Page 266 of The War God’s Favorite

“So?” asked Prince Opheus as soon as she stepped out of that room. “I already hid the body in another one of the rooms, which actually was a storage room this time.”

“Missandra will take care of... whoever this is. We should find the Emperor quickly. Someone will notice that old servant’s disappearance sooner or later.”

Opheus frowned for a second, surprised by her decision to part ways with her younger sister, but he eventually nodded. With one last look at the room where Missandra was left with the pregnant woman, they both got on their way, still trying to be as discreet as possible.

“Do you really have no idea who that woman was?” whispered Cassandra.

“No... I mean, maybe, but... to be honest, I might not like the answer.”

She nodded. No matter how they looked at it, if Prince Opheus couldn’t recognize a young woman that looked so much like him and his siblings, something was definitely off and wrong about it. Moreover, if that young woman really was a member of the Imperial Family, for her to be locked up like this couldn’t mean anything good. The fact that she was locked up in Vrehan’s apartments was a big clue, and Cassandra clearly remembered the story about that missing sister of his, but... that pregnancy was a heavy mystery, too. She hadn’t said a word, but Cassandra had immediately thought about that abortion potion Phetra had asked for, and she was sure Missandra had caught onto that too.

Cassandra’s thoughts couldn’t spend too much time on that matter, though. She and the Fourth Prince were still looking for his father, and they had no idea how far or close he could be. They finally arrived at the end of the forbidden area, Opheus putting an arm out to stop her before they turned a corner.

“Guards,” he whispered.

Cassandra could hear them. The private militia of the Second Prince was most likely guarding the area, just as they had suspected. She frowned. How to get past them? They wouldn’t be fooled as easily as the Imperial Guards, and they were out of decoys.

Next to her, Opheus took a deep breath in, shaking his head.

“This is the moment where I know I’m going to regret this,” he sighed.

Glancing at Cassandra, he brought his index to his lips, indicating for her to remain there and quiet, and suddenly stepped out, his hands on his hips.

Cassandra gasped, but covered her mouth and waited, listening to what was happening just a few steps away.

“You!” exclaimed the Prince. “Go and get me some eighteen-month refined jujubes!”

“Ju... Your Highness, no one is supposed to enter the Second Prince’s residence while he is...”

“How dare you talk back!” yelled Opheus, his voice going a little higher-pitched. “I gave you an order! Or do you think you can disobey an Imperial Prince!”

“That’s not it, Your Highness, but His Highness the Second Prince ordered us to...”

“Oh, so now you think I’m not worth the trouble? Because I’m only the fourth? Is that what you are saying? I am not a real Prince, perhaps? I don’t deserve obedience? You think anyone in my brother’s household is allowed to disrespect me? Are you talking for Vrehan when you ignore me? Is that what your master told you? The second is better than the fourth, so you can just ignore him? Hm? What do I do to get some respect around here! Ah, poor me! I don’t even deserve to be obeyed by my older brother’s men! All of this because I was the fourth born? Is that how my brothers are showing their consideration? Shall I go tell this dear Mother of mine how her beloved son is disrespected? Huh?”

Despite the current situation, Cassandra had to repress a chuckle. The Fourth Prince might deserve a prize for his acting skill. Opheus was talking non-stop, pressuring them relentlessly and she could hear all the men getting flustered by the sudden threat. The poor guards started talking all at once as soon as Opheus gave them a chance to, making a little ruckus. She mostly heard them begging Opheus to keep his mother out of this. She waited a bit more, but he wasn’t done.

“Really? Aren’t you just standing there for nothing then! What is there even to guard when he isn’t here! You are so busy you can’t even obey me? This Prince is hungry and you are all letting me starve! Where is it? There is no damn servant in this Palace, and all I can find is you useless people!”

“W-we have to guard, though, Y-Your Highness...”

“Guard what? Walls, perhaps? Three concubines sipping tea? What do you think I’m going to do with those women anyway?!”

The flustered guards seemed at a loss for words, mumbling something Cassandra couldn’t understand again. Opheus wasn’t giving them much space left to protest, as they probably couldn’t talk about the Emperor either. The guards were obviously at a loss on what to do without risking offending an Imperial Prince. They most likely feared there would be retribution later if they didn’t obey him.

“We... we will send someone, Your Highness...”

“You better hurry! I want eighteen month-dried jujubes, a full bottle of wine, three red apples...”

The list went on and on, and Cassandra did not even know what half of his requests were about. Was he making up some of those on purpose? With the list being so long, the guards would have no choice but to send a lot of people to gather up all the items. Did that mean Vrehan had really left no servant in his aisle? That made it easier for them, but also didn’t mean anything good for the Emperor.

After a while, she heard some of the men leaving. She had no idea how many there were initially, but Opheus’ long list was obviously meant to reduce their number. He kept scolding for a while, and Cassandra was getting nervous. He was never going to be able to get rid of all of those men, there were at least half a dozen.

“You two,” said the Prince.

Cassandra froze. There were only two men left?

“What are you doing?”

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