“What ab-... about my b-brothers?” asked Cessilia, looking a bit worried. “If they kn-know...”

“Your father sent them both to train in the mountains, they aren’t there at the moment. That’s why you should go see him now before they come back.”

Cassandra stepped forward to hug her daughter, and then her niece, and Yassim suddenly realized they were already saying goodbye.

“M-my ladies, I know it is a long journey to the Eastern Kingdom,” he said, “but there really isn’t such a hurry...”

“Oh, we’d better get out of here before my mom finds out,” retorted Tessa.

“It’s alright,” chuckled Cassandra. “If you fly there, it will only take a few hours. Cessilia can come back any time she wants, even tonight, if she doesn’t like it. Moreover, she should leave before her younger siblings take notice too; otherwise, you will have four more dragons following you. I think even for His Majesty, that would be a bit too many guests at once...”

Yassim was astonished. The Dragon Empire’s people really thought differently! Not only was the Water Goddess fine with sending her daughter away, but she was sending her... right away?

He glanced toward the majestic Black Dragon next to them. From what he had seen, all the children had their own dragons, so it made sense that Princess Cessilia could indeed fly wherever she wanted, anytime she wanted... Still, Yassim was a bit worried. What if, once the Princess knew the truth, she prematurely decided to leave? He’d be losing his old head this time...

“There.”

To Yassim’s surprise, without him noticing, some servants had arrived, one holding the little chest he had brought with him. The others were bringing two satchels for the young women. Cassandra took the little chest and handed it to her daughter with a faint smile, glancing toward Yassim.

“Sir Yassim came with these, as an offering for you.”

“R-really?” asked Cessilia.

“Ah, yes, Princess,” said the man, bowing. “All those are for you.”

The Princess opened the chest, visibly a bit excited. Yassim’s heart was beating fast. They were very small and humble treasures, but he had hoped the daughter would find something of worth in there like her mother had... Next to her, Tessa was grimacing while staring at the contents of the little chest, but she didn’t say anything, even when Cessilia handed the chest to her as she took the books out.

“I had b-been looking for these b-books!” she exclaimed, staring at the old books in awe.

“Those are rare editions, my lady,” said Yassim, a bit flattered.

“I know... They were m-mentioned once in another one I had b-been reading, and I was d-dying to find them... Even my b-brother tried to find them for me b-but c-couldn’t... Th-thank you, Sir Yassim.”

“I’m glad they make you happy, my lady.”

Yassim noticed how she stuttered a bit less when she was happy. The Princess’ emerald eyes were sparkling with happiness as she held the volumes and kept caressing their covers with her fingers, obviously thrilled. He smiled too, unable to hold it back as her smile was so beautiful. Princess Cessilia seemed like a beautiful and intelligent young woman indeed. Yassim bowed again, praying loudly in his heart that the Princess and her dazzling green eyes could warm the White King’s ice-cold heart...

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Chapter 2

“Ask Nebora if you need anything else,” said Cassandra as Tessa took the bags from the servants’ hands.

“I will. ...Are you s-sure this is f-fine, Mom?” muttered Cessilia.

Her mother smiled gently and caressed her hair a bit more.

“I have a good feeling. Plus, you’re going with Tessa. What should I be worried about?”

Behind Cessilia, Tessa gave her aunt a confident nod and walked up to the Black Dragon, leaving the poor old Yassim in awe. It couldn’t be... Those girls were preparing to ride this beast? With him?!

Cessilia lovingly hugged her mother, then walked up to Krai, gently patting its snout, while her cousin was already climbing onto the dragon’s back. Once on top, the young woman put down the two satchels and held out her hand to help Cessilia climb up.

“Hurry up, old man!” she suddenly shouted at Yassim.

“M-my ladies, you’re not expecting me to... mount this deity creature!”

“The deity creature will be twenty times faster than a horse,” sighed Tessa, “and I promise he won’t eat you unless we ask him to!”

Yassim let his jaw down without thinking and turned to Lady Cassandra.

“...The d-dragons really eat humans?”

“Don’t worry,” chuckled the Princess. “This one’s been on a low-human diet for a few years now.”

Yassim needed a few seconds to process those words, wondering if she was simply toying with him. They wouldn’t really have let a creature that could eat human beings near the Imperial Children, right?

Seeing the two young ladies ready to go and waiting for him, Yassim had no choice but to move, and he did so very, very carefully. The old man took a long detour around the mighty Black Dragon, even though Krai visibly had no interest in him. Instead, it raised its head high for Cessilia to scratch behind its horns, making high-pitched sounds of satisfaction. Yassim had to gather all the courage he had left in his body to accept Lady Tessa’s help and set foot on the onyx scales. The height once on the dragon’s back was impressive, but he didn’t have time to look down. He was seated right behind Tessa, who quickly explained to him where to hang on.

“K-Krai, let’s go,” gently said Cessilia, patting its neck.

The dragon turned its head to Cassandra, who gave it a gentle pat on the hip before standing back.

Yassim was terrified, but he thought he was a blessed mortal to ever be given a chance to climb on a dragon’s back and ride it! The large black wings spread far on the sides, showing off the dragon’s unexpected width, and Krai flapped them twice before suddenly taking off. The climb was so sudden, it felt like the dragon had jumped up and forgot to fall back down. Yassim gasped loudly and held on, frozen by fear. He was riding a dragon!

“Close your mouth, old man,” chuckled Tessa. “You won’t like it if something flies in!”

“Sir Yassim,” said Cessilia. “We can make s-stops if you need. D-dragon flying can be d-difficult for elders...”

“Our grandmother hates flying now,” nodded her cousin. “She always says she’d rather walk all the way from the Diamond Palace to the Imperial Palace than mount a dragon again!”

“I am alright, my ladies,” lied Yassim with a grimace. “I am honored to be allowed to... fly this wonderful creature. D-do you mind if I ask a few questions, though? The old man I am still holds much curiosity for the wonders of the Dragon Empire, and now that I have seen this, I can’t help but wonder...”

“Ask away,” nodded Tessa. “Most people in this Empire don’t get to see the dragons often either, to be honest.”

“Only my little s-sister goes out with hers.”

Yassim nodded. He had understood the young Lady Kiera was one to run away, but it looked like the younger siblings were usually watched by this adult dragon.

“M-may I ask about this... magnificent dragon? I wonder about the size difference with... the younger ones from earlier...”

“K-Krai is Father’s d-dragon,” said Cessilia.

“The dragons you saw earlier were babies,” explained Tessa. “Dragons don’t grow like humans; they undergo major growth spurts when their master matures, around teenage years. We don’t know much about the reasons behind the size differences from one dragon to another, but the stronger their master, the bigger the dragon. You saw Auntie Shareen’s Golden Dragon earlier, right? That’s Glahad, our grandfather’s dragon. He’s getting smaller with the years because his owner passed...”

“When I was a b-baby, Glahad was much b-bigger than Krai... K-Krai is still growing t-too.”

Perhaps from hearing its name, the Black Dragon let out a long growl, and Cessilia gently patted its neck.