The War God’s Favorite novel Chapter 75

The Trial
To Cassandra’s surprise, Kairen carried her out, and even refused to let her walk by herself as they left the Imperial Concubine’s apartments.
“I’m fine…” She said, trying to convince him.
“Cassandra, you barely could stand earlier,” Kareen reminded her.
Cassandra felt embarrassed nevertheless. Thinking about, she thought she probably hadn’t eaten properly earlier. With all the discussion about their secret ceremony, she had barely touched breakfast, and her appetite was unpredictable those days. Plus, with the earlier fright, her nerves had too much for one day…
As usual, Kairen was getting more protective of her any time something happened. His eyes had a murderous glare on since Phetra had been mentioned earlier…
Their little group, including Missandra, Dahlia and some of Kareen’s servants, walked quickly through the Palace towards the Imperial Chamber. Seeing Kareen, Kairen and Shareen altogether were away to make any servant on their way turn around and leave as quickly as possible.
For a while, Cassandra thought they were going towards the garden where the New Year Celebrations were still held, but she soon realized she was wrong. Their group was heading to the inner part of the Palace, where the Emperor gathered all the ministers, generals and scholars to officiate and discuss the country’s future. Despite the ongoing event, the upper ranks probably still had to work and make sure everything in the country was going smoothly…
Once they arrived, Kairen finally put Cassandra down, letting her stand by his side, and brutally opened the large gold doors.
Everyone inside the room jumped in shock, and all eyes converged their way. There were at least fifty people inside, all men. All of them looked shocked to see the War God, making such a brutal appearance, and their glances went back and forth to the Emperor and his son, trying to figure how bad this situation could turn out to be.
The Emperor was probably the most wide-mouth opened of them. His eyes went to Kairen, Shareen, Kareen, Cassandra, and Kairen again, as his son was leading the group.
“Son, what is…”
However, the War God made his way towards the men gathered, and without warning, grabbed one of them by the collar. Cassandra recognized a bit late the second prince, Vrehan, struggling to get away from his younger brother’s grip.
The strength difference was painfully obvious. Kairen held him by the collar, at his arm’s reach, well above the floor. Despite his pitiful attempts, Vrehan didn’t manage to make him move one bit.
“Where is your damn sister!” Roared Kairen.
Even Cassandra had never seen him that furious. As if to support his master, Krai made an appearance with a terrible growl, making the whole building shake. The terrified scholars went white, as the black-scaled head appeared above, in the usual open roof.
The Emperor had absolutely no control over the situation. His eyes went from Kareen to her son, again, and he tried to step forward, looking unsure.
“Kairen, son… What is…”
“I said, bring out your damn sister!”
“Let me go,” hissed Vrehan.
“Your sister. Now.”
He didn’t even need to precise which one he was talking about. With an annoyed look, Vrehan gestured for two servants to run out of the room. Meanwhile, Krai was trying to get inside, his growling getting louder and louder. The room wasn’t exactly too small for him, but the room opening definitely wasn’t made for a Dragon to squeeze in. He could only get one of his front paws inside, and with that enough, he was dangerously scratching the closest wall.
The Emperor slammed his hand against his throne.
“Kairen, enough! Put your brother down this instant!”
“I’ll put that vermin down as soon as I get his sister.”
Everyone was shocked. No one ever discussed one of the Emperor’s orders, but apparently, that rule did not apply to the War God. Kairen’s wrath was blindly aimed at Vrehan and his sister, enough to completely oversee his father’s authority.
The Emperor, maybe, didn’t seem as surprised or angry as he could have been. Putting his hands on his hips, he turned to Kareen and Shareen, who had been patiently waiting to the side.
“May I know what this ruckus is for! Kareen, dearest, I’m glad to see you, but…”
“Oh, don’t worry, you’ll soon be very aware of the situation, dear.”
Apparently, Kareen’s cold smile and use of a pet name were enough to have the Emperor blush and distract him completely from the current situation. Cassandra wondered exactly how much influence the Imperial Concubine could have on him…
A short while later, the servants returned, looking a bit embarrassed and bowing.
“Her Highness Princess Phetra re… refuses to come, your Highness…”
The Emperor rolled his eyes, annoyed. Meanwhile, Kairen’s grip on Vrehan’s throat, who was already getting red from behind held like a ragdoll, got tighter.
“Your sister better change her mind quickly, or I swear you’ll pay in her stead.”
“Tell Phetra to come here immediately!” Yelled the Emperor. “Since when does she dare ignore us!”
The servants left again. Cassandra was speechless. The Emperor had taken things personally, already? He sighed, and waved his hand, dismissing most of the high-ranked official immediately.
The little crowd was only too happy to leave, as Krai had been raining some grated marble on their heads for a little while already. None of them wanted to stay in the area when the War God was that angry, either.
As the time started to get long when neither Phetra or servants were coming, Shareen took her sword out.
“Shall I go get that bitch myself, brother?”
“Shareen, enough! Put that thing away, you know I hate when you use weapons inside! And will someone finally explain what is going on here, by the Great Dragon!”
“It appears, dear, that your seventh daughter thinks she can threaten the War God’s Favorite, an Imperial Physician, and get away with it by not coming here,” slowly explained Kareen.
The Emperor immediately frowned, his eyes switching from Kareen to Cassandra, who was standing next to her. His face turned red.
“What! What is Phetra thinking! Someone go get her! Right now!”
Of course, the Second Prince had already sent two servants prior, but two more Imperial Servants swiftly left the
room. If Phetra didn’t come after all that…
While waiting, Kareen even ordered a chair to be brought for Cassandra, insisting she should stand still for too long. She took one for herself, actually, installing herself like a queen in the middle of the Palace.
“How… How have you been, dearest?” Asked the Emperor.
Cassandra was still amazed to see a man his age blush so much when addressing Lady Kareen… The Imperial Concubine nodded and wiped off some invisible dust for her dress.
“I have been fine, aside from the children’s endless bickering.”
“I know, right? So tiring, so tiring!”
“…It would be better if their father monitored them better.”
After that, the Emperor’s mouth closed, looking a bit contrite. Cassandra couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for him. Kareen really didn’t cut him any slack…
Finally, the servants returned, but they were followed by Phetra’s furious screams. Kairen put Vrehan down, who breathed out, readjusting his clothing with a bitter expression.
The War God’s anger had already shifted to Phetra, who barged in screaming.
“Vrehan, Father! Why are you summoning me! What is…”
She stopped when she saw Kairen’s furious glare. Her face went immediately white, her eyes displaying endless terror. She unconsciously took a step back, and Krai’s loud growl got her attention too. Phetra turned around, to try and leave, but the servants immediately stood in her way, and though they were all bowing, it was obvious she wouldn’t get through this way.
She turned around again, shaking her head.
“Third Brother was looking for you,” said Vrehan, still looking pissed.
Cassandra realized he was angry at his sister as well. He probably didn’t like getting involved and having to face Kairen… (2
However, something felt wrong with Phetra, too. Unlike her revealing dress from earlier, she was covered in a purple shawl, covering her body and even a bit of her face. Cassandra wondered why she had put that thing on?
“I… I only…”
Kairen wasn’t going to show any patience with her. He walked the distance that separated them and grabbed her throat, just like her brother earlier, making her scream like a pig. She panicked immediately, trying to free herself and screaming like crazy.
“Let me go! Let me go! You can’t hurt me! You can’t hurt me!”
“Phetra, will you stop screaming like this, it’s extremely disagreeable to my ears,” said the Emperor, annoyed. “Kairen claims you threatened his concubine, what happened.”
“Her… Her bitch servant insulted me! Father! That dirty servant insulted me, and the slave concubine attacked me!”
“Who attacked who?” Said Kareen, frowning. “Phetra, you lying little snake! Didn’t you draw a sword in the presence of a Dragon’s son!”
Phetra ignored her, still screaming, begging to get her Father’s attention and pity on her.
“Father, they disfigured me! Look what that witch did to my body! Father, you must have justice for me!”
Indeed, the shawl had slid down with Kairen holding her in the air, and now, everyone could see the large red rashes on her skin. Kareen sneered, visibly satisfied.
“What… What is that?” Said the Emperor, lost.
“An allergic reaction, I believe, your Highness,” sighed Cassandra. “I did throw some dirty water on Princess Phetra.”
“Why would you do that? Kareen, dearest, what was that about a sword?”
“Princess Phetra came to my medicinal Garden earlier, your Highness,” explained Cassandra, stepping forward. “She acted recklessly, and I got scared. My servant tried to defend me, but Princess Phetra took out a sword to attack me. I reacted and threw… ahem, some water on her, which certainly caused her… current condition.”
The Emperor took a minute to take it all in, but meanwhile, Phetra started screaming again.
“Her damn servant attacked me! She insulted me! I want her head, father! Father, you can let me be insulted like this! I am an Imperial Princess!”
Krai growled, and it was obvious he was trying to get to her. It only made her panic and scream even more.
“Father! Father! He will kill me! Brother! Brother help me!”
However, Vrehan remained silent, ignoring her as if this situation was completely unrelated to him. Cassandra hated that, he was abandoning his sister in such a situation…
As she kept screaming, Kairen suddenly tightened his grip, choking her a bit. He wasn’t suffocating her, but at least she had to stop screaming if she wanted to breathe. Truth was, Cassandra hated seeing a woman mistreated like this, but Phetra had gone over a limit this time.
The Emperor shook his head.
“Kairen, son, enough. I don’t want you killing your siblings in the middle of my Imperial Chamber!”
“She insulted and assaulted Cassandra,” hissed the War God. “I will not let this go.”
“Calm down, calm down, will you! Cassandra is fine, isn’t she? She’s just…”
“Since when do you know anything about pregnant women, you old man!” Roared Kareen, making the Emperor jump. “Fine? Do you know how fragile she is at the moment? What if she had lost her child? What if Phetra had injured her!”
“Calm down, dearie, I will handle this. But first, Kairen, let her go, please son.”
“Kairen…” said Cassandra, gently.
She was afraid things could go wrong if he ignored the Emperor’s orders any longer, and killed Phetra in such a place.
Kairen opened his hand all of a sudden, and Phetra fell to the floor brutally. A crack sound was heard, announcing nothing good. She started screaming in pain, again, holding her injured ankle, but the War God suddenly grabbed her wrist, forcefully dragging her and throwing her to his Father’s feet. The Emperor sighed his hands on his hips.
“Phetra, you unruly child. You never listen, do you? I guess I have been too lenient with you. Attacking a pregnant Imperial Concubine! How could you be such an idiot!”
“They are the ones you should punish! Father!” She sobbed, trying to act pitiful, pulling on his clothing. “They made me like this! You can’t allow a servant to treat me like this!”
“Enough! Enough of you, Phetra! You really need a lesson! Guards!”
Imperial guards appeared all of a sudden, but none of them actually dared to approach Phetra and the furious War
God next to her.
“Take her to the Imperial Prison for her to stay… Mh… Fifty days! The prisoner’s treatment! Yes, fifty days sounds like enough for me to find her a husband.”
“A hus… husband?”
“Yes. You’ve annoyed me enough. Time to send you away, you can marry some scholar or whatever. You’ll be stripped down from your title as an Imperial Princess, too. I’ve had enough of you stirring trouble.”
“Father! You can’t do that! I was born an Imperial Princess, I’ll die an Imperial Princess!”
“Looks like you just expired your first life, Phetra,” sneered Shareen, satisfied. “Brother, if I remember correctly, the Imperial Prison is… this way.”
She was pointing a finger, and a second later, Cassandra understood what she meant. He was going to…
Kairen grabbed Phetra once again and, despite how much she screamed, hysterical, he suddenly threw her out of
the window Shareen had shown. Cassandra and her servants were shocked, covering their mouths in horror.
“Don’t worry, dear,” said Kareen. “It’s only two or three floors’ height until she lands on the building.”
Landing wasn’t exactly the right word!