Abandoned Cat

Duke Salvador looked at Cassandra

"Were you able to read it?"

Cassandra shook her head. "No, not in the starting."

Aiden waited patiently for Cassandra to continue. Cassandra on the other hand looked at the Duke, to make sure that he was no angrier. Once Cassandra's mind was calm she said in a low voice. "You know that the royals do not like me. It got worse during that time. I was alone so I started reading the book in the library."

Cassandra took a deep breath. "Initially it was hard. I could not understand anything, and to be honest, I still don't understand half of it yet. But then I found something similar and just looked into it. There were no full words which I could identify, so I tried to use it as I interpreted it."

"So the way you taught your lady-in-waiting was something that you interpreted from that book?" Duke Salvado asked. He could not believe that such a thing was possible.

Cassandra nodded her head. It was the only thing she could tell Duke Salvador now. It was not that Cassandra did not want to help the Duke, but she was afraid. In the palace, it was hard to trust anyone so easily. And to trust a man whose thought Cassandra could not read was even harder.

'I will tell Duke Salvador everything once I get my freedom.'

Cassandra promised herself as she waited for the Duke's words.

"Have you decoded the book's content?" Dake Salvador asked as he pulled out his hands, rubbing them over his chin.

Duke Salvador wanted to know why the unknown book existed.

'If what the fifth Princess is telling is the truth then it is not a small matter'

All the books in the Royal family had to be recorded. Someone who is not a part of the royal family cannot enter the library without the permission of the Royal.

Aiden waited for the answer but Cassandra could not find one. It was true that she had found this book by chance and did not know where it came from. If anything Cassandra was sure that no one knew the existence of the book.

"I'm not sure why but the book is something that is difficult to understand."

Duke Salvador raised his eyebrows at Cassandra's reply. He looked at the Princess in question.

Cassandra wanted to explain but did not know-how. She tried to come up with a solution fast.

Cassandra closed her eyes and then opened them, only to look at the Duke with her gaze filled with pity. "As you know that I am the rumored unfavored Princess, I could not talk with other people at will. I am the kind of person everyone wants to avoid."

Cassandra's voice choked as she tried to control the trembled in her tone. "On top of that, I cannot even experiment on my own as I am not a mage. So that day, in the garden I asked Amy for it for the first time."

Cassandra's eyes were filled with tears. "I … I had no ide … idea it would Work .." Cassandra rubbed her eyes, as she tried controlling her voice. "I never knew it would help Amy."

Duke Salvador looked at Cassandra who was looking like an abandoned cat, crying for attention. He felt bad for the Princess and yet could not help her.

"Can you show me the book?" Duke Salvador asked doubtfully.

Although Duke Salvador knew that he could not enter the library at will. He needed an official permit from a Royal.

Cassandra's eyes widened. She knew she could not help the Duke but how was she supposed to say that on his face? Cassandra was afraid. If she invites him to the library, there will be rumors spreading around. Cassandra knew that she would be pushing herself into a place that she desperately wanted to avoid.

"Th...That .." Cassandra looked elsewhere but at the Duke. Aiden on the other hand did not know whether to laugh or cry. He could understand how the fifth Princess would be feeling. It was all written on her face.

"I will come up with my own arrangement." Duke Salvador said as he turned around. His back facing the Princess. "But I still want to see that book, if it is true or a story you have made up."

Aiden's words were straightforward. He never cared if his words would hurt anyone. A mysterious book had suddenly appeared in a library that was strictly guarded. Duke Salvador knew that he needed to decode the book to make his army strong.

"But I want the fifth Princess in the library at that time. Tomorrow in the evening before the sun sets." Duke Salvador's words were absolute, leaving no room for denial.

Aiden looked back at Cassandra with his glowing red eyes. "Don't keep me waiting Princess. And hope that you find that book for me."

Without giving Cassandra to react, Duke Salvador left the balcony as if he was not there.

Cassandra was shocked. She could only swallow her grievance as she moved towards the door where Amy was waiting for her.

'I could not talk with the Duke about my groom.'

'I need to find a soldier or a commoner soon.'

'I cannot let my luck run out. What if the Empress decides soon?'

'I will ask the Duke tomorrow.'

'I hope nothing else happened then.'

Cassandra thought as she left the balcony silently like a shadow.