Page 129 of The Wild Prince’s Favorite (The Dragon Empire Saga #3)
She had worked in the Onyx Castle for a long time, and was someone they had grown up around, closer than a servant but not as close as a sibling.
She was like a strong-headed auntie who had always been around, helping out their mom when they needed it but having her own life down in the village with her husband and sons.
She was always close to their mom and kept a respectful and cordial relationship with their father, but she had never taken nonsense from Kassein and his siblings or their dragons.
“Look who is here,” she gently told Lumie.
The little one swept her head to her, but as she did, her gaze spotted Kassein, and immediately, her pale eyes fixated on him and she broke into a big smile. Kassein’s heart did a leap.
He couldn’t remember the last time someone had shown this much genuine, unbridled happiness at the sight of him, and he couldn’t help but respond with a smile of his own.
He hadn’t smiled in such a long time that the muscles almost felt stiff in his cheeks, but Lumie giggled all the same.
The little girl dropped her hands off the stool to get on all fours and crawled to him at full speed. He crouched down and opened his arms, letting the baby girl close the distance by herself.
When she did, Lumie frowned and, after a hesitation, grabbed his hands to hold onto for support and, with a serious expression, lifted herself on two legs.
“She can walk?” Kassein asked, although his eyes were riveted on the baby girl.
“She should be able to if she’s the age I think she is,” Lorey said, “but it looks like she’ll catch up quickly.”
“Is that right?” Kassein whispered for Lumie to hear.
The little girl giggled at his voice and then began to inspect his hand, particularly a streak of orange scales that ran up his forearm from the earlier battle.
With a serious expression, she began to slap it, although her hand was far too small and soft for Kassein to even remotely feel any pain. It was more like her little hand was bouncing on his huge forearm.
“Are you having fun?” he asked.
As if in response, Lumie gave him a giggle.
He smiled back, letting her inspect his arms with that cute pout of hers while her other hand still tightly held onto him to keep herself standing. Even with him crouching down, she didn’t quite reach his chin, so Kassein decided to sit down on the floor with her.
“She’s so adorable,” Lorey said.
“We were wondering where you would like us to prepare a room for her,” Nebora said. “...And for yourself. Lorey filled me in on what you have been up to, Kassein. You didn’t think to send a message that you would be moving back here? Do you know how long this castle has been abandoned?”
Kassein gave her an annoyed glance, but far from being intimidated like everyone else, including grown-ass warriors, Nebora raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t give me that glare,” she scoffed. “I’m not going to be intimidated by a boy whose diapers I washed, Kassein.”
Lorey let out a giggle, but Kassein merely rolled his eyes, ignoring both women to look back down at Lumie, who was staring right back at him. Now, the toddler seemed curious about his face, which had come within her hands’ reach, and she began to pat the beard on his cheek.
Kassein hadn’t shaved since Alezya’s departure, and the spiky texture seemed to entertain her plenty.
“So, which rooms do you want?” Nebora asked.
“I’m happy to see this place inhabited again, but you need to give me time to hire some maids.
This place is far too big for me to take care of by myself.
Not that it would take long; plenty of youngsters are looking for work and would be happy to take that on.
Should I put you in your parents’ room?”
“No,” Kassein immediately said.
Even if he took the Onyx Castle, he didn’t want to touch his parents’ room, at least not without their approval.
That room felt somewhat sacred, and he wouldn’t dare touch it or take ownership without asking them.
He was even reluctant to touch any of his siblings’ rooms in case any of them came back.
He meant what he’d told Kassian: this would always be their childhood home, and he would always welcome any of his siblings back.
But, realistically, their family of ten had outgrown the Onyx Castle a long time ago, and there would need to be some changes if he wanted his family to be able to stay while having his own here with Alezya, if she wanted it.
Suddenly, owning and taking care of their childhood home felt like a duty and an honor he was proud to take on. He took a deep breath just when Lumie pinched his chin with a giggle.
“...Prepare the nursery for Lumie,” he said. “She can sleep in the cradle. I’ll use Darsan’s room for now. He’s the most unlikely to come and stay here these days, and his room is near the nursery too.”
He knew taking Darsan’s messy room would give Nebora some work, but he didn’t feel like using Kassian’s room or his parents’.
Truthfully, his sisters’ large bedroom was the one that would be the most fitting for him and Alezya to take over, but he needed all three of his sisters’ approval for it.
Once he did, he could always turn Kassian’s and Darsan’s rooms into guest rooms for his siblings, and this way, he wouldn’t have to touch his parents’ either.
There were a few more rooms that had been abandoned or used for random storage and never touched by his parents that he could potentially look into as well.
Kassein realized how much he could imagine a new version of the Onyx Castle, one that would be his home but still be able to welcome his family at any time.
He was nervous about touching anything, but the truth was, that castle had been abandoned for years and wouldn’t come back to life without some profound changes.
It gave him comfort that Nebora nodded in approval of his plan.
“Alright,” she said. “I’ll get that started for you. I can get new bedding ready and Darsan’s room decently cleaned in no time for tonight. I’ll also get a couple of baby dragon beds ready later. From what I’ve heard, you might need them...”
Kassein nodded. He hoped Alezya would like what she’d find when she came back here, enough to agree to stay and live with him.
Lumie giving him big adorable smiles was helping with the aching pain of missing her mother, and he gently rubbed the little girl’s back while she was still busy inspecting his beard and pinching his skin.
“But, Kassein,” Nebora said, “are you truly going to own and rule the north? Lorey told me so, but I want to hear from you. Things have been hard for the folks up here. I hope you realize how big of a burden you’re taking on.
Many kids have moved south to find work.
It won’t be easy trying to revive the region. ”
“I am,” he said, his eyes still riveted on Lumie.
“I have a plan. We can open the route to the North Army and build demand for resources from there. The north also has the best woods that the rest of the Empire doesn’t.
We can use that to make the wood industry our primary source of income from the Empire.
And the Eastern Kingdom too. I know Darsan established himself near the border to make their northwestern region flourish, and we can work with him.
The north might have harsh living conditions, but we also have a unique climate, miles of untouched forest, and a workforce.
And once I conquer the mountains and start trading with the tribes, we might even have new resources to trade with my siblings. ”
Nebora was speechless, staring at him with her jaw dropped.
After a second, she caught herself and glanced at Lorey in disbelief, but his sister’s partner was smiling proudly.
“Since when have you been an expert on governing an actual kingdom, young man?” Nebora exclaimed, crossing her arms.
“...I grew up in the Imperial Family,” Kassein said. “My siblings and I all had the same tutors, remember? Just because I never had any desire to rule doesn’t mean I’m not capable.”
That was probably why, albeit reluctantly, Kassian had let the north go. Perhaps he didn’t care if Kassein succeeded or failed, but he wouldn’t have given up a portion of his empire to a complete idiot.
Although Kassian had been the only one groomed to become the Emperor, Kassein and his siblings had grown up in the Imperial Palace.
They’d seen their parents and aunts work.
They’d all been taught by the best teachers, learned to understand commoners and nobles alike, and kept aware of the main matters of the Empire.
That was why Cessilia had become such a great queen in the east and why she could send Darsan to develop more of their territories.
It was also why Kiera had always explored and tried to befriend new tribes in the west, and why Shenan and Sadara could work and support Kassian in the Capital.
Sepheus’ whereabouts were more mysterious, but last he’d heard, their youngest brother was now helping take care of their grandmother’s domain.
Moreover, Kassein knew the north better than any of them now, and he could see its potential.
He had no greed to extend the borders, but he could find ways to make a small kingdom survive and thrive on its own.
He knew best how many acres of woods full of prey they had, the potential of the tribes as allies, and how people in the north weren’t afraid of hard work.
Those who hadn’t left for the south were those who could endure the harsh winter and would stay to help the north survive until it could prosper.
Even in the North Army, many men were sent there as criminals, sometimes the worst of the worst, but some were eager to turn their lives around and start anew. Killing tribesmen wouldn’t bring them any glory, but making a new life in the north would be more than good enough for honest men.
Kassein could almost see it.