Page 109 of The White King's Favorite

“We had no idea th-there had b-been other survivors in the Eastern K-Kingdom. Our m-mothers d-devoted a lot of themselves t-trying to find more of their relatives.”

“Not many. Most were sold as slaves, and our tribe bought some of those slaves. Some fled, the others were killed.”

Despite the leader’s aloof and cold tone, Cessilia felt her heart accelerate a bit. So there really were some of her mother’s long-lost relatives in this Kingdom. According to her mother, the Rain Tribe wasn’t composed of a lot of people, even before they were attacked. To hear there were any survivors at all had been a huge relief when they expected them all to be dead. Although she had never met those people, Cessilia was well-aware this was half of her heritage, half of her family’s story, the half that wasn’t from Imperial Dragon blood, but from the sad history of a dying civilization.

“We’re sorry about your wife,” said Tessandra, “but are there other members of that tribe still surviving?”

“What for?”

The man finally looked at them, a hint of annoyance in his eyes.

“So your people can plunder that village again? Rape those women?”

Cessilia was so shocked, she lost her words for a second. Tessandra was the first one to react, clenching her fist on the table.

“Are you mad, old man? Didn’t you listen? Our mothers are from the Rain Tribe! They went through that shit too!”

“And who do you think put them there? How do you think they became slaves? How do you think they fell into the hands of those men? Did your daddies ever apologize for it?!”

This time, even Tessandra was rendered mute.

“...Our fathers had n-nothing to d-do with what happened t-to the Rain T-Tribe,” muttered Cessilia.

“Really? How did you think they got to meet your mothers in the first place?”

“Uncle, please,” muttered Ishira, uncomfortable too.

“Silence, Ishira,” the man hissed. “My wife spent her whole life traumatized by the men who had beat her, raped her, and sold her. They did the same to her whole family if they didn’t kill them. Do you think I’ll tell anything to two girls who have the blood of those rapists?”

“Hey!” roared Tessandra. “Don’t you fucking insult our fathers! Who the fuck do you think you’re talking about? The Eastern Kingdom was the one who raided the Rain Tribe!”

The man brutally slammed his glass against the table, making even his niece go white.

“...Say that again?” hissed the leader.

“You’re not scaring me, old man,” retorted Tessandra. “The Rain Tribe was raided by the Eastern Kingdom, not the Dragon Empire. Get your damn facts straight before you start insulting our dads!”

“You damn little–”

“Uncle!” Ishira shouted, panicked. “You can’t insult the Princesses!”

“Princesses?” scoffed the man. “How dare they call themselves princesses, when they are the daughters of wretched murderers...!”

“...That’s enough, Father.”

They turned around to see a young man who had just opened the doors wide, out of breath, with a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. He was strikingly handsome, with his long, black hair over his shoulder, his muscular silhouette, and his simple but beautifully embroidered blue outfit. Even more striking was the contrast between his olive skin, and his clear blue eyes.

“Holy shit...” muttered Tessandra.

“Hephael,” sighed Ishira, relieved to see her cousin.

The young man’s eyes quickly circled the room, changing into a brief glare when he met his father’s, and softening when he met Cessilia’s green irises. To her surprise, he bowed even more politely than his cousin had.

“Princess, it’s an honor to meet you. ...I apologize for my father’s rudeness.”

“Hephael,” hissed his Father, “you shouldn’t get involved in this.”

“And you shouldn’t be rude toward these ladies, Father. As far as I’m concerned, they are my relatives.”

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