“I talked a bit with Lady Bastat,” Kassian continued. “If we were able to reopen the commerce between our two countries, given the level of the Eastern Kingdom in some areas, it would definitely be profitable both to you and the Empire. We would need to discuss the specifics of reopening the borders gradually, of course, but in the long run... it would be nice.”

“I thought so too.”

Cessilia smiled, a bit happy. She hadn’t realized the future Emperor of the Dragon Empire and the current King of the Eastern Kingdom would reach an agreement so easily... but it was true that they had been friends for a while. Ashen hadn’t only been close to her during his time in the Empire.

“With our dragons, we could easily visit each other too,” smiled Cessilia.

“Speak for yourself,” scoffed Tessandra. “I’m in no hurry to go home where my mom can reach me... In fact, I think I’m planning to stay here for a while.”

She smiled at Sabael and hugged him, making him a bit embarrassed in front of her cousins. Cessilia chuckled.

“I don’t think we have to go home while Grandma is here,” she whispered in Ashen’s ear.

“...Then I need to make sure Lady Kareen stays a long while.”

He smiled back at her, and they exchanged a gentle kiss.

“Get a room!” Tessandra laughed.

“I’m still here,” groaned Kassian, glaring at her.

“Yeah, why? Shouldn’t you go back and check on Lady Bastat?”

Despite Tessandra’s obvious winks, the young Prince didn’t get flustered, and simply rolled his eyes. Without answering her teasing, he walked out, although it was only to go speak to their grandmother, Darsan, and the others.

“You shouldn’t tease Kassian,” Cessilia muttered.

“Oh my dragon, Cessi, you should thank me. This is our one chance to sneak away, come on!”

She grabbed Sabael and suddenly pulled him to run out of the Dorosef residence first. Cessilia and Ashen exchanged a glance but, after a mischievous smile, they both walked out as well.

Both couples split up without saying a word. Instead, the two cousins exchanged amused glances, before Tessandra grabbed Sabael’s collar to pull him into a narrow street. Cessilia chuckled, amused by her cousin’s antics. Meanwhile, Ashen, who had seen that too, put his arm around her with a faint smile.

“I know one guy that’s about to be eaten alive...” he whispered, amused.

“I don’t think he minds much.”

He nodded in agreement, and they walked away in a different direction, actually going up toward the castle. The two of them chose to take narrow streets as well, but mostly to avoid drawing attention. Cessilia did see a couple of citizens notice their King amongst the people flocking the streets, but she and Ashen were already gone before any could decide to walk up to them. For a while, the two of them walked around without really any purpose. They were simply happy to walk quietly, an arm around each other, witnessing the scenes of Aestara beginning its recovery from the battle. Everywhere they went it was clear that, although it would take time, things would be rebuilt, people would heal and things would go back to normal. Perhaps life would even get much better. Cessilia had never seen so many people from different tribes helping each other but, for once, it truly felt as if the locals didn’t care anymore about their differences.

“...Do you think Lady Kareen’s here to take you back?” Ashen suddenly asked.

“It sounded more like Grandma plans to stay for a little while.”

“Is it alright that we left her there? She already doesn’t like me much, now I’m stealing you when she just arrived.”

Cessilia chuckled, a bit amused.

“We left her with my brothers and Nana, I’m sure Grandma will be just fine. She most likely just came here because she was curious too. She seldom leaves her own palace... and it’s not true that she doesn’t like you.”

“It did not sound like she did earlier.”

“Grandma is the type to tease those she likes the most. Don’t worry. She would already have me on the way back if she really didn’t like me being with you.”

Ashen sighed. That part was true, at least. In the few times he had met her before, it was obvious the Imperial Family’s matriarch was quite hard to stop whenever she had decided on something. Still, he couldn’t help but feel some uneasiness ever since Cessilia’s brothers had showed up. He was worried they’d take her away from him. Surely, she couldn’t stay in the Eastern Kingdom forever without ever going back to the Dragon Empire. Even if he knew Cessilia had most likely already made up her mind, he wasn’t ready to part with her, even if it was just for an hour...

Their steps naturally took them back to the castle. In fact, they were surprised to cross paths with even more Royal Guards, who had apparently decided to clear and clean the place as soon as possible. They walked up the stairs past the first gates, while many of the Yekara men they had killed earlier were brought out. Those who were injured could be taken and their wounds looked at, but they were handcuffed, and would most likely be kept under heavy watch. There were more dead bodies than people alive being taken out though. In fact, the castle was strangely empty when they arrived at the main doors, and ran into some of the higher-ranked Royal Guards. The men immediately put a knee down once they spotted the King, but no one stepped forward to talk to him. Instead, it was as if they had understood the King and his lady just needed some privacy.

Hence, the duo walked inside unbothered. Despite the destruction she had witnessed from above, Cessilia was surprised to see that the lower floors seemed fine. It would probably take a while before the castle was rebuilt to its former glory, but the damages weren’t as bad as she had thought. Some windows had been shattered, and the whole place smelled of rain, but there was already little left of the violent fights they had gone through the last time they walked up those corridors. In fact, some servants were still busy cleaning the blood stains. It was as if everyone was in a hurry to clear all evidence of the rebellion. Not only that, but Cessilia guessed many were eager to show which side they had fought on too. Some of the men escorted by the Royal Guards wore the same uniform as them. It was strange to witness the whole scene when winners and losers looked so alike...

“Where should we go?” Ashen whispered against her ear.

A faint smile appeared on Cessilia’s lips. She knew exactly where she wanted to go; They walked up the stairs, holding hands in the narrow corridors, Cessilia walking ahead with a hint of excitement when she found the familiar doors, still standing and completely fine; the floors above were pretty unsafe to visit, but the Cerulean Suite had been spared by the violent dragon’s attacks. This whole aisle of the castle had been spared somehow, perhaps because it was right above the sea. Most of the debris coming from above had probably fallen right into the sea without touching these parts... She pushed the doors, finding the room just as she had left it. It was cold, but dry. The wide balcony had done its work in keeping most of the rain outside and falling down to meld with the waves far below. The smell of salt and rain was embalming the whole room.

“I knew you’d like this place,” Ashen smiled.

Cessilia turned around to face him, a smile on her lips. In fact, it felt strange to finally be here with Ashen, far enough from everything else that was going on in the Capital. From the Cerulean Suite, they couldn’t hear anything but the gentle drip of the rain, and the waves crashing somewhere far below. Perhaps a dragon growl could be heard from afar from time to time too, but except for that, it was just the two of them, completely secluded from the world.

“I really do like it.”

She slowly stepped back, pulling him toward the bed behind her; Ashen smiled, and followed her obediently. The two of them kept staring at each other lovingly, until Cessilia’s legs hit the bed. Then, she turned around, and pushed the King to lay down first, which he did without resisting.

“This bed is comfier than I thought,” he chuckled.

“It’s quite large too,” Cessilia said.

She took off his shoes, then hers, and climbed up on him, careful not to touch his injury. Ashen noticed, and sighed, gently putting his hands on her waist.

“I’m fine,” he muttered.

“Stop saying that,” she retorted.

“Cessilia, I received dragon blood and had a three-hour nap. I may not be as strong as a dragon’s daughter but I am not so fragile either. Can you leave me a bit of my pride as a man, please?”

“...Grandma says male pride is overrated,” she chuckled.

“I agree with that, but I still feel a bit bad that my Queen worked so hard to keep her useless King alive.”

“You did fine yourself.”

She leaned over and, before Ashen could protest, she gently kissed him.

It felt like their lips hadn’t met in forever. At least, not in a long while like this. The quick pecks and hurried kisses that they had stolen that day were nowhere near enough to satiate them. In fact, Ashen frowned a bit under her lips, suddenly wanting more of this. His hands were on her skin, and the more he touched, the more he could feel her silver scales in random places, testimonies of all the injuries she had received. He hated seeing her hurt, even if he knew she could withstand it. To think Cessilia’s soft skin had to toughen up until it got so rough was making him even more angry at those who had hurt her. He wished he had been in better health for the fight, and able to send it back ten fold. Still, she had proven time and time again that she was stronger than him.

Not only that, but he could feel the change wasn’t just physical. Cessilia was dominating him, more assertive with her lips, her hands, and the whole of her body. Despite the humid chill in the room, her body was anything but cold. In fact, the more they kept kissing, the hotter the atmosphere became around them. Neither of them could stop, it was as if a spell had taken over, making them relentlessly thirsty for the other’s taste. Ashen tried to sit up, putting an arm around her, but Cessilia suddenly pushed his chest with her hands.

“Stay down,” she muttered, out of breath.

He smiled, and slowly showed her he only wanted to get higher on the bed, so his head could rest against the pillows. Cessilia let him move, and repositioned herself to straddle his lap. With a wry smile on his lips, Ashen took off the buckles of the last pieces of armor she was still wearing with dextrous fingers. Cessilia didn’t move, looking as if she was quite unsure about this. He was glad they had already both been half undressed by the events, because his partner was quite reluctant to move at all...