“Don’t ever go to another man’s chambers again,” he suddenly said.
Cassandra looked at him, confused.
“My Lord, could it be you’re…”
But before she could end that sentence, Kairen suddenly leaned to face her, looking angry.
“You are mine. All of you. I told you, if another man touches you, I’ll kill him.”
Right after that sentence, he leaned over to kiss her, pinning her to the mattress. She couldn’t help but answer his kiss, like a conditioned response. Cassandra was starting to like his forceful ways. She felt warm in his embrace, and safe…
She fell asleep shortly after as Kairen held her tightly against his chest. Cassandra almost didn’t need the blanket, as the Prince’s body was hot enough naturally.
When she woke the next morning, Kairen was already up. Grabbing the fur cloak to cover her bare chest, Cassandra slowly sat up, feeling some back pain. The Prince was putting on his pants, and noticed she was awake.
“You can sleep more.”
“I’m fine… Are you going back to the Military Camp?”
“Yes. You’re coming too.”
Cassandra took a few seconds to process what he had just said.
“With you? My Lord, I can’t go to a military camp!”
“Why not?”
“It’s not a place for… women…”
She had wanted to say concubines at first, but that term was still too new for her to use it for herself. Indeed, it was truly unheard of for a woman to visit a military camp! It was a place for men only, soldiers. Women were never allowed to be warriors or to be inside military camps.
“If I leave you here, who knows which man’s chambers I’ll find you in next…”
“My Lord! I wouldn’t…”
“I don’t care. You’re coming with me.”
His sentence was clearly an order, and Cassandra didn’t dare argue any further. She couldn’t believe he was so jealous and distrusting after that stupid incident. A bit unhappy, Cassandra grabbed her dress and put it back on. While doing so, she suddenly remembered Nebora’s words about asking for some clothes.
“My Lord… Madam Patrina mentioned I would need more clothes if I stay here. There’s only this one dress.”
For a moment, Kairen hadn’t seemed to have listened to her, as he was putting his boots back on. However, the Prince got up and walked to the other side of the room, opening one of the big chests.
“Just take whatever you need.”
Cassandra left the bed and walked over to the chest thinking she may find an extra dress or two, but to her surprise, the chest wasn’t filled with clothes but with... gold bars! She was speechless as she looked down at dozens of perfect gold bars, lined up in several rows. She had never seen so much money in her entire life! One gold coin alone could buy several meals for a family - exactly how much money was there? Just a single gold bar could buy hundreds of dresses!
“My Lord, this is far too much!”
“Then just take one and buy what you need.”
She looked at him, truly shocked. Did he really think she would need more than one in the first place? Cassandra didn’t even know what to say. She knew the Imperial Family was richer than most, but this was truly too unbelievable. She tried not to think about the two other chests in the room, and just quickly grabbed one of the bars. Even its weight was impressive. Would she even be able to use that in a normal shop? She probably could ask Patrina later.
She quickly closed the chest, wondering why he had such a thing in his room, when someone knocked at the door.
“Your breakfast, Your Highness.”
Marian walked in, carrying a large tray of food. A bit embarrassed to have the young girl serve her, Cassandra walked over to help her. Her friend faintly smiled as Cassandra handed her the gold bar. Marian had exactly the same expression as her, eyes wide open and fixed on the shining bar before her. She glanced at the Prince, worried, but Kairen was putting his shirt back on, not even looking in their direction.
