CASSANDRA: The Unfavored Princess-Chapter 176: Forest

Prince Cedric was the one who came forward. He looked around as he saw a huge pile of things around.

The guards were digging as the three Dukes stood at the side looking at something. Prince Cedric did not know what to do. He looked around but he could not find his father. There was a bad feeling within him. Soon the element’s words rang in his mind.

When Lord Bentham was on the ground, the elements said that he would explode. That the crystals will kill him from within.

A chill ran down Prince Cedric’s spine. He could not understand what to say anymore. There was a slight hope that was still burning within him, but when Prince Cedric took a step towards the other Dukes, that ray of hope soon extinguished.

Prince Cedric’s hands were trembling. He looked at the metal piece as his eyes shook. He took it in his hand with a heavy heart. He could not do anything now, and that realization haunted Prince Cedric.

The feeling of guilt was overbearing. He blamed himself even though he knew that it was never in his hands. He was not there when his mother, The Empress died and he was not there when his father, the Emperor died as well. Within a short time, he had lost the support of a family.

Although Prince Cedric was never too close to the Emperor or Empress, they were his parents. The parents that he could not even see before their bodies disappeared. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

A tear rolled down his eyes. Prince Cedric’s throat was shivering but he could not say anything. His eyes looked around but there was not a single piece of flesh. It was the scariest part.

Duke Bentham looked at his son, Achard as he looked around. He could see the tired faces. A dead body in Duke Salvador’s hand and a few missing people.

Duke Bentham mounted his son, ’Princess Valeria?’

Achard Bentham understood what his father was saying. He shook his head in a ’no’ making the Duke look at Prince Cedric again.

The third Prince had lost everything with this short trip. He lost his mother, sister, and his father as well. He was alone now. Duke Bentham looked at the other Duke who stood beside him and he instantly knew that they were having similar thoughts like him.

Duke Bentham could feel like there were many things that needed to be discussed. But before that, some things needed to be done. The people needed to know what was happening, they had a right to know that the Emperor was no more. That the first Princess had died and it was time to find a new ruler.

"We should conduct the funeral now." Duke Bentham suggested. "The dead should rest."

Everyone’s eyes shifted towards the Princess who was holding onto Amy’s hand. They all understood the situation. No one said anything as they walked out.

—----------

Amy lay on the ground of the forest. The same forest where she and Princess Cassandra used to play. The same forest that they both used to see from Princess Cassandra’s window. The very same in which they loved to catch butterflies when they were young.

Princess Cassandra held Amy’s hand as a tear rolled down her cheeks. She had many things to say but she could not say them out loud. She was not ready to say goodbye even though she knew that Amy was long gone.

[Amy, I hope you are listening to me from wherever you are. I know it is silly of me to think this, but I really hope that you look after me from up above. Maybe I have done something good that God made us meet. Our journey was never simple. It was filled with difficulties and challenges. The sufferings were hard at times but we never felt like we cannot overcome them because we were always together. I hope and I pray that we meet again in the next life or for all the lives that come. But the ending of our friendship was different. I hope there would be no societal difference or no class difference between us. I want you to be my sister then. I hope we can do all the things we weren’t able to do here. Have a happy family, grow old together and look at each other’s children grow up.]

Princess Cassandra’s tears started falling off. No matter how much she tried she could not stop it.

[I promise Amy if we have a second chance I would die for you. My love for you will be greater than yours for me. I would not let you suffer ever.]

Princess Cassandra touched Amy’s cheek as her fingers shivered. Amy’s body was cold.

[Remember we used to sit in the forest in the afternoon looking up at the floating clouds, thinking about our future. You always used to say that you would die to save me from his place. You want me to live a happy life.]

[I always used to think that it was something you just said. Although our life was hard and you helped me a lot, I never thought that in the end, you would sacrifice your own life for me. It was truly a stupid decision. We could have fought the witch. I would have found a way to survive. It was my place to make a decision and you took it away. What am I going to do without you? How am I going to live?]

A cry left Princess Cassandra’s mouth. [Who would share their food with me? Who will give me their blanket when I am cold? Who would look after me if I become sick? Who is there apart from you and yet I will never see you. I am not ready for this Amy. I was never ready for it.]

Princess Cassandra felt a hand touching her as she looked up and saw Aiden standing there. "It’s time."

Princess Cassandra swallowed as she looked at Amy one last time. She kissed her lady in waiting’s forehead as she bit her lips.

[I would live just because you gave me this life. It would have been me in your place and yet I am standing here. Amy, you are my savior and I will not waste it.]

Princess Cassandra took a step back as she looked at Amy’s body being buried. Her body was shivering as her eyes narrowed. Princess Cassandra’s eyes were burning. She could not help her cry as her body fell into Duke Salvador’s arms.

"Don’t cry." Duke Salvador said as he ran his hand over Princess Cassandra’s hair. His voice was soft as he continued. "Amy would not want to see you like this."

Princess Cassandra buried her eyes into Duke Salvador’s body. She could not see it. Her eyes refused to stop as she struggled.

"I am with you, butterfly. You are not alone." Duke Salvador said softly. His gaze was focused in front but his hands never stopped running through the fifth Princess’s back. They stayed in the same position for a very long time.

Princess Cassandra finally stopped her crying. She looked up and realized that she was in Duke Salvador’s arms. She rubbed her eyes and looked around but she could not see anyone else. She could feel the sun going down. They were there for a long time.

She looked at the place Amy was buried. Her eyes shivered but now Princess Cassandra decided not to cry. It was not the time to show weakness. There were many people like Amy who needed help. Many orphanages had good people. Princess Cassandra wanted to do something for them. She wanted to do something good under Amy’s name.

"Should we leave?" Duke Salvador asked. He could see the determination in Cassandra’s gaze.

Princess Cassandra nodded. "Yes, Let’s go." Her voice was filled with confidence. Something that the fifth Princess never forgot.

But now, Princess Cassandra knew what she was. What power she possessed and what she wanted to achieve. Cassandra wanted to live a happy life. For Amy and for herself.

Princess Cassandra looked back as she smiled looking at the place where Amy was. The place was still moist and the soil was uneven. Princess Cassandra knew that when it would rain everything will be even. The land would be flowering soon. The forest will blossom.

"I want this place." Princess Cassandra murmured.

Duke Salvador smiled as he held Princess Cassandra’s hand and walked. "We will have it. I know what importance their place has for you."

Princess Cassandra could not help but smile. She looked up as she walked with Duke Salvador. Her future was in front of her eyes. Although Cassandra could never forget her past, she knew it will always be in her memory. Her beautiful memory.

[I will not lose this place to anyone. Even if I had to go against the Royal family, I will fight them but I will not let anyone take the place where we made our memories. I will never forget you, Amy. My family. My sister.]