CASSANDRA: The Unfavored Princess-Chapter 144: Long Back

Lord Bentham told the story to Duke Salvador and Princess Cassandra.

The story that Achard told was how his childhood was. How the nanny always took care of him and how his mother used to care for her lady in waiting.

How his nanny fell in love and how she gave birth. The things that happened after that were not something that Lord Bentham enjoyed saying.

"So it was your mother who took Cassandra and left the Vivere Kingdom." Duke Salvador said as his gaze narrowed. "She must have loved her lady in waiting to do so."

"My nanny was my mother’s true friend. And Princess Cassandra." Lord Bentham’s sight shifted towards the fifth Princess as he sighed. "You were like her own daughter."

Princess Cassandra was silent. The mother she had always known was actually Lord Bentham’s. The one that told her story and made her sleep at night was also her.

Princess Cassandra’s tone trembled as her gaze softened. "Do you also blame me?"

Lord Bentham blinked. Even if the fifth Princess had not asked the question, Achard knew what was going on in her mind.

"Do I blame you? I was angry at first. My mother chose you and abandoned me, her own son, but then when we found you again, you were in a very pitiful condition. I knew then that mother simply wanted to protect you. Although she left me she never forgot me."

Lord Bentham thought back to when he went into the house, his mother lived in the Elvira Empire. Although she was no more there, her love for him was still there. There were small paper animals that they used to make together. There were dried daisy flowers that they used to love watching.

"But my father hates you." Lord Bentham said as his gaze turned sharp. "He thinks that you are the reason why my mother died and that you should not live peacefully."

"But do you think so too?" Duke Salvador asked. His voice was sharp as he cut through. His face was expressionless.

"No." Lord Bentham’s gaze looked down. "My mother sacrificed herself to keep the Princess safe. I would like to keep her safe too."

"But you want her to wake the witch up?" Duke Salvador raised his eyebrows in question. "You do know that waking the witch will kill her."

"Not necessarily." Lord Bentham shook his eyes. "I was not known to be engulfed in books for nothing. I have researched a lot just to make sure that the fifth Princess survives. I am coming up with a plan that will not kill her."

Princess Cassandra looked at the Lord Bentham. She wanted to ask how long Lord Bentham had thought about it but she did not. There was something more important in her mind.

"I have a question." Princess Cassandra moved towards Lord Bentham. Her hands that were in Duke Salvador’s hand were clenched tightly. Cassandra could not help but look at the Duke as she smiled, telling him silently that she knows what she is doing.

"Lord Bentham should know why I cannot read some people’s thoughts?" Princess Cassandra asked as her eyes glittered.

"You cannot read people’s thoughts?" Lord Bentham narrowed his eyes as he asked. He looked at the Duke before turning back towards the fifth Princess. "That shouldn’t be the case."

"But why?" Duke Salvador raised his eyebrows. "Didn’t Princess Cassandra’s mother face the same situations?"

Lord Bentham shook his head. "She did not. Or at least she didn’t tell me about it. But I think I remember something written in the old texts." Lord Bentham closed his eyes as he tried to remember. It had been so long but soon Achard opened his eyes as he looked at the fifth Princess.

"I remembered. It was long back but I think I read it somewhere. It is said that your special powers apart from the elemental powers will not work on your loved ones. Maybe your soulmates. I am not sure if it is true but I think I have to reread it."

Duke Salvador’s eyes narrowed. "So one cannot use their powers at all?"

"I am not sure about it but I think the powers can be used but the person will be required to execute more power." Lord Bentham’s voice was low. His gaze narrowed. "I will study the phenomena a little more. Give me some time. I will tell you in a day or two."

Duke Salvador nodded as his hold on the fifth Princess tightened. "We need your help."

Lord Bentham narrowed his eyes as he waited for Duke Salvador to continue.

"Prince Carl and Princess Teimei will be trying to make Cassandra absorb the powers forcefully. But we want to stop it." Duke Salvador said as his lips curled up. "The fifth Princess will soon be sick. The water element will act as a barrier and stop her from absorbing anything else."

Princess Cassandra and Lord Bentham looked at Duke Salvador. Duke Salvador tapped his finger on the table as he continued. "I want you to stop them from forcing the fifth Princess. At Least till the time we go to the Kir mountain."

Lord Bentham smiled. "You want me to stop them?" Achard raised his eyebrows as he shook his head. "Do you think that will be easy?"

"It shouldn’t be hard for you." Duke Salvador smiled. "After all, you are their cousin and the son of the Grand Duke of the Vivere Kingdom. I trust you, my friend. You will find a solution soon."

Achard could not help but shake his head. "I will see what I can do."

—---------

The Emperor sat in his study as he looked outside from his window. Her gaze was filled with worries.

"Emperor." The guard came in as he bowed. "The Empress is here."

The Emperor’s eyes turned sharp as he replied. "Bring the Empress inside with respect."

But before the Emperor’s voice could drop the Empress walked in as she looked at the guard with an arrogant gaze. "You can leave."

The Emperor could not help but sigh. "You are here? Does the empress need something?"

"Have you sent your guards to protect my children?" The Empress’s voice rose as she asked desperately. "My guards had lost track of them. How can you permit them to go?"

"Does the Empress have a right to ask me this?" The Emperor chuckled as he continued. "You knew it very well that they were going to go there. Why didn’t you stop your beloved daughter?"

The Empress was losing her calm. The air around her started to move rapidly as her eyes turned red. "You think I didn’t try? You even gave Cedric permission to follow. This is all your mistake."

"My mistake?" The situation. "Tell me how is it the Emperor’s mistake? Your beloved daughter is behaving just like you. Unrestrained. Do you think I don’t know where her stubborn and cruel nature comes from? It is all you. Valeria has learned all of your bad habits. Do you think your daughter can be a good leader for the Empire? She might just burn everything up if things do not work in her favour."

The Empress laughed as a whirlpool of wind formed around her. "She would never have done it if it was not for you. She wants only one thing. Duke Salvador. If you promise to marry them off, Valeria will give up the throne."

All the papers in the study room started to move. The flowerpots were shattered as the curtains started to move up along the wind.

The Emperor’s face turned bad. He rubbed his hand on his forehead as his eyes narrowed. "STOP IT."

The Emperor got up as he moved his hand. The earth moved as two pillars moved up covering the Empress’s hand. The winds quiet down as everything is scattered in the study room. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"DO YOU THINK DUKE SALVADOR IS YOUR PET? HE IS NOT BOUND TO LISTEN TO YOU OR TO ME. IF YOUR DAUGHTER HAD A LITTLE BRAINS THAT WORKED SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE AIDEN SALVADOR’S HEART." The Emperor took a step towards the Empress. "BUT NO. SHE WANTS EVERYTHING IN HER HAND. JUST LIKE YOU."

The Emperor moved his finger as a handcuff formed on the Empress’s hand. "I have had enough of you. Guards."

Soon the guards came inside running but their steps paused. The situation in front of their eyes was unusual. The Empress was standing in a pile of a mess as her eyes were filled with water.

"Put the Empress in the detached palace. Let her experience the life she had given to countless concubines and Princesses. No one is to attend the Empress."

The Empress’s eyes widened. The detached palace was a prison where she used to torture the other Princesses.

"YOU CAN NOT DO THAT." The Empress shouted as tears started running down. "MY FAMILY WILL NOT FORGIVE YOU."

Even though the Empress was shouting, her shouts did not affect anyone as the guards took her outside.

The Emperor sighed as he looked at his room. "I should have done this long back." He murmured.