Forbidden Words

Lord Bentham smiled as he drank the tea.

"The Duke was quiet at first and then he demanded that we attack head on. The soldiers were tired from the travel. We all needed rest and yet Duke Aiden Salvador wanted to secretly attack."

Lord Bentham sighed. He knew that his friend was unreasonable. But at times he understood that Duke Salvador was a vicious leader.

"All his advisors told him that it was unreasonable. The soldiers needed rest but Duke Salvador said that if the soldiers cannot fight back without rest and food they are suitable to stay and should be killed by him."

Cassandra looked at Lord Bentham with wide eyes. She had no idea that Duke Salvador would do that at times like this.

'Shouldn't the Duke as a leader consider the soldier's condition?'

'So unfair on the soldiers.'

'Why would his team respect the Duke so much then?'

'Why are they so loyal to the Duke?'

Cassandra's mind was filled with worry and questions.

"So Princess, you tell me if he wants something from you. I will help you." Lord Bentham said in a low tone. His eyes were staring at her with a soft gaze.

[Princess please do not get involved with something you cannot get out of.]

[You are too innocent for this.]

[I just want to help you to achieve some freedom.]

Cassandra's gaze snapped at Lord Bentham. His thoughts ran in her mind like flowing water.

'Some freedom?'

'How?'

Cassandra swallowed as she looked into Lord Bentham's gaze. "What if I tell you?" Cassandra's tone was soft. Her fingers fiddling with each other. "How will you help me?"

Lord Bentham smiled as he looked at Cassandra. "Princess should trust me first. If it is something I can solve, I will try my best to help you."

Cassandra nodded as she looked at Lord Bentham. His thoughts proved that he cared for her. Lord Bentham was not like others who wanted to take advantage of her. The gaze he looked at her was unique as if he had known her for a long time.

"I had met Duke Salvador a few times but the experience was never good. He is dominating and likes to control." Cassandra said as she looked down at the teacup placed on the table.

The air was flowing as the climate became soft. A soft chill spread through the body as the sound of birds could be heard at a distance. The flowers were blooming as the fain fragrance filled the garden.

Lord Bentham nodded as he looked at Cassandra. What she had said was true. Lord Bentham knew that Duke Salvador was not an easy person to handle and looking at it, it seems that he had taken a liking to Cassandra.

"He wants to meet me," Cassandra said as she looked down. She did not know why she felt like telling it to Lord Bentham but it was instinctively with Lord Bentham.

But yet after saying this, Cassandra was shy. It was not a proud thing to say but it was also true that Cassandra needed help. With Duke Salvador's demand, Cassandra knew that she had to find a way to survive. What if Duke Salvador's demand never stops?

"Meet you?" Lord Bentham narrowed his eyes. He looked at Cassandra as if he was looking at a lady who was saying forbidden words. "Why?"

[Why does Aiden want to meet her?]

[What is he planning?]

[Princess Cassandra should not be involved in any of his plans.]

[What if she gets hurt? She is powerless.]

[She is so small. What if it damages her.]

[No, if the Princess really goes to meet the Duke, she would need support.]

[If Princess Cassandra got caught by the Empress then what would happen to her?]

Cassandra was touched by the worry of Lord Bentham. He was a person who cared for her like no one else. After Amy, it was Lord Bentham who had shown such a thing was her.

"That …." Cassandra's gaze could not meet Lord Bentham's.

'Should I tell him the truth?'

'No …'

'What if Duke Salvador becomes angry.'

'Can I afford it?'

'No, I cannot.'

Cassandra was determined. Even if she trusted Lord Bentham, she cannot tell him the things related to her and Duke Salvador. Cassandra did not want more people to know about it. The fewer people know the more she was safe.

Lord Bentham saw the uneasiness in Cassandra's gaze. He was quite able to understand what he should do. He did not want to force Cassandra.

"If you feel uneasy to say it, I understand.." Lord Bentham said as he smiled. "But you can tell me why the Empress called you. You looked stressed when you came out from her palace."

Cassandra fiddled with her fingers. She looked at the grass on the ground that looked greener. Cassandra knew that the things she had discussed with the Empress were going to go out in the palace soon.

'It doesn't make any sense if I tell Lord Bentham or he knows it from the spice from the palace.'

Cassandra knew that every Dukedom had some spies in the palace. They were under the Emperor's nose and yet he did not know it.

"The Empress wants me to marry soon," Cassandra said with a smile. She looked up at Lord Bentham with a soft gaze. It was as if she had given up on things.

"She wants to marry you? With whom?" Lord Bentham narrowed his gaze. Cassandra looked like an abandoned kitten who was finding a kind human to take care of her.

"I don't know." Cassandra giggled as her eyes stared at a distance. Was it even a question to ask? She would never know the man she will marry. And yet she had to smile and accept it. "But the Empress said that if I had a lover, I can tell her that so she could marry me off to him."

Cassandra's voice turned to whisper at the end. "Only if I had one."

Lord Bentham looked at Cassandra as he said with a sharp tone. "If you had none, then let me do it."