Cassandra

Chapter Nine

Cassandra POV 

I could feel my body getting sore by all the lifting and moving. The mark on my wrist is still there given by my Mom and I could see the color changing to blue. 

I don’t know if I would be able to survive at this rate. 

Hunching down my shoulders, I start to drag my feet towards the dining area. I could see it is dark now. I find my gaze in the sky, beautiful and peaceful. The moon is shining brightly like it is singing a lullaby to all the creatures in this kingdom. Stars twinkle like they are talking to each one about their day. They seem happy like they have got everything. There are no clouds and no birds in the sky. I think all of them have gone to sleep. 

I wish I was able to see the sky when I sleep and feel the peace I need now. Maybe they would sing to me and play with me till I fall asleep. 

Someone is standing beside me, I could feel it. Daddy has taught me that whenever there is motion around you, your eyes are the one that gets to know about it first. 

A strand of my ash blonde hair is put beside my ear and I suddenly jump. 

The same guy with green eyes is standing right next to me, looking at me. 

How dare he touched my hair? If it was my kingdom he would have been executed already. 

I look him in the eyes and purse my lips and arms around my chest. 

“What are you doing?”, I ask him still looking in his eyes while mischief plays in his smile and he leans forward. I take a step back and I am almost about to fall when he grabs my hand. 

As soon as I am on my feet again, I jerk his hand. 

“How dare you?”, I say before thinking and he looks embarrassed. He lowers down his gaze finally but the smile is still there on his Lips 

“I sincerely apologize my lady, I shouldn’t have startled you like this”, he looks sincere, so I decide to let it go. 

“I hope, it doesn’t happen next time”, I say looking sideways 

He nods still looking at me and I have to look everywhere else to avoid his gaze. 

“So, why are you here?”, I am playing with my nonexistent nails.

“I came to ask you if you had your dinner, my lady”, his voice is so calm and composed that it doesn’t feel like he belongs to my age but has a soul of a young grown-up man. 

I could see the traits of a charming Prince already in him. 

“I actually…I”, I don’t know if I could tell him that I just helped Prince Cedric to his chambers. I am yet not aware of anyone’s actual intentions here and I am trying to be more careful. 

“The Teacher said that the Prince and Princess should have Dinner at first, but I didn’t see you there, so I came to look for you”, I am struck by his attentiveness. 

“I…I am..”, I don’t know what should I say, I haven’t thought about this, I haven’t thought about anyone asking who am I, I just knew that I don’t have to tell them about my real identity, but then how should I introduce myself to them. 

I normally don’t talk to anyone except Maria who I older than me and a woman. My Brothers are out most of the time so we didn’t get time to have a proper conversation. 

How do I talk to a guy? And on that lie to him about my identity 

“I..My father..serves in the army of the neighboring kingdom”, I look down this time. 

“I…I am not Class First”, I say with too much difficulty. I never knew I had to hide that I am a Princess.

But didn’t I want it? Didn’t I want a normal life? Not to be treated like a princess but as a knight.

“It’s hard to believe my Lady, you are so…” before he could continue his sentence I start moving forward. 

I believe this much conversation is enough for me and the food must be getting cold. 

By the time we reach there, there are not too many people left, same goes for the food. I could see hardly any rice and chicken left in the bowls. 

I take a plate and start to serve myself when I notice that Evan is also just now getting food. 

“You are a Prince, you should have already eaten the dinner”, I ask him while taking some salad left in the bowl. I could see that a lot of salad is untouched, so they just ate the bread and chicken I guess. 

“I don’t like to mingle with the likes of Prince Edward”, he says with a straight face, no denial no lies, no excuse. 

He is honest and kind. 

“To be honest, I don’t like this system at all. We are all going to practice at the same level, then why they are the ones who are fed first”, I put down the spoon too loudly with frustration that I could see some eyes over me. 

“It is the same everywhere”, he says like it is a matter of fact. 

Why I never noticed it. 

“Is it?”, I ask him holding my plate in my hand and looking for a place to sit and eat. 

I could see him chuckle looking at my plate and I threw daggers at him with my eyes. 

“There are bowls to keep salad and chicken and a knife and fork”, I see him pointing at the end of the row. 

It has always been Maria bringing me food, I never noticed where anything is placed, oh I must look like a complete fool here. 

“And to answer your question, when you get back to ask your Father, he must face these things all the time being the server in the army”, his face doesn’t show a hint of any disgust towards eating with some lower than his rank, neither did he too proud to answer my question. 

This is a new side of boys I am seeing today, except for Prince Cedric. 

“I will”, I say moving towards the row when he stops me yet again. He immediately takes off his hand and gives me his knife and fork. 

“Use this and find a place to sit, I will bring for me”, saying this he leaves and I search for a clean place to sit. 

This is fresh cut grass and I decide to make it my dining table today. A smile comes to my face seeing him coming towards me. 

“Can I ask you something my lady”, he says and I nudge him this time

“Call me Cass”, he smiles and says my name 

“Ok Cass, why did you call Edward Moron when he caught the stick. I thought that was pretty impressive”, he seems genuinely interested in his question but to me, it was pretty obvious. 

“Evan...I can call you Evan right?”, I ask him knowing that I should address him as Prince or Sire but it feels awkward 

He nods signaling me to continue 

“So Evan…did Edward knew the Teacher? Like was our teacher his ally, friend or family?”, this time it is my turn to wait for his answer 

“Uh…No”, he still looks a little confused 

“So when the stick was thrown, it could have been laced with poison or anything right?”, Evan seems pretty shocked by my explanation and I continue 

“The fight is not just about being strong or skilled, it is also about being intelligent and smart”, I say starting to eat. 

“You are really bright Cass”, I could see a grin on his face but I don’t understand why. It was a really simple thing. 

“You could praise me later, but let’s finish our meals soon, I have to get up early this time”, we both eat up fast and bid farewell to each other. 

As I reach my chamber, I quickly change and take out my Dairy and Quill and start to write. 

“Dear Diary,

This is my first day in academia. I was excited but it turns out it is tiring. I met so many people today but the one who intrigued me the most was my teacher. I could see he is good at what he does. And I hope he would guide me properly to be a strong knight”

I could feel my wrist getting tired and the quill falling out of my hand, again and again, so I decided to close the dairy and get in the arms of sleep, thinking that I am under the beautiful peaceful sky and its brightness.