– Kashion –
Kashion stared at the screen.
"FoxPriority has declined your invitation."
Had he invited her again too quickly? Did she feel pressured?
Suddenly, another message appeared.
"FoxPriority invites you to a game."
He relaxed immediately. Maybe she had just clicked the wrong button. He opened the invitation and saw that this time she had chosen the black pieces. He shook his head and laughed.
"I told you that's my color," he thought.
He considered for a moment. Then an idea came to him. He accepted her invitation and opened the chat window in CheqiMasterPro.
– Prior –
Prior felt bad for declining the game. Hopefully she hadn't gone too far. It had been more like a joke, and she hoped he wouldn't misunderstand.
Then a message appeared.
"kashion233 has accepted your invitation."
Prior let out a relieved breath.
Suddenly another notification popped up.
"kashion233 has sent you a message."
Oh. What was that? She hadn't even known you could chat in the app.
She opened the message. It read:
"Alright, this time I'll let you play with my color."
His color! Prior laughed. But there was also a strange flutter in her stomach.
She didn't reply. Instead, she opened the game. He had already made his first move. She had to laugh again. It felt odd seeing him play white. And then a sudden thought struck her: it was almost as if he was letting her play with his pieces, and she felt a strange pull in her stomach.
They played a few moves, but Prior was so tired that she eventually set the tab aside. She could continue the next day.
– Kashion –
Kashion was slightly disappointed that Prior hadn't responded to his message. But at least she was playing with him.
When, after a long wait, no new notification from CheqiMasterPro appeared, he set the tab down. She was probably tired after the long journey.
He had trouble falling asleep. Too many thoughts ran through his mind. He didn't know how to make Evlina understand that beyond the agreement, there would be no connection. He feared Saturn might withdraw entirely. And he thought of his mother. He had noticed she had taken Evlina into her heart. He felt as though he would disappoint so many people.
– Prior –
Prior had slept well. Before breakfast, she quickly made a move against kashion233 and was now sitting at the breakfast table with the others.
There were delicious breads, fruit, various jams, eggs, and much more.
"Did you sleep well?" Lina asked.
Prior nodded. "Very well. The room is lovely too. Oh—something just occurred to me. Yesterday I saw the little mechanical wooden figures. I really like them. Who made them, Lina?"
Kassia spoke up. "The wooden figures are all Kashion's. He used to love tinkering when we stayed here."
"Oh yes," Aliror added. "It's actually his old room. Some of his things are still in there."
His. Old. Room.
They had given her his old room.
A slight shiver ran down Prior's spine. She didn't let it show and simply bit into her bread.
Lina said they should leave soon, since it would take about an hour by hover to reach the Valley of the Hundred Waterfalls.
Kassia had explained that Yina would stay with her aunt, so only Prior, Kassia, Lina—and Emi—would go.
Prior was in her room—no, in Kashion's old room. She tried not to think too much about it, though her gaze drifted once more to the wooden figures. It was almost as if she could see little Kashion sitting at the desk, tinkering. She shook her head, as if to shake the thought away.
She changed into something comfortable and packed her bag. Then she held the tab in her hands. She considered packing it—but then thought no, she wanted to enjoy the excursion. She placed it on a small table beside the bed, but immediately picked it up again. She opened it and read, as expected:
"kashion233 has made a move."
Fine. She would make one more move.
– Kashion –
Kashion hadn't slept well. He had gotten up early and immediately started working. He needed to calculate how much oil he would require from Terland and Ostrand to secure enough for Tingdao and Saturn.
Would they even cooperate? How much Aethereleum would they demand in exchange? The most valuable thing Tingdao could offer was research. That was their greatest asset.
He had to think through various strategies and pathways. Later, he had invited several council members.
His messenger vibrated. A message from Kassia.
"We're going to the Valley of the Hundred Waterfalls today, just like you once wished. Next time you'll have to come along, little brother."
He smiled. At least things were going well with Kassia.
Then another notification popped up:
"FoxPriority has made a move."
He opened CheqiMasterPro to see what she had done. It felt strange thinking in a different color. He had never played white before.
Prior had captured one of his bears—but she had apparently overlooked that her eagle was now unprotected.
"I'm sorry," he murmured quietly, and captured her eagle.
Then he returned to studying budget and trade reports.
– Prior –
The four women were sitting in the hover. Prior sat beside Lina, opposite Kassia and Emi.
They hadn't been traveling long.
"Thank you very much for taking me with you," Prior said, looking at Lina. "I'm incredibly happy."
"No problem, Prior. But you don't have to be so formal with me," Lina replied with a smile.
"But…" Prior began. After all, Lina was the cousin of the regent.
"My family isn't that important," Lina said, covering her mouth as she giggled.
"Kashion always hated formalities as a child," Kassia added.
"Yes, exactly. Remember how he always said he didn't want to be a prince? He wanted to be a Guardian of Justice or something like that," Lina giggled again.
"Yes, that's right," Kassia joined in the laughter.
"But in the palace, there's quite a lot of emphasis on formality and etiquette now. Prince Kashion doesn't seem opposed to that," Prior remarked.
"Well, you know, Prior," Kassia explained, "at some point you come to terms with it. And we're constantly reminded that it's about respect—not just toward us personally, but toward what we represent. So you accept it."
"There's something I've been wondering," Prior said.
"What?" Kassia asked.
"Why is Kashion the regent and not you?"
Kassia sighed. "I didn't want it. It didn't suit me. I don't like public life that much. Receiving guests and hosting banquets is enough for me. Kashion is stronger in that regard. He thinks more strategically and is more determined than I am. I've done my part for the family—and his part was to take over the regency. I'm grateful to him for that."
Kashion is far more complex than I thought, Prior reflected.
It was ironic. She had believed she could create some distance here. But at the moment, Kashion's presence felt stronger than ever—as if he were always there. She almost felt like a Cheqi piece caught in a trap.
"How do you actually like Earth?" Lina asked.
Prior was relieved by the change of topic. "The first thing I noticed was the air. It feels different. The colors here are more intense, more vivid. But socially, the structures are quite similar. There are small differences, but nothing drastic. I haven't been here long, and I've mostly been in the palace or the lab," she explained.
Lina nodded. "And how do you like my cousin?"
So we're back to Kashion, Prior thought.
She inhaled briefly. "How am I supposed to like him? I think he's a good host and regent," she said carefully.
"And as a man?" Lina pressed.
Prior felt herself blush again. Why did someone have to ask her that? She swallowed. "It doesn't really matter what I think. Everyone knows he's good-looking and popular with women," she said diplomatically.
Then she remembered something.
"You know Oren?" she asked Lina, trying to redirect the conversation.
Now Lina was the one blushing slightly. She smiled. "Yes, we've known each other since childhood and get along well. But we haven't seen each other in a while."
"Come to Lantian tomorrow," Kassia suddenly suggested.
Lina widened her eyes. "Do you think that's possible?"
"Why not? There will be so many guests—it won't matter if you come. Kashion certainly won't object," Kassia continued.
"Then it's settled," Lina replied.
"Only," Kassia added, "there are also envoys from Terland there. Do you think you can handle that?"
Lina looked briefly startled. "I almost forgot. But I have to learn, don't I?"
Prior didn't quite understand. Was Terland that difficult?
"We'll manage," Kassia said, and Lina nodded.
"Have you thought about what we want to eat today?" Lina asked, changing the subject.
Since Prior didn't really know Gelserkh's cuisine, Lina began explaining it—and also what one could do in the Valley of the Hundred Waterfalls.
– Kashion –
Kashion sat with his advisory team, and they refined various strategies. They now knew more about Saturn's position. However, Terland remained the most uncertain variable. Ostrand had always maintained friendly relations with Tingdao. Only Terland had grown distant recently. They had significantly raised prices for oil and other resources. The tone of their regent, Count Kashk Rutz, had also become noticeably colder.
"At least we have the trump card. Even if everything else fails," Tendol said—Kassia's husband and economic expert. He came from one of the wealthiest families in Tingdao.
Kashion raised his eyebrows and looked at him questioningly.
Tendol laughed. "If you become engaged to the princess, she'll surely soften in negotiations. And everything will be secured long-term," he explained. The others in the room agreed. Only Oren and Kashion remained silent.
Then Kashion said, "We have to succeed without such a trump card."
He received skeptical looks in return.
It was time to show his colors.