– Prior –
Prior hurried out into the palace garden. She couldn't go to her room right now. She didn't want to see anyone or speak to anyone.
The sun had already set. She looked up at the starry sky. How different it looked here compared to Saturn.
The light pollution on Earth was much stronger than on Saturn, yet she could still make out a few stars. The stars had always been a constant in her life. No matter how unsettling things became, they remained unshaken. That always gave her a sense of hope.
Her gaze shifted to the crescent moon, and she laughed softly. A single, solitary moon. But it was beautiful. Unique.
She walked slowly along the flowerbeds. In the evening light, the colors were no longer easy to distinguish. Not every part of the garden was well lit.
Prior sighed.
What had that been? What kind of game was Prince Kashion playing with her?
Wanting a Cheqi partner—that she could understand. But why had he wanted to spend time with her afterward?
She tried to replay all her encounters with him. First, she had noticed his attention at the banquet. Probably curiosity because of her Cheqi message. Prior shook her head. It couldn't be anything else. Perhaps he was simply being polite.
After all, he had to think about Evlina. Had to. That had been his word. Prior refused to follow that thought any further.
Princess Evlina had always been good to her, had lifted her up when she had been at her lowest. And this was about the agreement.
Of course Prince Kashion was attractive and challenged her. But she mustn't allow herself foolish hope. It was unlikely that it was anything more than the game. And besides, he didn't know her past.
Prior closed her eyes. She tried to extinguish the small flame of hope that had begun to spark.
She would make him the Saturn Rings. And afterward, she would try to avoid him.
But what would she do if he asked to play Cheqi again? She knew it would be hard for her to say no.
Eventually, she composed herself and returned to her room.
Talina was sitting at the table, reading something on her tablet.
"Good evening," Prior said.
"Evening, Prior," Talina replied. "I thought you weren't coming back."
"I was in the garden for a bit."
"Ah. I'm supposed to tell you that Evlina wants to discuss something with us tomorrow morning after breakfast. But she said Prince Kashion recommended using the palace wellness area tomorrow. Would you like to come along?"
Prior shook her head. She didn't feel like relaxing. She needed distraction.
"I think I'd rather go to the lab—or maybe to the library here," she answered.
"Library?"
"Yes, I heard there's one here."
"Not bad. We'll probably have a few free days anyway. Maybe I'll go there too."
– Kashion –
The next morning, Prince Kashion sat at the breakfast table with his parents and Princess Evlina.
But his thoughts kept drifting back to the evening before. He wondered what it would be like if Prior were sitting here instead of Evlina.
He looked at Evlina. She smiled at him, breathtakingly beautiful as always. He could see that she enjoyed being near him, the way she kept glancing at him. Why couldn't he simply find her more compelling? She was perfect. She would make the agreement a success.
But then there was Prior. How had it started? At first, he hadn't even noticed her. Not until she had written him that note.
The note.
Kashion had to smile. Ever since he had known it was from her, he had noticed her.
And she was so different from Evlina. Whenever he looked at Prior, he saw her emotions.
He glanced at the fruit salad and spotted strawberries. He smiled again. Just the way she had eaten the strawberries—full of enthusiasm. And her excitement in the laboratory. And playing Cheqi with her had been something entirely different.
Sometimes she seemed so full of life and passion. It was as if she embodied everything he himself wanted to be—or to have. As if she had awakened a memory within him.
And when he looked at Evlina now, he saw duty and obligation. She simply couldn't touch him in the same way. He didn't feel as alive.
What was he supposed to do?
All he really wanted was for the day to pass quickly so that Prior would stand at his door with the Saturn Rings. But then what?
"And what will you do afterward?" Queen Ada suddenly asked. He hadn't been paying attention to the breakfast conversation. The question was meant for Evlina.
Evlina smiled at Kashion. "Kashion recommended the wellness area here. My maid Talina will come along. And for the next few days—hmm." She paused thoughtfully.
"You could attend a concert here at the palace with Kashion," Ada suggested.
"That would delight me," Evlina replied. Both women looked at Kashion.
He nodded. "We can certainly do that."
"Prince Kashion," Evlina continued, "I've heard you play badminton. Shall we do that together as well?"
Kashion nodded again. "No problem."
Ada smiled. "That sounds like a good plan. And you'll still have enough time to prepare for the coming days."
Perhaps it would be good to spend more time with Evlina. Maybe then he could sort out his feelings.
– Prior –
Later, Prior sat with Talina in Evlina's room.
Evlina explained that she had had breakfast with Kashion and his parents and that plans had been made for the coming days. Tomorrow they would attend a concert, and afterward they would play badminton.
Prior tried not to feel jealous. This was how things were meant to unfold.
"You're welcome to join us. Prince Kashion hinted that he would invite more people to the concert. And for badminton, someone needs to come along anyway. He wants to bring Oren and said I'd need someone too. Prior, you like music. Would you like to come?" Evlina asked.
Prior would have loved to come. But she didn't want to see Kashion—especially not with the perfect princess.
"Princess," she began, "I'm sorry. Would it be all right if I spent the next few days on my own—or in the lab? When the representatives of the other realms arrive, I'll of course be fully involved again."
Evlina studied her thoughtfully, then nodded. "That's fine. It's not that important anyway. But Talina, you'll come, won't you?"
"Of course, Princess," Talina replied.
Prior glanced briefly out the window into the distance. It felt as though everything were somehow wrong.
Evlina and Talina soon made their way to the wellness area, where they would meet Queen Ada.
Prior considered going to the lab for a few hours to clear her mind.
The lab wasn't particularly exciting that day. Still, it was nice to see Yin and Tin again.
She didn't stay long and eventually decided to give the library a chance.
It was located on the top floor of the palace. When she reached the door, she noticed it was guarded. But she was allowed to enter without many questions.
As she stepped through the large doors, she could hardly contain her amazement.
It was enormous.
Bright and flooded with light from large windows. Along one side stood shelves filled with old books and scrolls. Saturn had paper—but no printed books. Everything there was digital.
Prior walked to a shelf and pulled out a random book. It felt good in her hands. She opened it and flipped through the pages. It seemed very old, and she couldn't recognize the script. What struck her most was the smell. It was pleasant.
She wandered through the rows of shelves—filled to the very top with books. Some sections were closed off. Apparently not everyone was allowed to read everything.
She also found books about astronomy and ancient images from the time before Saturn had been terraformed, when it had consisted almost entirely of gas. Incredible.
Then she went to the VR area Kashion had recommended. But she didn't want to take a virtual journey to Gelserkh.
Instead, she entered "Tangyan City" into a control panel and put on the headset and headphones.
Her heart nearly stopped.
She stood in the heart of Tangyan City, surrounded by familiar buildings. Even the traffic noise and music drifting from cafés felt almost authentic. It was as if she were home again.
Tears welled briefly in her eyes. She almost wanted to run to her friends. But then she realized something was off.
"It's the air," she thought. The air was different. She was breathing Earth's air.
She removed the headset and headphones. It wasn't real. But it was fascinating.
You could select all kinds of places and eras—immerse yourself completely in history. She noticed it was even possible to do it with several people at once. On Saturn, there was less desire to revive Earth's past. Too much had gone wrong.
Prior looked around a little longer and then discovered a path leading upward and outside.
She climbed up.
There was actually an observatory.
There was so much to discover. She felt she could spend entire days here.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, her thoughts drifted back to Kashion. She was grateful that he had told her about the library and given her this opportunity. She would have liked to tell him that.
Then she remembered the Saturn Rings.
She glanced at the time. Yes—it was slowly time to head to the kitchen.