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.”
“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...
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!”
