5 | Confession

"I'm Ekim, your fashion designer," She repeated for the second time to Cassandra. She just blankly stared at her brother for such an expensive gift, not only that, the gift was a human. Everybody knows Ekim, she's the topmost designer known in the 8 kingdoms. One can't just buy her.

"But I can't accept it, that'll cage you here," Cassandra replied. A designer who works for the Queen cannot work for anyone else, it's an unwritten rule.

"There's no big pleasure than working for the Queen herself," Ekim bowed and glanced at Nydd, who was looking away. Ekim had rejected every single opportunity sent by all the seven kingdoms, why is she accepting this proposal?

There was a rumour that she had been interested in Prince Nydd on several occasions, but Cassandra had shrugged it off and refused to believe it. Now she was questioning her opinion, Prince Nydd had his lips pursed as he glanced over Ekim again.

"Well, I might visit you often if you accept my gift," He stated, and now she knew it was for the benefit of both of them. Cassandra smirked and patted his shoulder.

"King Kaydn," Ekim bowed immediately when she saw him approaching from the garden. He looked like he was rethinking his life. Cassandra didn't turn to face him, Nydd suspected something fishy and glanced over him. He was wondering where Kaydn had gone and was about to check on him since he had left in the middle of their discussion.

"Ekim, what brings you here?" He was dumbfounded. After all, she was graded above anyone in society due to her pure talent. Rylla had always demanded Ekim's latest designs, and it had always slipped his mind. He wondered whether it was Rylla's doing but quickly assumed that it must've been Nydd's doing since Ekim was staring at him.

"I must say that I'm honoured to work with Queen Cassandra." Cassandra awkwardly turned around and faced him. She gave him a pursed smile and shifted her focus elsewhere, directly on Rylla who had entered the palace doors.

"Why is she here?" Nydd immediately caught Cassandra's look and gave a questioning glance. Kaydn turned around and looked dumbstruck. He did see her leave the palace garden. She walked towards them and gaped in shock as she saw Ekim standing there. She started running holding her skirts up, Cassandra wanted to be anywhere but here.

"Maybe she wanted to see Ekim, she absolutely loves her designs," Kaydn remarked, completely annoyed for showing up before his wife's brother. He did not want to offend Nydd, he knew the consequences. Yes, he loved her, but this was inappropriate with all the rumours circulating around.

"Oh Honey, of course, I do. Besides you had left your brooch with me," She handed him his silver brooch which seemed to look exactly like his. He realized it was his when he touched his chest and found it missing. Nydd raised one of his eyebrows and glanced at Cassandra who was looking down.

"I did not, and you must address me as Kind Kaydn," He desperately pleaded to Rylla and he did not want his dying father to hear complaints from the Western Kingdom. He desperately hoped for Rylla to just understand and leave him for good, at least now.

"Alright, if you say so," She crookedly smiled and inched closer, "I'll see you tonight," She whispered as she glanced over Nydd. He had heard enough, but he still stayed silent. He was confused about Cassandra staying silent.

"You shall not talk to a King like that, and please behave appropriately!" He was so confused, he didn't know why his Rylla was behaving so odd. It was almost as if he had seen an entirely different person. She took one look at Cassandra and smirked, it broke her heart. Kaydn turned around and wrapped his arms around Cassandra's shoulder, and Rylla's smirk vanished into thin air. He could see the pure hatred in her eyes.