Cassandra understood that he was the one nobody would see as a threat, but that doesn’t mean his brother’s crimes are any less horrible! His older brother had been murdered only a few days ago, he couldn’t be that insensitive as to not care at all!
However, he did look like he didn’t care. Opheus put a hand on his hip, gauging the two of them.
“I honestly don’t give a damn about reporting you, I don’t even care enough to yell,” he said. “However, I am curious why the hell Kairen’s favorite and her sister are in my father’s chambers.”
“We hope to save the Emperor,” explained Cassandra. “I know he is sick, I want to see him.”
“We can heal him,” added her younger sister. “If you tell us where the old man is, we can...”
Opheus scoffed, interrupting her. He used one of his long nails to point at Missandra.
“First, no offense, darling, but I wouldn’t entrust you with a spoon.”
Missandra looked put off by his words, but the Fourth Prince ignored her to turn to Cassandra.
“Secondly, why do you two care what happens to my father? Shouldn’t you be somewhere taking care of the brat you were pregnant with? Waiting patiently somewhere for your man to slice Vrehan’s head off? Because I’ll be honest, I know I am.”
Cassandra was a bit surprised to hear that.
“You don’t like Vrehan? You support Kairen?”
Opheus dramatically rolled his eyes once again.
“You may be a physician, or whatever, but you’re quite slow, darling, aren’t you? Vrehan is a freaking sicko, his sister Phetra is the Empress of the bitches, and trust me, I know much more than they all think I do. Comparatively, Kairen is at least not bouncing about, murdering our family members in some sick attempt to become Emperor.”
“So you can help us?” asked Cassandra, getting her hopes up again. “You can tell us where the Emperor actually is?”
“Why would I? I told you, I’m fine as long as neither of them thinks I’m against them. I am already being quite generous by not giving you little rats away to the guards. I hope you’re taking notes about that.”
Cassandra’s hopes melted immediately. So he wasn’t going to help them at all? Were the sisters condemned already? There was no way they were going to be able to walk out of here while the two guards were still standing outside the apartments! They couldn’t stay hidden here forever either!
Next to her, Missandra took a deep breath and crossed her arms, looking surprisingly confident.
“Well, it’s a bit too late for that, isn’t it? You’re already an accomplice.”
“What?”
“You’ve seen us. Like you said, you didn’t denounce us right away and you have no intention to. So, that means you’re on our side.”
Opheus narrowed his eyes, looking a bit confused.
“Didn’t you listen to anything I just said, you little pest? I am not on anyone’s side! Unless I go into the throne’s room and walk around naked, I won’t be considered a target by Vrehan either! I am the invisible Prince and I like that!”
“Oh, but you have seen us already. So now, you’re technically hiding our existence from the Second Prince. If we get caught and say you had actually found us first, it would be bad for you, wouldn’t it? You wouldn’t be so invisible anymore.”
Cassandra couldn’t understand. What was Missandra thinking by provoking him like that?! Despite her doubts, she remained quiet to let her younger sister talk. After those few weeks together, Cassandra knew that Missandra was better than her for those kinds of things. Missandra was what you’d call street-smart; she was better at getting out of a situation when she was cornered.
“What are you talking about?!” screeched the Fourth Prince. “I am not helping you, I’m just keeping my mouth shut!”
“Oh, I bet the Second Prince will think the same when he learns that you had us right under your nose and did not let his soldiers know. He’ll probably overlook this and think you just didn’t care.”
Opheus opened and closed his mouth twice, completely taken aback. Finally, he scoffed, outraged by Missandra’s words and her confident smirk. Putting his hands on his hips, he was now glaring at her.
“Why shouldn’t I give you up right now then, you little pests? I am extremely generous already to let you go without saying a word! Why the hell are you threatening me?!”
“I am not threatening you,” replied Missandra with an innocent smile. “Of course, you’re very free to rat us out to the psychopath’s men if you prefer. However, I cannot guarantee that the War God won’t be back first.”
Once again, the Fourth Prince was rendered speechless and blinked several times.
