The White King's Favorite novel Chapter 5

"...Are you planning to destroy them already, uncle?" Chuckled a feminine voice.

Tessa was back, carrying a large tray with tea and dried fruits. She put it down on the table, but her confident attitude suddenly disappeared as she met with her uncle's eyes. Yassim was still trying to grasp the dynamics of that family, but it was clear the young woman was also cautious in her uncle's presence. She nodded slightly.

"I'm going with Cessi," she said before he asked anything. "I won't let anything happen to her."

Cessilia stared at her cousin with a surprised expression, but Tessa was withholding her uncle's stare without fail. The cousin's dark eyes were suddenly shining with determination, as if she was making a very serious promise... What was this about? Once again, Yassim felt like there was more meaning to her words than what he could witness. Was this related to the Princess' speech impairment? There definitely was something about her, and the way her family members reacted to her, treating her very preciously...

The War God didn't answer, instead, turning back to Cessilia.

"Just the two of you?" He frowned.

"And K-Krai," smiled his daughter. "It will b-be fine."

The War God let out a long sigh, caressing her hair once more. He was visibly unwilling to part with his daughter, which was understandable. Who would have sent his daughter and niece by themselves abroad, in a country they knew almost nothing of? The fact that he was sending her with his dragon spoke volumes.

The truth was, Yassim was a bit curious as to why Cessilia didn't seem to have a dragon herself... Or by her side. From what he had seen, dragons could be away from their masters for prolonged periods of time, but it still seemed odd that she wouldn't bring hers, if she had one, with them to the Eastern Kingdom. Or was this as a precaution, perhaps? The old man didn't dare ask, for he feared they would have misunderstood it as him trying to invite a dragon owner, rather than a princess. Plus, the War God's Dragon would be coming along. How dare he ask for one more!

"...Stay here tonight", suddenly said the War God. "You can leave tomorrow morning."

Cessilia glanced in Yassim's way, and he realized she was asking for his opinion. He immediately nodded.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness!"

The War God slightly squinted his eyes, with no intention to answer.

"Take all you need," he added.

"Oh, can I take some weapons from the armory, uncle?" Exclaimed Tessa, suddenly very excited.

He nodded, and the young woman squealed, running out of the room to wherever the armory was. Cessilia chuckled.

"I will ask auntie Nebora for s-some food," she said. "And warmer c-clothes."

She turned to Yassim.

"It is c-colder there, isn't it?"

"Yes, my Lady. But not as cold as these lands. Because our Kingdom is crossed by many rivers, the weather is more humid, and the temperatures do not change as drastically."

"Take as much as you need," said the War God. "Gold, too."

Yassim couldn't help but feel a bit hopeful as he heard this.

The Dragon Empire was much, much richer than their broken Kingdom, he had witnessed this fact many times over. Their money was the same, but because gold was withheld in the chests of the wealthy back in the Kingdom, it wasn't circulating as much, and their primary currency was silver, which was getting rarer as well... meanwhile, here, the noble and wealthy wore gold as if it was nothing. Not only that, but they sold and bought luxury items such as gems, jewelry or fabrics as a perfectly fine way of trading too, while in their Eastern Kingdom, defiance had brought their people to only rely on the silver change to buy only the most needed goods... Yassim had gotten used to it after several days of crossing the Empire, but the Princess wore on herself already much more gold than he had witnessed in several years in the Eastern Kingdom. Even the middle and lower class here were already much wealthier than most of the Eastern Kingdom's people, who lived day to day with little to no resources. There was no common measure between their two nations' wealth. In fact, he had even been surprised how sparsely decorated this castle was, considering it was a Prince's house, and one of the wealthiest men in the Empire, at that... If Princess Cessilia and her cousin brought a bit of gold, it would be a dim light of hope in the Eastern Kingdom if they were to spend it...

"I will," nodded Cessilia. "I can have c-clothes made if I need, t-too... D-don't worry. I will t-take all I need, or b-buy it over there..."

The War God nodded, visibly satisfied with those answers. Just then, Tessa came back, carrying two long and sharp swords with an ecstatic smile. However, Cessilia frowned.

"T-Tessa... Those are D-Darsan's..."

"I know!" Replied her cousin, excited. "And he won't know for a while that I took them! He's never let me take them, so this is his loss for being punished! Oh, those are amazing!"

"Is this r-really fine, D-dad...?" Muttered Cessilia.

The War God shrugged, visibly not caring much over his niece borrowing his son's weapons. Instead, he turned to Nebora as the servant walked back into the room with a large fur coat in her arms.

"They will need more," he said.

"I know, my Lord," replied the woman. "We're already gathering all they need for the journey and putting it with Krai. Cessi, I prepared some of your clothes too, but feel free to take anything you want. And take some money! Oh, and jewelry, too. You should look your best if you're going there as our representative... A princess can't look too shabby!"

Yassim almost choked himself. Shabby? The Princess' cousin alone was already wearing more than enough to impress the whole Eastern Kingdom's court! Some of the nobles' ears would bleed if they heard this exchange... He didn't dare say anything though, and watched as Tessa took a seat by the fire, her fingers lovingly sliding on the swords' blades. Cessilia walked to pour the tea, just like her mother had done earlier, and her father sat down, closing his eyes and resting in the large seat.

"Y-your Highness..." muttered Yassim, gathering his courage. "M-may I ask how come you're... residing here? Instead of at the Imperial Palace..."

The War God didn't oven open his eyes or manifest in any way that he had heard the question. For a second, Yassim worried he had overstepped, but to his surprise, Princess Cessillia answered instead.

"Father hates c-crowds... He d-doesn't want to live in the Imperial P-Palace with our aunt... Mom g-goes more often."

"When will she come back?" Suddenly asked the War God, opening his eyes to the mention of his wife.

Cessillia and Tessa exchanged a glance.

"I d-don't know..."

The Prince grimaced, and closed his eyes again, visibly unhappy with that answer. Yassim glanced towards the two young women, but neither of them looked surprised. Cessillia offered him some dried fruits, and the old man gladly took it, a bit hungry indeed.

"Is there anything else we c-could need?" She asked.

"I don't believe so, my Lady. The Kingdom will provide you with everything you need upon your arrival... His majesty will have a room for you in the Castle."

"A room?" Repeated Tessa. "Is she going as a future wife or a guest?"