CASSANDRA: The Unfavored Princess-Chapter 89: An Ocean In A Bottle

Aiden was silent listening to Princess Cassandra’s words.

"Crystals?" He raised his eyebrows in question as he asked. "Is there a significance of it?"

Princess Cassandra’s body stiffened. She looked at the Duke but could not find the man she was afraid of. Instead, she saw the caring and calming gaze that made her body relax.

’It’s okay. I can tell him this.’

’I have to tell this to the Duke anyways, so why not now.’

Princess Cassandra smiled as she made up her mind. She removed her hands from Aiden’s hold as she touched her blanket, pulling it towards her.

"When I came back that night I tried reading in debt. Trying to come up with an explanation about the red crystals. But I did not see anything useful until I read a line that says ’The crystal of life that is clear as the sky can take up every color. The mages possessing powers have it all. Red for fire, blue for water, yellow for air, and brown for the earth. And the darkness that is present in between the aligned crystals is the path of space.’ so I wanted to confirm."

Princess Cassandra looked at the Duke as her voice started turning low. "Initially I did not know what it meant. That is the reason I took Amy to the forest. I thought if Amy could see brown crystals it would make it come clear to me but then ..."

Cassandra’s voice shook. She could not utter another word from her lips as her body started shaking a little. Aiden who sensed it moved faster as he took Princess Cassandra’s hand again into his hand giving her the confidence that was required.

Cassandra was confused as she looked at the Duke in fright. His movements were too fast for her to understand. "It’s okay. I am here. You continue."

Princess Cassandra nodded at Duke Salvador’s words. Although she was a little afraid, Cassandra took some deep breaths as she continued.

"But Amy could not see any crystals. She was frightened and trapped in the darkness. Her body was shivering and I did not know what to do so I held her hands .."

Aiden could feel the fifth Princess’s hand clench. He rubbed his thumb on her palm waiting for her to continue.

"She opened her eyes but I went into the darkness." Cassandra’s voice was low as a murmur. Her gaze was unfocused when she remembered what had happened to her. "I had never personally been there. It was cold and I was alone."

Aiden could feel the tremble in Princess Cassandra’s tone. He tightened his hold on her hand. "Now you are not alone. I am here with you."

Cassandra looked at the man whose eyes were filled with unknown worry. She nodded as she continued. "I moved in the darkness. I knew that if my assumptions were correct then I would not see any crystals. How can I see it, after all, I am powerless."

"But then something occurred. I think Blazh touched me and the darkness I was in glowed up. I could see the crystals but they did not have any colors in them. They were clear as glass. Only the corners could be seen."

Cassandra’s eyes glittered as she remembered it. It was as if it had happened only now. "But then I don’t know how, but some crystals started turning blue. I could see water flowing through them. It was so mesmerizing, like an ocean in a bottle."

Cassandra’s voice was filled with amazement. "But soon I felt like the power flow had stopped. The darkness soon faded and when I opened my eyes a water beam had already left my hands. I did not know what to think and then my world faded again."

"I am confused and scared. What will happen if they know about it? What should I do then?" Cassandra’s voice trembled at the end. Her sight fixed on the man in front of her.

Duke Salvador looked at the fifth Princess. He himself did not know what to say to this. The existence of crystals within oneself was a mysterious thing but what the fifth Princess had experienced was something beyond imagination.

But Aiden also knew that the Princess was the most vulnerable now. She needed some support and comfort. A sense of security to maintain her rationality and Duke Salvador knew how to give that to her.

"No one will know. Your lady in waiting is loyal to you and my subordinate is loyal to me. No one will know about it."

Cassandra felt good when she listened to the Duke’s words. She nodded her head as she took some deep breaths. "I know."

There was silence in the air as no one spoke. Both of them were engrossed in their own thoughts but their hands still remained held.

There was an unknown comfort in the air. It was not awkward or embarrassing, but relaxing and natural.

"Didn’t the Duke attend the dinner?" Cassandra asked as she looked at the Duke with a shy smile. She did not know why but she wanted to talk. She was quiet for a long time.

"I did attend but there was nothing eventful." Duke Salvador smiled. "And when I heard that the Princess had fainted I had no reason to stay there."

Princess Cassandra’s face was tinted in red. She did not know what to say for a minute. Her gaze looked at everything other than the Duke but yet her sight still found its way back towards the man.

’How cute.’ was the only thought of Duke Salvador. His lips curled up when he saw the way the fifth Princess was behaving. She was like a child that wanted something but was too scared to ask for it.

But now the child was to be taken away from him. When Aiden thought that his eyes darkened. He could not understand why suddenly everything was focused on the fifth Princess.

’She is unusual.’

’She does not look powerless nor does she look unfavored.’

’Everyone is here for her alone.’

’It feels like something that I haven’t even touched already has many hands extended towards it.’

’I hate this feeling.’

Aiden observed Princess Cassandra with curiosity but his gaze was filled with danger. His path was not easy and Duke Salvador knew it.

"I think the Duke should go now." Princess Cassandra said in a dull tone. Her eyes looked down at their intertwined hands.

Aiden’s gaze followed her as a smile filled his eyes. "Why is the Princess saying such words? I thought we were friends?" Aiden’s tone was filled with helplessness. "Or was it just in my mind? Does the Princess not see me as a friend anymore?"

"NO," Cassandra said in a hurry to explain. She could never think of Duke Salvador saying such words with such a face.

’What am I thinking?’ Cassandra thought.

’I have to make myself clear.’

’What if the Duke misunderstands me.’

Princess Cassandra blinked as she said. "I did not mean it that way. It is just that the Duke was in a place filled with important people of the Empire. They will search for you."

"No one will dare to search for me." Duke Salvador laughed. "I have a reputation of being violent. Haven’t the Princess heard such rumors about me?"

Cassandra shook her head. "I did but I never trust rumors."

"Yes, I can understand why the Princess does that. After all, all the rumors surrounding you are also inaccurate."

Cassandra’s gaze shifted towards the Duke in a blink. She did not understand whether she should smile or not. What the Duke had said was true in a sense. The rumors surrounding her were not pretty but Cassandra was too timid to pay any attention to them.

"Yes, rumors cannot be trusted," Cassandra murmured but then she said in a serious tone. "But the Duke should go now."

Aiden was confused by the sudden change in Princess Cassandra. She removed her hand as she got up from the bed. "Duke please go. Someone is coming."

At Cassandra’s words, Aiden’s eyes darkened. He got up as he asked. "Who is it?" Aiden’s tone was dark and low, bringing shivers down Cassandra’s spine.

"Princess Teimei," Cassandra murmured as she pushed Duke Salvador towards the window. The Princess’s words were clear in her mind.

[Get ready Princess I will come to take you shortly.]

[Make sure to distract your lady from waiting. We didn’t need unwanted attention at our little outing now, do we?]

[And don’t worry. Brother only wants to have a small chat with you. He is a busy man and has other things to attend to as well.]

[Don’t keep me waiting.]

Cassandra pushed Aiden away at the window as she said in a low tone. "Princess Teimei will come here shortly. I need to get ready. You go now."

Aiden’s eyes darkened. He knew exactly how the fifth Princess knew that Princess Teimei was coming.

Aiden did not disturb the Princess as he turned around facing her. "You get ready and don’t forget to wear the black fur. The night is cold."

Cassandra paused for a second before she nodded her head.

"And don’t worry I will be there near you. Always protecting you." With this Duke Salvador left with a smile.