-Prior-
Prior walked slowly back to her room. She could still feel the warmth and comfort of Kashion's embrace. In her mind, she kept replaying his words: "I'm so glad you're here." She smiled and placed a hand over her heart. She was glad to be here too. She was glad she had come to Earth, in Evlina's retinue, and had met Kashion that way. Even if she still sometimes felt a little like a thief. But Kashion was so good for her. Their little games, and then again his seriousness. He was like someone to lean on, someone who made her feel safe, and at the same time someone she wanted to take care of.
Prior slowly realized: he had opened a door inside her that she had kept tightly shut. And now all kinds of feelings wanted to burst out, and she almost wanted to overwhelm Kashion with them.
Life in the palace certainly wasn't easy, but she was ready to try.
At the word engagement, she still felt nervous. He had said: "Let me feel when the time is right." When would that be? And when it was, how would she let him feel it? She would probably know herself when the time came.
She sat down on her bed and sighed.
Her thoughts were still with Kashion. What did Kassia want? It was surely about the matter with Tendol. Was she happy about the vacation, or was it more of a burden?
-Kashion-
Kashion had sat down in his armchair while his sister paced back and forth in his room.
"A month of vacation?" she asked.
"I thought it was for the best, after everything that happened."
She stopped and looked at him sharply. "Do you know how angry he was? Do you know who takes the brunt of all that?"
Kashion took a deep breath and stood up. He stepped in front of his sister and gently held her by the shoulders. "I'm sorry, Kassia. But just wait and see. I also thought that he gets so absorbed in his work that he barely has time for his family. Take a nice trip. Take him to Gelserkh…"
"Gelserkh?!" Kassia laughed bitterly. "You know what he thinks of the province. He's a city person through and through. He can barely stand the countryside."
Kashion smiled wistfully. "I know. And that's a shame. But maybe he'd go anyway. Maybe it would help you grow closer."
Kassia laughed dryly again. Then she sat down on the sofa. "It's not that simple. But who knows, maybe you're right. Maybe it'll do him good. Do us good."
Kashion sat down opposite her. He was relieved that she was thinking more positively now.
"And when the month is over? Can he just work as normal again? Or are you planning to give him a different position?"
"I haven't really thought about it yet," Kashion admitted. "But I think afterward, both he and I will see more clearly what's best for everyone."
Kassia nodded. Then her expression changed. "You two looked good together. I'm glad things are alright between you again."
Kashion smiled faintly. "It's not easy. Before that, our mother went to see her and talked about clothing and engagement."
"Oooh," Kassia said in surprise, raising her eyebrows. "Engagement?"
Kashion sighed. "I don't want to put pressure on Prior. She was married before, and that must have left its mark."
Kassia looked at him in surprise but said nothing. She had her emotions perfectly under control. "She certainly didn't have it easy," she said finally.
Kashion nodded. "I want to do it right. In a way that makes her absolutely sure. And then I want to propose to her in a way she'll never forget."
Kassia grinned. "Sounds good. Let me know if you need help."
He nodded.
Kassia stood up. "Well then, I suppose I'll go back into the lion's den," she said, starting to laugh. "I'll suggest Gelserkh and try to persuade him. Tendol often seems cold, but he has a sensitive core."
A sensitive core? He would like to see that sometime.
Kashion also stood and accompanied her to the door. They said goodbye, and just as he was about to close it again, he saw his mother hurrying down the corridor toward him. What now?
-Prior-
Prior was still sitting on her bed, struggling with herself about writing a message to her parents. What should she reply?
Just a simple "Thanks, I'm fine. And you?" Or should she say more? But she wasn't even sure yet what they actually wanted. So she stuck with the neutral, short version. She would see what came back.
Then she wrote to Kashion.
"Everything okay with your sister?"
After a few minutes with no reply, she added: "Have you recovered from your defeat yet?"
She stared at the messenger for a few minutes and finally set it aside.
Then she picked up her tab and searched for a few articles on magnetic fields and stability. She wanted to understand it better. Why the test had led to an explosion. Surely there were some helpful articles.
She also made a small mental note that she absolutely needed to read more about cerium.
-Kashion-
Kashion felt like he was in a bad movie. Or stuck in a loop. His mother sat agitated in his armchair.
"Kashion, have you read the news?"
He shook his head. "I didn't have time."
She groaned. "It's really bad. You have to be strong now, my boy."
He actually grew nervous. Had Terland declared war? He sat down.
"I'm sorry. But the news is reporting on Prior's past. She was married, and her husband is in prison on Titan! It was believed that she had defrauded people of funds."
Kashion felt relieved. He leaned back comfortably. "Ah, that." Sooner or later, his parents had to find out. He just hoped it wouldn't affect them for too long.
His mother looked at him, shaken. "You knew about this?"
He smiled slightly, a bit unsure. "Yes, I knew everything, and I also know what really happened. First of all, it's not her husband on Titan, but her ex-husband. He's the one who defrauded everyone. Prior is innocent, and that's been proven. Princess Evlina recognized that too and took her into her service."
His mother still didn't seem convinced. She nervously smoothed the folds of her skirt. "Kashion, she is not suitable to be your wife, let alone Queen of Tingdao." She looked at him firmly.
He wouldn't let that stand.
He shook his head. "She's the only one who is suitable. Because I want her by my side—or no one."
His mother sighed. "You're not coming to your senses at all. Don't you see that? How people will talk? What this will mean for our family?"
For a moment, Kashion felt fear. Had Prior seen the news? How would she react? He had also felt his messenger vibrate twice already. But out of respect for his mother, he didn't reach for it immediately.
"Mother, I am in perfectly clear mind. I'm convinced that the people of Tingdao will love Prior." He didn't want to argue any longer now; he needed to check his messenger as quickly as possible and speak to Prior. "I have something important to do, so I ask you to leave," he said firmly, stood up, and went to the door.
His mother shook her head. Reluctantly, she stood as well. "I only mean well."
"Then please recognize what makes me happy."
She looked at him for a few seconds and sighed. "I hope you know what you're doing and that she won't disappoint you."
Kashion only nodded and opened the door. "Good night, Mother."
Then he hurried off and took his messenger. There were indeed messages from Prior. His heart beat faster. When he read them, he had to smile.
He typed a reply: "Yes, everything's fine with my sister." And then: "What defeat? Playing with you is never a defeat."
He waited eagerly for a reply. But even after a few minutes, nothing came. Had she read the messages? Was she frightened?
He went out onto the terrace and sat down. Then he called her.
It took a moment before she answered.
"Hm?"
"Everything okay?"
"Yes, I'm just reading an article and got completely absorbed in it."
Oh—she had actually read the news. He swallowed. "Prior, don't think too much about it. It doesn't matter what others think."
"Hm? I don't know. I was just reading that dysprosium reacts with water, and I found an article by a Dr. Harvey. He wrote something interesting about dysprosium and metallic hydrogen."
Kashion didn't understand anything anymore.
Prior continued: "Metallic hydrogen is a superconductor. I think if you can't control the two—metallic hydrogen and dysprosium—then it could always become explosive."
Kashion laughed. "You were reading a scientific article."
"What else?"
He breathed a sigh of relief. At least now he could prepare her before she stumbled across the news herself.
"Prior. There are some unpleasant reports in the news right now about your past."
Silence. He could hear her breathing.
"You have to—"
"I'm sorry," she said at the same time. "That you have to go through this because of me."
He laughed bitterly. "Me go through it? I don't have to go through anything. You don't need to worry, Prior. I just don't want you to feel bad because of it."
"Hm, how could I not feel bad? I don't even want to imagine what your mother thinks when she reads it."
Silence again. But this time because Kashion didn't know what to say.
"She's read it," said Prior. "I'm probably done for forever."
"No, I talked to her. She'll understand. I told her you're not at fault and that I already knew everything."
"Thank you." She sighed. "I'm really not the perfect woman for you."
Kashion closed his eyes briefly and thought.
"I only wish I had met you earlier."
"To prevent all this?" she asked cautiously.
"Yes—but not because there's any flaw in you. But because I would have liked to spare you all this. Or at least meet you shortly afterward, to be there for you."
Silence again.
Then she said quietly, hesitantly: "Thank you."
-Prior-
Prior suddenly felt so emotional and had to fight back tears.
If they had been together now, she would surely have hugged him. But even so, his words felt like an embrace.
"No need to thank me. So don't let it unsettle you. No news will ever make me think badly of you. And if you have doubts, please don't run away—come to me and talk to me."
"Okay," she said.
"And," he added in a teasing tone, "if it helps, you're always welcome to beat me at Cheqi."
She laughed. "As long as it remains a challenge."
His voice deepened. "I won't make it easy for you."
-Kashion-
It was so nice to hear her laugh.
"Ah, Kashion," she suddenly said more seriously.
"Yes?"
"Hm, could you maybe send me your mother's number? I'd like to talk to her again about the clothing situation."
He thought for a moment. "Of course. I'll send it right away. But I have an idea. Tomorrow morning I'm free. I'll suggest to my parents that we join them for breakfast."
It took a moment before Prior said: "I don't know if I can do that."
It was surely because of his father. "Prior. I'm by your side. Don't be afraid. I'll be there and look after you. But I think it would be good for you to get to know my parents better."
"Hmmm." She didn't seem convinced at all.
He would ask his parents only tomorrow. "Let's just talk again tomorrow morning and you tell me then if it works."
"Okay!" she said, sounding much more positive.
-Prior-
The thought of having breakfast with his parents didn't feel pleasant at all. But she couldn't avoid it forever either. And the option of deciding the next morning was a relief.
Suddenly her stomach growled. When he had said breakfast, she had already noticed her hunger. With everything that had happened and the scientific articles, she had completely forgotten to eat. She remembered that she could simply message the kitchen. How convenient! And she suddenly felt like watching a series.
"Kashion!" she said.
"At your service," he replied teasingly.
"Do you maybe have a favorite series you could recommend?"
He seemed to think. "Hmmm. I could recommend Prisoner of Charm."
She laughed at the title. "What is that?"
"It's different from what the title suggests. It's a remake of a very old series. It's about two formerly allied families who became enemies due to unfortunate entanglements. Eventually, the grandparents decide the grandchildren should marry, and at first they're not happy about it, but they grow closer. And it's also about war and other conflicts."
"Hm, I don't know if that sounds good." It sounded rather dark.
"Trust me, from the second episode on, it gets really good, and it's also very humorous."
Maybe she should give it a chance. After all, it would help her understand Kashion better.
"I'll try it. Then I'll hang up now and we'll talk tomorrow?"
-Kashion-
He had to take a breath. He didn't want to stop talking to her.
"How about…" he began, but then lost his nerve. "Okay, see you tomorrow, Prior."
"See you tomorrow! Good night!" Then she hung up.
He didn't even know what he had wanted to suggest.
He went into his room, picked up his tab, and searched for Prisoner of Charm. Now he himself felt like watching it again.
-Prior-
Would it be bad to eat pizza again? Ah, it's an exception, she thought. But then she thought of ramen noodles.
She texted the number Shara had given her and soon got confirmation that it was possible. She rubbed her hands together happily. That was really great. Life in the palace definitely had its advantages.
Then she picked up her tab. The article by Dr. Harvey was still open, but she didn't feel like reading it anymore. She searched for Prisoner of Charm. Soon she found the series and started watching it.
The noodles were delivered shortly afterward.
She snuggled into her bed with the food and her tab, the bear by her side—and thought about how long it had been since she had done something like this. On the spaceship she had somehow never been in the mood for it, and here in the palace she had had to share a room with Talina.
For the first time in a long while, she felt truly relaxed.
Kashion had been right—by the second episode it became really exciting. She didn't want to stop. She glanced at the time. It was already the middle of the night, and she was actually exhausted. Still, she sent him a message.
-Kashion-
Kashion was once again completely absorbed in his favorite series and didn't want to sleep yet. Suddenly, he heard his messenger. He looked at the time. It was well past one. Who would text him this late?
It was Prior. Of course.
"You were right. The series is great."
Then a second message came. "I wouldn't have thought you were so romantic."
He had to grin. I'm much more romantic than you think, he thought to himself. Before he could reply, another message came: "And that actor! He looks really good!"
Kashion set the messenger aside for a moment. Trev Cosm was very popular with women, but he looked completely different from Kashion. She found him good-looking?
He didn't feel like watching the series anymore. He turned off his tab and tried to sleep. He turned from side to side for a moment. Then he picked up his messenger again and looked at her last message. He took a selfie, sent it to her, and asked: "And me? Do I look good?"
-Prior-
Prior couldn't stop laughing when she saw Kashion's message. That he could get jealous over something like that! As if he didn't know that no one could hold a candle to him. She couldn't resist teasing him.
"You look quite alright, Prince Kashion—but tired. You should get some sleep."
She had deliberately used the formal form.
-Kashion-
Kashion shook his head. Quite alright!
"You should also get some sleep instead of admiring other men, girlfriend of Prince Kashion. Good night!" he replied.
When she answered, "Alright, I'll follow your advice. Good night!", he smiled again and finally fell asleep with a smile.