Bab 4: Perfect Prey
Cassandra was breathing harshly.
Her eyes were blurred as an unknown warmth spread through Cassandra's body. It made her cozy and sweet.
'He is a fire mage.'
Cassandra thought. She could sense the power when someone was closer to her. It was a sixth sense as she called it.
Cassandra would get various feelings when she touched a mage. She knew the feeling she was feeling now. The warmth was making her body relaxed. Cassandra had been in contact with a fire mage before but the feelings she was getting were completely different.
"I didn't know the Earl was so disrespectful." The man's voice was hushed as his tone turned sharp.
Cassandra tried to look at the face of the person who had helped her but all she could see was a well-defined jawline looking straight towards the Earl.
'The Earl?' Cassandra's mind snapped. 'I should go somewhere else.'
Cassandra started wiggling into the ears of that person. As soon as the hold of the man on her loosened Cassandra flew from the garden. Even if she wanted to, Cassandra kept her eyes focused as she never once turned back.
'Whoever that person is doesn't matter. I need to save myself first.'
Cassandra did not know where she was going until she saw a familiar figure near the fountain.
"Amy!!." Cassandra said breathlessly. Her dress had turned a little messy as Cassandra's lips parted to breathe in more air.
"Princess. Thank god you are here. I was so worried when I could not find you." Amy said in a hurry as she tried to adjust her master's clothes.
"Amy, listen carefully. If anyone asks, remember. We have been out for a long time together." Cassandra whispered as she pulled Amy's hand up. "Together."
Amy did not understand what had happened but Cassandra's face was pale. Amy wanted to know what was happening but she swallowed her worry and nodded.
Cassandra loosened her hold on Amy's hand as she took some deep breaths and tried to behave normally. Amy on the other hand was busy readjusting Cassandra's skirt. The light blue color had turned a little musky, making Amy's eyes filled with sorrow.
Cassandra closed her eyes as she tried to concentrate on the voices coming from her surroundings. She can still hear the guards' thoughts that were approaching them.
[I was afraid. Thank god it was Earl Aetos that had to face the dragon.]
[Who else is there?]
The guards stopped in front of Cassandra. "What are you both doing here?"One of the guards asked as he looked at Cassandra before he murmured under his breath, "Princess."
'Uff …' Cassandra breathed a long sigh of relief. 'The hair color is a lifesaver at times.'
"I just lost balance and slipped. My lady-in-waiting is trying to lessen the damage now." Cassandra smiled at the guards. "Is something the reason?"
"That …" One of the guards rubbed his chin as he asked, "Did you see a girl in blue running."
Cassandra placed her hand over her mouth in surprise. "No. Why would a noblewoman go through the garden? Perhaps are you mistaken?"
[How could that be?]
[But the fifth princess is also wearing blue.]
The guards looked at each other in understanding as they asked Cassandra's lady-in-waiting. "You, tell us were you with the princess all this time?"
Amy paused in her action as she nodded. "Yes, I have never left the princess alone."
One of the guards raised his eyebrows, "Are you sure. I didn't find you with the princess when she came out."
"That …" Amy smiled through her eyes but her gaze was focused towards the ground. "Princess was not feeling well so she came out first as I went to get her a glass of something to drink."
Amy's gaze moved towards the fountain when two glasses were placed. Amy did not know who left it there but at times like these, she was thankful that it was there.
The guards followed Amy's gaze as they nodded in understanding.
[Fifth Princess is not the one we are searching for.]
The guards were sure of this. But soon Cassandra's voice came into their ears. "Are you cross-examining my words? Are a Princess's words valueless in your heart?"
Cassandra's eyes were narrowed as her voice had turned shape, making the guards a little uncomfortable. "Of course not Princess."
"Yes, we were worried about you."
Cassandra does not reply but soon one of the guards suggested. "You should return back. The Emperor wants every royal inside. The guest of honor Duke Salvador had entered the venue."
The guards informed in a dull voice as they looked for the blue-dressed lady. As Cassandra breathed a sigh of relief, she saw Amy looking at her with a gloomy expression.
[The dress …]
Cassandra smiled as Amy's thoughts flooded into her mind.
"Amy, are you worried about my dress?"
Amy nodded her head continuously. She was worried. She had worked so hard to make Princess Cassandra look beautiful but now the dress was filled with dust and mud.
Cassandra saw the sad expression in Amy's eyes as she looked down at her dress. She sighed and moved towards Amy as she whispered. "But you can make it beautiful again."
"Me?" Amy's eyes turned confused.
Looking at Amy, Cassandra giggled. "Amy used your power to make it as it was."
[Use my power?]
[How am I supposed to use my power?]
[I do not know how to control them.]
"Princess …" Amy fiddled with her fingers as her voice trembled, "I am not that powerful."
Cassandra sighed as she moved towards Amy and touched her trembling fingers. "I have read it, Amy. Trust me."
Amy was silent as she looked into Cassandra's eyes before she nodded reluctantly.
Amy knew her master loved reading all the ancient books. She knew what powers there were and how different people controlled them over the centuries. It was Cassandra's happy place to be as she herself did not possess any.
"But I cannot guarantee anything, princess," Amy whispered under her breath. "It may not even work."
Amy did not want Cassandra's hopes to be high only to make her be disappointed afterward.
"I know." Cassandra took a step back as she tried to scan around to catch another voice. But when no other voice came, Cassandra looked straight at Amy as she instructed, "First clear your mind completely. Focus on the dress Amy."
Amy's ears could only hear her master's words as she followed every step with precision. "Take a deep breath and feel your connection with the earth. You are an earth mage. Feel the power flowing through this soil and every part of it."
Amy closed her eyes as she felt the power running through her. Her mind started to get distracted, she felt like she would lose the connection she had just built loose but soon the power within Amy stabilized as she won over the power.
"Now raise your hand, Amy, feel like you are removing every particle of it up. Move it with your hand and make your mind control the direction."
Amy opened her eyes wide as her focus did not lose from the particle on Cassandra's dress. She moved her hand upwards slowly making every dirt from the dress move out slowly as if peeling it out with satisfaction.
Amy's eyes widened as she saw with her own eyes what her powers could do. "You are doing great Amy. Now let the particles down." Cassandra's voice rotated into Amy's mind as she obeyed her command and the suspended particles settled on the earth as they belonged there.
Amy's eyes shook. It was the first time she had done something for Cassandra. Something she was proud of.
[I can use my power.]
[I can help Princess.]
The joy of it was visible in Amy's eyes as her gaze filled with tears of joy. She raised her hand and looked into Cassandra's eyes only to see the proud look on her master's face.
"Princess …" Amy's voice trembled as her throat ran dry.
[I was of use to you.]
Cassandra laughed as she touched Amy's hand. "Why are you crying? You did well."
Cassandra wiped the tears off Amy's face as she smiled. "I am proud of you Amy."
Amy nodded as her lips could not come down. For the first time, she felt that she was in control of her power. For the first time, she truly felt powerful.
[Princess is proud of me!]
Cassandra's lips curled up as she looked at the palace filled with people. "We should go. The famous Duke is coming."
Amy looked at Cassandra who was walking past her while humming. Amy's eyes moved down only to see the once messy dress that had turned beautiful as new. Amy looked at her hand with a smile as she thought it was a dream and soon followed Cassandra eagerly, almost running after her to catch up.
But none of the two knew that a pair of red eyes were glaring at them in silence.
---------------
Cassandra sat in her place as she looked from above all the commotion that was happening.
[Duke Salvador is here.]
[How do I look?]
[I hope at least one of his knights has an interest in me.]
All the thoughts made Cassandra laughs. But to her surprise, everyone around her also had similar thoughts.
Princesses blinked their eyes trying to think if their dress was good. Some have even applied a layer of the extra powder.
'Princess Valeria's lips look red.' Cassandra shrugged her shoulders as she followed everyone's gaze.
"Why is everyone crazy over this man?'
Cassandra thought but somewhere she understood. The man was a hot potato in the eyes of ladies. A man with the highest status next to the Emperor. A man who could provide them with luxuries. A man who controlled the Dukedom.
'If I am correct, Duke Crawford has no successor, Duke Bentham has yet to decide his successor, and Duke Garfield is married making Duke Salvador the perfect prey for the ladies.'
Cassandra laughed as she looked at the incoming people. The Knights were strong with steady steps.
[They are here.]
[I hope I look presentable.]
[Our eyes met.]
The ladies were losing it, but Cassandra's eyes were observing the man in front. Her gaze was focused on the group of people but she could not listen to their thoughts.
Cassandra's gaze furrowed. She had a flaw in her power. She cannot listen to the thoughts of the strongest.
'Why?'
'Do these people not think?'
Amy looked at the annoyed face of the Princess as she whispered into her ears. "The one in the front is Duke Salvador. His army is the strongest there is."
Cassandra nodded. If they were the strongest they might have trained to control their thoughts.
'That makes sense.'
Cassandra looked at the man who was leading the Knights. The head of Salvador Dukedom, Aiden Salvador.
Cassandra observed the man carefully. She was curious about what type of person attracted the attention of so many people.
The man had jet black hair with strong features. What attracted Cassandra the most was his red eyes glowing like fire under the light.
'The look so bright like the sun.'
Aiden Salvador was a handsome man. There were no second thoughts about it. His aura was filled with arrogance as his eyes were cunning like a predator.
[Why is he looking at me like this?]
An unusual voice came into Cassandra's ears which made her eyes go wide. Her heartbeats were increasing when she followed the direction of the voice and her breath stopped for a second.
'How?'
Cassandra did not understand. She was never able to hear the thoughts of her father, the Emperor. She always felt it was because he was the strongest there was. But now she could clearly hear her father.
'Does it mean there is someone more powerful than the Emperor?'
Cassandra's gaze run over the crowd. The only addition was the Salvador knights.
'Is it the Duke?'
Cassandra could not understand. The Emperor was the one who could control all four elements. He was the master of all. And to think there was someone more powerful and superior than the Emperor.
"The Salvador Knights greet the sun of the Empire, the Emperor, and the Empress." As soon as Aiden's voice rolled in the room, all the Knights bowed their head.
"You all may rise." The Emperor commanded with authority, but Cassandra knew otherwise.
[Should I bring it up?]
[How will Duke Salvador react?]
[The man had killed his own father to gain the position.]
The Emperor looked at the side of the Princesses that looked at the Duke with eager eyes.
[It will be better if one of them marries him.]
Cassandra was listening to her father's thoughts but her eyes were focused on the Duke. From the moment he had opened his mouth, Cassandra knew she had heard this voice before.
'He is the one that saved me.'
'I am sure.'
Cassandra was sensitive to voices and tones. She could not forget a person if she could hear the voice of anyone before.
"We are so happy to see you come back with a win." The Empresses laughed as she looked at the Emperor. "Shouldn't we provide him with some gift?"
The Emperor laughed as he looked at Aiden who was looking straight at him. "When the Duke was away there was a lot of discussion in the house. We all hope for the Duke to settle down soon. So as a congratulatory gift I will provide Duke Aiden with a marriage."
Before the Emperor could continue, Aiden's eyes narrowed "I respect the Emperor's gift, but I would be honored if the Emperor gave me a written permit to marry whoever I want without any objection."
The Emperor was quiet and everyone else had different reactions to the words. The Duke's usually married for power. Everyone understood the Emperor was trying to give his daughter's hand in marriage which could not have been refused.
The words of the Emperor were the law, yet Duke Salvador's win was not small. The power of the Vivere Kingdom was increasing and the fire mages have single-handedly defeated one of its regions. Even if the Emperor wanted to refuse Duke Salvador's words he could not.
"So the Duke wants to marry independently without any external influence?" The Emperor asked as he smiled. His fingers tapping on the chair.
[You even dared to refuse my words openly.]
"Perhaps you have someone you like?"
The Duke was silent but soon answered, "Not at the moment."
With the tension in the air, the Empress was losing her mind. "But you should know that a marriage of the Duke is not his personal matter. It concerns the future of the Empire."
Aiden's eyes turned sharp as he looked at the Empresses, "I rest assure that my marriage will not affect the Empire. I will always be loyal to the people."
"But …"
"Empress." The Emperor's voice made his official wife's mouth close tight.
[I cannot let things turn more wrong than it already is. I have to come up with something quick. There is no way I can refuse the Duke's request, can I?] The Emperor looked at the eyes of his subjects who were looking at the Duke with admiration.
"Everything will happen as the Duke wishes. You can marry whoever you want." The Emperor smiled as he raised his glass up. "But I hope the Duke will spare a few dances for the princesses."
Duke Aiden did not reply but bowed in respect before the Knights spread out to enjoy the night.
Cassandra sat there confused. She had tried to hear Aiden's thoughts but in vain. She could not breakthrough. It was as if some invisible wall was broken her, just like when she could not read the Emperor's mind.
'Is he the strongest in the room?'
'To think there was someone more powerful than the Emperor.'
"All of you should go and enjoy the night." The Emperor said to his children. "We are too old to handle it."
Cassandra nodded along with all the others, but no one got up until Princess Valeria took a step out.
[Should I ask Aiden for a dance?]
[No, that will be too much if I get rejected.]
[But the Duke had not accepted any dance request in any of the parties he had attended. He only danced with his cousin though.]
[But Aiden will not be able to refuse the Emperor's words. He has to dance with a Princess and there is no one more suitable than me.]
Cassandra wanted to roll her eyes as she listened to Valeria's thoughts. She could not understand how someone could be attracted to a person to this degree.
"Oh, Don't dare to approach the Duke until you want to sacrifice your life," Valeria murmured as she passed through the Princesses. "Know your place, especially the ones that have the least power."
Everyone was looking at Cassandra who had her eyes glued to the floor. She could only nod her head in silence.
[How can Princess Valeria talk with Princess Cassandra in this tone. They both are Princesses. If Princess Valeria could dance with the Duke, so can Princess Cassandra.]
Amy was on fire as her eyes turned sharp. She wanted to defend her master but Cassandra who heard her true thoughts said in a low tone, "Amy, let's go outside. I want fresh air."
"But …"
[We just came in from there.]
Cassandra remembered the Earl who wanted to have her first dance as she looked around the room, but Cassandra could not find him. On the other hand, there was a sharp gaze on her from the Empress.
'She is planning something else again.' Cassandra sighed as she heard [Go outside soon.] from Empress.
But what made Cassandra uncomfortable was not that but an unknown eye on her which Cassandra could feel. For the first time in a long time, Cassandra felt like prey being stalked.
"Amy, I will go to the small balcony on the third floor. The view there is good and nothing will happen as no one visits that place. And you go and enjoy the party."
"Princess …"
"Isn't the one you like here yet? I think he is, isn't it? Go have some dance and enjoy. I will return to my room soon anyways."
Amy's eyes were refusing Cassandra but the Princess continued. "You know it won't be any different even if I am not here."
Cassandra knew she was not Princess Valeria, the highlight of the party. She was just a little light that no one cared about.
'And I might get into more trouble if I stay here.'
Cassandra smiled as she touched Amy's hand, "Go and enjoy. Don't think about anything else."
Amy nodded her head reluctantly but soon went away on her way looking back from time to time.
'I should get going as well.'
'Or should I grab a drink along the way?'
Cassandra thought. 'Let's do that.'
Thus Cassandra walked towards the drink unaware of what was waiting for her.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
IrisSky
IrisSky Hi Dear Readers,
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