“You’re the one who knows the most about dragons in our family...”
“I don’t know much, Cessilia. I know what I learned from raising a bunch of those scaled pets.”
“But Grandfather told you a lot too, didn’t he?”
Kareen’s expression slightly changed. Cessilia knew her late grandfather was a sensitive topic in the family. For most of the Dragon Empire, he was the former Emperor, but to Cessilia, he was a grandfather she had never met, and Kareen’s former lover. The subject was almost taboo within the family, but over the years, Cessilia had gathered some pieces. She suspected a lot of Lady Kareen’s incredible dragon taming despite not being a dragon owner herself was related to her late grandfather... and perhaps some more secrets.
“Cessilia, what is this really about?” Kareen frowned, crossing her arms once again.
“...I want to know what truly happened to Cece.”
Her grandmother looked surprised, but for Cessilia, the question had been pending ever since her dragon’s return. She loved her dragon and she was overjoyed that Cece was back, but she still needed to find out how that miracle had been made possible. Everything she had already learned from the Cheshi seemed like the beginning of an explanation, but Cessilia had a feeling the rest of that explanation might come from none other than her enigmatic grandmother herself.
After a while, a faint smile appeared on her grandmother’s lips.
“You truly are your mother’s daughter... Alright, I shall meet those Cheshi you and Kassian bothered me about. I’m curious to see what they think they know better than the Dragon Empire itself.”
Cessilia smiled and nodded. Kareen grabbed her granddaughter’s arm for her to lead, but before they could walk more than just a few steps, she suddenly heard someone calling her name from farther behind them.
“Cessilia!” he called again.
“Ashen!”
“Damn it,” grumbled her grandmother.
Ignoring her, Cessilia walked up to Ashen, surprised to see him already. The King had visibly rushed from the castle, a bit out of breath, to catch up with them. He was just as she had left him that morning, except that he was now fully dressed, without any armor this time. He had only his sword on his belt, and a hooded cloak hiding most of his figure. Cessilia was a bit surprised by the hood, wondering if he intended to hide himself from his citizens.
“Grandmother said you were busy,” said Cessilia, sending a suspicious glance toward her grandmother.
“Did she? I’m sure I said I’d be ready soon, Lady Kareen,” sighed Ashen.
This was getting more and more suspicious, especially the way her grandmother was trying to act all innocent. Suddenly, Ashen took off his hood, and Cessilia’s jaw dropped. She finally understood why Lady Kareen had acted so suspicious.
He had cut his white hair short!
“Ashen!” Cessilia exclaimed, shocked.
She walked up to him, completely taken by surprise. His long white hair was gone. He now had a sharp cut on the sides, and just a couple of inches of white hair on top and behind his head. Strangely, the simple but radical haircut changed his overall appearance drastically. He strangely somehow seemed taller, and even a bit younger. Cessilia caressed the side of his head, surprised that the short hair felt like a soft brush under her fingertips. She bit her lower lip, a bit excited. It was like discovering a new Ashen...
“Grandmother!” she exclaimed, turning to the old woman, a bit annoyed. “That’s too much!”
“What?” shrugged the lady. “I merely gave your man a couple of suggestions, I didn’t do anything!”
Cessilia kept glaring at her grandmother, annoyed. She could bet her grandmother’s suggestions had hit a nerve for Ashen to do such a thing... She turned back to him.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered.
“Don’t worry,” he laughed. “I’ll survive. Moreover, I do feel lighter. ...Do you like it?”
Cessilia blushed and nodded shyly. In fact, she was surprised by how much she liked it. She caressed his hair some more, pretending to play with the new length, well aware of Ashen’s amused eyes on her. He had clearly done this all by himself and quite quickly. Probably with a sharp blade from something like a dagger, judging by the slightly uneven length in some parts. Perhaps he’d let her even it out later... but she also liked it a bit messy.
“...I think I like it a lot,” she whispered.
He smiled and gently kissed her, Cessilia answering the quick kiss with delight. He had even shaved his beard, leaving his chin and cheeks completely smooth. There was a fresh thin cut on his chin already healing by itself.
“Children,” said Kareen, sounding a bit annoyed, “I’m still here. Literally, right here.”
“...Thank you for the suggestion, Grandmother,” chuckled Cessilia, slowly parting from him. “I like it.”
She took Ashen’s hand, while Kareen put on a little amused smile.
“See? Your grandmother’s always right.”
“From now on, I’d like it if you didn’t push your opinions on my love though, Grandmother,” Cessilia frowned.
Ashen chuckled, amused to hear Cessilia come to his defense, and put a quick kiss on her forehead.
“Where were you two headed?”
“The Cheshi Clan’s residence,” Cessilia explained, resuming their walk. “Apparently, Aglithia asked for me... I figured I’d bring Grandmother too.”
Ashen nodded and followed her. Cessilia wondered if it would be alright for him to visit his mother’s birth tribe. Despite knowing of her origins, he actually hadn’t been on good terms with the Cheshi for a long while now... This would be the first time he interacted so closely with that clan. They had remained out of sight when he was a child, and mostly ignored him as a King. For them to have changed their position for the war might not be enough to erase their difficult past with Ashen...
Still, he didn’t say anything for the whole trip, but didn’t look annoyed or reluctant to go either. Cessilia had become better at deciphering his expressions, and she could tell he was completely fine. If anything, he seemed happy to spend more time with her. Their fingers remained interlaced for the entire time they walked to the Cheshi residence.
When they finally got there, Lady Kareen frowned, and raised her eyes toward the door.
“...That’s it?” she asked.
