Cassandra felt a bit odd wearing so much, but she was prettier than ever. When she and Nebora got down to the castle’s open area, Marian and Prunie ran to them, all sparkles in their eyes.
“Cassandra, you look so pretty!”
“Are those real rubies?”
“Hands off!” said Nebora. “Don’t forget, Cassandra is our friend, but she’s also His Highness’ Concubine. Don’t touch her stuff with your dirty hands!”
“Nebora, you meanie!”
Cassandra chuckled at the girls’ bickering. She had missed all of them, and insisted on making some tea for them. They walked to the kitchen, meeting the rest of the castle’s staff there. Cassandra brought out some of her new herbs to make tea, all the younger girls watching her with expectation.
“It smells so good!” said Bina, humming.
“It’s citrus and mint tea,” explained Cassandra before serving them.
“A Concubine shouldn’t be pouring tea for servants,” said Patrina with a frown.
Nebora rolled her eyes at her.
“Who cares, it’s just tea and we are the only ones here.”
“Do you know where Krai or His Highness are?” asked Cassandra to Patrina.
“His Highness just went to the dragon’s field. His dragon might be coming back soon.”
“The dragon’s field?”
“More like his playground,” explained Nebora. “It’s the black dragon’s favorite spot, it usually lands there instead of directly inside the castle like last time.”
Cassandra immediately put down her teapot and grabbed her coat again, hurrying outside. Did this mean Krai was about to come back? Nebora and Prunie ran after her, but she was walking too fast. Nebora helped her find her a way outside to a little hill, where indeed, her Prince was standing still, a hand on his sword. He was looking at the sky when Cassandra walked up to him.
“My Lord?” she softly called him.
“Cassandra. What are you doing outside?”
It wasn’t so cold though and she walked easily through the thin coat of snow to get to him. He grabbed her as soon as she was in his reach, pulling her against him.
“Are you waiting for Krai to come back, My Lord?”
“Look.”
She turned her head up to where he was hinting at, a little dark shape appeared a couple of seconds later in the sky. Krai! It was obviously a dark dragon and she recognized its large size and way of agitating its tail even from such a distance. How high was it? It was slowly going down to them, getting closer with each flap of its wings. Cassandra felt her heart warm up a little as the dragon was coming down.
Something felt wrong, however. Krai was more agitated than usual. What was going on? It took her a while to realize a silhouette was standing on its back. Did the black dragon usually let someone ride it? Who was that?
With Krai coming closer, preparing to land, she finally recognized the feminine silhouette, totally surprised.
“...Princess Shareen?”
A minute later, there was no more place for doubt. Krai landed swiftly, though it immediately ran to Cassandra, disregarding its rider.
Imperial Princess Shareen didn’t seem to be unbalanced, however. She got down with a little jump, landing perfectly on the snow. She was wearing a sexy purple dress and a little fur cape on her shoulders. She smirked upon seeing Cassandra, and Kairen next to her.
“Sister.”
“Hello, handsome. Happy to see your older sister?”
“Shut it. How did it go?”
