-Prior-
When Prior arrived in her room, Talina was already there.
Talina was sitting at the table, reading something on her tab.
Prior sat down beside her.
"How was your day?" Talina asked.
"Exciting. I went to the library. It's incredible. And huge. They even have a VR section, and I made a little trip to Tangyan," Prior laughed. "And so many books!"
"Sounds nice," Talina said.
"And what about you? How was the wellness area?"
Talina sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Wonderful and sooo relaxing. I think it would do you good, too. You seem tense sometimes."
Prior only nodded.
"They have different sections: massages, steam baths, various pools."
"That does sound tempting," Prior replied — and she meant it.
"Queen Ada was there. I think Evlina is incredibly lucky with her mother-in-law. She's so sweet to her," Talina continued.
Mother-in-law.
Prior felt a sharp stab in her stomach and almost grew dizzy. It sounded so final.
And somehow it hurt that she herself didn't even know Queen Ada. She hadn't exchanged a single word with her.
"Well, she's not her mother-in-law yet," she said cautiously.
Talina looked at her questioningly. "But everything is heading that way. It's only a matter of time. Evlina would welcome it, and Prince Kashion would be foolish not to choose her."
There it was — another stab.
He would be foolish, wouldn't he? And Prior knew he was anything but foolish.
"I'm going to sleep," she said to Talina. She couldn't take any more.
"Already? Are you sick?" Talina asked, surprised.
"I'm just exhausted," Prior replied and got ready for bed.
As she lay in bed, she thought again about her brief encounter with Prince Kashion. Hadn't his eyes spoken to her as well? Was it just a game to him? What was she to him? Just a pleasant distraction?
She pulled the blanket over herself.
She felt her eyes fill slightly with tears. She swallowed and took a deep breath.
She really had to try to think clearly again. She needed to distract herself.
She picked up her tab and opened a Cheqi game. Cheqi was still somewhat colored by Prince Kashion, but she needed something to sort her thoughts. She chose the black pieces and played against the AI.
She lost the first game. The second, third, and fourth as well. But starting with the fifth game, she could see the patterns more clearly again and recognized where she could defeat the AI.
At some point, she fell asleep during a match.
-Kashion-
The next morning, Kashion sat with his sister in the palace café.
"What's so urgent that my brother absolutely has to see me today?" Kassia asked.
"Do me a favor," Kashion said.
"What kind of favor?"
"Visit Aunt Aliror for a few days before the major negotiations begin," Kashion explained.
Kassia looked at him in surprise. "Aunt Aliror? Now? The representatives are arriving in just a few days! Why, Kashion? What happened?"
Kashion inhaled deeply. "I want you to take Prior with you."
Kassia frowned. "Prior? Care to explain?"
"I want Prior to see Gelserkh. You absolutely must show her the Valley of the Hundred Waterfalls. Once the representatives arrive, she won't have time, and we don't know what will happen afterward. So it has to be now," Kashion explained.
Kassia tilted her head and looked at him as if examining him closely.
"Why should Prior see Gelserkh?"
How was he supposed to explain that plausibly?
"It's her wish," he said simply.
"Her wish," Kassia repeated. "And who is Prior to you?"
He should have known. He knew his sister. She didn't like beating around the bush, and she wasn't easily fooled.
Good question. Who was Prior to him?
"A kind of friend," he said carefully.
"Oh really, a kind of friend," Kassia teased.
"She's Evlina's maid, and Evlina told me she plays Cheqi. So we ended up playing Cheqi together," Kashion explained.
"I see," Kassia replied. "I'll be happy to visit Aunt Aliror, and it's no problem to take your 'kind-of-friend' along."
Kashion felt relieved. And he was happy for Prior.
"But Kassia, you mustn't tell her the idea came from me," he added.
Kassia's eyes widened. "So she doesn't know anything about this. Kashion, you know I don't like things like that."
"I know, Kassia, but please do me this favor. She would surely be happy, but I can't say the suggestion came from me."
Kassia nodded. "I understand. I'll ask her if she'd like to accompany me. But if she doesn't want to, I won't try to persuade her in any way. I like her, and I don't play games with her."
Kashion sighed. He didn't want to play a game either.
"Thank you, Kassia. And one more thing," he said.
"What now?"
"You'll need to speak to Princess Evlina so that Prior is even allowed to leave."
Kassia nodded. "All right, little brother. I'll think it through and sort everything out today."
Kashion smiled and took a sip of his coffee. "Thank you. You're the best big sister anyone could wish for."
Kassia grinned. "I have one more question."
"Go ahead," Kashion said.
"Since when do you like strawberries so much?"
Kashion looked at her in surprise. His stomach tightened slightly. "Why… how…?" he began, but Kassia interrupted him.
"Just wondering. I simply find it interesting." She grinned, winked, and then took another sip of her matcha latte.
-Prior-
Prior was back in the library once again.
Distraction was the only thing she wanted to think about.
She wandered a little through the vast room and enjoyed being alone.
This time, the digital archives drew her in.
She opened several entries about what was called the technologically advanced age on Earth a few centuries ago.
Her eyes widened as she read and saw how excessively people had once used technology. She read that people even used to wear a kind of wristwatch that could display messages, making them constantly reachable. Some people began friendships or even relationships with AIs and gradually lost their ability to deal with reality. There had also been countless social networks, and some people spent hours watching short videos or presenting themselves in the best possible light.
She shook her head.
Of course, they still used messengers and tabs today and could contact others at any time. But everything had its limits. How fortunate that humanity had managed to free itself from technological slavery.
Then she moved on to another archive and found articles about Mars. She had to laugh. Long ago, people had believed Mars could be terraformed, and no one had considered it possible that anyone would ever live on Saturn.
"Sometimes things turn out very differently than everyone expects," she thought.
Mars' gravitational pull had simply been too weak. An artificial atmosphere couldn't be sustained. With Saturn, they had initially believed the gravity was too strong — but it was precisely that gravity, together with metallic hydrogen and the use of gravity regulators and atmospheric stabilizers, that had made terraforming possible. And of course, Aethereleum existed only on Saturn.
All of these discoveries were owed to Professor Ver. At first, he had been ridiculed. But when the first sample of Aethereleum had reached Earth, the path had been paved — and no one laughed anymore.
After that, Prior entered a section where one could listen to music. What if she could have her own little concert?
She chose a piece at random and put on headphones. Closing her eyes, she tried to let the music wash over her completely. It was a pleasant melody — not too sad, yet filled with longing.
Suddenly, she thought of Prince Kashion and Evlina. What must the concert be like? Would he look at her again and again, admiring her?
Prior shook her head and removed the headphones.
Just then, her messenger vibrated.
A message from Kassia.
"Dear Prior, do you have a moment? Where are you? I need to ask you something."
Oh. What could she possibly want to ask?
"I'm in the library," Prior replied.
"I'm coming," Kassia answered immediately.
-Kashion-
Kashion and Oren picked up Princess Evlina for the concert. In the concert hall, his mother, Professor Keron, and several others were already waiting.
Talina was with Evlina. There was no sign of Prior.
Evlina wore a long red evening gown, her hair flowing freely. As they walked, she naturally placed her hand on his arm. This time, Kashion felt trapped — as though she had fastened invisible handcuffs around him.
When they reached the concert hall, he took a seat in the front row with Evlina. The musicians were tuning their instruments.
Evlina looked at him. "I play several instruments as well. I would be happy to perform for you sometime."
Kashion merely nodded.
"Oh, how wonderful. Evlina, you are simply so talented," he heard his mother say, who had taken a seat beside Evlina.
It was obvious that his mother had completely taken Evlina to her heart.
When the music began, Kashion closed his eyes. It was a sweet, slow melody.
Suddenly, he saw Prior in his mind — the way she had listened so deeply moved to the melody at the banquet.
He opened his eyes and looked at Evlina. She smiled at the music, nodded slightly, and tapped her feet to the rhythm. She seemed to notice his gaze, turned her head toward him, and beamed at him.
Kashion returned a small smile.
But it simply wasn't the same depth.
Here, he felt like the desired prince in the role assigned to him. With Prior, he sensed that the small, curious, impulsive boy within him was still alive. It was as if she had opened a door inside him that had long been closed.
He just didn't know what was better.
Should he close that door again — or open it further?
He closed his eyes once more and wondered whether Kassia had already spoken to Prior.
-Prior-
Prior didn't have to wait long before Kassia arrived in the library with Yina. Yina ran straight toward Prior and hugged her.
"Let's sit down," Kassia said, gesturing to a free table.
Prior felt slightly nervous.
Kassia looked at her encouragingly. "Here's the situation, Prior: I'm going to visit my aunt Aliror. I wanted to ask whether you would accompany us."
Prior's eyes widened. Why should she accompany Kassia to visit her aunt?
"Oh, thank you for asking. But the major negotiations are approaching…"
"We're leaving tomorrow and will return before the negotiations begin," Kassia interrupted. "I can ask the princess to release you."
Prior thought for a moment. That could actually work.
"But wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to come along?" she asked.
Kassia shook her head. "I would honestly be very happy if you came."
Prior inhaled softly. It would also mean distance from the palace. That would surely be good.
"All right. I'd love to come, if the princess agrees."
Kassia smiled broadly. "Perfect. Oh, Prior, don't you want to know where we're going?"
Prior looked at her questioningly.
"My aunt lives in Lakhal. It's about five hours from here by travel-hover."
Lakhal? The name felt familiar, though she couldn't quite place it. Five hours — that was truly far.
"All right," she said quietly.
"I think you're going to love Gelserkh," Kassia added with a wink.
Gelserkh.
Now she remembered. Lakhal was the capital of Gelserkh.
How could that be? What a coincidence.
She looked at Kassia questioningly. Was it truly a coincidence?
Kassia stood up, and Prior did the same.
"We're leaving tomorrow morning at eight. You should prepare. I'll speak to the princess. If you have any questions, you know how to reach me."
With that, Kassia and Yina said their goodbyes and left Prior alone in the library.
Prior could hardly believe it. She felt like dancing. The anticipation swept away every gloomy thought.
She was going to Gelserkh.
Kashion
When the concert ended, Kashion felt his messenger vibrate.
Kassia.
"First part of the mission accomplished. Prior is coming with us. Now I'll speak to the princess and inform Aunt Aliror."
Kashion felt a deep inner satisfaction and joy.
More than anything, he wished he knew what Prior was thinking about the chance to travel to Gelserkh.
At least this way, he could give her something.