it was because she had already taught Amy and now Princess Cassandra was confident enough that she could handle something like this.

"The darker the darkness the stronger your power should be." Cassandra’s voice was silent as if she was receding a poem she had known by heart.

"Let the darkness consume you, Ed. You’re one of them now. Don’t think of anything else and focus on the quietness and calm surroundings. Now open your eyes in the darkness. You can feel the darkness engulfing you."

Princess Cassandra looked at Ed whose eyes were closed as his face was calm. Cassandra could feel that the man was following her instructions to the fullest. A smile formed on her face as she continued the instruction.

"Move around and get acquainted with the space Ed. Walk around it and get to know it better. See the spread of it."

Aiden followed Princess Cassandra’s instruction to the tea. He opened his eyes and soon realized that he was not at an unknown place. Everything was dark and filled with emptiness. Duke Salvador looked around but could not see anything. The place he was in was deserted bringing immense sadness and gloomy feeling in his heart. But Princess Cassandra’s voice kept him focused.

Duke Salvador knew that if Princess Cassandra would not have been here then he would never experience such a feeling. He walked deeper and deeper, but he still could not reach the end.

There was nothing. No sign of light, only a never-ending road. Aiden continued walking as he could hear some small sounds. Maybe it was due to concentrating as Princess Cassandra had instructed or maybe because his mind was calm and not thinking anything, but Aiden could hear things on his road to the expedition.

"What can you see, Ed?" Princess Cassandra asked, making a small movement. Even if she knew that Ed could hear her, Princess Cassandra also knew that Ed’s reply would be in a whisper.

If Princess Cassandra did not go any further near Ed, she might not be able to listen to what he was seeing.

"I can hear things." Aiden’s voice was soft, murmuring but in reality, he was talking in his usual self in the darkness.

Aiden did not stop walking. He did not know if the words would come out of his physical body or not but he hoped that Cassandra could understand them.

"What sound?" the fifth Princess asked, curiously. Amy had never said such a word.

’What was Ed hearing?’

’Why wasn’t Amy able to hear it?’

’Is it because Amy’s elemental reach is limited.’

’Does the darkness affect it?’

’Or is it the sound of darkness?’ 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Many questions started rotating in Princess Cassandra’s mind. Her eyes were focused on Ed while her ears were sharp.

Duke Salvador tried to focus on the sounds that he was hearing. A crackling sound was prominent but there was also the sound

"Something is crackling." Aiden’s voice was low. But Princess Cassandra’s eyes narrowed.

’Something crackling?’

’But what?’

’Something regarding this was written in the diary.’

’what was it?’

Cassandra was silent as she tried to focus her mind. She wanted to remember what she had just written.

’I have never experienced this myself so I have never paid any attention to it.’

’Wasn’t it written that only some people could hear such voices?’

Princess Cassandra’s eyes turned sharp as she remembered something that she had copied.

"Ed, stop your walk in the darkness."

As soon as Cassandra’s words reached Aiden’s ears, his movements stopped, waiting for more of Cassandra’s instructions.

"Hear the voices carefully Ed."

Aiden’s focus turned towards the sound as she tried to understand where it was coming from. Soon his legs started to walk in a direction as he focused on one point.

"Ed, can you locate one particular point?" Cassandra’s eyes were filled with hope as she asked. Her hands were sweating hard as she tried to listen to Ed’s low voice.

"Yes," Aiden said. "I am going towards it."

Duke Salvador walked towards the sound as he extended his hand towards the darkness. He touched it and soon everything in the surrounding turned bright red.

Everything turned bright red as his eyes widened. But the intensity increased as he closed his eyes in a hurry. His breathing increased subconsciously.

"Ed?" Cassandra moved towards Aiden as she saw his forehead becoming sweaty. She had never seen such a reaction before which caused her panic.

’What is happening?’

’Is something wrong?’

’Is Ed alright?’

Princess Cassandra’s hand moved along Ed’s back in a caring manner as she looked down at him.

Aiden’s eyes were opened as he was breathing faster. It was a suffocating experience as he tried to control his fast breathing heart.

"Ed, Breath." Cassandra’s voice was filled with worry. "Don’t think about anything else. Just focus on your breathing."

Aiden nodded as he closed his eyes. His mind was blank as he controlled his breathing.

Soon Duke Salvador’s breathing was calm as he took some deep breaths. He opened his eyes and looked at the fifth Princess who had water in her eyes.

Cassandra was blaming herself for the situation Ed was in.

’Only if I was not greedy.’

’Ed had to suffer because of me.’

’What did he see?’

’Why is his condition bad?’

The tears dropped down her gaze. Firstly Ed was harmed by the Duke because of her lady in waiting and now he had to go through something unknown and scary alone.

"Princess." Aiden rubbed Cassandra’s eyes as he looked at her with calmness. "I am fine."

Cassandra’s sight did not leave Ed’s face, even though she could only see his eyes. His red eyes were beautiful, providing the warmth she needed. She nodded her head but the tears were still forming in her gaze.

The guilt was too much for her, but Cassandra managed to smile. "We both need rest."

----------

The atmosphere was getting warmer as Aiden lit the bonfire in their training ground.

Cassandra rubbed her hands as she moved a little closer towards the heat, trying to absorb as much warmth as she could.

"Princess, should I bring something hot for you to drink?’ Ed’s voice was low as he asked. His eyes were filled with concern.

"No," Cassandra smiled. ’You and I both need some rest for now.’

Cassandra closed her eyes before she looked up at the sky. Her gaze opened slowly as her sight fell on the stars shining.

There were so many stars that were invisible at the early stages of the night but once midnight passes the remaining stars came to life as the whole dark sky was twinkling like diamonds.

Aiden followed Cassandra’s gaze as he looked up. The scenery brought back memories of the place he was in.

"Isn’t the sky beautiful today?" Cassandra said in a daze.

"Just like the darkness, I was in." Aiden completed Cassandra’s sentence.

Cassandra was confused by Ed’s words. She blinked her eyes and looked at him only to realize that he was in deep thoughts.

Thoughts that Princess Cassandra could not hear. It confused Cassandra as her eyes turned narrow.

’Is he even thinking?’

’I am not sure.’

’Ed is distracted for sure but why is he behaving like this?’

’As if he is hypnotized.’

Cassandra wanted to say something, anything that would make Ed look at her but before she could bring any words to her mouth, Ed said in a murmur.

"Just like the one, I saw there."

Princess Cassandra’s eyes widened in shock.

’Just like Ed saw?’

’What did he see?’

Cassandra looked up again but she could not pinpoint anything extraordinary there. The only thing that could make someone hooked was shining.

"The only difference is that it was red." Aiden continued unaware that his words were affecting the fifth Princess’s mood.

"Ed." Cassandra could not restrict her emotions anymore. Curiosity and uncertainty were making her itch.

Aiden came back to reality as the image of his experience vanished before his eyes. He looked down only to see Princess Cassandra’s blue eyes shining at him. There were still some traces of water in it from all those tears she had used up.

The fire from the bonfire was making her eyes glow from time to time. It was mesmerizing and Aiden felt tempted.

His hands wanted to touch her eyes, just to make sure that they were really there. It was not a fraction of his imagination but a reality.

Cassandra who was unaware asked in a shivering tone. "Ed, what color are you talking about? Did you see something there?"

Aiden’s gaze looked at the fifth Princess as he smiled. She was real. In the deserted site under the moon in the engulfment of stars, Cassandra was sitting next to him, caring about him. Aiden’s heart was filled with unspeakable happiness. As he replied.

"Red."