Addicted

Cassandra looked at the Duke, who was busy staring at her neck.

When Aiden saw that Cassandra was not responding, he stretched his hand out as his fingers lightly brushed on the wound.

"Shh …" The pain that was forgotten came back crashing as Cassandra took a step back in fright.

"Relax. It needs to be treated soon." Aiden's words were straightforward but his tone was full of concern. There was no time to think as Aiden waved his hand as a signal.

Cassandra was confused. When was she hurt so badly and why didn't she realize it sooner. Cassandra felt like she was losing her concentration in the presence of the Duk.

Suddenly a shadow came behind Aiden making Cassandra's eyes widened in shock. She did not know what was happening but she was sure this was not something she had heard of before.

'How did the man come here so suddenly?'

'Why couldn't I see him before?'

"Master," The man said in a low voice like a whisper.

"Blazh, treat the Princess," Aiden commanded as his eyes stared at the wounds on Cassandra's body. He did not know why he felt uncomfortable, but he wanted it to be cured.

'Is it because The red on her glass-like skin is creating a contrast making it more eye-catching?' Aiden thought. 'Let's go with this.'

The man named Blazh looked at Cassandra, who did not know what was happening. But when his gaze collided with Cassandra's his thoughts came into Cassandra's mind.

[Who is this lady?]

[Blond hair? Is she a Princess?]

[Why is she alone here with the Master?]

[Why does he want me to treat her?]

[Master had never used my powers on anyone else.]

[Then why her?]

Cassandra breathed a sigh of relief. She had felt like she had lost her power.

'I think my powers do not work on Duke Salvador alone.'

Cassandra decided to look into it more. There were still aspects to it that she had not understood fully and there was no one she could ask for help.

As soon as Blazh poured his power towards Cassandra she felt like her wounds were healing.

'This is water.'

'This man is a water mage.'

'But how is he with Duke Salvador?'

Cassandra was confused. The political environment did not allow mages to have a harmonious relationship. The mages of the four elements hated each other, yet on the surface, they were in harmony.

"Aargh …" Cassandra felt pain all of a sudden.

"Are you feeling pain?" Aiden asked as he looked at Blazh with narrowed eyes.

Cassandra nodded but suddenly the feeling of pain disappeared as a soothing feeling spread through her.

[Something is wrong.]

Cassandra's eyes widened as she heard Blazh's words.

[I felt like she sucked my powers in.]

[How is this possible?]

[Only those people can do this.]

'Those people?'

Cassandra wondered what Blazh was thinking. But before she could think more about it, Blazh stopped and took a step back. [I need to tell the Master.]

Cassandra's eyes narrowed. Her eyes flipped through Blazh and Aiden.

"It looks good. How are you feeling now? Ther there still pain?" Aiden asked worriedly. He extended his hand to touch Cassandra's neck as the cut and the bruises disappeared.

"Good job Blazh." Satisfied with the result Aiden said.

"Master …" Blazh whispered under his breath, making Duke Salvador look at him with his red gaze.

Blazh shrugged. "I will take my leave." Blazh disappeared and so did these thoughts from Cassandra's mind.

'Where did he go all of a sudden.'

"Princess .." Aiden looked at the princess who was again lost in thoughts. What was on her mind that kept her busy?

"I am indebted to you yet again." Cassandra bowed her head in gratitude. "How can I express my sincere feelings to your excellency."

Aiden looked at the Princess who had no pride. 'How can she bow her head so willingly?'

Aiden smiled, "Then how about the princess give me the honor to have a dance?"

Cassandra's eyes widened in shock. How could she dance with the Duke all of a sudden?

'It must not have been his first dance?'

'He might have had his dance.'

Cassandra told herself again and again. But even if she wanted to, Cassandra did not know how.

"Your excellency, the Duke could ask for anything else."

"Why? Does the Princess not find me as a suitable dance partner?"

"How could I?"

"Then there shouldn't be any problem."

Cassandra hesitated as she took a step back subconsciously. "Perhaps the excellency does not know who I am." Cassandra's voice was soft but low.

For the first time, she felt ashamed to introduce herself in a way that would demine her.

Aiden raised his hand towards Cassandra asking her to keep his hand in his. "I know that you are a Princess. And the Emperor had hoped that I would dance with one."

Cassandra understood what Aiden was trying to do. Even if she could not listen to his thoughts, she could understand them from his words.

Duke Salvador wanted to use Cassandra as a scapegoat. 'It will change when he really knows me.'

"Yes I am a Princess, but in name alone. Your excellence should find someone else." Cassandra's voice trembled at the end.

Suddenly she was pulled into the arms of the Duke who had started moving at the voice of music that could be lightly heard from below.

"You think I don't know you, Princess. Fifth Princess of Elvira Empire, Princess Cassandra Reinhard. Rumored to be the unfavored princess." Aiden laughed as he rested Cassandra's hands on his shoulder as he went around her waist.

'Her waist is so small.' Aiden thought as his other hand held Cassandra's hand. 'Even her palm is half of my size.'

"Yes. So it is useless to dance with me."

"Why?" Duke Salvador asked as he raised his eyebrows.

"Because I cannot dance." Cassandra blurted out. She could not believe what she had said as her eyes widened in shock.

'I was distracted by his looks.'

'Why is this man so handsome?'

'And on top of it, he is mysterious.'

Aiden laughed as he pulled Cassandra a little towards him, "But the Princess is dancing. Isn't she?"

Cassandra looked down as she saw her foot rested on Aiden's, making her eyes wide. Cassandra was a poor student of etiquette at times thus no one really liked to teach her things. Cassandra still remembers being told by the teachers not to come to dance classes as because of her poor grasping skills other Princesses were getting affected.

It was one of the many reasons why Cassandra hardly attended any parties. Even if she did, she would leave it at the earliest. That was a way to protect herself from embarrassment.

But now Cassandra was dancing and that too by resting her weight onto the Duke's. It made her face flushed in embarrassment.

'When did this happen?'

'How did I not understand?'

'This is all Duke Salvador's mistake.'

'If only I was not distracted by him.'

'If only I could listen to him.'

'How much powerful is he that is blocking my power?'

"What are you thinking?" Aiden asked curiously. He wanted to know what was going on in Cassandra's small head.

"How strong are you?" Cassandra said, without even thinking. But soon realized her mistake. She wanted to bury herself deep into the earth.

'I should tell Amy to build a tomb for me.'

'Why can't I think before I speak.'

'Uhh ..'

Aiden laughed as he heard Cassandra's words. The fifth Princess was funny like a fresh breath of air he had not seen.

She didn't think before she spoke. She is always in her thoughts. She is clumsy and doesn't know how to dance. She was nothing like a Princess was supposed to be. The Princesses he had seen would always think twice before they opened their mouths, they were poised and elegant and an excellent dancer, and yet they couldn't amaze Aiden.

'You are different.' Aiden thought.

"Is the Princess worried about my foot?" Aiden asked as he smirked. "Princess is weightless like the shrub's leaves you were hiding in."

Cassandra was embarrassed. She wanted to die for the first time in her life.

'Why am I embarrassing myself today.'

'And that too in front of the Duke.'

'How many times had it been? Three? Four?'

'And yet my heart is telling me that it won't be the last time.

Cassandra sighed. Her body moved along with the sound.

'I feel relaxed.' Cassandra thought. She had never felt like this before. She felt free, like a bird.

So what if she had embarrassed herself in front of the Duke? What if the Empress was trying to marry her off? What if her life had suddenly come into danger? The feeling Cassandra felt now made her smile.

'I should not get addicted to this.'

'This is not reality.'

'This will be all over soon.'

'And yet I want to live till it lasts.'

Cassandra smiled as she enjoyed her first official dance under the moonlight.