Die on Tea

Lord Bentham walked beside Cassandra as he looked at her from time to time.

Once they reached the place, Cassandra stopped as she turned around to look at Lord Bentham. Cassandra was feeling uneasy. She tried to understand why Lord Bentham would drop her off. It was not that they were close. They had hardly interacted with each other.

But no matter what Cassandra thought, she could not find Lord Bentham's thoughts. It was as if he was not thinking anything. Just observing and that terrified Cassandra.

"Princess .." Lord Bentham smiled as he saw the twinking gaze of Cassandra.

Cassandra came back from her thoughts as she nodded her head at Lord Bentham.

"If the Princess doesn't mind, I would like to invite you for some tea." Lord Bentham's smile as her look at Cassandra with eager eyes. Cassandra was sure that Lord Bentham would not take a 'no' for an answer.

'Tea. Why does it have to be tea?'

'After having it with the Empress, I think I am done with teas. And yet ..'

'Maybe the Empress does not even have to try killing me ..'

'I can die on tea.'

Although Cassandra thought this, she smiled as she nodded her head in agreement. She knew that she was in no position to refuse such an offer.

'And Lord Bentham had always been nice with me.'

Lord Bentham nodded as he extended his hand. Cassandra's eyes shivered as she looked at Amy before taking Lord Bentham's hand.

"Amy, get everything ready at the 'Blossom's path.' We will have our tea there."

Amy bowed before she saw Lord Bentham and moved to obey the fifth Princess's order.

"We should also be on our way," Cassandra said in a low tone as she walked towards the small garden known as Blossom's path that was attached to her palace. Although it was not totally hidden, it was still a private place.

Cassandra knew that no one could hear them there and they would be visible from afar, avoiding the suspicious gazes that can be used against her.

'No one can say I meet with Lord Bentham secretly then.'

'And if someone comes. I could stop talking and change the topic then.'

'But why am I thinking something so far away? It is not like we will be talking something interesting.'

'Stop thinking useless things, Cassandra.'

'Stop.'

"Princess?" Lord Bentham's voice was serious as if he was unsure if the fifth Princess was listening to him or not. But seeing her expression, Lord Bentham knew that Cassandra was busy with her own imagination.

"Yes .." Cassandra looked at Lord Bentham as she smiled guiltily. It was then that she knew that they had reached the place as Lord Bentham was standing there behind a chair waiting for her to sit.

Feeling embellished, Cassandra hurriedly sat, her face turned red. "I am sorry."

Lord Bentham laughed as he shook his head before he took his seat. "You should not be. But today the fifth Princess looks lost. If you don't mind. The Princess can tell me if something is bothering her."

Cassandra looked up at Lord Bentham as she bit her lips. She could not tell why but Cassandra always felt a little relaxed near the Lord.

'What am I thinking?'

'I cannot tell him.'

Lord Bentham understood Cassandra's dilemma as he sighed. "You were coming out from the Empress's palace. Did the Empress …??"

Cassandra shook her head rapidly. "No."

Lord Bentham stated at Cassandra as if thinking if it was true.

[If not the Empress then who?]

[I just want her to be happy.]

[Was it related to Aiden?]

[Did he do something? Why can't he leave her alone?]

Cassandra smiled at Lord Bentham's thoughts as she saw Amy coming in with some tea. Cassandra waited till Amy served some tea as she waited for Lord Bentham to have the first sip.

"Princess, was it Aiden?"

"Aiden?" Cassandra asked. She had heard this name but could not remember where.

"Yes, Duke Salvador?" Lord Bentham said as he observed the fifth Princess's eyes widened in shock before she composed herself.

"Oh …"

Lord Bentham knew that a reason for the worry might really be the Duke. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the fifth Princess. "Is Duke Salvador demanding anything unnecessary from you? Is he troubling you?"

Cassandra wanted to shake her head as she was about to say something, Lord Bentham's next words made her stop.

"Don't try to deny it, Princess." Lord Bentham took the teacup and drank from it as if devouring the taste of the tea before he put it down. "I know Duke Aiden Salvador. Maybe way before you did."

Cassandra looked down as her hold on the teacup tightened. "No … That …"

[It truly is Aiden]

[What did he do?]

[I have to help the Princess.]

"Princess, the Duke is not an unreasonable person but sometimes he loses his reasoning. If he had told you to do something absurd then you should tell me. I might help you with it."

Cassandra's eyes jumped at Lord Bentham's words. It was a tempting offer but Cassandra was still hesitant. Duke Salvador never looked like an unreasonable person to her. He was someone who cared about everyone. Yes, he was arrogant and rude but never ignorant. He was a good leader.

But soon Duke Salvador. 'Come to my mansion' rang into Cassandra's ears./ The voice was so clear that Cassandra looked around in search of him.

"Princess, I was once on a battlefield with the Duke." Lord Bentham said as he saw Cassandra still struggling to open up. Normally, he would not have considered it, but the lady sitting in front of him was the fifth Princess who was invisible to everyone in the palace.

[What has the Duke done to you?]

[I am a little worried.]

Cassandra looked at Lord Bentham's gaze as she saw the care flash in his eyes. It was as if he wanted to tell her that he was there for her but could not.

"Do you know wha6t Duke Aiden Salvador demanded there?"

Cassandra's gaze shook as she looked at Lord Bentham, waiting for him to continue.

Lord Bentham chuckled as he asked. "You want to know?" He drank a sip as he waited for the fifth Princess's answer.

"Yes," Cassandra said subconsciously. She wanted to know about Duke Salvador.