Page 65 of The Wild Prince’s Favorite (The Dragon Empire Saga #3)
“Because they want you to have it, you stubborn brat! Now that Kassian’s the Emperor, of course Mother and Father want to remain near the Capital!
We knew they’d end up there eventually! Most of our siblings are there, and our parents aren’t getting any younger.
Ever since Cessi and Darsan moved to the Eastern Kingdom, except for me and you, the other four live in the Capital.
Do you know Grandmother even said I could have the Diamond Palace since I’m the only one interested in the west?
She’s getting too old to travel between the two palaces and she’s already made it clear who’s going to inherit hers. ”
“Get to your point.”
“Our parents aren’t getting any younger, Kassein.
You need to stop your tantrum and fix things with our older— with Kassian.
Yes, you can glare but I’ll call him by his name if I want to!
...I don’t know about Kassian’s stubborn ass, but Father wanted you to have the Onyx Castle.
I’m sure of it. Who else? Sadara’s definitely staying in the Capital, and both Sepheus and Shenan are on their way to becoming scholars.
You’re the only one left who would be fit to inherit it. ”
Kassein didn’t respond this time, only looking pensive. His eyes went back to Alezya. She was paying attention to their conversation, visibly nervous from not understanding what he and his sister were arguing about. Kassein sighed.
He really had no answer for that. He wasn’t as optimistic as Kiera was about their parents’ hope for him, if they even had any left.
“...I doubt it,” he finally muttered.
“Kassein. It’s our childhood home. You should be happy they want you to have it!”
“It’s an old abandoned place collecting dust and snow right now.”
“It was still our home,” Kiera insisted, with a gentler tone this time.
“...Do you remember? When we were kids, every time we had to go to the Capital for Imperial duties, we all couldn’t wait to go home, back to the Onyx Castle.
Despite having a whole wing to ourselves, we never felt at home in the Imperial Palace.
That place was too big, and our rooms were too far apart.
We’d refuse to sleep apart and gather in one bed.
.. and Sepheus cried his eyes out every time we had to leave the older ones behind because they weren’t coming home with us. Still a crybaby, isn’t he?”
Finally, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Growing up with seven siblings sure made for a lot of memories.
They all had different personalities, different hobbies, and different aspirations, but they’d truly grown up as a tight-knit little tribe.
Kassein, being one of the youngest, didn’t remember as much as Kiera did.
Only Sepheus was younger than him, by almost two years, while their older siblings were over ten years older than him.
They had always admired Kassian, their oldest brother, Darsan, the rowdy second-born, and Cessilia, their gentle older sister.
However, now, Cessilia and Darsan lived far away in the Eastern Kingdom with their families, and Kassian was busy with his duties as the new Emperor.
“Those were the good days,” Kiera reminisced with a smile. “The Imperial Palace workers would always brace themselves whenever we were coming... Did you know? The servants secretly called us the Terrible Three.”
“Who was the third— Oh. Darsan.”
“Of course,” Kiera chuckled. “Darsan the Destroyer, me who was always running away, and you who would always get into a fight with one of us, or with your dragon...”
Kassein’s mood soured immediately, and his sister bit her lip, realizing her mistake too late. Even Lorey gave her a little glance, but Kiera already knew her mistake. She shook her head.
“What happened wasn’t–”
“It was entirely my fault,” Kassein retorted, closing his eyes as the anger inevitably surged. “Don’t patronize me.”
“I am not patronizing you. Sadara told me all about it.”
“I bet she did.”
“You made a mistake, yes. But the way Kassian sent you away was not—”
“He did what he had to do to protect the Empire,” Kassein grunted. “He got rid of his murderer of a little brother so the people wouldn’t riot against him and the Imperial Family. I didn’t commit a mistake, Kiera. It was murder.”
“It was an accident , Kassein,” Kiera sighed.
“If anybody but the Emperor’s younger brother had done it, I’d have been sentenced for life.”
“Nobody but one of us could have provoked such a thing!” she exclaimed.
“Do you even hear yourself? Why are you so hell-bent on being wrong? You’re always like this!
You may blame Kassian for being harsh, and yes, he was, but you’re the one punishing yourself beyond reason!
Why the hell are you always like this?! Yes, you committed a mistake, a huge one, but you’re not the criminal you’re trying to pass for!
Nobody asked you to stay here for years on end and ignore the whole family! ”
“Kassian exiled me—”
“He said you should go to the north and not come back until you’ve pacified it.
He never said to ignore all of the family’s attempts to hear from you!
If it wasn’t for Tievin and the generals keeping them informed, they wouldn’t even know you’re still alive!
You are always so quick to bicker with everyone, but you didn’t put up a fight when Kassian gave you that impossible task?
Why?! Why the fuck are you always begging to be treated like you’re some horrible monster? !”
“Didn’t you hear the part where I actually killed someone?”
“It was a fucking accident!” Kiera shouted.
“Darsan’s provoked dozens of accidents, and he got lucky nobody ever died from their injuries!
We all learned to fight and kill as soon as we were able to hold a weapon!
We are paired with bloody dragons, the top predators on this continent, and as if it wasn’t enough, we’re raised and built to be killers!
Father and Aunt Shareen killed countless people before they were our age!
Even Grandma did so, and without a dragon!
It may have been for extenuating reasons, but they meant it!
You caused an accident , Kassein, and you meant none of it!
It’s even a miracle it didn’t happen sooner with that mad dragon of yours! ”
All the shouting had now drawn a lot of attention to their group, with many heads turned and ears curious to grasp what was going on.
After a few seconds of silence, Lorey gave a little nudge to Kiera’s knee, who suddenly stood up and got down from her dragon, taking big angry steps toward the fire.
“Who’s the idiot who’s been grilling the meat?!” she growled aloud as she walked away. “How dare you ruin my hunt?!”
That was enough for all heads to turn right back to their plates, hoping to stay out of trouble. Even if their argument had been somewhat defused, Kassein had lost his appetite. He got up, angry, and left.
After a second of hesitation, Alezya put her bowl of food down and followed after him. Lorey sighed.
“He’s not really mad,” Tievin commented when he estimated his Commander’s ears were far enough.
“This isn’t about his sister,” Lorey replied.
She stood up, put her bowl down on Kiki’s back, and quickly followed after them.
It took Kassein a little while to realize Alezya was painfully trying to catch up to him, her injured legs aching in the snow. He stopped and turned around, finding her panting and grimacing in pain a few steps behind. He sighed, his anger immediately cooled down by her presence.
He felt like an imbecile, having not noticed her... He had expected that she’d stay behind with Lorey to finish her meal. He walked up to her and, unable to witness her struggle any longer, picked her up in his arms.
She blushed, surprised for a second, but quickly regained her senses and wrapped her arms around him. He glanced down at her. It looked like his fight with his sister had made her nervous, and now, she was staring at him with a more concerned than shy expression.
He let out a faint sigh.
“...I’m alright,” he muttered, rubbing his thumb against her waist.
He hadn’t managed to gather a smile this time, not even a fake one. Alezya hadn’t understood and was just staring at him, trying to decipher his emotions...
“Your Highness.”
He glanced back. Lorey was also coming up to them, but she hadn’t run like Alezya had, instead walking elegantly in the snow. Kassein frowned, wondering what his sister’s partner wanted with him.
He was prepared for her to lecture him or something, but instead, Lorey’s eyes briefly went to Alezya.
“...There’s something I have been meaning to tell you,” she whispered.
For her to be speaking in a low tone surprised him the most. He glanced back at the firepit further behind her. Kiera was still busy loudly chastising his men over their poor meat-roasting skills... while being brought copious amounts of alcohol as a bribe.
“You waited until Kiera couldn’t hear?” he guessed.
Lorey gave a little nod.
“Yes... This is about what she said earlier, about Alezya.”
Noticing her name, Alezya seemed more curious than before, her eyes riveted on Lorey with a slight frown. Lorey kept going, ignoring Alezya to stare at Kassein with a more serious expression instead.
“I didn’t want to mention it in front of Kiera, as she’s already suspicious of your protege’s intentions.
Truthfully, I do agree with some of her points.
It is hard to know what has happened to her before.
.. but I do not think Alezya bears any ill intention.
Not from what I’ve seen in the bit of time I’ve spent with her, anyway. ”
“What’s your point, then?”
“Truthfully, I am saying this out of concern for you, Your Highness. I do like Alezya, but she has a past, and not everything about it, obviously, will be safe and pleasant to uncover. I think you should be prepared for it, Your— ...Kassein.”