CASSANDRA: The Unfavored Princess-Chapter 105: Captive
Duke Salvador walked into the room full of people. There was a slight chill in the air as everyone important was sitting there.
Once the greeting was done all the people sat down when the secretary smiled and said. "All the rituals have been performed. The first Princess, Princess Valeria will be the next Emperor of the Elvira Empire."
The secretary smiled as he continued. "I have personally seen it with my own eyes. Princess Valeria will be our savior."
Duke Salvador smiled as he looked into the eyes of the Emperor. He could see that the man was not happy with the results.
’Something is off.’
’The Emperor is not smiling.’
’There is no happiness in his eyes.’
.Princess Valeria was looking at Duke Salvador with a soft gaze. Her expression was full of love. The only thing that she hoped for was to make Aiden Salvador look at her, but the Duke was looking elsewhere.
Princess Valeria followed the Duke’s gaze only to realize that he was observing the Emperor. The smile on her face vanished. "Father, show your happiness." Princess Valeria murmured under her breath. The smile on her face remained the same but there was a stiffness in her body.
The Emperor looked at the first Princesses as he spoke in a stiff tone. His voice was filled with arrogance and superiority. "I can only show the way I feel." Although the Emperor’s words were rude, his voice was low.
"Whatever father. But when the people and all the influential families support me, like my father, you should show your happiness." Princess Valeria’s lips curled up as her eyes glowed.
The Emperor did not reply but he looked at the first Princess with narrowed eyes.
Duke Salvador observed it all. He could tell that the relationship between the father and daughter had gone sour.
A smile formed on his face as he looked at the other dukes who were discussing sending Lord Bentham and Princess Cassandra to the Vivere Kingdom.
"The conditions are not bad." Duke Crawford suggested. "I can see that they need Achard Bentham there for a few years and they are even ready to give up a piece of their precious land."
Duke Garfield nodded. "I agree. They are here for the peace treaty and their demands are also valid. Lord Bentham also agrees and we have known him for years now. Lord Bentham is true to us so we do not have to worry about him."
"Yes." Duke Bentham agreed. "My son has fought many wars for the Empire and is loyal to us. He would never do something that will be damaging to the Empire."
The secretary rubbed his hand over his chin. "But sending one of our Princesses there is a bit of a risk. She will be a liability. The fifth Princess is powerless. What will happen if she is attacked there? What if the Vivere Kingdom’s people try to blackmail us by keeping her captive?"
Princess Valeria laughed. "If they keep her captive to blackmail us then we can just let them kill her." Princess Valeria’s eyes glittered as she placed her hands up as a water lady walked on her palms. "The fifth Princess does not hold significance to us. If her fiancé could not protect her it is her loss. The Elvira Empire has always looked out for the most powerful people while the others have to find their own way to survive."
A smile played on the first Princess’s face. "The doll can always be broken." The water lady came down as her structure was disrupted and the water disappeared in the air. "So it should always find its protector."
Everyone in the room was quiet. No one spoke but they were glaring at the first Princess. As an heir to the throne, the Princess should have empathy and yet she was proudly showing her cruel personality openly.
"But like you, she is my daughter too." The Emperor said as he raised his eyebrows. "And she will be a part of the Bentham’s soon."
The Emperor’s words held silent meaning to it. Even if Princess Cassandra was powerless, she was going to be a part of the Bentham’s. Her status and hold on the society will be more even if Lord Bentham does not take up the Dukedom.
"So that means the fifth Princess will be Lord Bentham’s responsibility." Princess Valeria smiled. She did not want to lose her hold on the conversation.
"Maybe one of us should go there to protect her." Duke Salvador suggested.
Princess Valeria’s eyes widened.
’Duke Salvador wants to go to the Vivere Kingdom?’
’Why?’
’Who knows when Lord Bentham might return, will Duke Salvador stay with him there for the whole while?’
’I cannot let that happen.’
’Why would he suggest something so abrupt.’
"I will send my people there to protect Achard." Duke Bentham smiled as he looked at Duke Salvador. "I will take care of them both."
Duke Salvador’s eyes narrowed. He smiled as he looked at all the Dukes. He was about to speak up when the secretary suggested. "Yes, that will be better. We can also send some of the royal guards as protection for the fifth Princess."
"Can a royal guard be more powerful than a Duke?" Duke Salvador raised his eyebrows. His hands tapping on the table. "The Dukes are the most powerful in the Empire, and now that we do not know how powerful the Vivere Kingdom’s people are we have to be more careful when dealing with them."
"But for that Duke Salvador does not have to go." Princess Valeria said in a panic. "You can always send someone you trust to protect your friend."
Princess Valeria tried to make her point. She didn’t want everyone in the room to think that she was saying the words just to stop Duke Salvador, even when it was the truth.
"The Princess is right. The Duke should not leave the Empire. You going there would look as if they have captured you and imprisoned you." Duke Bentham’s tone was full of concern. "Achard going there and you going there are different. The Empire needs you here."
Duke Salvador did not reply but looked at Duke Bentham and the first Princess with narrowed eyes. Aiden ignored the first Princess’s concerns as he focused on the words of Duke Bentham.
’Duke Bentham does not want me to go.’
’Does that means he knows what Achard is hiding?’
’Both father and son are trying hard so that I do not stay near Princess Cassandra.’
Duke Salvador smiled. "As per what I have heard now, Duke Bentham said that someone from my black eagles can go with the fifth Princess."
Duke Bentham narrowed his eyes as he swallowed. He had a bad feeling of what Duke Salvador might say next. But he still nodded his head. Everything was acceptable until the Duke decided to go.
"Yes .." Duke Bentham replied. He looked at Aiden, waiting for his next words.
"So then I demand her guard to go with her." Duke Salvador said with a smirk.
"Her guard?" Duke Bentham asked with a questionable tone.
"Yes. The black eagle that was assigned to her. As per what the first Princess had said, the powerless one should find their own way to survive." Duke Salvador looked at Princess Valeria. "So to protect and let the fifth Princess survive, the black eagle will protect her."
"Why is the Duke so interested in the fifth Princess." Princess Valeria’s eyebrows raised. She was filled with rage and annoyance. "It is very unlike you."
"And what makes the first Princess think that she knows me?" Duke Salvador laughed. "I am doing what a friend should do."
Duke Salvador looked at Duke Bentham as his eyes glittered. "After all, the fifth Princess is going to be my best friend’s bride. How can I be rude to her? Isn’t it?"
Duke Bentham narrowed his gaze. "Yes."
Something was not right. And he knew it. But Duke Bentham could not say anything else. He wanted to stop Duke Salvador’s interest in the fifth Princess and Lord Bentham’s life but it was not working. Under the name of friendship, the Duke was trying to get involved a lot.
’I have to do something.’
’Prince Carl would be angry if he knew that someone from Duke Salvador’s side would go along.’
’But what should I do next?’
’I have to stop it soon so that the situation doesn’t become out of hand.’
’But then what to do?’
Duke Bentham was running his brains fast. He had to close the topic today itself. Suddenly his eyes brightened. "But we cannot force ourselves on the Princess. We should ask Princess Cassandra if she is comfortable with the black eagle following her."
The secretary also nodded. "Yes. The Princess should be asked." He looked at Princess Valeria as he hoped that the first Princess’s anger would be suppressed.
"Yes, if everyone insists, then we can ask that fifth Princess. But I still think it is unnecessary." Princess Valeria’s eyes narrowed as she smiled.
