34 Heartbroken in Love

The Empress was happy with the answer that Cassandra had provided her.

[Only mother I know?]

[Of course, I will be the only mother you know.]

[Who knows who your biological mother is. But looking at your face, she might be beautiful. The type that makes others' hearts uneasy.]

[That's why I want you gone out of the palace first.]

The Empress giggled as if happy with Cassandra's reply. She smiled as she bent forward at Cassandra looking at her with eager eyes. "So you will answer a question of this mother of yours, right?"

[Come on. Say yes.]

[I am dying to ask you the thing that is bothering me.]

Cassandra looked at the Empress and wondered. 'Something that is bothering you?'

'What?'

Cassandra nodded her head as she kept the teacup down. "Yes, Empress."

"What Empress?" The Empress's hand touched Cassandra's that were on the table like a friend who wanted to confine with another friend. "Call me a mother."

Cassandra's eyes shook. Her heart was racing faster with fear. Cassandra knew the Empress was laying a playing ground for her.

The Empress pressed her hand making Cassandra uncomfortable as she opened her mouth but no words came out. She looked at the Empress'swho had narrowed her eyes as Cassandra nodded hurriedly in fear.

"Yes, Mother .."

Empress laughed as she removed her hand from Cassandra's. She had gotten what she wanted.

"Tell me then. Do you have someone that you love?"

Cassandra's mouth was open. But no words came out. How was she supposed to answer that? The answer was self-evident for this question. No one had ever shown interest in Cassandra because her personality was timid and she had no powers. And Cassandra had never taken it to heart as she knew her lace ion the Empire all along.

[Just say no.]

The Empress looked at the corner through her dropped eyes at the maidservant. She had kept her servants here purposefully. She wanted to create a rumor saying that she was a generous Empress and mother who cared about her children's love.

[Once the rumor spread that I care about you, love, then there will be many Royals confessing their love and desire to marry.]

[I can slowly dispose of them off unless the family is very powerful.]

[I may know how many of them are interested in Duke Salvador as well.]

Cassandra understood the reason why her life was treated like some social experiment. But Cassandra could not comment on it just yet.

'What will you do if I say that I have no one I like?'

'Marry me off to one of your choices?'

Cassandra stared at the Empress's hands as she continued her thinking.

'And will you do if I say I like someone?'

'Will you let me marry him?'

Cassandra wanted to ask it but she could not. She could not challenge the Empress and she knew it.

'I know the Empress wants and 'no' answer but the things that will happen once that words come out will be out of my hands.'

'Should I just say 'Yes'? After all, I will be asking Duke Salvador for his soldier.'

'Yes, I should say 'yes'.'

"Why aren't you answering your mother?" The Empress's voice echoed in the quiet room. Cassandra could indicate that the Empress was getting anxious.

"Well .." Cassandra looked at the ladies standing there behind the Empress who was looking down but their ears were sharpened for gossip. "I have some ...someone I like .. like …"

Cassandra's words trembled at the end as she looked up towards her opposite only to see the Empress's eyes widened in shock.

"YOU DO?" The Empress asked as she raised her voice and eyebrows in surprise.

The Empress had long ago investigated and knew that there was no one besides the fifth Princess. The men did not want to make a Princess like her the main wife of their house.

[Who is it?]

[Is it a one-sided love?]

[What if it is an influential family?]

[No... They will never take a lady like her in even if she is a Princess.]

[Then who? I have to know.]

Cassandra was quiet as she listened but never raised her eyes afterward. Her fingers fiddling with one another as she said in a shivering tone. "But he doesn't know. I don't know if I could ever tell him …"

Cassandra's eyes turned watery as she swallowed a few times, like a lady heartbroken in love.

"He doesn't know?" the Empress's asked as she looked at the lady's by her side from the corner of her eyes.

Cassandra shook her head.

"Don't worry. Mother will help you." The Empress touched Cassandra's hand yet again as she gave her the support. "Tell me who he is and mother will help you to have him."

Cassandra's eyes widened as she shook her head in fright. "No mother. I will tell him on my own and if he reciprocated my feelings I will let him meet you."

When Cassandra's words came out from her mouth like an obedient daughter, the Empress could not refute.

[I think I have to meet this man soon.]

[The fifth Princess's marriage is important to me.]

[This binding beauty should be out of the palace soon.]

The Empress removed her hand from Cassandra's as she nodded her head in understanding."Okay. I will be waiting. But I will give you a week to show the man to me."

Cassandra tilted her head in question. She blinked a few times to understand the situation that was suddenly created.

'Why a week?'

'It's such a little amount of time.'

It was as if the Empress understood the thoughts of the fifth Princess as she stated to explain before Cassandra could refuse.

"You will be of the age soon. As a mother, I am worried about your marriage as your condition is a little different. It breaks my heart to even think about it. Thus I want you to be happy soon."

Cassandra did not reply as she played with her fingers as her hand rested on her thighs. She did not want the Empress to touch her again. Cassandra had seen the disgust in the Empress's expression wherever she touched her.

"If the man refuses you, I want to find someone who would keep you safe and happy. As a mother, that is my biggest dream for all of my children."