“But...”
“No, the young one is right, dear,” said Kareen, gently pushing her towards the end of the garden. “Follow me!”
While the servants hurried to take the remains of their dinner out of sight, Kareen led the two girls further into the garden, rushing between the trees towards one side. They were almost running. Cassandra’s heart was thumping like crazy. What would she be arrested for! An accomplice to Prince Sephir’s murder? What had taken place at the Palace for this to happen?
The Imperial Concubine suddenly stopped in front of one of the walls surrounding the garden they were in and pushed some of the ivy covering it like a large curtain. To their surprise, it revealed a long and wide crack in the stonewall. It was tight, but definitely an entrance wide enough for them to sneak into. Missandra and Cassandra exchanged a glance, shocked. They had walked by that wall a thousand times but had never noticed this secret opening! Kareen pushed Missandra in, and they helped Cassandra get inside right behind her.
“Stay hidden here for now,” whispered the Imperial Concubine. “This is a secret passage only a handful of my servants know of. If things go wrong, start leaving through there immediately! This will lead to a secret room, I had everything prepared for you there, just in case. This place leads to the back garden. You can...”
Before she could finish that sentence, a ruckus was heard from behind her, and Kareen left quickly to see what was going on, while the two sisters retreated a bit. Missandra grabbed her older sister’s shaking hand. For a few seconds, everything was silent in the Palace. Then, soldiers barged into the garden, surrounding the Imperial Concubine. Cassandra retreated further as she could hear men stepping close to their hideout, but she could barely see what was going on behind the thick curtain of ivy. However, the two of them were able to hear very well when Kareen started yelling furiously.
“What is this?! How dare you barge into my Palace!”
“Good evening, Imperial Concubine,” replied a cold voice.
Cassandra shivered and retreated another step. That was definitely Vrehan’s voice. Next to her, Missandra was livid, her hand covering her mouth. Everything was so calm just a few minutes ago, but now they were kept hidden while the Second Prince had taken control over the Palace!
“We are looking for a criminal, and I have the Emperor’s permission to do anything in my power to bring her to the Imperial Palace...safe and unharmed.”
From his voice, Cassandra wouldn’t even have trusted him for a second. How could the Emperor trust Vrehan with that task?! She knew that, despite the Emperor’s best intentions, Vrehan would have no second thoughts in killing her and the baby she was carrying at the first opportunity he’d get, and any witnesses along with her. She could easily imagine him reporting some unfortunate incident to the Emperor. There was no way Cassandra would ever give that man any chance to touch her, no way.
“What does it have to do with me? This is my Diamond Palace! How dare you come and chase some criminal here! On what grounds?!”
Cassandra realized Lady Kareen was trying to play dumb on purpose, to get more information on what was really going on. It may win them some time, too. Behind her, Missandra was gently pulling on her hand, trying to bring Cassandra away from the opening, but she wanted to listen to what was going on.
“The said criminal is none other than Kairen’s favorite, Imperial Concubine. I know she is here. Your son wouldn’t entrust his woman to anyone else!”
“Oh? And what did she do for you to arrest her?”
“She is suspected of taking part in the First Prince’s tragic death. One of his concubines poisoned him with some plants that the slave gave her!”
Cassandra was astonished. The recipes she gave the concubines? Is that what Vrehan was chasing her for? Even if one of the concubines had meddled with the content of the teas, she had nothing to do with it! This was obviously his scheme to capture her! Did he poison Sephir’s drink himself? What had happened to his concubines? Were they to be interrogated, too?
“How ridiculous! What would Cassandra poison Prince Sephir for?”
“Well, anyone can be greedy at some point. Who knows what a woman...”
“How dare you speak about greed! If anyone has that kind of dirt in their mind, it would be anyone but my son or his concubine! You, of all people, are the last one who can accuse others of that!”
“Watch your words, Kareen! I am not...”
“It’s Imperial Concubine Kareen to you, little runt! Or do you think you can insult the Imperial Dragon’s Favorite to her face? Huh?”
A tense silence reigned after her words, but Cassandra could feel Vrehan’s anger from here. Lady Kareen’s nerves were really made of steel, to confront him like that. Cassandra was fearful for her, but she was well aware the Imperial Concubine would never submit to Vrehan, or do anything other than protect her children.
“Enough, bring that woman here!” yelled Vrehan.
“Have you heard anything about a pregnant woman being here, Vrehan? Did you question the people? Investigate? She isn’t here. Kairen took her to the Onyx Castle!”
Cassandra could barely breathe. What if Vrehan’s soldiers really interrogated the people of the Diamond City? Would they say the Lady of the Mountain was indeed here? Or had they tried already? She knew the local folks liked her very much, but would they lie to an Imperial Prince?
“You’re lying!” suddenly yelled a feminine voice. “I already know you wanted that slut to stay with you until she gave birth, their dragon egg is here!”
Cassandra’s heart dropped. Phetra was here too? That woman was already able to travel? Cassandra suddenly froze at the mention of the dragon egg! They could never leave this Palace with it if they had to flee this place!
“Do you see a concubine here, other than me? How dare you bother this old woman without any proof!”
“I will have my proof once I find this damn woman! I know you’re hiding her here, in this Palace!”
