Page 8 of The White King's Favorite

“I’m n-not scared of F-Father, b-but... if he s-says no...”

Cassandra let out a long sigh and stepped forward, suddenly hugging her daughter gently. Cessilia’s eyes opened a bit wider in surprise, but she hugged her mother back with one arm. When she finally stepped back, Cassandra smiled gently at her and caressed her long curls.

“Cessilia, do you remember what I told Kiera last week?”

“Th-that we all have an adventure t-to live, but K-Kiera was t-too impatient for hers?”

“That’s right. I believe this is your adventure, Cessi. The one you have been waiting for, patiently. ...Unlike your sister.”

Both women chuckled. Then, Cassandra tenderly grasped her daughter’s chin with her hand.

“You’re too cautious, as always, and too scared. Don’t be... You’re much stronger than you think, Cessi; you’re an amazing young woman and very smart too. I think it’s time you learn to bloom on your own, my love, away from the nest.”

When she let go, her daughter was blushing, but smiling, looking a bit happier. Next to her, her cousin chuckled, crossing her arms.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’m not letting you go anywhere without me, and I’m actually curious about that neighbor of ours.”

“Are you going too, Tessa?” asked Cassandra, raising an eyebrow.

“Of course! I’m not letting Cessi go there on her own!”

“I don’t mind, but what will your mother say?”

Tessa suddenly grimaced.

“...Can’t you come up with an ex–”

“I am not lying to my own sister for your sake, Tessa,” interrupted Cassandra.

“But Mom will never let me!” protested the young woman. “She’s worse than a harpy and she will complain about me not helping at the shop! She doesn’t care about me wandering around, but if she hears I’m going to the other side of the frontier, she will drag my butt back and lock me up! You know she’s able to!”

“You forget about your dad,” chuckled Cassandra. “What about him? Anour will be worried sick if you disappear out of the blue...”

Tessa stayed silent for a second, then her eyes lit up.

“Alright, I’ll send word to Dad then. He’ll be so much more terrified to tell Mom the truth, it will give me at least a week before she picks up on something.”

“You’re g-going to be in tr-trouble...”

“Don’t worry, Cessi, my dad will probably take half of my mom’s wrath first...”

“Poor Anour...” sighed Cassandra. “Alright then, I will talk to your mother later... but you girls should go to the Onyx Castle first.”

“What ab-... about my b-brothers?” asked Cessilia, looking a bit worried. “If they kn-know...”

“Your father sent them both to train in the mountains, they aren’t there at the moment. That’s why you should go see him now before they come back.”

Cassandra stepped forward to hug her daughter, and then her niece, and Yassim suddenly realized they were already saying goodbye.

“M-my ladies, I know it is a long journey to the Eastern Kingdom,” he said, “but there really isn’t such a hurry...”

“Oh, we’d better get out of here before my mom finds out,” retorted Tessa.

“It’s alright,” chuckled Cassandra. “If you fly there, it will only take a few hours. Cessilia can come back any time she wants, even tonight, if she doesn’t like it. Moreover, she should leave before her younger siblings take notice too; otherwise, you will have four more dragons following you. I think even for His Majesty, that would be a bit too many guests at once...”

Yassim was astonished. The Dragon Empire’s people really thought differently! Not only was the Water Goddess fine with sending her daughter away, but she was sending her... right away?

He glanced toward the majestic Black Dragon next to them. From what he had seen, all the children had their own dragons, so it made sense that Princess Cessilia could indeed fly wherever she wanted, anytime she wanted... Still, Yassim was a bit worried. What if, once the Princess knew the truth, she prematurely decided to leave? He’d be losing his old head this time...

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