CASSANDRA: The Unfavored Princess-Chapter 106: Clueless

Princess Cassandra was called into the meeting room with Lord Bentham.

Both of them looked at each other as an unknown silence followed. Cassandra did not know what was going on but she could feel a weird energy in the room.

"We have to call you here to take your opinion." The secretary said as he looked at the fifth Princess. "As Duke Salvador had rightly mentioned the Princess could not be left alone, so someone will be there protecting you in the Vivere Kingdom."

Cassandra’s eyes shook. "I am going to the Vivere Kingdom?" Cassandra looked at the Emperor in question. Her gaze was filled with questions as an uneasiness could be seen on her face.

"Yes, as Lord Bentham will be going there, he wishes to take you too." The Emperor said without any expression. His face was looking down. "And we have decided to send you there."

Princess Cassandra looked down as her gaze narrowed. "If it has already been decided, then why am I called here?" Cassandra murmured as a small glitter glowed on her face.

"You have learned to talk now." Princess Valeria said in a sharp voice. "Something did change when I was not here."

Princess Cassandra’s smile shook. She looked down and did not reply.

"The reason why we have called you here’s to ask who the Princess wants to take with her." The secretary said to ease the growing tension in the room.

"...." Cassandra did not reply as she looked down.

"Do you want to take people from Duke Bentham’s side or Duke Salvador’s side with you?" The secretary said as he narrowed his eyes.

"Take people?" the fifth Princess asked in a dull voice.

"As a guard." Princess Valeria said as she raised her eyebrows. She felt like she was explaining things to dumb people.

[She is dumb.]

[Why do we even have to protect someone like her.]

Cassandra listened but she was waiting for someone to explain it to her. If people could not talk then she could not answer.

Duke Salvador smiled as he saw the changing expressions of the fifth Princess.

’My butterfly is looking so clueless.’

’Who said the fifth Princess does not know anything.’

’She knows how to act.’

A smile played on Duke Salvador’s place. His eyes were glowing with a shine. He was happy that the Princess was doing everything just the way they had discussed.

’Now it is my chance to play.’

Duke Salvador nodded his head only slightly to give a signal to the fifth Princess.

"I feel like there could be someone to protect the powerless. So tell me Princess, who do you want to take with you." Duke Salvador’s voice revolved in the room. His tone was authority, making it unable for others to find fault with.

"I can protect her." Lord Bentham said. He took a step forward as his eyes narrowed towards Aiden Salvadore.

[What is he trying to do now?]

[Is it really necessary?]

[He knows very well that I can protect Cassandra and yet he wants to intervene?]

[I cannot allow him to enter the Vivere Kingdom.]

Lord Bentham smiled as he looked into Duke Salvador’s eyes. "I appreciate your concern Duke, but this is my family’s matter."

"It is my family’s matter as well." Duke Salvador’s voice turned sharp. Everyone in the room looked at him with wide eyes.

No one understood what Duke Salvador was saying. How can he say such words but Aiden did not care what others thought at the moment. He smiled as he continued. "We have spent so many years on the battlefield, Achard. We have known each other since we were young. You are like a family to me. I have always thought of you as a brother so I can only think of her as my sister-in-law. And protecting her is also Salvador’s Dukedoms responsibility. Not for her but for you."

Duke Salvador’s gaze turned soft. "I have seen the way you look at her. She is important to you like no one else. As your brother, it is my responsibility." Duke Salvador walked towards Lord Bentham as he touched his shoulders. "My black eagles are the strongest. Let me protect you and her."

Lord Bentham and Duke Salvador looked at each other with a stiff gaze. No one else knew the brewing tension between them.

Achard wanted to stop Aiden but he could not say anything. What can he say in a situation like this? The things are not working in the way they wanted to.

"One of Salvador’s guards will follow the fifth Princess." Duke Salvador said in a soft tone. "Only if the fifth Princess wants."

Princess Cassandra’s eyes narrowed. She nodded but Duke Bentham continued. "But if the Princess is uncomfortable then one of our guards will be your personal guard. The Princess should not worry as everyone in the dukedom respects you as Achards wife."

Cassandra looked between the Emperor and the first Princess. She knew that the first Princess did not want to get Duke Salvador involved.

"Can Ed follow me?" Cassandra asked as she blinked towards Duke Salvador like a clueless deer trying to escape.

"Ed?" Duke Salvador raised his eyebrows in question.

Cassandra nodded. "Yes, the one acting as my personal guard."

"He told you his name was Ed?" Duke Salvador laughed sarcastically. "My guards have started speaking a lot," Aiden murmured in a dangerously low tone.

Cassandra’s eyes shook. "No, he only stands there and does not say anything else. I gave him the name so that I can pretend that I am talking with a person." Cassandra’s voice trembled.

"How sad is your life." Princess Valeria sneered as her lips curled up.

Cassandra did not reply. She looked down with a sad tone. "I am comfortable with Ed coming with me. Amy knows him too so they can talk with each other."

"But they are from Salvador’s .." Lord Bentham tried to say but Cassandra’s words cut through it.

"But I have seen him more than I have seen you," Cassandra said softly so that only the two could hear. "I will take Ed with me. And if he could not come then count me out."

Lord Bentham nodded. He could feel that the Princess was serious at this point.

[Will you not come if we do not take this Ed with us?]

Cassandra nodded her head.

’He talked with me using his thoughts.’

’I knew Lord Bentham knew that I could read thoughts.]

[Was he playing with me all along?]

[He must have been.]

Cassandra looked at the Duke with sharp eyes. "I will take Ed with me, Duke. I need people that I know in a foreign Kingdom."

Duke Salvador smiled. "I understand Princess. If you want your guard to follow you then he will." Aiden looked at the people standing in the background looking at him.

"Now that the fifth Princess had given her permission it should not be a problem." Duke Salvador said in a soft tone. "When have you decided to leave?"

Lord Bentham’s eyes narrowed. "I heard that the conditions had been met and the Vivere Kingdom’s Prince will leave in two days."

"That is early." Duke Salvador said. "Shouldn’t it be in a few days?"

"No," Duke Bentham smiled as he looked at the Duke. "I was informed that Prince Carl needs to go back soon."

"So what?" Duke Salvador said. "You want my people to rush."

"If your guard is uncomfortable he can drop the idea altogether." Lord Bentham said in a dull tone. His gaze was filled with arrogance as a feeling of dominance became stronger.

Duke Salvador looked at Lord Bentham. His eyes smiled in a curve.

"As Lord Bentham said. We need to hurry and send them back in two days. A lot of work to be done." Duke Salvador bowed at the Emperor. "I will get going and get everything arranged."

Duke Bentham nodded as he too bowed as left the room. Soon everyone left as only the Emperor and the Princess were left.

"You have learned to talk a lot." Princess Valeria said with an arrogant tone. Her eyes were raised as she walked towards the fifth Princess. "What changed when I was in the outer palace."

"My father was not talking with me. Then he tried to challenge my claim and my claim to the throne." Princess Valeria pointed at the fifth Princess. "You.. a nameless, powerless princess is trying to challenge my love?"

"Why do you want to take that guard with you. The black eagles have never been loyal to the royals. And yet you have a good understanding with them? Why? Because of one of them I was sent to the outer palace."

Princess Valeria smiled in a soft tone. "Do you want to get close to Duke Salvador?"

Princess Cassandra shook her head in fright. "No Princess ..."

"But you both look comfortable talking with each other." Princess Valeria raised her hands as Cassandra floated in the air.