-Kashion-
Kashion had taken a few steps into the hall with Rein and Evlina. But his thoughts were still with Prior. He had been pulled away far too quickly. And besides, she was standing there alone now.
He turned around—she hadn't come back inside.
"Excuse me!" Kashion said to Rein and Evlina and, without waiting for a response, headed back toward the balcony.
He saw Prior immediately. She was standing at the railing, looking up at the sky. A gentle evening breeze played with her hair and the hem of her dress.
Without hesitation, he walked toward her and stood beside her.
-Prior-
Prior suddenly felt Kashion's presence again. He placed his hand on the railing, not far from hers.
She looked at his hand. It felt so magnetic—but also as if it could burn her at any moment. Prior quickly removed her hands from the railing.
Kashion looked at her.
"Why?" he asked.
She raised her eyebrows questioningly. "Why what?"
"Why don't you want to dance?"
"Not here. Not in front of so many people. I don't feel safe," she answered softly.
"What would make you feel safe?" Kashion asked.
"I don't know," Prior replied.
Kashion smiled and held out his hand to her.
"Maybe the right dance partner?"
Prior looked at his hand, her heart galloping. She looked up at him and shook her head. She only hoped he wouldn't notice how flustered he made her feel. Even her legs felt like wax.
-Kashion-
Kashion had seen that Prior had blushed slightly. And she had started playing with her curls with her hands. She was unmistakably embarrassed. And the fact that he made her that flustered made him smile.
At least she wasn't indifferent to him.
"Not here, not now," she replied softly, her voice trembling slightly.
Kashion tried to speak as gently as possible.
"No problem, Prior. I have patience. I will wait."
She looked at him with wide eyes.
"I'll be happy if we can dance together on another occasion," he added.
She simply looked at him silently, and he smiled.
Then suddenly she said, "Please excuse me. I think I'm not feeling well. I need to go back inside."
He nodded understandingly and watched as she gave a brief bow and hurried slowly into the hall.
He had gotten more than he had wished for. He had wanted a dance—but now he knew that Prior felt something similar to what he felt.
He smiled and leaned on the railing again. He looked up at the sky and gazed at the moon.
The only one, as Prior had said.
-Prior-
She would have liked to run—but of course she couldn't. What would that look like?
She only knew she had to get away from here.
She walked quickly to her table and told Talina that she wasn't feeling well and that she would inform Evlina.
Then she walked quickly toward the center of the hall, to the large table.
She first saw Lina and Kassia standing there and went over to them.
"Excuse me," Prior began, "I'm not feeling well and I'm going to leave. I'm sorry."
"Oh, that's a shame," Lina said. "Can I do anything for you?"
Prior shook her head.
Kassia placed her hand on Prior's arm.
"Did something happen?" she asked, looking at her very intensely.
And Prior almost felt again as if Kashion were looking at her. Why did they have to have the same eyes?
Prior shook her head and forced a smile.
"Everything is fine. I… I think… I just need a little rest," Prior said.
Kassia smiled. "That's good. Get some rest. I'll contact you tomorrow."
Prior nodded and said goodbye.
Then she walked a few steps farther to Evlina. She was standing with Crown Prince Rein.
"Princess," Prior began, "please forgive me. But may I withdraw?"
Evlina looked at her questioningly.
"I'm not feeling well. Please," Prior continued.
Evlina nodded. "Very well. Make sure you get some rest. I still need you."
Prior nodded, thanked her, and left the hall.
As soon as the doors closed behind her, she felt as if a huge weight had fallen from her heart.
She headed straight for her room.
-Kashion-
Kashion remained on the balcony for a little while longer and enjoyed the moment. He knew he would have to plan the next steps carefully.
Then he returned to the hall.
The mood was still lively.
He saw his sister waving him over and went straight to her.
"Is everything alright?" she asked.
Kashion couldn't fight his smile and nodded.
"I know what I needed to know," he said.
"Prior left," Kassia said quietly.
Kashion nodded. "She just needs a little rest and time. I'll contact her later."
Kassia looked at him questioningly.
Kashion leaned closer and whispered in her ear:
"I think she's very shy."
Kassia shook her head but laughed. "Be good to her. She's my friend too."
Kashion nodded.
Then he walked over to Rein and Evlina.
Rein immediately said reproachfully, "Good of you to show up again. I had to prevent the princess from having to dance with Kashk Rutz."
Kashion looked at Evlina with wide eyes.
"Is everything alright?"
She smiled. "Rein exaggerates a little. I can decide for myself whom I dance with. It wasn't a big deal."
Kashion felt relieved. He wanted Evlina to feel comfortable and safe in his realm as Saturn's envoy.
-Prior-
Prior sat down on her bed. She wrote a message in the group chat where Nari and Eynara were. Maybe they had time for a call.
And in fact, both of them did.
Prior was happy to see and hear her friends again—even if only through video.
"Hi, Prior!" Nari said. She had dark brown skin, black curls, and brown eyes.
"Hi!" Eynara said. She now had shoulder-length, straight, copper-colored hair and green eyes.
Prior told them she absolutely had to tell them something and needed their opinion.
She began telling them everything that had happened recently. Not necessarily things in the laboratory, but everything related to Kashion.
Nari and Eynara listened attentively and occasionally commented.
At one point Nari said,
"Oh, that was the prince you beat at Cheqi."
When Prior had finished telling the story—including what had happened on the balcony—Nari said:
"You're still asking? It's obvious to me that he's into you."
Prior shook her head. "I can't imagine that. He can have Evlina. Look at me—look at her."
"But it's not only about appearances," Eynara said. "Sometimes completely different things attract people. But to me it's obvious too. But how do you feel about him?"
A question she didn't want to think about.
But she began to smile.
"Aha!" Nari commented on the smile. "Prior is lost."
"But there's Evlina," Prior continued. "I can't do that to her. She definitely likes him too."
"Prior," Eynara said, "people talked about the possibility because they're the same age and both unmarried. It was never a decided thing."
That was true.
"And besides," Nari added, "Evlina wouldn't be happy with a man who liked someone else more."
Prior shook her head.
"I just can't imagine it. Not him. And why me?"
Nari shrugged.
"And then there's my past. As soon as he finds out, it's over anyway."
"Oh, Prior," Eynara said gently. "The past is the past. You still have a right to be happy."
"But… but… I'm too afraid of getting hurt," Prior said.
"You can always get hurt, Prior. Even without a past. But do you really think running away and never seeing what happens will make you happier? You'll wonder for the rest of your life what might have been," Nari said.
Nari is absolutely right, Prior thought.
She would always wonder.
She started smiling.
"He really is wonderful."
Nari laughed. "He's not exactly an unknown figure. I suppose there's a reason he's the most sought-after—"
"Alright, I don't need to hear that again," Prior interrupted.
"So… if I allowed it… if there even is something… you wouldn't think badly of me?"
Nari and Eynara laughed.
"The only bad thing would be that we probably wouldn't see you on Saturn anymore," Eynara said.
That was true.
And if Prior thought further, there was also his position. He lived in a completely different world.
And she didn't like that world of duties and etiquette.
"Maybe he only said all that and thinks very differently by now," Prior tried to reassure herself.
"Keep us updated," Nari said.
"I think I urgently need some snacks now," Prior said.
Nari and Eynara laughed.
"Then go get some. We'll talk again soon. We're curious what you'll tell us next," Nari said.
They said goodbye, and Prior sat on her bed for a moment longer.
She had to smile again.
But then the fear returned.
Her feelings were like a strange mixture—a cocktail of hope, excitement, joy, fear, despair, uncertainty, and something warm, gentle, and calming.
Above all, she felt alive.
And she definitely needed snacks.
So she stood up and made her way to the palace kitchen.
When she arrived, she immediately looked for a young woman with short brown hair and blue eyes. Eventually she spotted her and walked over.
"Shara!" Prior said.
"Oh, hi Prior. Aren't you at the reception?" Shara asked.
"I was there, but I didn't feel so well after a while. Now I'm craving some snacks. Can you help me?"
"Hmm, certainly. What would you like?"
"Something I can chew on to calm my nerves," Prior explained.
"Nervousness, then," Shara replied, nodding. "I know just the thing. I'll give you some dried fruit to chew on—and some chocolate. That always helps."
Prior smiled.
Shara prepared a fairly large bag for her, and Prior returned to her room.
She sat down at the table and began reading a few scientific magazines on her tablet. Every now and then she reached into the bag to grab something to chew on.