Page 205 of The Wild Prince's Favorite
“It’s so good to see you,” she whispered in his ear with that soft voice of hers.
Kassein couldn’t say what he’d been expecting, but his body relaxed instantly at her words, warmth spreading throughout his body gently.
Cessilia stepped back, giving him one of her kind, genuine smiles full of sisterly love, and his throat tightened a bit. All he could do was nod, feeling sorry for not being able to return his sister’s affection properly, but Cessilia didn’t say anything. Instead, she kept smiling, and her eyes drifted to the little girl in his arms.
As the sun was starting to come out, Kassein had been careful to keep Lumie hidden in the fur blanket, but standing so close, Cessilia could easily catch a glimpse of the little girl through an opening, and her smile brightened up some more before she redirected her eyes at Kassein.
She pressed a hand against his cheek, her thumb rubbing his beard.
“It’s a good sight to witness you like this,” she whispered.
“Half-asleep?” he managed to groan.
“Almost happy,” she said, pointing her chin at the little girl in his arms.
Kassein frowned in confusion.
He hadn’t felt happy in a long time, but... after thinking about his sister’s words for a second, he knew there was some truth to it.
He cleared his throat, and adjusted Lumie in his arms a bit, trying not to look his older sister in the eye.
“I’m sorry I never... replied,” he muttered.
“I know,” Cessilia shrugged. “I hoped you still read the letters, that’s why I kept writing to you anyway. You should come see your nieces and nephew when things are calmer here. They’d love to see an uncle other than Darsan sometimes.”
Kassein didn’t think any of them were a better uncle than Darsan, but he still nodded.
He knew he had been avoiding his sister and her family for a long while, and he wasn’t too proud of it. It was just far too painful for him.
He had read some of the letters, but he was ashamed to say he’d ignored more. Somewhere behind him, Kein’s growls intensified, and Cessilia immediately pinned his dragon with a glare.
“Kein, enough.”
Her voice was cold and imperious, and Kein obeyed, finally lowering its volume and lying down.
Immediately, the dragon’s apparent calmness got the triplets’ attention, and the next second, Kein was the new playground for three dragons a fraction of its size.
Cessilia let out a faint sigh, turning her attention back to Kassein.
“Kiera filled me in on what’s going on. What does it take for you to ask for help, Kassein?”
“It’s just... The triplets’ dragons are the size we need. I wouldn’t want to bother anyone else.”
Cessilia shook her head slowly.
“You’re not a bother to anyone,” she said, patting his cheek again. “Certainly not to me, Kassein. And you do know I also have three children with three small-sized dragons, right? Don’t lie to me, Kassein. I know sending Kiera to ask Darsan was the easy option for you. I’m lucky I happened to be visiting him when our sister came, or else I would have never known about what you’re trying to accomplish here, would I?”
He lowered his head. As always, Cessilia was right, and he didn’t have anything to answer to that. His sister let out another faint sigh.
“...Will you take a walk with me?” she asked gently. “We haven’t talked in a while, just the two of us, and I feel like it’s a conversation that’s much overdue. If ever, I think there are some things you need to hear now.”
After a hesitation, Kassein gave her a stiff nod.
Gently and reluctantly, he transferred Lumie over to Lorey’s arms and followed his sister outside of the Onyx Castle.
For some reason, Cessilia wanted to walk outside, and they quietly took the pathway to the village, past the mess the young dragons had made and back to where the snow was a thick, fresh layer over the wild grass and bushes.
Cessilia was walking comfortably, despite only wearing a thin coat and leather shoes. Just like everyone in their family, she was rather resistant to the cold, but living in a coastal city and having an Ice Dragon might have made her even more immune, for she walked as if it was a nice spring day, not a skin-biting windy and cold morning.
