CASSANDRA: The Unfavored Princess-Chapter 186: End

"Mother, Father .." Ayah’s voice was small. She looked at the Ducal couple who were sitting in front of her.

"Yes," Duchess Cassandra smiled at the girl.

Over the years. Ayah had grown gracefully. Although the Empire had not changed a lot, there were still significant changes.

For once the Elvira Empire was no longer called the Elvira Empire. With the help of the temple, a new prophecy was given to the people. Elvira is now content and in heaven and only wishes that people would let her rest. All she wished for was that the survivors of the Vivere Kingdom be accepted and everyone lives in harmony.

The priest was the one who formed a perfect sentence for the message and the people had to accept that. Soon the Empire was renamed to be the Cristalla Empire. An Empire where people were accepted by the way they were.

Over the years Achard had run through places and searched for the people. They were able to find a few survivors and help them re-establish their life. Although it was not easy it was not that difficult either.

People of the Empire had started accepting the one who had darkness elements. And just like that 14 years have passed.

"I want to tell you something." Ayah looked down. Her hands were playing with each other. There was a fear in her gaze. She knew that her parents loved her a lot and yet she had taken this initiative now to talk with them. "I want to leave the house."

Cassandra’s smile disappeared as her body stiffened. "Why?"

"I know that I am not your daughter. Although you have always loved me like your own, I have still known it. Everyone knows it." Ayah looked down. She could not look at the Duke and the Duchess. She blamed herself for this decision.

"So you think because you are not our own we don’t love you enough? Or have we ever been partial?" Duke Salvador asked as he touched Cassandra’s shoulders. He could sense the uneasiness in his wife. There were small tears in her eyes as well.

"No." Ayah shook her head in desperation. She knew that the Ducal couple had never distinguished between the two children but now....

Duke Salvador shook his head. "Ayah we will discuss and call you back."

Ayah was about to cry. The tears that had accumulated in her eyes were about to drop. She rubbed her eyes as she nodded. She left the room as she gave the Ducal couple one last stare.

Cassandra looked at Ayah with a sad expression. "Why is she talking like that? What is wrong?"

Aiden was silent as he looked outside of the window, "Blazh, call Theodore here."

A shadow that was outside, left the room to follow its master’s instruction.

"Why?" Cassandra asked but Aiden did not reply. There was a dangerously glowing light in his eyes as Aiden looked straight at the door waiting for his son to come.

Cassandra understood that Aiden was angry. She knew that even if she wanted to protect her son she could not but why was Aiden so mad?

"Father.." Theodore entered the room as he looked inside. He saw his mother and father sitting there as he walked in.

[Do not talk with him at all. Let me finish my words.] Aiden told Cassandra through thoughts as he saw her nod.

"Ayah came in here before?" Duke Salvador’s tone was low, "She wants to leave the Ducal family."

Theodore’s eyes shook as he looked down. Cassandra saw the minute changes in her son. Although he was as tall as Aiden with his father’s eyes and hairs, he still resembled her. A perfect combination of them but at this moment Cassandra realized that her son was only fourteen years old.

"She said that she is not our real daughter and she knows it too. Why do you think she said it, Theodore?" Aiden said in an angry tone as if he knew something but his son did not reply.

"Why would my daughter want to leave? Is it because someone told her again and again that he did see her as a sister? Why would you say that? Do you really want to see Ayah leave the family like this? Do you not love her at all?"

"I love her," Theodore said in a hurry as he looked at his father who smiled. "But she is not my sister."

The last sentence was a whisper. If it was someone else they might not have heard it well but Cassandra and Aiden heard it loud and clear.

Cassandra’s eyes widened as her hold on Aiden tightened. [Did you know it from the start?]

Aiden looked down on Cassandra. [I figured.]

Cassandra looked at her son who saw in the eyes of his father. "Father, Ayah is ..."

Aiden looked at Theodore. "If she is not your sister then who is she? You’re wife?"

Theodore’s eyes widened. His gaze shook in shock. There was a little fight in her heart. He knew how he was feeling. If someone asked, Theodore did not know when his feelings started to change but soon he knew that he was looking at Ayah more than his sister.

Theodore was understanding that his heart was changing but soon he was afraid. What if his eyes had some problem? What if his parents become angry. They have always treated Ayah like their own child. How can they accept siblings to be together?

Theodore started to become more clear. He rejected the fact that Ayah was his sister. Although Ayah was a year older than him, his heart refused to look at her as a sibling. Theodore started becoming jealous when others came near her, that was the reason he started telling her that she was not his real sister.

But what if due to his words Ayah relives the home? Was Theodore ready to let her leave the home? Of course not. He hated people approaching Ayah but if she moves out, won’t others have an open field then.

Thinking about it Theodore’s hands formed a fist. His red eyes became narrowed in rage. He could not let others approach her.

Cassandra looked at Theodore as she moved her gaze at Aiden. Duke Salvador’s lips curled up as he said, "I thought you were my son, was I wrong? How can my son be so timid?"

Theodore’s eyes looked up at his father in confusion. Aiden continued. "I will allow Ayah to move out when she turns eighteen. Do you think you can win her over in the next three years?"

Theodore blinked. His red eyes were looking at his father and mother. It was well known how in love his father was with his mother. The ducal couple was famous for showing off their love even if they were in front of the Emperor.

"Answer me, Theodore. Can you make Ayah feel the same way for you that you feel for her? Or will you see her get married to some other man?"

Theodore’s hand’s nails dung into his palm. Even thinking about it brought a lot of pain to his heart. "I will not let anyone else marry her."

Aiden smiled, "Then make sure you win her heart. She is my daughter as well as Theodore. Even if she marries you, she will still be our daughter."

Theodore’s eyes shivered. He looked at his parents as he nodded. Once understanding the words of his father Theodore was happy. He looked at his mother. He also knew that his mother’s agreement was important too.

Cassandra looked at her son. He needed time to think but Aiden’s words rang in his head. Even if Ayah and Theodore were together, she would be their daughter.

"Theo... No matter what you do, make sure to not hurt her. We will not interfere with how you pursue her. Nor will we interfere in making her agree. It will be your own struggle. Love is sweet only if you work hard for it because only then you will know how to take care of it. LOve is not granted and it is filled with ups and downs when you have to go through. Ayah is my daughter and she will not be easy to win over."

Theodore nodded his head. "I know, mother. I will win her over myself." Theodore’s eyes were filled with emotions as he left the room. He only had three years to work hard for.

Only the room was silent, Cassandra looked at Aiden who kissed her forehead. "When did you know?"

Aiden smiled, "At some point, his eyes looked at her the way I look at you."

Cassandra’s face turned pink as she looked down, but soon Aiden touched Cassandra’s chin as he kissed her lips softly. No matter how many years have passed, their love never decreases.

"It will be hard to win Ayah over.." Cassandra said in between the kisses.

"It will be, but I trust my son. He will make her our daughter-in-law." Aiden kissed Cassandra’s lips as he pulled her over in his arms.

Cassandra put her head on Aiden’s chest as Aiden took her hands in his hand. They have come a long way. Their story had many ups and downs. Even though their love started unexpectedly, it blossomed into something new. And now it was time for their children’s love to bloom. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

— End —

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