Magic

Cassandra walked into the library with a stiff heart.

There were many things that were bothering Cassandra. So many things were rotating within her mind. Cassandra tried her best to control the thoughts that she was hearing and the only way to do that was to focus on only one voice.

Cassandra took some deep breaths as she walked towards the bookshelf trying to find some book to read.

[Why isn't the Duke here?]

[When will he come?]

Cassandra's eyes shoot towards the source of the thought. Princess Valeria was sitting in the place looking at the door with eager eyes.

Maybe Princess Valeria felt someone's gaze at her so she looked back in search of the gaze but soon her eyes stuck with Cassandra.

[Is she looking at me? Why?]

Cassandra's eyes widened as she looked back at the bookshelf.

'Please do not look at me.'

'I am invisible.'

Cassandra thought as she hurriedly took a book and went back to the seat she had taken. Cassandra could not go to the place she usually visits when so many people were looking at her.

[Why is the fifth Princess here?]

[She should not be here.]

[I heard someone say that the fifth Princess usually comes here to read, so she might not be here for the Duke.]

[Does she even know that Duke Salvador is coming here?]

Soon everyone in the library understands that Cassandra was not here for the Duke so they left her alone. They stopped looking at her with suspicious eyes and focused on something more important.

[When is the Duke coming?]

Many of them looked at Princess Valeria whose eyes were focused on the door like a hawk.

[Did the princess give the Duke permission to enter?] Many of the people thought as only the royal with enough authorities could assign or invite people to come into the library, maybe that's why the Empress's children had the authority to bring the help with them.

Cassandra shook her head as she opened the book quietly.

'I should try to focus on reading.' Her heart was beating faster with the fear of getting caught in the crossfire.

While Cassandra tried to focus on reading, the other people did not have the same thought going on in their minds.

[Who gave the Duke permission to enter?]

[The first princess? Princess Valeria?]

Every princess was looking at one another with suspicious eyes. Nobody knew who the lady in red was and everyone thought that it was one or the other. But it was also concluded that Cassandra was not one of them. After all, why would a Duke with such a great power choose a girl who had none?

Princess Valeria's thoughts became messy as time passed and the Duke did not come in.

[Why is he not here?]

[Why can't I see him?]

[Did my brother give me the wrong news?]

[It is not possible. I know he gave Duke Salvador permission to enter the library.]

Princess Valeria's eyes cannot wait to see Duke Aiden Salvador.

Cassandra heard Princess Valeria's thoughts in silence as she could not help herself but wonder what magic the Duke did on the princesses.

Although Cassandra understood that getting married into the Dukedom was the best thing that could happen to any of the princesses and only two of the four Duke's remained without a match. It was understandable that everyone wanted to marry Duke Salvador but the madness Cassandra could feel from Princess Valeria's thought was beyond her imagination.

The first Princess has become possessive for the Duke but by the look of it, the Duke did not even put the princess in his eyes. Cassandra also understood that it was the prince that had given the Duke the authority letter to enter the library.

'But were the third Prince and Duke so close?'

The question was rotating in Cassandra's mind.

If the Duke really was close to the crown Prince it was understandable that he must be one of the Empress's people.

'But then he wouldn't have saved me?'

Cassandra felt that she could not understand her own feelings. She was fighting with her own thoughts. Cassandra was confused about whether she should go for her views and ask the Duke for the hand of one of the soldiers to get out of the palace or she should keep her eyes and ears closed and ignore all the things that were occurring around her.

Cassandra was looking at the book but her thoughts were elsewhere.

'The Duke could not be a person of the Empress.'

'He just could not.'

'But then why is he on good terms with the third Prince.'

Even though the Crown Prince had never directly thought anything bad about her, Cassandra knew that it was just a matter of time. Cassandra always thought that it was because they had never interacted on a personal level to have opinions about each other.

She knew that the two people who were in the race of becoming the leader of the Empire were either the third Prince or the first Princess. In any of the cases, the person would be one of the Empress's children. Maybe that's why the Crown Prince has never taken any interest in Cassandra.

'But didn't it mean that Princess Valeria would eventually become the Duke's wife?'

It was a possibility that if Duke Salvador was really one of the people of the Crown Prince then the royals would definitely want him to be on their side with his full loyalty. And what would be better than a marriage union between the Crown Prince's biological sister and the Duke?

'And their elemental power matches as well.' Cassandra thought.

'I should not ask him about his soldiers then.' Cassandra's thoughts were not stable yet as her eyes went to the door from time to time but she could not see the man coming.

Soon Cassandra could sense the small movement of all the Princesses.

[The rumors were true.]

[Duke Salvador is here!!]

[He looks so handsome.]

[Should I clear the area around me for the Duke to sit.]

[Who is Duke Salvador searching for?]

[Is Duke really here to meet someone?]

Many voices floated through Cassandra's mind; her eyes did not leave the book. Cassandra could only wish that the Duke was not looking at her at this moment.