Kairen glared at his sister.
“You are coming, too.”
“Oh hell no, Brother. I think I’ll stay here and enjoy my time with your…”
“Shareen.”
His sister glared at him, but Kairen’s voice did not allow another refusal from her. Cassandra felt a bit awkward, stuck between the Imperial Siblings. Nebora rolled her eyes, hoping they would just make a decision soon. Eventually, Shareen got up with a growl, her hands on her hips.
“Fine!”
She walked out, unhappy, the diamonds on her purple dress glittering as she left the room. Was she immune to the cold as well? Anyway, Cassandra was left alone with Kairen and Nebora in the room after the Princess’ unhappy departure. Her servant friend got up and selected another coat for her from the closet, a large brown one.
“My mother lives an hour away,” said Kairen.
“Not in the Palace?”
“Only when she feels like it.”
What kind of woman could their mother be? Cassandra put on the coat, realizing it was a bit thinner than the previous one, as they were probably heading back to the South. Once she was ready, Kairen accompanied her downstairs, where Shareen was already waiting with a pout.
Next to her, Krai almost jumped to Cassandra as soon as it saw her. She smiled, caressing the huge snout. Was it acting more clingy than usual because of the baby?
Kairen cut short the dragon petting, helping her climb up its back and positioning himself behind her. Shareen, still on the ground, was unhappy.
“Damn it…”
She eventually climbed up too, behind her brother. Krai took off swiftly, Kairen firmly holding on to her, as Cassandra tried not to be as afraid as usual by the flight. She was always impressed by the height, but had learned to watch the horizon instead of the ground, and take deep breaths.
“Imperial Princesses aren’t born with…dragons?” she asked Kairen.
“No.”
“We have other talents, rather than taming flying lizards,” answered Shareen from behind him.
She didn’t bother to say what though. Did girls have something to compensate for not being born with dragons? She had heard some of the Imperial Family had heavenly powers. Was it magic? So far, Cassandra had thought Shareen was like any woman, besides her birth status in the Imperial Family, obviously.
Resting against Kairen’s chest and lost in her thoughts, she barely realized the trip was already coming to an end. Krai was flying low, over what seemed like a large village. In their line of sight, another castle was waiting. More like a palace, it was a light grey color with gold on its roof and lots of ivy everywhere. It was unlike anything Cassandra had seen before. It wasn’t as hot as the Capital, or as cold as the Onyx Castle’s location, hence the scenery was very green, filled with trees and plants. Cassandra immediately felt drawn to it.
The black dragon landed outside the castle, in what was apparently a large courtyard. Kairen helped Cassandra down, and she realized it was indeed a bit warmer here, though she still needed her coat. The air was filled with nice floral scents too. It was nothing like the stuffed and overwhelming Capital streets, or the desertic area around the Onyx Castle.
An old woman ran to them, followed by a handful of lower ranked maids.
“Welcome, Imperial Prince Kairen, Imperial Princess Shareen. The Imperial Concubine Mother is waiting for you.”
Only then did she notice Cassandra, who had been standing behind Kairen. The old woman immediately bowed again.
“Welcome, Imperial Concubine.”
This title felt very strange to Cassandra’s ears. However, she didn’t have to answer, the siblings confidently walked into the castle and Cassandra followed, a bit impressed.
This palace was very different. First, there weren’t many enclosed areas. Every room had large openings and ivy running freely through the walls. It seemed as if most of those rooms had been abandoned and left to nature’s goodwill until they reached the higher areas. Climbing a few stairs, they entered a spacious room with a balcony and a large table in the middle. It took a second for Cassandra to realize that the table was shining, the wood covered with thousands of little diamonds.
But most impressive, behind that table, on a large purple sofa, was sitting a tall woman. She had dark skin, her long hair was dyed a dark red shade and pulled up in a very artistic and complex hairdo, and wore a dark pink dress. Her thin lips were dark red, and her eyes were glaring at her children.
“Imperial Concubine Kareen, this is…”
“You think I wouldn’t recognize my own children? No matter how unwilling they are to be here, they are still mine.”
