Chapter 46


    The Imperial Physician


    Cassandra barely dared to look at the Emperor as she approached. To her, he was a much scarier


    being than the humongous golden Dragon behind him. Yet, the old man gently held his hand out until


    the Concubine ced her hand in his, with a light smile. She could tell there wasn’t any animosity in his


    dark eyes.


    “There she is,” he said softly. “Aren’t you as white as a water lily?”


    “So disgusting,” whispered someone from behind her, but the Emperor didn’t seem to hear it.


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    “What is your name?”


    “Cassandra, Your Majesty.”


    “And where are you from, child?”


    “The Southern Rain Tribe, Your Highness.”


    “I see. That exins a lot then.”


    Exins a lot? Cassandra was a bit confused. Next to the Emperor, a servant stepped forward,


    showing them some letters. What is that? The Emperor didn’t look at it, and turned to Cassandra


    instead.


    “I received some very interesting letters earlier today, children. From General Horogan from the East


    Army.”


    Wasn’t that one of Kairen’s Generals? Cassandra had never greeted him in person, but she could


    remember the imposing man wearing armor with a beard. He had spoken with her Prince several


    times. Did hein to the Emperor about a woman being at the camp? Or was there some issue


    due to the Prince’s absence?


    “I was curious to hear about how my Son’s been doing as Commander-in-Chief,” said the Emperor. “Yet


    all I read were praises for the young woman he had brought with him. ording to two of my most


    trusted Generals, along with seven of their Commanders, this Empire owes the lives of no less than


    two hundred of its soldiers to a young ve woman.”


    Cassandra was speechless. The Generals had written to the Emperor about her? She hadn’t possibly


    seen that many men in the Red Room, back at the Camp! Maybe two hundred, but six hundred lives!


    Did they exaggerate on purpose? Or had something happened while she was gone? The Emperor


    went on.


    “ording to them, the Lady of the Mountain has been more efficient in healing and teaching her


    knowledge to their men than any of the useless, stubborn, and whiny military doctors that had been


    appointed. The injuries and disease reports have been reduced by nearly half. This is due to the men


    now being able to take care of themselves. Apparently, they insist on…thoroughly washing their hands,


    several times a day.”


    She couldn’t help but blush and look down after hearing this. She hadn’t been to the Camp in weeks!


    How could she have known her little stay had allowed so many things to happen back there.


    The Emperor smirked.


    “It goes on for several pages, with some military matters that would bore most people. The Generals


    are sending their thanks to my Third Son, for his exceptionally wise taste in women.”


    He nodded in Kairen’s direction, but everyone knew who was really receiving the praise here.


    Cassandra was in an inner turmoil. She hadn’t expected to be singled out by the Emperor in front of the


    Imperial Family! When the old man turned to her again, she was still too shaken to react.


    “After reading so much, this old Emperor couldn’t sit still! Who knew so much knowledge could hide in


    such a young woman? You make this old man very happy, child.”


    Cassandra had no idea how she was expected to answer, or if she was supposed to answer at all. She


    wished Kairen


    was by her side, but the Prince was sitting still in his golden chair, a few steps away. She was standing


    by herself in front of the Empire’s most powerful man.


    “As an Emperor, I have to be grateful to the ones who make this Empire prosperous, and its people


    safe. Your knowledge has been helpful to our valued soldiers. I do hope you will lend us more of it from


    now on. I had thought of a way to thank you, but it seems my son took a step ahead with your…


    situation.”


    Cassandra frowned a bit. He meant her status as a ve, staring at the ce where her cor stood


    just hours prior. The Emperor nodded, looking satisfied.


    “Fine, fine. I can just go with my own idea, then. From today on, Cassandra, you will be a Noble Lady


    and an Imperial Physician.”


    “Father!” yelled Princess Phetra, her tone sounding more than furious. “You can’t give a noble title to a


    damn ve!”


    “Take a good look, Sister, this woman is no longer a ve. Sit and shut up,” said an older Princess.


    “Still! They can’t rise from rags to rubies in a day! She’s a ve and a Southerner! What do we look like


    if just anyone can achieve that!”


    “Not anyone, Phetra,” said the First Prince. “Lady Cassandra is a skilled doctor, our father’s most


    trusted General


    sted to that. Can you im to have any skills as admirable as one that can save lives?”


    With her older brother’s re, Princess Phetra was defeated. One could tell her anger hadn’t subsided


    one bit. She sat back loudly, ring Cassandra’s way, clenching her fists. The young Concubine was


    too shocked herself to react.


    A Noble Lady? Imperial Physician? It was all too much for her! Just like Princess Phetra said, it was


    unbelievable. All of this was happening to her in just one day! Yet, the Emperor was nodding, satisfied.


    “It is good, very good. I’m counting on you to meet with my own Imperial Physicianster. You are


    wee to study from our Imperial Library, and I bet those old doctors have a few things to learn from


    you as well!”


    “Yes, Your Majesty. Th… Thank you,” mumbled Cassandra.


    “Good, good! And take good care of yourself, too! I want to see this precious Grandson of mine as


    soon as possible! Now you can go and enjoy the feast, young Lady.”


    Understanding this meant their conversation was over, Cassandra hurried back to Kairen’s side. As


    they reunited, her Prince didn’t say a thing, he only invited her to gently sit on his knee. Cassandra,


    feeling a bit embarrassed, refused him, and took back her ce in-between his legs. No woman was


    allowed on any of the Prince’s seats. She had already drawn too much attention to herself tonight.


    Most of the Imperial Family had their eyes on her for the rest of the evening, including some murderous


    res.


    Cassandra didn’t feel as scared as she could have, though. Kairen’s warm hand was on her at all


    times, caressing her arm, shoulder, back, or neck. He was making her confident with his presence right


    behind her. It was easier to ignore them if she wasn’t scared.


    As the couple silently ate, watching the performers, Cassandra realized she would now be wearing a


    pink dress as a high-ranking Concubine. The Emperor’s words had made it clear her status had


    changed again. Did this mean she would be safer or in more trouble? It was hard to predict.


    As soon as they could, Kairen and Cassandra went back to their room, leaving the Imperial Feast


    without looking back. Even after returning to the Prince’s apartments, Cassandra didn’t feel calm or


    safe at all. She slowly took off her jewelry, frowning a bit.


    “Did you ask your father for all this? Or your men?” she asked Kairen, who was waiting for her on the


    bed.


    “No.”


    So the General really had sent this letter on his own ord. Cassandra couldn’t help but wonder if


    anything had happened hack at the Military Camp. It was all going too fast for her.


    She sighed a bit, taking off thest piece of her jewelry, and walked to her Prince, who put his arms


    around her. His fingers gently caressed her skin, making sure to undo her dress in the process.


    “Are you tired?” he whispered.


    “Just a bit. I didn’t expect His Majesty to…”


    Cassandra interrupted her sentence, frowning. She was staring down, behind Kairen’s back.


    Something was moving under the bedsheets.


    “Cassandra?”


    “Don’t move.”


    She slowly took the sword at his side, taking it out in silence. The Prince frowned and was about to turn


    around when Cassandra screamed.


    “Kairen, no!”


    Just as he moved, Cassandra aimed the de down, piercing the mattress. A stain of red appeared on


    the sheets, a few inches away from his hand. She pulled the sheets back, revealing the snake, pinned


    down by the de. The Prince took the sword from her hands, ring furiously at the snake.


    Cassandra was about to grab the snake, but he got to it first.


    “It’s not a venomous one,” she sighed in relief. “I couldn’t tell under the sheet.”


    To her surprise, Kairen suddenly pulled her in for a kiss. She blushed, pushing him away.


    “It is not the time to…!”


    “You called me by my name.”


    Cassandra blushed even more. Yes, she did, without thinking. In the panic of the moment, she had


    called his name, the one she had in her mind for days.


    “We… Someone put a snake in our bed, and…”


    “Cassandra.”


    She turned to him, unable to look him in the eyes. Kairen was smiling, one of his signature minimalistic


    smiles. He kissed her again, but Cassandra took the dead reptile from his hand and eluded him, too


    embarrassed to focus.


    “It’s a Cra snake…” she whispered. “They are not venomous, but the bite can be painful…and…”


    “And what?” asked Kairen.


    “It can be dangerous for children or pregnant women.”


    The War God’s eyes darkened as he nced at the dead snake. This thing… Cassandra didn’t seem


    worried, now that it was dead in her hand.


    “These types of snakes do not live in this area. It must have cost a fortune to bring it here. I don’t think


    the person who did this knows anything about snakes. You can find lethal ones or less dangerous ones


    in the Capital. They are cheaper, too.”


    “They wanted to hurt you,” growled Kairen.


    “I think they meant to scare me. Not a lot of people knew about my pregnancy until tonight. Those who


    did couldn’t have bought the snake so fast. Maybe they already had the snake, but it’s a peculiar


    species, so…”


    “It doesn’t matter. They’ll pay.”


    To his surprise, Cassandra nodded and turned to him.


    “If we find out who did this… Can we do something about it? Even if it’s one of your siblings?”


    “You think I’d let it go?”


    “If it’s the Imperial Family?”


    Kairen shook his head and grabbed her hand.


    “Cassandra.”


    She stared into his ck eyes for a while, and after a few seconds, she understood. She came first.


    Their unborn child came first. Whoever did this… He wouldn’t let it go. He was the War God, after all.


    Not someone who’d stay. still after such a vicious threat.


    Cassandra nodded.


    “I can find out who did this.”


    She turned around, and carefully put the dead snake into a basket. She washed her hands thoroughly


    in the little basin. Behind her, Kairen pulled the dirty bedsheets away andid his fur cloak on the


    mattress. They didn’t need a nket to sleep anyway, the Capital’s humid air was hot enough.


    Cassandra walked back to him, putting her arms around his neck. Kairen held her close, pulling them


    both on the bed.


    “Are you not afraid?” he asked in a whisper.


    “I’m scared for our baby. I just hope he can be born safely. So many people hate me, but here, it’s a


    matter of life and death every single time.”


    She sighed silently, and before she could add anything else or worry more, Kairen pulled her in for a


    kiss. Their lips intertwined, and their tongues touched, looking for each other’s warmth. Cassandra felt


    her heartbeat fasten, and climbed on hisp, closer. She was now the one pulling him with her hands,


    caressing his shoulders and naked torso. Her warmth was rising slowly. (2)


    The Prince pulled her dress down to her hips, exposing her bare chest. He began caressing her with


    hisrge hands. Yet, a strange desire was rising in Cassandra. Hesitantly, she pushed him down.


    Kairen didn’t resist at all. Instead, heid beneath her, letting her ride him with a faint smile. For once,


    Cassandra was being willful and bold, and he didn’t hate it at all.


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