Chapter 35


    The Concubine Mother


    Cassandra was going a bit whiter than usual. She was pregnant with an Imperial Baby! Kairen’s baby,


    and a little Prince, too, since only sons were born with a dragon… She couldn’t believe it. They had


    been together for only a few weeks! And someone had already stolen the baby’s dragon egg?


    “Cassandra.”


    Her Prince’s voice barely reached her. Everything was going too fast, too confusing. She slowly started


    going down, but Kairen caught her before her legs gave waypletely. Krai was agitated around


    them, too. Going in circles around her, growling a bit. The War God carried her, turning to the castle to


    walk back.


    Nebora was worried about her, biting her lips and frowning, yet she didn’t dare to suggest anything on


    the way back. All four of them got back to Kairen’s bedroom, where he helped Cassandra sit on his


    bed, Nebora immediately kneeling at her side. She put her arms around her stomach, frowning a bit.


    “So I really am…pregnant? With His Highness’ child?”


    Shareen rolled her eyes.


    “Unless he fucked someone else around here, yes, sweetie. An egg means a pregnancy and it was


    definitely Krai’s. Hence, the brat is his Master’s. And our mother wouldn’t have bothered with it if it was


    anyone else’s.”


    “Why would your mother take it?” asked Cassandra. “Shouldn’t it stay with the dragon who…had it?”


    “If you want it dead within three days, yes. Our father’s vault is open to any Imperial Family Member,


    since it’s guarded by had. And his dragon will let any of his children in. That’s six Princes and about


    twenty Princesses, mind you. And I wouldn’t trust any of them near a dragon egg.”


    So any of their siblings could be after her baby…and his egg. Since she was living so far away,


    protected in the Onyx Castle, Cassandra had almost forgotten what a scary and dangerous ce the


    Imperial Pce could be. She felt something cold inside her heart, a wave of fear surrounding her. This


    baby was only a few days old! What else would she have to face from now on? Could it be born safely?


    Just when she was overwhelmed by those thoughts, Kairen surrounded her with hisrge thick fur


    cloak, covering her shoulders. She looked up at him, but her Prince had this dark look in his eyes. A


    War God expression. Cassandra took a deep breath in. She wasn’t alone.


    “Father wasn’t too happy either,” said Princess Shareen. “I bet Mother did it behind his back. His other


    concubines must be pissed, but at least they won’t dare act against her.”


    *That damn woman,” growled Kairen.


    “It’s still better with her than at the Pce,” argued his sister.


    “Can’t we retrieve it?” asked Cassandra.


    The siblings turned their eyes to her. Shareen crossed her arms with a smirk.


    “Our mother is a stubborn bitch. She probably didn’t take that egg just to have it as a decoration. Kairen


    never visits her.”


    Thatst sentence was actually directed at her brother, who was still frowning. Seeing as he wasn’t


    responding, Shareen shrugged andid on the bed next to Cassandra, her hands behind her head.


    “Anyway, I’ve done my share. I think I’ll stay here for a while. I’m bored of the Pce and your flying


    lizard is probably not taking me back anytime soon. Do you have any pretty girls? Other than this one.”


    She said that, pointing at Nebora, who promptly looked away. Cassandra decided to ignore Shareen’s


    antics and


    turned to Kairen. She didn’t really grasp what was truly at stake, but this egg was her child’s future


    dragon. She hated not being able to confirm it was safe. Cassandra stood up and took a couple of


    steps to reach Kairen’s side, taking the Prince’s hand between hers.


    “My Lord, please…can we at least make sure the egg is safe?”


    For a while the Prince remained silent, his eyes stuck somewhere else. Then he turned to her.


    “Are you content?”


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    His question took her by surprise. She had expected anything but that. What was he asking about?


    She couldn’t understand until Kairen silently put hisrge hand on her stomach. She blushed. He


    meant her pregnancy! Cassandra hadn’t even had time to think about this. What were her feelings on


    this matter? She was pregnant, expecting a child at seventeen! And an Imperial Baby, no less. Just a


    few weeks ago, Kairen had taken her virginity, but she hadn’t even had time to picture herself bearing


    his children. She knew men of power needed heirs, but she wasn’t even yet ustomed to the idea of


    being his concubine!


    Yet…Cassandra was clear on how lucky she was. Of all people, Kairen was a strong and powerful


    man, yet he acted unexpectedly nice and gentle to her. After years of very, she had risen to the


    concubine status in just a few days. Moreover, she wasn’t with a cruel or brutal man, but with him.


    No, having his children wasn’t anything bad. On the contrary, her feelings toward him had already


    blossomed, like tiny, shy flowers hidden in her heart. Bearing her Prince’s child was a surprise and a


    blessing.


    Cassandra slowly nodded, showing a gentle, serene smile. Kairen seemed relieved for a second, and


    kissed her gently.


    “How boring,” said his sister’s annoyed voice behind them. “Are you going to see Mother then? I can’t


    handle much more mushy stuff unless you move on to my favorite part. You know, the hot part.”


    Kairen red at his sister.


    “You areing, too.”


    “Oh hell no, Brother. I think I’ll stay here and enjoy my time with your…”


    “Shareen.”


    His sister red 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, arge brown one.


    “My mother lives an hour away,” said Kairen.


    “Not in the Pce?


    “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


    apanied 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 topensate 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 alreadying


    to an end. Krai was flying low, over what seemed like arge vige. In their line of sight, another castle


    was waiting. More like a pce, 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 nts. Cassandra


    immediately felt drawn to it.


    The ck dragonnded outside the castle, in what was apparently arge 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.


    “Wee, 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.


    “Wee, 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 pce was very different. First, there weren’t many enclosed areas. Every room hadrge


    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 arge 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 arge 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 andplex hairdo, and


    wore a dark pink dress. Her thin lips were dark red, and her eyes were ring 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.”


    Her cold voice had the old woman and maids bow even lower. Her re was still directed at Shareen


    and Kairen though.


    “So? Nothing to say to your mother, after ignoring her for two years?”


    “Where is the egg?” asked Kairen coldly.


    His mother crossed her arms.


    “That’s it, Son of mine? Nothing else to say? You even went ahead and had the guts to get a concubine


    without my consent. You weren’t so daring before. And you, Shareen? How many times have you


    ignored me?” 2


    “I would see you more often if you came to the Pce, dear Mother,” sighed the Princess.


    “How impudent. I am the parent. I gave birth to both of you, shouldn’t you show some respect and at


    least visit me, instead of having me go all the way there?”


    “Father misses you,” added Shareen with a smirk.


    Her mother’s grey eyes got even darker.


    “See if I care about that old man!”


    Cassandra was almost hiding behind Kairen, impressed by their fiery mother. This woman had such a


    temper! No one in this country would dare to say a bad word about the Emperor, yet she was throwing


    a fit so openly. Kairen and Shareen seemed used to it though, as neither of them reacted.


    The Imperial Concubine took a deep breath, then her eyes fell on Cassandra.


    “Is that her? Your young concubine they mentioned?”


    Cassandra had no idea how to react. Who was they”? She slowly stepped forward, seeing as no one


    was stopping her. Kairen was still close though, thus she felt a bit more confident. His mother wasn’t


    too satisfied though.


    “Come here, child. Let me see you from up close.”