Chương 27: Trained Warrior

Duke Salvador looked at Cassandra not paying any attention to the first Princess.

'What is she reading?'

Aiden wondered as he looked at Cassandra who refused to look at him.

'What is so interesting to read?'

'She knows I have called her here right?'

Aiden's gaze focused on Cassandra who closed her book suddenly and got up in a hurry.

'Where is she going?'

Duke Salvador left his book open as he swiftly got up from his seat. He was a trained warrior who knew how to avoid being noisy.

Aiden's steps followed Cassandra but he soon could not find her. Duke Salvador's mood soured as he searched for the fifth Princess through his eyes. He looked around as if his life depended on it, but it was as if a soul had completely disappeared.

Duke Salvador was confused; there was never a time when prey had vanished in front of his eyes.

'How was this possible?'

'Is it because the fifth Princess is too familiar with the library?'

Duke Salvador thought as he tried to search for her. He looked around with narrowed eyes and soon he saw a small shadow moving through lanes. At that time he knew that the girl he was searching for was there. A smile played on Duke Salvador's face unknowingly.

Cassandra looked around as she made sure that the Duke was not following her. She has shown him her face.

'This should be enough for him.'

'I was here when the Duke had asked me to.'

If Duke Salvador wanted to communicate with her any further it was his take but Cassandra did not want to risk her life sitting in the place waiting for the time that the Duke came in for the talk under all the Princess's gaze.

Cassandra sighed as she walked through the bookshelf's lanes to avoid others' eyes. She was sure that she had left the Duke near Princess Valeria to have a good talk.

'Maybe they are making progress.'

As Cassandra took a turn she saw the shadow of the Duke. Her eyes widened as her heart was beating faster.

'Why is he here now?' Cassandra thought.

Her steps increased as she took a sharp turn. She walked faster as she wanted to avoid the man.

The thoughts of the Princess were screeching in her mind.

[Where is the Duke?]

[He was sitting here a moment ago.]

[[Is he searching for someone or something?]

[Why can't I find him?]

Cassandra had the same questions but they differ a little. She knew that the Duke was searching for her, but she wanted to evade him.

Cassandra turned through a lane in a hurry but it was suddenly stopped as she was pulled into a strong arm that dazzled her senses.

Cassandra closed her eyes. Her senses increased as her heartbeat we're running. The arms were strong and well built.

'It is a man.'

Cassandra knew that in the library at this moment only one man was present. And that was the Duke Aiden Salvador.

Cassandra took some deep breaths. She looked up before she tried to push the man away from her side.

The Duke's eyes shined at Cassandra's moment as an unknown emotion played in his gaze. The lady in his arms was struggling to be away from him. It was a new experience altogether as all the lady's Duke Salvador had ever met wanted to be near him.

Cassandra's eyes trebled even though they were closed. Aiden could sense it as Cassandra's eyelashes trembled. She slowly opened her eyes as she pushed him away, keeping her hands on his chest. The hardness burned through her fingers.

Cassandra took her hands back as she was feeling embarrassed. Her gaze refused to look at the Duke. Suddenly Cassandra felt that the floor of the library was the most beautiful thing in the palace.

"Are you avoiding me?" Dude Salvador asked as he raised his eyebrows folding his hands.

Cassandra wanted to nod her head in agreement but Cassandra knew she could not say that 'yes, I am avoiding you' on his face.

The Duke was not a generous person. "No, I am not," Cassandra said as she was really trying to explain.

"So the Princess is not avoiding me. But why didn't the Princess run away and forget our purpose of meeting today?"

Cassandra looked up at Duke Salvador in confusion. 'Purpose? What purpose?' Cassandra wanted to ask but she could not.

Duke Salvador saw the confusion in Cassandra's thoughts which made you surprised as he chuckled. "The princess should tell me the book that taught her how to use powers? If the princess does not want to share it, I can always conclude that whatever you told me on the balcony was a lie."

Cassandra swallowed. "No, I will show it to you." She said as she turned around. Cassandra knew that the Duke was here with a purpose and she herself was here with her own.

Cassandra looked straight on her path but her gaze moved towards the Duke like a thief. She walked into the library's bookshelves to go into the secluded area.

Cassandra could only wish that no one had seen her and the Duke together.

"Are we on the right track?" Duke Salvador asked as he tried to memorize the path that they've taken.

Cassandra nodded as she did not look back at him. She was frightened to see the Duke's face at this moment. Cassandra knew that she had done nothing wrong but she was still a little hesitant.

'When should I ask him?'

'Will the Duke give one of his soldiers to me?'

'But I have to at last ask, right?'

Cassandra's thoughts were scattered around. She knew that she had to take the first step but she was afraid of taking it. Although Cassandra knew that the Duke was not too harsh on her, she still could not process the fact that the Crown Prince had given him the authorities letter.

'What if he is the person of the Empress?' Cassandra shook the thought away from her mind as she stopped at her known place.

She had visited here for so many years that Cassandra could find it even in her sleep.

Duke Salvador's gaze scanned the place. There was nothing unusual in it. This was the secluded area of the library but that was because this area contained books that were not usually read or taught in the Empire anymore.

The shelves were filled with books showing the old recipes that were no longer used, the old techniques of sword making, and how to make clothes from animal skins. These were the techniques that were not needed in the empire as they have come a long way.

Duke Salvador's eyes were filled with confusion. According to Princess Cassandra, she had found a diary in this area. A diary that taught her how to manipulate the element's powers. He looked at the Princess as he said in a low voice. "Where is the diary?"