In their tribe, children learned a lot of the language through songs and prayers. It was an important part of their culture, to show their respect to the Nature Gods, who Cassandra still firmly believed in. Whereas, the songs the musicians were currently performing only sang about men. About the glory of the past warriors, Emperors, and scholars of the Dragon Empire.
Cassandra hadn’t sung out loud in years. Her previous master had heard her sing once and beat her half to death for it. She accused Cassandra of cursing her in a savage language, most likely because she had no idea what her song was about.
Cassandra was looking at the performers, and something silent and painful was blooming in her heart. She missed her homeland. Reuniting with Missandra, who had changed so much after all these years apart, had brought back memories she had buried deep in her heart. The familiar sounds of the water, the smell of the seaweed and soaked wood, were still engraved in her. She loved the rivers surrounding her village; the wild streams, fresh winds, and peaceful waterfalls. Playing barefoot in the mud, diving with her sister, and swimming with the fish, learning from their mother about every treasure the Nature Goddess had to offer.
“Are you alright?”
Kairen had put his hand on hers, scrutinizing her with a concerned expression. Cassandra nodded, smiling in reassurance.
“I was just lost in my memories,” she admitted.
She was about to add something, but not far from them the First Prince started coughing loudly again, so much so that people were distracted from the performances, and turned to watch him. The closest woman to him that was patting his back, looked genuinely worried.
Cassandra frowned in worry as well. This cough sounded really horrible. She turned to Kairen.
“Do you mind if I…?”
“It’s fine, I’ll come with you.”
Kareen frowned, but she didn’t say anything to stop them. They both stood up and walked over to the First Prince, who was having difficulty catching his breath. Cassandra politely bowed to him.
“Are you all right, Your Highness? Do you need any help?”
“Ah… Lady Cassandra. If… if you don’t mind?”
“He’s been coughing more than usual,” explained the lady in pink next to him. “He had a bit of a fever, too…”
Indeed, he looked extremely pale. Kairen pulled a chair up to help his older brother sit, as the First Prince’s concubines were gathering around. Kairen’s glare kept them at bay though, leaving only the first concubine next to them.
“His Highness was born with weak lungs,” she explained. “Usually, he only gets sick once in a while, but…” She trailed off, not needing to finish.
Cassandra was careful, but she had to check him out. She put her fingers on his forehead, confirming his fever, and put a hand on his back and chest as he was coughing again, closing her eyes.
“What are you doing?” asked the concubine, confused.
“I’m trying to sense how his lungs are reacting to his coughing. The sound resonates through his thoracic cage.”
As the Prince’s cough subsided, Cassandra’s expression was becoming gloomier. She knew this kind of chronic disease. It wasn’t so rare, but unfortunately, it had to do with his weak respiratory system, and she knew there was no definitive treatment.
She stood up, looking around.
“This kind of environment will make His Highness’ symptoms worse. The air is too cold, and the smoke from the food and candles will make him sicker.”
“What do you suggest, Lady Cassandra?”
“Put him in a very clean room, with fresh sheets and not one speck of dust. I’ll write down a recipe for a herbal tea, make sure he drinks it with a bit of honey and at a warm temperature, not too hot or too cold. Let him rest and sleep, I’ll visit tomorrow morning.”
“I will do, Lady Cassandra. Thank you so much!”
As soon as she was done writing the recipe down, the worried concubine escorted the First Prince out. Compared to the other young ladies who were reluctant to leave the party and follow them, Cassandra could tell that one following genuinely loved and was worried for her Prince.
A lot of people who weren’t watching the First Prince’s exit, had their eyes on Cassandra once again. The concubines rarely cared for anyone but their own Prince, yet she had spent several minutes checking over Prince Sephir, and chatting with his favorite concubine, too.
She walked back to Kareen and Shareen, trying to ignore all the eyes on her. There were way too many people around.
“Father!”
All heads turned to Phetra, and Cassandra stilled. Whatever that woman was about to say, she knew she wasn’t going to like it.
