“Oh, you’re welcome.”
The two of them stood straight up.
“I’m Berissa, and this one is Chiara. The two of us were hoping to get closer to you, Lady Cassandra, and if…you’d accept to have some tea with us later on?”
Cassandra was a bit surprised, and it took her a few seconds to understand.
“Yes, of course. Please let me know when you’d like to spend time together.”
The two women’s faces brightened, and they thanked her profusely before Cassandra insisted she had to leave, after which both went back.
Missandra and Dahlia exchanged glances, both confused by what had just happened.
“Hinue,” said Missandra. “Why would these women be interested in having tea with you? They are already concubines with their own Prince.”
“I think they were acting on the First Prince’s behalf,” said Cassandra. “If his concubines are close to me, the War God’s pregnant concubine, it could show he is close to his brother, and supports the Third Prince as heir to the throne.”
“Maybe they were just looking out for themselves,” said Dahlia. “It isn’t rare for concubines to befriend concubines with more power than they do, just to increase their chances to survive in the Imperial Palace. With the news about His Highness the First Prince’s health being bad, maybe those two thought it would be good for them to get close to you, just in case anything happens.”
“What? I don’t want them to use my older sister like a stepping tool!”
“It’s alright, Missandra,” said Cassandra. “I actually hoped to befriend some concubines within the Imperial Palace. So far, the Emperor and First Prince’s concubines are the only ones who haven’t been mean to me.”
It was the truth. Cassandra felt like Kairen and her couldn’t have only enemies within that Palace. The differences between all six Princes were obvious, but there were definitely some who were close to one another. While Vrehan and Kairen were clear enemies, she still hoped they could find some support among the other brothers.
“Oh right,Hinue,” said Missandra as they were walking back. “What did you want to ask me before? About the abortion portion or something?”
Cassandra realized she was so lost in her thoughts about the First Prince’s concubines, she had almost forgotten! She nodded, and talked softly, as they were walking down several corridors and could easily be heard.
“Yes… Someone got one of those, and I wanted to know who they got it for. I thought there would be no way to know.”
“Of course you can!”
“What? Really?”
“Sure,” said Missandra with a nod. “You know, the people who sell such stuff in the Red District have to keep a strict record, because the establishments’ owners want to know if the girls get pregnant, in case the father is someone rich, they can make them pay for it. Also, if someone outside of the Red District orders one of those, they need to know, they want to avoid trouble.”
“Trouble?”
“You know, from rich families. If one’s daughter or wife orders one of these, the Head of the House has to know. But if the girls don’t say a thing, what do they do? They run to the Red District to make a scene and threaten to behead the seller if they don’t give a name. Trust me, I’ve seen this situation happen so many times. Any wise shop owner keeps their buyers’ list as tidy as they can!”
Cassandra was speechless. She didn’t expect her sister would be able to help them in such a way! However, Missandra seemed sure about what she was saying…
“So, who was it?”
Cassandra explained to her the whole situation as they were going back to her apartments, her younger sister nodding and frowning all this time. Once they reached Cassandra’s new private garden, she knew about the whole situation.
“I see. Of course, I could find out! The only problem is I risk my life if I go back there, though.”
“Could you go with Princess Shareen?”
Missandra frowned.
“Mh…I don’t know if I could endure her for so long.”
She sighed.
“Can you let me send a few letters, actually? I still have friends there. They could definitely ask for me, and I wouldn’t have to leave the Palace!”
