CASSANDRA: The Unfavored Princess-Chapter 134: Fake Engagement

The Emperor did not reply at that time.

The study room was silent, but the Third Prince’s words were still lingering in the air.

"Not necessarily fooling." The Emperor tried to defend the actions of their ancestors as he continued. "We give them hope that they have always needed. People need a leader that they could trust and follow. Someone who could show them the right path."

"But the leader they are trusting and following is, in reality, betraying them. We do not deserve their true father." Prince Cedric said as he looked down. He could not believe that his family could do such a thing. "Is it the reason why all the dukedoms are loyal to the people and not the royal’s?"

The Emperor looked at his son who resembled him so strongly. His blond hair was glowing under the sky as his brown eyes looked straight into his asking. The Emperor sighed. "Yes, the Dukedom is loyal to the people only."

"So they can turn against us at any given time." The third Prince murmured.

"Well, let’s just say that we have not done anything that would make them go against us." The Emperor explained. "As long as the people are safe and happy everything works in line. We have a system and we follow that."

"So you think Valeria will break that system?" Prince Cedric asked as his brown eyes glowed under the light. He could now understand why his father might have called him here. Why would he be so open to share the secret with him?

The Emperor was afraid. Afraid that the system they had formed over the years would be damaged by Princess Valeria.

"Yes, I am. Your sister is an obsessive person. The secretary might have told her all the things I told you and yet she refused to acknowledge it. In the crystal room, Valeria’s attitude made it very clear. She will not be a good leader."

Prince Cedric raised his eyebrows as the Emperor continued. "When we were in the crystal room, Valeria sat there as if observing me. Although I had a discussion with the secretary, Valeria was the one who interrupted me saying that the only thing she cares about is getting Duke Salvador. She wants to marry him."

"But Aiden does not love her." Prince Cedric murmured.

The Emperor nodded. "I know and I tried telling Valeria the same. Love cannot be forced, especially if he is a Duke. On top of that Duke Salvador had taken a bond that allows him to marry whoever he wants even me as an Emperor cannot force him. But once Valeria listened to this she was in a rage as she attacked me. Although I was able to defend myself and make her stay still, I realized that her powers were unstable."

"I don’t know what the secretary and Valeria are planning but I am sure Valeria thinks that having the Emperor at her feet will give her the power to marry Duke Salvador. She will not care about the people of the Empire at all once that time comes."

Prince Cedric smiled slightly. "So that is the reason you feel like I am a better choice than Princess Valeria."

The Emperor’s eyes sharpened. "When you showed the signs of awakening your second power it was chosen that you would be the next Emperor. You care about the people and have a good relationship with the dukedom. As per the prophecy, the secretary was supposed to give you the crystals but I don’t know why he chose Valeria. He might have made a deal. Cedric, now that you are going there, make sure that you keep yourself safe. I see the future leader of the Elvira Empire in you. I want you to return safely. Valeria sees you as a thone in her eyes so she will try her best to remove you. You should return."

Prince Cedric nodded his head. He knew what the Emperor was saying was true.

’The Duke never loved Valeria.’

’But Valeria is ignorant of that fact.’

’If on the trip the Duke is indifferent to her, will Valeria attack him there?’

’Will she try to make him hers by force?’

Many questions were circulating Prince Cedric’s mind. For an instant, he also thought that if Aiden said something that made Valeria angry, she would not think twice to blame him. Cedric knew that if it happened then maybe she would try to kill him on the trip.

’It is a good thing that I am taking a few guards with me that are loyal.’

Prince Cedric nodded as he got up from the chair. "I understand what the Emperor is saying. I will try to not get killed and return safely."

Prince Cedric turned around as he walked out of the room, but before he left he said in a whisper which reached the Emperor’s ears. "I will survive even if I had to kill."

—------------------

Princess Cassandra was waiting for Princess Teimei to arrive. She stood there with Amy and Ed on her side.

Before long Princess Cassandra saw Princess Temei’s arrival. But the Princess was not alone, alongside her guards, there was a man and Lord Bentham.

Princess Cassandra knew that Lord Bentham would be coming, but the man that stood near Princess Teimei was someone new. As Cassandra looked at the man she realized that he was the Duke that kissed Princess Teimei when they had reached the Vivere Kingdom.

’So he might be Teimei’s lover or fiance maybe.’

Princess Cassandra wondered. As she looked at them, she felt that they suited each other. Princess Teimei looked like a princess who was tall with angelic features, her platinum hairs were braided as the red gown complimented her figure while her black pupil looked at her. Cassandra smiled when her gaze met Princess Teimei.

"You look pretty." Princess Cassandra murmured..

"You too." Princess Teimei replied with a smile.

Princess Cassandra was wearing a white gown which complimented her skin tone. Her cornflower-blue eyes blinked from time to time as her platinum blonde hairs glowed like gold in the sun rays.

Princess Cassandra smiled as she looked at the man beside Princess Teimei. She didn’t even realize that Lord Bentham had walked beside her.

Princess Teimei realized that Princess Cassandra was looking at her side. She smiled as she introduced him. "He is my fiance."

Princess Cassandra smiled. She felt it was odd that Princess Teimei would not tell her fiance’s name but at this point, Cassandra didn’t care. Her focus was on getting the element.

"We should get going." Lord Bentham said as he took hold of Princess Cassandra’s hand. "We will be late."

Princess Cassandra looked at her hand that was held by Lord Bentham. Cassandra could feel that a sharp gaze was staring at her. Princess Cassandra could not help but swallow hard. Her eyes looked behind as she saw a pair of dark red eyes staring at her.

Princess Cassandra smiled as she removed her hand from Lord Bentham’s in a natural way. Her eyes stayed on Lord Bentham’s face as she smiled. "I didn’t know you would come as well."

"Why didn’t the Princess want me to come?" Lord Bentham pretended that he could not see her small action as he continued. "That hurts my feelings."

Lord Bentham’s face shows the sadness he was feeling. Princess Cassandra smiled as she walked towards the carriage. "We should get going."

Lord Bentham smiled as he entered Princess Cassandra’s carriage, making her face stiff. "You ..." Princess Cassandra said as she looked at Lord Bentham as he sat across from her as if he belonged there.

"I should be going with you right. After all, we are engaged to be married." Lord Bentham’s words made Princess Cassandra’s face pale. As the door was not yet closed she could not say anything.

"Princess .." Ed’s voice came as he looked inside. He did not want to see Princess Cassandra and Achard Bentham together.

Princess Cassandra’s lips turned dry. She shook her head. "It’s okay." Princess Cassandra tried to indicate to Duke Salvador that she would handle it. Although Duke Salvador was uncomfortable he could not say anything. He simply nodded as he closed the door.

The carriage started moving in a direction. The atmosphere was stiff as no one talked. Princess Cassandra could still feel someone was looking at her. And Princess Cassandra could imagine who it might be.

"You look stiff." Lord Bentham said as he looked at Princess Cassandra, breaking the silence.

"Why did you say that?" Princess Cassandra asked as she looked into Lord Bentham’s eyes. "You know that we agreed to this fake engagement."

"Fake engagement." Lord Bentham murmured before he nodded. "Yes, how can I forget it is a fake engagement. We tried to save each other. If I am not wrong, you agreed to it because you needed to visit Duke Salvador’s mansion. So technically you are stuck with me because of Duke Salvador."

Princess Cassandra’s breath hitched as her eyes widened before she was lost for words.