Page 115 of The War God’s Favorite

“I know, pretty flower, and I won’t let you. I promise. You have this old woman and her son to look after you. I want to see this child’s birth, Cassandra. If I have one thing to do before I leave this world, it is to see the face of my grandchildren.”

Cassandra slowly nodded.

She had stayed with Kareen only for a few weeks, but she admired that woman greatly, and trusted her. Like Kairen had said, she was probably their greatest and strongest ally in this Palace. Cassandra felt lucky she had come here with them. Despite Phetra’s threats or all the jealous concubines, she knew there was at least someone willing to protect her.

Cassandra was not a fighter. She was among those women who had been born with a frail body, but had grown very wise.

“Wipe your tears, Cassandra. Don’t show them your weakness, ever. If they think you’re weak, they’ll enjoy your suffering twice as much. Don’t give them that.”

“Princess Phetra is…”

“An obnoxious little swine. Just like her brother. They hate me and my children to the core.”

“W…why?”

“Their mother made the mistake of trying to defy me. She shouldn’t have.”

Cassandra frowned. So this was all about some…revenge? Was that Phetra’s case as well? What had happened to their mother? Despite her curiosity, Cassandra knew Kareen enough by now to know that she wouldn’t say anything else.

“Well, let’s have breakfast now, shall we? I won’t let my grandson starve, and his mother is still too thin. Servants!”

Immediately, a horde of Imperial Servants hurried in, bringing endless gold trays of food. It was time for her to dry her tears indeed. The two women ate silently, but Cassandra knew things wouldn’t settle like this. She told Kareen about the snake after they finished their meal, but to her surprise, the Imperial Concubine didn’t seem worried or surprised in the slightest. She elegantly wiped her lips, nodding as if she had already known about it.

“It wasn’t a poisonous one?”

“No, I am sure. Unless they knew I was pregnant and had prepared ahead, but…”

“They’re just playing around then.”

“Playing?” repeated Cassandra, shocked.

Kareen stood up, walking further inside her apartments to get changed. Cassandra had seen her shamelessly change her clothes in open spaces in the Diamond Palace before, it was nothing surprising. As she had learned over time, the Imperial Family members shared loose morals, especially over nudity. Moreover, only women were allowed in here. Three servants helped her change into a dark pink dress, with purple and golden embroidery in it. Cassandra wondered if this was a gift from the Emperor.

“If they wanted to kill you, they wouldn’t have sent such a petty threat. Not into the War God’s room. My son won’t die of something so insignificant. His Dragon blood wouldn’t even have felt the difference. That thing was directed at you, most likely.”

“Me? Why would someone want to scare me?”

“You’re the new one and the only concubine of the Third Prince. All the concubines around here like to play like children. They fool around like this all the time, testing each other, seeing who’s the stronger woman. But you’re not a child anymore. You’re a mother.”

Kareen turned to her, crossing her arms, while the servants were struggling to do her hair.

“It’s time you show those women you are not to be toyed around with. Not because you’re protected by Kairen, but on your own.”

Cassandra shook her head.

“I doubt I’m strong enough to scare them.”

“You don’t have to be strong, you have to be smart. And we both know how smart you really are, Cassandra. A woman with your past and knowledge is the one they should be most scared of.”

She didn’t even have anything to reply to that. She took one step back, shaking her head. How? How could she prove to these women they shouldn’t mess with her? Her whole life, Cassandra had struggled to stay out of sight, unnoticed, but things were different now. She had no more room to hide and all eyes were on her.

Cassandra knew Kareen had simply voiced the truth, but it terrified her. Not all of those women were like Phetra, but some still were.

Later that same day, Cassandra left Kareen’s apartments, holding a basket in her hands. She knew where to go, but she only lacked a bit of courage. It was still early, and she only crossed a few servants on her way out. She was relieved not to meet anyone from the Imperial Family.

She walked all the way to the outer gardens. It was the same place that she had seen her former and last owner face a brutal death: the Gardens. The Concubines’ favorite resting place. It was rumored to be the most beautiful place in the Palace, but Cassandra couldn’t care for it.

Most of the Concubines were gathered there for their breakfast; those who weren’t accompanying their masters, anyway. They giggled and exchanged sweets and pleasantries, seemingly getting along with each other. Cassandra didn’t believe any of those interactions were real.

---