Page 226 of The War God’s Favorite

However, reality was quick to catch her. She realized it hadn’t been a nightmare, but the sad truth, when she saw the unfamiliar surroundings. They were in a common house, with a lot of people moving around. Cassandra, still lying down on some bed, turned her head. A little group was there. Women and men, several adults of all ages, all watching her with worried expressions. Missandra was quick to explain to her.

“Apparently, you arrived here about an hour ago, drenched.Those nice people found you and brought you here. They changed your clothes, too, and you fell asleep right away. You have a fever, but you are fine. We are safe here for now. I was hiding in the market, but all the inhabitants spread the word that you were looking for me, so I was able to come here a few minutes ago. How are you? Is that... the baby dragon is...”

Cassandra nodded, lifting her hand to caress the little one next to her. With Missandra’s help, she sat up, still feeling tired. So she had slept only an hour? The baby dragon immediately walked to her side, rubbing its head against her hip. Cassandra caressed the young creature and stared at the people around them.

“You...I don’t understand. I remember someone pulling me here.”

An old woman nodded and stepped forward.

“We heard something was going on in the Diamond Palace, My Lady. We all know that the relationships are bad between the Diamond Lady and the Second Prince . So, when the word was spread that they had come to arrest the War God’s Concubine, we knew something was wrong. We hoped the Diamond Lady could do something, but when my son spotted you, all alone on the City border...We immediately brought you here to hide you.”

“The soldiers are searching for you...I mean for us,” said Missandra. “That crazy Prince is furious you escaped. What happened?”

“The...waterfall. I escaped through the waterfall.”

“You jumped from that height while pregnant? Are you crazy!”

“Missandra, we don’t have time for that... ugh!”

Cassandra grimaced, holding her stomach. Her contractions were getting more intense. She took deep breaths, while the young woman brought her some warm tea.

“The baby dragon being here means you’re going into labor?” asked Missandra, visibly worried. “Cassandra, the soldiers are searching for us everywhere. If they hear of a woman giving birth...”

Cassandra nodded. This was the worst possible situation. She had made it out of the Diamond Palace, but the Prince would do anything to find her. He was going to search every house in the Diamond City for sure. Cassandra turned to the old woman.

“Thank you for helping us, but we...we can’t stay. If they find us here, you will be punished too.”

The old woman shook her head.

“Your Highness, we know who we are saving here. You’re the Lady of the Mountain! Do you know how many of our sons have gone to the war in the east? You have no idea how everyone felt here when we heard the Lady of the Mountain and the Diamond Lady were sending those survival kits to the front. Concubines caring about soldiers! We already knew our Diamond Lady was one very strong and brave woman, but to hear that the War God’s Concubine was a healer, and doing what she could for our families?”

“My brother and my husband were summoned to go to war, Your Highness,” added one of the young women behind her. “I’m fearing every day that they won’t return, my Lady, but not being able to do anything was the worst! When we heard what you were doing from the Diamond Palace, everyone started working to send what we could to the front!”

“That’s right,” added another woman. “We prepared packages of food, and started cultivating the same medicinal herbs as you, Your Highness!”

Cassandra was astonished to hear all that. She had no idea so much was going on in the Diamond City recently. She had noticed that people were respecting her a lot when she would go out with Lady Kareen, but she thought that was because of her status as a concubine, not because of her actions. The old woman bowed politely.

“Your Highness, there is no one in this City who isn’t ready to protect you. I can tell you that absolutely no one will talk if the soldiers interrogate them. We have our own dignity as the Diamond citizens. You have worked hard to help our sons that were sent to war, Your Highness. Now let us help you.”

Cassandra was on the verge of tears, listening to the old woman’s words. She couldn’t believe it. She had never imagined that the Diamond City’s people were aware of her actions, let alone that they respected her that much. Cassandra knew very well how feared the Imperial Family usually was, but now, she was surprised how she had even made such a strong impression on those people without having ever met them. Missandra, too, was blushing a bit and exchanged a look with her sister.

“We are very grateful that you are all willing to help us, but...This Prince is really, really crazy. Even if no one talks, he will search everywhere for my sister. If she is about to give birth here... Even with the rain, the baby’s cries will be heard outside.”

One of the middle-aged women stepped forward.

“Don’t worry, Lady Missandra, we have already come up with a plan. This is our City, we know where we can hide the young concubine where they won’t find her, or hear the baby.”

“We will also distract them,” added one of the young women. “The word is already spreading to keep the soldiers busy in another part of the City. Our neighbors went to signal a woman in a pink dress fleeing on the other side of the City.”

“We actually did take your dress to make a decoy, Your Highness, I hope you don’t mind.”

Cassandra was speechless. She had slept for a mere hour, and so much had happened already? They had sent a decoy with her dress! How many risks were those people willing to take for her? She wanted to protest, but another contraction came, and she had to stay quiet for it to pass.

“Thank you so much,” said Missandra in her stead. “So... Where do you think you can hide my sister?”

“We are almost done preparing!”

That’s when Cassandra noticed. Aside from the four women, there were two teenagers, twin boys from what she could see, and one older man behind them, getting a whole bunch of things ready on the table. It looked like they were packing things in big bags. There was a bit of food, but mostly blankets and tissues, a couple of bowls and basins, even some baby clothes.

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