The Emperor sighed, visibly annoyed by the situation. He knew the law, of course, but he could tell that the servant had only acted to protect the young concubine.
“Whatever,” he said. “Bring this servant forth.”
“Your Highness, please!” claimed Cassandra. “She isn’t an Imperial Servant, she is my family!”
It was her last resort. Maybe, if Missandra couldn’t be considered as part of the staff in the Imperial Palace, the Emperor would forget about punishing her. However, she could see Kareen frowning, and that didn’t announce anything good.
“What is that now? Your Family, my dear White Lily? How so?”
Missandra, trembling, stood forward and took off the veil she had been using to cover her face outside of Kareen or Cassandra’s place. Her appearance was revealed, and she bowed lowly, acting docile for once.
“She is my younger sister, Your Highness,” explained Cassandra. “We reunited not too long ago.”
“I invited her as my guest,” added Kareen.
“Oh, is that so…” started the Emperor, but Vrehan interrupted him.
“Guest or not, Father, no one in the Dragon Empire is allowed to defy a dragon’s family member. Those who do should be punished, regardless of their rank. Wasn’t my sister just punished for insulting the concubine? Why should the concubine’s sister get away with insulting my sister then?”
Cassandra was going whiter with each word. No matter what, she didn’t want Vrehan anywhere near her sister, or able to do anything to her. She couldn’t stand that man, his rat face, and his cunning words. Kairen moved his position, putting himself between Cassandra and Vrehan, and Krai’s anger was now directed at the Second Prince.
However, it was clear that the dragon wouldn’t be able to injure him in any way from that position, and so, the Second Prince ignored it completely. Vrehan kept his eyes on his father, with an accusatory stance.
“Are you going to let everything go my brother’s way, Father? If you are so tired of seeing us fighting, how about showing some equality for once? That favoritism of yours for the concubine has to stop, Father.”
The Emperor had no answer to that, and for once, Kareen and Shareen had nothing to retort, either. It only worried Cassandra more. She had to hold on to Kairen’s arm so as not to fall, as her heart was going crazy.
After a long while, the Emperor, who seemed hesitant, eventually sighed and nodded.
“That’s right… I need to go by the rules. Sorry, my White Lily, but Vrehan is right, I cannot let it go so easily. A punishment seems befitting of the situation.”
“May I suggest, Father,” said Vrehan.
Whatever he was about to say, Cassandra knew she wasn’t going to like it. Something in that horrid face of his told her he was about to come up with something she didn’t want to hear.
“I think… Being whipped for… let’s say five hundred and six times should do it.”
“Five hundred and six? Why would you come with such a ridiculous number!” said the Emperor.
Missandra was appalled, but Cassandra was even worse. She knew what that number was for. It was the number of times Phetra had whipped the concubine she had tried to defend, months ago.
She realized Vrehan was doing all of this on purpose. While pretending he didn’t hold it against them, he was clearly getting revenge for his sister. He was just not letting his emotions show at all, so as to not seem revengeful.
“Father! This is too much!” said Shareen, furious.
“Will you stop yelling! I’m thinking!” replied the Emperor, annoyed.
Cassandra’s heart was beating like crazy. He couldn’t agree to that. If Missandra was whipped five hundred times, she would die for sure! She exchanged worried glances with Kareen, but there wasn’t much the Imperial Concubine could do at this point. With Vrehan’s words about the favoritism they already benefited from earlier, she couldn’t say anything.
After a while, the Emperor nodded.
“Alright, we will do this. The young servant will be whipped a hundred times. That will be enough.”
“Your Highness!” screamed Cassandra, on the verge of tears.
She couldn’t believe it. Missandra would have to suffer the whip a hundred times! She didn’t even want them to touch a hair on her sister’s head. She almost collapsed, but Kairen grabbed her before that, holding her.
“Enough, enough,” said the Emperor, leaving the room.
