Casian couldn't understand what was happening... First, he thought they were fighting but now they seemed to be getting along well. He had made sure that everything was on according to the plan then what went wrong?
He rested his chin on his hand and his door knocked at the moment.
"Lord Casian." Allison called out from behind the door.
"Come, Allison."
The attendant entered and as he was about to close the door, another knock came.
Allison looked at him for permission as Casian waved his hand.
Allison opened the door and saw a few maids came with their meals contained with meat, fruits, honey tarts and soups. Pretty much a very good arrangement.
"Leave it, I'll take it from here." He said as the maids nodded and went away.
"My Lord, your food has arrived," Allison said as he took the cart inside.
Casian had been in his thoughts as he didn't hear his attendant. His mind was occupied with the scene where Seraphina had taken Demian's hand in the riot. He had the perfect timing yet the misunderstanding didn't last long. As far as he knew, Demian had a hill full of ego to ask for an apology and if he found anything against his liking, he wouldn't consider judging it.
As Allison saw his master had been troubled he asked, "Does something matter, My Lord?"
"Hmm..." Casian hummed, "There wasn't a lace of misunderstanding between them."
"You meant between Prince Demian and Princess Seraphina?"
"Yes, of course!" Casian looked at him and added, "if there would not be any cracks in their relationship, how am I supposed to work on my next plan?"
Allison thought for a moment as he said, "Pardon me, but can I say something?"
Casian nodded.
"I think it wouldn't be easy to break them apart."
"And why do you think so?"
"It seems they hold a deep compassion in them."
Casian blinked and laughed as he clutched his belly, "Compassion! That's ridiculous!"
Casian had never seen the young Prince having anything like this toward anyone and now he had that with an imposter made him pity on his choice. Seraphina wasn't even worthy of his attendant. She wasn't a beauty like he had seen in his place or in Dragon city and her entire entity was questionable. The companions he had so far beauties compared to her yet Demian had chosen her made him laugh.
Certainly, he wanted her to warm his bed but that was more like a trophy.
He asked Allison, "Tell me Allison, what do you think of Princess Seraphina?"
Allison thought for a moment as he had witnessed her merely for three days and that wasn't enough to judge a person. "She is very outspoken and fearless."
"That's it?"
"That's what I've known so far."
Casian nodded and started to eat as he thought of his next plan for today evening as Lord Heartstone had thrown a banquet for them. It wasn't large enough to call the superiors of other great cities but it was enough to call surrounding City Lords.
Allison asked, "My Lord, what about the decision Prince Billard had made?"
"I'm certain Prince Demian would be taking care of it." He said as he chewed and added, "besides, I'm not here for that. I'm certain, my brother in law had sent me to protect that little pitiful brother of his."
Allison nodded as he said, "Well, I've found something suspicious about Lord Heartstone."
Casian chewed on he had no interest in the matter as he could care less of other city's problems. He had no problem with the way Heartstone was handling things. The people were living here and they had to pay for it.
"Well, if you wanted to know, Lord Heartstone and his attendant, Irwin went out a while ago but they didn't take many men, just two. It seemed suspicious as they didn't head toward the centre of the city," Allison said as Casian shrugged.
"Well, let them go for all I care."
Allison huffed as he was getting annoyed at his master's aloofness. He maybe didn't need to do anything but if he didn't take any part in this, Prince Billard won't let him go easily.
But he also knew that his master wasn't a fool, he maybe had turned a blind eye on the situation, he knew too well something was wrong.
As Casian had finished his meals Allison went out and called the maids for his master's bath and he went to his chamber for a good rest as it was a tiring day.
*****
"They have a banquet today?" Seraphina asked with a big mouth as Demian nodded. He sat on the bed after having their meals and loosened his vest as he felt a bit tired.
Sera paced around the room that had a large bed with a soft mattress and she looked outside of the window, the sun was still an infant.
She nibbled on her finger as she hadn't brought any gowns with her and it would be unlikely to go to the banquet in warrior clothing as she was Prince Demian's wife! She couldn't go down there in it.
"I—I hadn't brought any dresses..." Sera looked with pleading eyes as Demian gave her a bored look and said, "Go buy one then. Don't bother me now." He laid down as Seraphina clenched her teeth. Wasn't he supposed to help her when she's in trouble?
"Fine! I'll just go and buy something."
Demian only waved his hands and said, "Take Alonzo and a guard with you."
"I can pretty much handle an enemy or two." Sera's chin raised with pride as her sword shone almost as if supporting her.
Demian jolted up on his bed as annoyance carved under his eyes. "Don't make me order you for everything. Just take Alonzo as he is good with things like clothing and the guard is to keep a close eye on the surroundings."
Seraphina pouted almost adorably, "but I can do both."
Demian felt a strong urge to smack on this stupid girl's head. He knew how careless she was and she could get attention easily so it wasn't a good choice to leave her alone. And who knows Lord Heartstone might have a grudge on her for speaking her mind at the conference.
"Don't make me repeat twice, I'm tired." Demian's eyes darkened as Sera retreated. She witnessed it today as how grueling he could be if he wanted to. It would be better not to be on his bad side.
"Alright. I'll take them." Seraphina said as she went out of the room and looked around the passageways. It wasn't very complicated like in the castle. Demian's wing was on the right side of the castle on the upper floor and Billard's wing was on the left.
Seraphina thought for a moment as she looked at Alonzo's chamber door. It would be wise if he took his rest as he had been serving them without proper rest. And Seraphina spun on her heels, crossing the door of the steward she went to the stairs.
As she got near she found Lady Cathride was rushing toward her.
"Oh! Your Highness!" She curtsied and said, "I apologize for the rush but I heard that you don't have a gown with you."
Seraphina looked at her with a dumbfounded look as how did she know that?
She was about to ask when Lady Cathride said cheerfully as if she likes to dress everyone in sparkly things, "I have already told my maids to get me something for you."
Seraphina gave her a nervous smile and asked, "Err... Who might be the one who asked you?"
"It is Prince Demian." She said stars shining on her eyes as she added, "Young lads these days are so caring!" She almost squeaked as Seraphina felt herself dumbfounded once again. Demian had asked her? But why didn't he say so?
Sera's cheeks turned bright red as Lady Cathride scrutinised her with a mischief dancing on her smile.
"Now, now, Princess Seraphina..." she pointed at the upper floor and said, "Let us head toward my room. I will personally take this mission in my hands to make you so beautiful that everyone would be jealous."
"Don't need to be so riled up, Lady Cathride," Sera tried to retort to the cheerful lady who seemed like she didn't take no for an answer.
"No, your Highness!" Lady Cathride fisted her palm and looked as if she was determined to cross the great sea by a small boat and added, "I shall do what our Prince had asked and make you the most beautiful woman so his highness can't take his eyes away from you."
Seraphina flushed at her words as she knew Demian would choose death before doing such things like complimenting a woman but...a small, very tiny part of her heart was hopeful. No! Why was she hopeful! Was she becoming like the girls of Lady Cathride who would fawn over their desired partner!
Seraphina almost bit her tongue as Lady Cathride was a very good person who gave off bright vibes unlike her daughter. Of course, that was why both of them looked like their father.
"Now, come over, Princess Seraphina." She smiled at her with a pair of hopeful eyes and Seraphina couldn't help but to agree with her. She nodded and cast a smile, "Okay. If you say so."
Seraphina followed Lady Cathride to her chamber and they entered. The room was slightly bigger than the guest room they had provided her and Demian. It had a large mirror at one side beside the shades and a large bed just like Sera had in her room in the castle. Noble people liked large things, she supposed.
She saw the maids hadn't arrived yet as Lady Cathride told her to take a seat. Sera sat on the chair a bit nervous as it felt foreign to have an old woman surrounding her. She never had a company of old women and if she did, she thought would she be like her mother?
She felt her heart sinking and as if Lady Cathride could feel it and she asked, "What happened, Your Highness?" She came near and added, "Did you not like the idea of me, this lowly woman to dress you up?"
"What! No!" Seraphina shook her head and said, "It's very opposite, apparently. I always think of my mother if I come in the company of an elderly woman."
Lady Cathride's smile fell and she stretched her hands as it landed on Seraphina's head making both of them stiffened. Seraphina never had experienced her mother patting her head and Lady Cathride's hands felt so warm that it resembled a mother. However, Lady Cathride pulled her hands away and bowed down immediately, "Pardon me for my action, your Highness!" She touched her head to the ground near Seraphina's feet as her body shook in fear.
"I—I crossed my limits."
Seraphina, for a moment, couldn't understand what was happening and then she realised, she was a lot superior in rank than her and she had no rights to display such actions. Celia had told her every rule of the monarchies and Sera hated it.
"It's okay, Lady Cathride," Sera stretched her hands and held Cathride's shoulders as she added, "I loved the compassion you've showed me."
Lady Cathride looked at her with wide eyes and Sera continued, "I never had this in my entire life but today you gave me the greatest gift. I am not offended, Lady Cathride, it's exactly the opposite."
Lady Cathride smiled, her smile had a warmth that Sera felt so attached to her. She felt very envious toward Diana and Fiona, her daughters as they got to have her.
"From now on, Oil be in your care, Lady Cathride."
Cathride nodded and their moment had gone with a knock of the door as Lady Cathride detached herself and Seraphina sat straight.
"Come in," Lady Cathride said as the maids came in with a large thing wrapped around by clothes on their hands. Sera narrowed her eyes at it and she didn't feel good about it. Besides, it also reminded her of the corset. She huffed. She liked the clothes she was wearing now. Why do people have to wear something so disturbing?
"Alright! Unwrap it!" Lady Cathride ordered as the maids obeyed and slowly opened the wrapped cloth.
Seraphina hoped it wasn't something so flashy and glittery as all she had seen in this palace was shiny and glittery.
But as soon as the maids had finished unwrapping the cloth, Sera found herself gasping.