CASSANDRA: The Unfavored Princess-Chapter 60: Ring of Fire

"Ed?"

Cassandra raised her eyebrows as she looked at the man in black. "Is that your name? Or do you want to be called that?"

The man looked at the fifth Princess but did not reply. There was a smile in his eyes, making Cassandra irritated.

"Stupid rule," Cassandra murmured. "How will I have a conversation if he does not reply."

Cassandra was disheartened as she looked at the man and smiled like a little fool. "It’s okay. I will call you Ed then. So Ed can be friends with me, right?"

The man looked at Cassandra with a smile. He wanted to touch her hair but he clenched his hand to prevent it. All he could do was nod.

Cassandra was happy with the response she got. ’It is a good response.’

Cassandra nodded as she moved towards the man. Her eyes glowed with excitement as she moved towards the window. "You know, I have no friends in this Palace apart from Amy. She is my only friend who really cares about me."

Cassandra sat near the window as she looked outside. "I am so glad I got one more to talk to, even though it is for a limited time." Cassandra looked back at Ed. "But you have to promise that you will not tell anyone about the things that you will hear or see here."

Aiden who was standing in front of Cassandra looked at her with narrowed eyes. ’Hear and see?’

He was confused by Cassandra’s choice of words. It was as if she was telling him to neglect the way she is treated in the Palace.

’How bad is her condition?’

Aiden nodded his head as he saw Cassandra looking at him with a hopeful gaze. She wanted to listen to a positive answer from him, and Aiden could sense it.

’She craves for friends.’

’Or people in general.’

’Does everyone in the Palace ignore her even though she is the Princess?’

Aiden’s hands clenched into a fist unknowingly as he was in deep thoughts, but soon the fifth Princess’s words brought him back to the present.

"Ed?"

"Ed?"

Aiden looked at Cassandra who was waiting for his reply. He had no idea what she had asked but he did not want to disappoint the innocent face.

Aiden modified his tone making it a lot huskier. He knew that no one would know it was him. "What is the Princess saying?"

Cassandra looked at Ed who had replied with a sentence consisting of five words. Cassandra even counted it in her hands before smiling. "Don’t you think?"

Aiden was confused by Cassandra’s words. He could not understand why the fifth Princess would ask something so abrupt.

Aiden wanted to reply with a ’Yes, I think.’ but he kept his mouth closed. For once he thought Cassandra’s question was out of order.

’Why would she ask such a question.’

’Am I thinking too much?’

’Should I give a diplomatic answer?’

’Maybe I should.’

Aiden’s sight stayed on Cassandra as he shook his head. "The Black Eagles are trained to obey commands and not to think."

Cassandra’s eyes widened. "Duke is a cruel man. Does he not want his subordinates to have brains?" Cassandra’s gaze looked at the floor before turning towards the window. "Anyway don’t tell this to the Duke. He might be ready to kill me."

Cassandra was silent after that and nor did Aiden say a word. The room had gone back to the way it was.

--------

Princess Valeria was walking back and forth in the room.

Her eyes were filled with anger as a man in black stood in front of her. Princess Valeria stood in front of the man suddenly as she looked at him. Her hands itching to throw a ball of fire at him.

"So according to the letter, you decide whether to speak or not?"

"This is absurd."

"I am the first Princess of this Empire and you can be disrespectful to me? So Duke Salvador means that his black eagles can decide whether to answer me or not?"

Princess Valeria laughed as she looked at the man in seriousness. "Tell your Duke that I do not bow in front of anyone. Either you answer me with whatever I ask you or be ready to die."

The man did not flinch. He stood there looking straight as if Princess Valeria did not exist.

The boiling rage in Princess Valeria’s body wanted to come out. She wanted to prove her point.

’I just asked him if Duke Salvador liked someone. And the man refused to answer.’

’He refused to answer to the first Princess of this Empire.’

’He serves me. I am his master now and yet.’

Princess Valeria clenched her hand as she shouted. "GUARDS!"

Soon a series of guards came into the room in a hurry. The first Princess’s voice was an indication that she was angry.

"Princess ..." The voices of guards came in a hurry as they stood in front of Princess Valeria. No one knew why the Princess was angry but they all knew that she was. They could sense it in her aura. The Princess was ready to kill at any moment.

The guards looked around and saw only one man standing in front of the princess. The man was dressed in black as he stood there like a statue.

The leader of the guards looked at the Princess and asked in worry. "What is the first Princess’s command."

"I want this man to be killed." Princess Valeria pointed at the man in black. "I do not want a person who disrespects me."

"Princess that ..." The leader of the guard looked between the man and the first Princess. He wanted to say a lot but feared for his life.

"What? Are you disrespecting me as well?" Princess Valeria’s eyes narrowed in rage. She moved her hands and was ready to attack the guards when the leader explained.

"No Princess Valeria." The leader of the guard bowed his head. "The man belongs to Duke Salvador’s black eagle. It is one of the core armies of the Duke."

The leader looked up into the Princess’s eyes before he removed his gaze. "Every Dukedom has its core army which the Imperial palace cannot touch. We cannot win against the man .."

Princess Valeria laughed as she looked at the leader of the guards. "You cannot win against a single man? Are the Royal guards so weak?"

"What I am saying is the truth, Princess. You must trust me. If we attack them, it would be a declaration of war against the Dukedoms. The four pillars of the Empire might collapse. Please consider princess." The leader of the guards bowed his head again and again in fear that the Princess would be stubborn.

"Hmm .." Princess Valeria nodded her head as she called in her lady-in-waiting. "Call of the Empress’s guards. They would be more loyal towards me."

The leader of the guards did not say a word and nor did the others dare to say. The atmosphere was stiff as none of them were ready to bend down.

Soon the rapid footsteps could be heard as the Empress’s guards came in.

"Princess."

"Here you are." Princess Valeria smiled. "Kill this man."

But soon the smile on Princess Valeria’s face vanished. None of the Empress’s guards dared to take a step forward. It was a slap in the first Princess’s face.

"WHAT? Are you trying to go against me?" Princess Valeria sneered in anger. "Good. No one can do a simple task. Do I need to do it myself then?"

Princess Valeria giggled. "Very well then." She moved her hand in a circle creating a ring of fire. The atmospheric temperature increased suddenly when the flames increased.

’I have to punish them all.’

’How dare they disobey me.’

’Who do they think I am?’

’I am the most powerful fire mage after Duke Salvador.’

’Do they really think I cannot kill a man?’

’He is just a mere guard in black eagle.’

’How much power can he have?’

Princess Valeria’s mind was full of thoughts. Her lips curled into a smirk as she extended her hands towards the man. The ring of fire extended as it moved towards the man in black.

But before it could be hit, the man created his own ring of fire and threw it towards Princess Valeria.

The two rings collided as the flames of fire spread in the room. The room that was once still was on fire. The guards present at the scene were scared as the water mage started doing their work.

All the guards were busy trying to control the burning flames. But Princess Valeria had different concerns. Her eyes widened as she pointed at the man in horror.

"You ... You .." The words refused to leave her mouth but her thoughts were running wide.

’How can this be?’

’No one is powerful enough to attack my ring of fire. Then how?’

’If Duke Salvador is the most powerful fire mage then I am the second. How can his guard defeat me in such a manner.’

’How is it possible?’

’Am I wrong?’

’Am I not powerful enough.’

The man in black looked at the first Princess. He looked around before bowing down as he disappeared into the surroundings leaving Princess Valeria speechless.