“D-did the K-King r-really ask for... for me as his wife, S-Sir Yas-...Yassim?”

Yassim was too shocked to answer her right away. This time, it couldn’t be a surprise. Her way of speech... The Princess had read that book perfectly fine before, but just now... She was a stutterer?

As a man called wise, Yassim quickly hid his surprise and nodded politely.

“My lord still has no queen by his side, Princess, and he is actively looking for one befitting the position. He sent me away to find for him a Princess of the Dragon Empire.”

Yassim knew he was in a dangerous position if he lied to the Princess or the Imperial Family, but the man was at his wits’ end and was now betting everything on this moment. He already considered himself quite lucky he had made it this far and that the Princess looked interested in his query...

“I s-see...” muttered Cessilia, looking down.

“You’re the only one of age, Cessilia,” her mother gently said, “but this is your decision.”

“We don’t have any obligation to comply with the King’s demand, right, Auntie?” asked Tessa, still frowning.

“Of course not.”

Yassim kept his head down. No, they didn’t have any. He was an old man and had come alone, to almost beg them to agree to send one of their precious daughters to a kingdom they had been at war with for longer than they had been at peace. Moreover, there was no discussion to even be held in terms of difference in power. The Dragon Empire was extremely rich, prosperous, and had dragons to defend it. Whereas their Kingdom was barely recovering from the wounds of the past civil wars, a broken system, and the loss of many of their own people. Even if they sent him back in little chunks with an insult tattooed on his forehead, there would be nothing that could be done in retaliation, nothing.

Hence, Yassim the Wise was presently very happy to see that Princess Cessilia was actually contemplating his request. He had come with nothing else to give other than a little chest full of cheap treasures and his good word.

“D-did you ask Aunt Sh-Shareen?” asked Cessilia, turning to her mother again.

“It’s your decision, Cessi. Your decision alone. Your aunt allowed this man to meet you, didn’t she?”

Cessilia’s eyes went back to Yassim, and she gave him a faint smile. The old man was grateful but still surprised. Was the Princess seriously considering this? Going to a kingdom she knew nothing of to meet a complete stranger? As she remained silent a bit longer, he decided to take a little step forward, bowing again, and push his luck.

“Our King is young, my lady, but a very handsome and smart man. He is named Ashen the White King, and just three years older than you.”

“Ashen...?”

“Yes, my lady,” said the man, bowing deeper.

A silence followed, and Yassim wondered if he wasn’t overstepping. Yet, none of the women said anything, until he raised his head and saw the Princess’ conflicted green eyes.

“...Why is th-that his n-name? The White K-King?” asked Cessilia.

“That is because our King’s hair is white, my lady, like the Great God in our lore.”

“W-white?” she repeated, visibly surprised.

“Yes.”

Cessilia sighed faintly. Her fingers were fidgeting against her book, and her eyes were looking vacantly at the grass.

“Cessi?” called out her cousin, seemingly worried.

“...You want to go, don’t you?”

Cassandra’s words surprised Yassim, but Cessilia’s expression when she turned her green eyes back to her mother surprised him even more so. There was a strange glimmer of... excitement in her eyes. She bit her lower lip slightly.

“Yes, b-but... Father...”

“Are you scared of your father’s reaction?”

“I’m n-not scared of F-Father, b-but... if he s-says no...”

Cassandra let out a long sigh and stepped forward, suddenly hugging her daughter gently. Cessilia’s eyes opened a bit wider in surprise, but she hugged her mother back with one arm. When she finally stepped back, Cassandra smiled gently at her and caressed her long curls.

“Cessilia, do you remember what I told Kiera last week?”

“Th-that we all have an adventure t-to live, but K-Kiera was t-too impatient for hers?”

“That’s right. I believe this is your adventure, Cessi. The one you have been waiting for, patiently. ...Unlike your sister.”

Both women chuckled. Then, Cassandra tenderly grasped her daughter’s chin with her hand.

“You’re too cautious, as always, and too scared. Don’t be... You’re much stronger than you think, Cessi; you’re an amazing young woman and very smart too. I think it’s time you learn to bloom on your own, my love, away from the nest.”

When she let go, her daughter was blushing, but smiling, looking a bit happier. Next to her, her cousin chuckled, crossing her arms.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’m not letting you go anywhere without me, and I’m actually curious about that neighbor of ours.”

“Are you going too, Tessa?” asked Cassandra, raising an eyebrow.

“Of course! I’m not letting Cessi go there on her own!”

“I don’t mind, but what will your mother say?”

Tessa suddenly grimaced.

“...Can’t you come up with an ex–”

“I am not lying to my own sister for your sake, Tessa,” interrupted Cassandra.

“But Mom will never let me!” protested the young woman. “She’s worse than a harpy and she will complain about me not helping at the shop! She doesn’t care about me wandering around, but if she hears I’m going to the other side of the frontier, she will drag my butt back and lock me up! You know she’s able to!”

“You forget about your dad,” chuckled Cassandra. “What about him? Anour will be worried sick if you disappear out of the blue...”

Tessa stayed silent for a second, then her eyes lit up.

“Alright, I’ll send word to Dad then. He’ll be so much more terrified to tell Mom the truth, it will give me at least a week before she picks up on something.”

“You’re g-going to be in tr-trouble...”

“Don’t worry, Cessi, my dad will probably take half of my mom’s wrath first...”

“Poor Anour...” sighed Cassandra. “Alright then, I will talk to your mother later... but you girls should go to the Onyx Castle first.”