Chapter 50


    The Imperial Banquet


    After that episode, no other concubine dared to bother Cassandra for the next few days. It was made


    known within a few hours how scary the gentle-looking woman could be. She had kept all three women


    alone with her, making them cry, beg, and tremble in fear of being devoured at any given moment, for


    over an hour. Cassandra had only insisted they told the same stories over and over, but all three


    concubines didn’t dare disobey and anger her or the beast. It could have seemed like a short time, but


    anyone who had ever been in the presence of one of the Imperial Dragons knew it wasn’t.


    Truth was, Cassandra had only intended to scare them a bit, and only caressed or scratched Krai


    during that time, but it had worked beyond wonders. It so happened that the ck Dragon still had


    fresh blood on its maw, and the concubines saw those ruby eyes shine their way in a scary manner for


    longer than they could endure. Even if she would never give the order to bite or injure, unless she was


    in a death-threat situation, that sight was engraved in those women’s minds. They had cried for hours


    after that to anyone who would listen, about how merciless the War God’s concubine was, threatening


    to have the Dragon eat their poor defenseless selves.


    After that, even if most concubines still held some doubt about how things really went, the fact that she


    was often followed by the ck Dragon was enough of a warning, and when Krai wasn’t in sight, most


    feared the beast wasn’t too far away.


    It was actually a bit of a funny sight.


    Krai kept following her like a dog, growling to get her attention, ring at anyone who came close, and


    growled even more when she walked inside a building itsrge body couldn’t follow her into. It actually


    caused a bit of worry to the servants that the Pce’s architecture wouldn’t be able to withstand the


    beast’s reckless climbing on the roofs to follow her scent.


    Cassandra was doing her best to get used to the Imperial Pce, though it was difficult.


    Firstly, that ce was way too big for her to get used to. She got lost many, many times and would only


    realize once she asked someone how far she had drifted away from her initial destination.


    Secondly, she wasn’t with Kairen as often as she had hoped to be. The Emperor called for his son


    almost every day at dawn, and she helplessly spent breakfast and lunch alone, with the Imperial


    Concubine Mother, or in the Concubine’s gardens, only to be reunited with him right before dinner with


    all of the Imperial Family.


    Lastly, this daily buffet was a torture for her. She hated being confined in a room full of people who


    red at each other, no matter how vast that room was. Since she had demonstrated she had the


    backing of an Imperial Dragon, and when Kairen was in the room, no one dared to defy her too much,


    but she still hated that atmosphere. The only good part of it was that they would listen together to


    minister reports and news about what was going on in the country, and after a few days, Cassandra


    realized those dinners were also a way for the Emperor to test his sons.


    While the youngest brothers were usually fooling around with their concubines, enjoying the shows,


    and were annoyed by those topics, the three oldest Princes were deeply involved.


    The oldest Prince, Sephir, was an obvious bookworm and knew every topic by heart. At first, to


    Cassandra, he seemed to be the smartest of them all. However, after a while, she realized his decision-


    making was mostly based on past urrences, and if no simr situations had happened in the past,


    he was usually at a loss.


    The only one who truly rivaled Kairen was the Second Prince, Vrehan. Cassandra didn’t like him. He


    had a face like a rat, tiny eyes, and a mean expression. More importantly, he red at Kairen anytime


    he would say anything and seemed like he was about to explode if their father agreed with him. Plus,


    his sister Phetra supported anything he said unconditionally. Since theirst meeting, Cassandra had


    managed to avoid that woman, but Phetra made sure to re her way any chance she could over


    dinner.


    “What do you think, White Lily?”


    Cassandra was surprised to hear the Emperor suddenly ask her opinion. This nickname he had given


    her had be sort of a title for her, whenever he addressed her, like she was some precious


    treasure.


    It was the first time he openly asked for her opinion on a matter. Until then, Cassandra had listened and


    whispered some of her ideas a couple of times to Kairen, but she had never dared to interact with the


    Imperial Family Members while they had their talks. Also, it didn’t seem like any other concubine was


    ever involved in those talks, as only the Princes and, more seldomly, the Princesses answered. She


    couldn’t hide her surprise, but Kairen soon caressed her back, spreading his warmth to her and making


    her feel a bit more confident. This topic was about some medical issue she knew about, an epidemic


    that had risen in the South.


    “I support the confinement idea, Your Highness. Until the real cause is found, nothing should leave or


    enter that vige.”


    “Shouldn’t we simply kill all the infected?” hissed Phetra, annoyed that Cassandra was even asked


    after she had given her own solution.


    “Nothing in the reports proves this disease is transmitted by the sick,” calmly replied Cassandra. “It


    could be the food, the water, even the animals. Sending a doctor with medical knowledge, enough


    drugs to heal those in need, and guarding the area closely, may be enough to prevent the disease from


    spreading, especially in such a remote ce.”


    The Emperor nodded, looking satisfied.


    “As expected of the Imperial Physician! Let’s do this! Did you record all that she said?”


    While he was checking in with his secretary, Cassandra turned to Kairen, who gently kissed her temple.


    Those few days, she had been spending a lot of time with some of the other Imperial Physicians


    present in the Pce, but for now, they had been learning more from her than she had learned from


    them. Some of Cassandra’s knowledge of herbal medicine was revolutionary to them, and despite their


    annoyance at a female being acknowledged as a doctor at the beginning, the Imperial Physicians had


    started opening up to her, one by one, teaching her their ways and discussing their knowledge.


    Hence, the Emperor knew she was doing well in that aspect and considered Cassandra’s opinion.


    “Also, make sure to check around, see if it hasn’t spread. Now, to the military…”


    But before the Emperor ended his sentence, the First Prince suddenly started coughing loudly, unable


    to stop. His concubines tried to help him, but he needed a few more minutes to catch his breath.


    This wasn’t the first time. Cassandra had seen Prince Sephir with this kind of issue several times


    before. Though she had considered a poison, from his pale look and thin figure, she guessed the First


    Prince had never been healthy to begin with. Probably weak lungs or some respiratory disease.


    Unfortunately, she couldn’t approach another Prince and had to leave it to the Imperial Physician


    appointed for him. However, as the days went on, she couldn’t help but fear for the eldest brother. This


    man wouldn’t live long.


    Once Sephir caught his breath and reassured everyone, the Emperor threw the remaining topics away,


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    along with his secretary, and called for more wine. Cassandra, however, was concerned. How would


    the death of one of the brothers change things?


    They only had two days left until the New Year’s first celebrations. Once the week-long festivities were


    over, her Prince had promised to bring her back to the Onyx Castle, at least for theter stages of her


    pregnancy. Cassandra didn’t want to stay in the Imperial Pce longer than necessary. She loathed


    this ce.


    “Are you tired?” he whispered in her ear.


    “I’m fine…”


    “Eat more.”


    She nodded and took some of the grapefruit he was handing her. She had been craving thosetely


    and emptied


    almost all the tes of grapefruit at each banquet by herself. Was it because of her baby? Cassandra


    found herself with some new crazy craving each day. Tonight, it was white fish.The cooks had worked


    hard to make some more ready for her, and she was enjoying it slowly.


    Cassandra wasn’t the only pregnant concubine, as two of the Fifth Prince’s women and one of the


    Second Prince’s concubines were showing off their round bellies, but she was the only one to be


    shown so much care. She didn’t know if Kairen or the Emperor had given special orders, but the


    servants seemed particrly careful while serving her and, more surprising, her food was tested before


    she ate anything.


    “Father, how grand will the new year celebrations be this year?” asked one of the Princesses.


    “The usual, the usual, Daughter of mine. We invited some neighboring countries, but not too many, and


    we will reopen the Arena!”


    While exmations rose all around the room, Cassandra got a chill. The Arena.


    Memories of a bloody ughter came back to her mind. Despite her meeting with the Prince, she could


    never forget that horrid scene, the dragons going after the humans and ying with their corpses. If it


    wasn’t for Krai, she probably wouldn’t have survived it either.


    Feeling her shiver a bit, Kairen caressed her back. Cassandra usually warmed up from his touch, but


    this time, her expression was sad and his concubine was obviously lost in some dark thoughts. He


    frowned.


    “Cassandra?”


    She shook her head, unwilling to speak.


    “Father, can we get fireworks?” asked one of the young Princesses.


    “Tigers! I want to see wildcats!”


    “And more chariot races! And dancers!”


    As the Imperial Princesses started making more and more demands, Shareen, who had been silent on


    the seat next to Kairen, clicked her tongue.


    “Are you going to pay for all this, Sisters? Did you suddenly start working and earning enough to cover


    your childish, petty whims?”


    Her voice had the effect of a whip on them. Cassandra had never noticed, but Shareen was one of the


    oldest princesses around, and no one really dared to mess with her. Was it because of her being the


    War God’s sister? Or her mother?


    However, none of the Princesses dared to talk back to her, all looking down like children caught


    misbehaving. The Emperorughed.


    “Wise as ever, my Daughter! Well, it is true we won’t spend too much this year; we’ve had a dry year,


    after all. Let’s learn to restrain ourselves a bit, shall we? Fireworks and wildcats are fine, but we’ll forget


    about chariot races. It’s only good for spreading dust all around anyway and I’m getting bored seeing


    the same people every year. Forget it!”


    “Father, what about the dragons’ sacrifice?”


    Everyone in the room immediately went silent and Cassandra frowned. Of course, Phetra had been the


    one to suggest that, while looking at Cassandra, too. She knew exactly what she was doing, bringing


    that back up. The Emperor frowned.


    “Phetra, we don’t make human sacrifices on the New Year!”


    “I want to see it, Father. I missed thest show.”


    Phetra’s voice was full of confidence and she was smiling like a snake. Cassandra stood up and, not


    waiting for the Emperor’s answer, walked away. She couldn’t speak against an Imperial Princess, but


    she could show her disagreement. She left the Imperial Banquet without looking back, shivering and


    angry.