Chapter 62: Chapter 62

The Only One

As soon as Missandra had said those words, the War God’s eyes became even darker, turning to

Cassandra, furious.

“Who did that?”

“What?” Asked Cassandra, confused.

“Who dragged you by your hair?”

She shook her head, baffled he had been angered by something that had happened to her so many

years ago.

“I don’t remember, it was such a long time ago,” she said. “The men who raided our village and sold us.

Calm down, please, it is not important right now.”

He kept himself from asking again, but Cassandra could tell from the look in his eyes, that matter was

not over yet. She turned to her younger sister, but this time, Missandra seemed baffled. The War God’s

reaction had obviously defeated her expectations on him, and she seemed confused.

“Missandra, stay for a few days, please? We have so much to catch up, and I want to show you I’m not

unhappy with that man. Please?”

Though her sister seemed unsure, her eyes on Kairen had changed from a glare to a doubtful look.

“…Fine. But I am not leaving you.”

“That’s alright,” said a voice behind them.

As splendid as ever, Kareen appeared, along with two servants. Shareen, who was sulking behind her,

immediately rolled her eyes.

“Princess Shareen? Didn’t you go back to your apartments?” Asked Cassandra.

“That was the plan until Mother’s people dragged me here to know what had happened.”

So Kareen was already aware of the whole situation? Indeed, she was glancing at Missandra again,

with a little smile. Cassandra immediately turned to her.

“Lady Kareen, is it alright for my younger sister to stay here? She’ll be safer with you…”

“Sure,” replied the Imperial Concubine. “I am curious, and she can act as one of my servants. Anyway,

we shall all go the those New Year Celebrations. That old Dragon will make a fuss if I don’t at least

appear.”

“Older Sister, that’s…”

“She’s a good woman, Missandra, you can stay with her.”

“Why can’t I stay with you?”

“I have to be by my Lord’s side during the Ceremony, and I would rather not show people you are my

sister. They can use you to hurt me.”

“So there are people who want you dead!”

“Yes, but I am fine,” insisted Cassandra, taking her hand. “Missandra, please?”

The younger sister glanced at the three people behind her, still unsure, but eventually nodded, holding

on a bit tighter to Cassandra’s hand.

“Fine… But it’s because I trust you, not them.”

“Likewise,” growled Shareen.

Cassandra smiled and caressed her cheek.

“I’m so glad I finally found you…”

They hesitated a bit before tightly hugging each other. Cassandra was on the verge of tears, but those

would have been happy tears. After nine years separated, she had finally found her younger sister,

alive and well. She could barely believe it after she had dreamt of this day for so long…

Even as they stepped away, both sisters were reluctant to let go of the other’s hand.

“Cassandra, you should go and get ready dear, or you’ll be late,” said Kareen. “Do not worry, your

younger sister is in good hands. I’ll make sure no one notices her, too.”

“Where are you going?” Asked Missandra, worried again.

“I’ll be right back, I promise.”

Cassandra smiled to her, before following her Prince outside. She didn’t like parting with Missandra,

even if it was for a short while. However, the Imperial Concubine was right, she had to get changed

before the start of the Ceremony.

The New Year Celebrations were special of the Dragon Empire and put the whole Country in a joyous

mood. When they got back to the Prince’s apartments, Cassandra was surprised to find half a dozen

Imperial servants, all waiting to help her prepare. Before she could say a word, she was taken into a

whirlwind of hands, taking care of every bit of her skin and hair.

The War God, as usual, intimidated most servants away, and only got one of them to help him put on

his armor. While he was ready why before his concubine, he was happy to watch her get all prettied up.

Cassandra’s shyness was terribly cute, as she kept blushing t every compliment or accessory given to

her. He could tell his Father had sent a lot from the Empire’s precious treasury. Every bit of jewelry she

wore was sparkling on her skin. It was mostly diamonds, gold, and emeralds, that suited her and her

pink dress best. The Dress Cassandra had on was exquisite, too. It was seductive enough for a

Concubine’s apparel, yet the pale pink and delicate fabric made her look pure as a flower. There were

little diamonds embroidered in it, too, and several long layers flying around as she moved.

Cassandra felt relieved when all of the servants were chased out by her prince. She had never been

good with crowds, especially not crowds of imperial servants all gathering around her to touch and

manipulate her.

She looked at herself in the mirror, surprised she could barely recognize herself. Was that really the

woman who was just a slave a few weeks ago? Now, she truly looked like a Princess. Even her hair

had been beautifully done, with little braids and some beautiful gold jewelry in it. She turned to Kairen

with a smile on her lips and walked up to him. She had noticed how much the Prince enjoyed seeing

her getting all dressed up, compared to her usual simple looks. Cassandra knew he was satisfied since

she had been finally able to wear pink, too.

“…I want to take you right here and now,” he whispered.

“Can we wait after the Celebrations?” Cassandra chuckled. “I think I really like this one.”

He smiled and pulled her in closer. They exchanged a long, tender kiss. As he was sitting and she was

standing, Cassandra caressed his neck and hairline, as she loved. After all the events of that day, she

was happy to be back in his familiar embrace. She was slowly realizing how much she loved to have

him close and missed him when he wasn’t.

“Are you happier now?” He asked.

“I am. I finally found my younger sister… She has grown so much, but she’s still a baby in my eyes.”

Missandra was sixteen years old, now, and Cassandra herself had turned eighteen a couple of weeks

earlier. She

was glad they had finally found their way back to each other, despite the years. It was better than if

they had waited ten years, or never reunited at all. Cassandra wanted to feel grateful for that incredible

chance.

“It is good then,” whispered the War God.

“Are you still concerned that I am unhappy here?”

He nodded, putting his forehead against her little tummy bump. She had noticed he seemed to like

touching and caressing her where their baby was growing, too.

“As long as you are satisfied. Your sister can come anywhere.”

Cassandra couldn’t help but smile, a bit moved by his words. She also had a tiny, little worry that had

grown like a thorn in her heart, but Kairen had extinguished it without even knowing.

“Truth is… I was a bit worried, about you seeing my sister.”

He frowned and looked up, staring at her and wondering what she could have been worried about. He

never had any intention to harm Cassandra’s kin or anyone she liked. He wouldn’t even have thought

of hurting Missandra, he just didn’t care much about her. He couldn’t understand her train of thought.

“I wouldn’t hurt her,” he said.

“No, I didn’t mean it in that way. I was more concerned that you might… like her.”

Cassandra was red while saying that, and a bit ashamed, too. She had just found her younger sister,

yet that hint of jealousy in her heart wouldn’t go away. Since she had been with Kairen, her heart had

grown into that of a woman’s heart, and some darker feelings came along. She couldn’t help it anytime

she saw the other concubines, all so pretty and dolled up, constantly striving to get men’s attention.

She had realized her own jealousy and worry when those women had tried to seduce the Prince right in

front of her.

Despite the joy of finding Missandra, she was also struck with the same horrible feeling after seeing her

sister’s beautiful body and appearance. Missandra had grown beautifully, with curves and natural

charm, enough to make a lot of women jealous.

“I thought… She looks like me, but… prettier, and more womanly, too… I was worried you would… get

attracted to her, more than me.”

The Prince stayed silent for a few seconds, looking at Cassandra with a complex expression. She

couldn’t even tell what he was thinking, which made her nervous. Did she seem too shallow, or

egotistic? She had never fought of herself as a narcissistic woman, but her words may have made her

sounds so… envious, and selfish.

After a few seconds, Kairen finally spoke, nothing she could have expected.

“She… looks like you?” He asked, looking confused.

Cassandra was speechless. Of course she looked like her! Missandra was so obviously her copy! How

could he not see that at all!

“…You didn’t think Missandra resemble me?” She asked.

“No.”

“Really?”

“I thought you were very different.”

She couldn’t help but break in laughter after a few seconds of shock. What kind of man was that! Even

Shareen had said how they resemble each other so much! They had the same green eyes, the same

pale skin, almost the same faces! People confused them for one another in the Red District, too.

“…So you didn’t… feel attracted to her?” She asked, trying not to think about how that sentence could

be shallow.

“Not really.”

Cassandra didn’t expect that at all. Her Prince had never seenied responsive to any other woman

besides her, but Missandra was her younger, prettier and curvier copy. And yet Kairen didn’t feel

anything or even see the similarities between them!

She couldn’t stop laughing, realizing how stupid she had been, and how incredible that man was. The

whole thing seemed so funny now.

Kairen, confused by her sudden laughter, couldn’t help but smile too. Cassandra rarely looked so

genuinely amused, and her laugh and sparkling eyes were beautiful.

“Does it makes you that happy? That I’m not attracted to your sister?”

She shook her head, kissing him softly. Then, she put her hands on his spiky cheeks, unable to stop

her smile or the wave of love she felt for that man. She stared into his dark eyes, lovingly, her feelings

about to burst out of her chest.

“I’m happy because you see me in this kind of way,” she muttered. “Like I’m the only woman you can

see… the only one you want.” (2

He was a Prince. He could have any other woman, slave or noble, anywhere in the world, even the

prettiest ones, yet he only saw her. Cassandra, the slave, with her scars, thin body, and pale skin. She

was among the least beautiful women in that Palace, in her opinion, but he never seemed to see that.

Kairen thought it was true, but was more surprised about how Cassandra didn’t seem to realize that

sooner. Truth was, he had barely ever looked at other women, except to satisfy his sexual desires. He

knew what beauty in a woman was, of course, but Cassandra had come and destroyed every standard

he had long ago. Since he had set his eyes on her, this inexplicable and unmeasurable attraction he

had towards that woman eclipsed everything else. She was the only beauty that appealed to him

anymore, and the more he learned about her, the deeper he felt every day. The numerous scars and

the skinniness she was always so self-conscious about were, for him, only the infuriating reminders of

what his woman had gone through. He hadn’t even realized how he didn’t care for other women

anymore until she had pointed it out. What he had gotten aware of, however, was the devouring desire

to keep her all to himself, and the bloodthirst for any man who touched or looked at her. 13

He nodded, and stood up, holding her in his arms gently,

“…I want to see you in a gold dress.”

“A gold dress?” Cassandra asked.

She had never heard about gold dresses before.

“The dresses for Imperial weddings.”

She was left speechless. So women in Imperial Weddings wore dresses in… gold? How fancy! She

had fought they married in purple, or in orange or yellow, like the commoners… She tried to imagine a

dress of gold, but it only came as some strange sculpture in her mind.

However, she knew what he had meant by that.

“Can we ask your mother’s permission first?” She asked.

“My mother? Why?”

“I am not sure it is a good idea… I want Lady Kareen’s opinion.”

“My mother loves you.”

“I know, but she is also a very reasonable and smart woman. If I hear her opinion, I will make up my

mind faster. Please?”

The Prince frowned. He didn’t like the idea of Cassandra needing anyone else’s opinion to become his

wife. He wanted her to say yes here and now, and get married right away. That she would include

anyone else in the matter annoyed him.

However, the Imperial Concubine liked her. She liked Cassandra a lot. The Prince was certain she

would approve and eventually nodded.

“Thanks,” said Cassandra, giving him another quick kiss.