-Prior –
They had been traveling for almost five hours now. They had flown over the most varied landscapes. At that moment, Prior was looking down at a wide plain with green meadows stretching beneath them. Every now and then, small specks dotted the grasslands—surely cattle and horses grazing there.
"This is where Kashion and I learned to ride," Kassia said.
"I want to learn too," Yina said, who had been awake again for some time.
"Can you ride?" Kassia asked.
Prior shook her head. "On Saturn, we don't usually learn that."
"Maybe you can learn someday," Kassia said. "It looks like we'll be arriving soon. First, we'll have something to eat at my aunt's place."
Prior put a hand on her stomach. "I'm really very hungry by now," she admitted.
Yina laughed. "Me too!"
"Aunt Aliror is an excellent cook," Kassia said. "Kashion always took several portions, and we used to be afraid he would get too fat."
"You wouldn't think that now. He has such a good figure," Prior replied with a laugh—then immediately turned serious. How could that have slipped out? She felt embarrassed.
Kassia looked at her curiously.
Prior quickly looked down at her tab.
"kashion233 has made a move," it read. She moved her tree in the center next to his tree.
"We'll be landing shortly and should prepare," a voice suddenly said. Emi. Prior had almost forgotten she was there.
– Kashion –
Kashion was sitting on a picnic blanket in the garden with his parents, Oren, Evlina, and Talina. There was all sorts of delicious food: grilled dishes, small appetizers, desserts.
Evlina was just telling anecdotes from her childhood. "Once I thought Aethereleum was our air, and when my father said he wanted to send it to Earth, I started crying because I thought we wouldn't have anything left to breathe!"
Everyone laughed.
However, Kashion noticed that Evlina had seemed slightly different since the badminton game. She didn't smile at him as often and seemed more distant. For him, that was a relief.
He kept glancing at his tab. But FoxPriority hadn't made another move.
"Kashion!" his mother said. "What could possibly be so important right now? Affairs of state can wait. Enjoy the picnic and stop looking at your tab all the time."
Kashion nodded and put the tab away. He noticed Oren watching him suspiciously.
"If you weren't a princess, what would you have liked to become?" Ada asked Evlina.
Evlina thought for a moment. "Hmm, I think I would have become a musician or a dancer. Yes. Science was never really my thing. But I'm glad I have my two attendants—they're really smart," she said with a smile, patting Talina on the shoulder.
Ada looked thoughtful. "Oh, where is your other attendant? I've hardly ever seen her. Didn't she want to come?"
"Oh, Prior went to Gelserkh with Princess Kassia," Evlina replied.
When he heard Prior's name, he almost reached for his tab again to check whether she had played.
"With Kassia in Gelserkh? Why that? Of all times? Did you know about this, Kashion?" his mother asked.
Kashion nodded. "Yes, it was rather spontaneous. We talked about it. Don't worry, they'll be back in time."
"Strange," Ada murmured.
Kashion said nothing more. But he noticed Oren subtly shaking his head.
Kashion looked down at the grass beside the picnic blanket and began pulling out a few blades.
– Prior –
They had landed. Slowly, the door opened, and they stepped outside.
Prior immediately noticed the air. It was even fresher than in Lantian. The colors, too, seemed more vibrant. They had landed on a large meadow, and the green practically shimmered.
In front of them stood a large, round house that appeared to have only one or two floors. In the distance, she could see more similar houses.
Two women were standing in front of the house, waiting. One was somewhat older, the other about Prior's age.
The older woman looked very much like Queen Ada—that must be Aunt Aliror.
The younger one had long, straight light-brown hair with violet streaks and doe-brown eyes. Both seemed delighted to see the small group.
When they stood face to face, Aliror immediately pulled Kassia into her arms. "Kassia, dear, how wonderful to see you," she said. "And Yina has grown again."
Then the other woman hugged Kassia tightly and for a long time.
"Hello, Emi!" the two women said, and the younger woman hugged Emi as well. Prior hadn't expected so much warmth toward a Hualin.
Then the women stood before Prior.
"And who do we have here?" Aliror asked.
"A friend from Saturn," Kassia explained.
"Oh?" Aliror said. "But not the princess—she looks different, at least…"
"Close. Her attendant, Prior," Kassia interrupted.
"Well then, hello, Prior. I'm Aliror," she said and hugged her as well. Prior barely knew what was happening. After all, this woman was the queen's sister.
"Hello, nice to meet you. I'm Lina," the younger woman said, hugging her too.
"Nice to meet you," Prior murmured.
"Now, shall we eat?" Aliror asked. "Come inside. Everything's ready. It's just a pity Kashion isn't here," she added as she walked toward the house. The others followed.
Soon they were all seated around a round table. It was richly set with various dishes.
Kassia took a plate and placed something that looked like noodles on it. She set it in front of Prior. Prior almost protested. How could the princess serve her? But Kassia immediately said, "You absolutely have to try this. It's Kashion's favorite dish. This region is famous for these long noodles with chili." She winked at her.
Prior looked down at her plate. Kashion's favorite dish. It gave her a strange feeling. She began to eat—and it truly was excellent. She gave Kassia a thumbs-up, and Kassia laughed.
There were also various vegetables and cheeses, including melted cheese, and different kinds of bread. Afterward came sweets and chocolates of all kinds.
It was all a true delight. But Prior also felt slightly dazed. She could hardly believe she was sitting so casually and comfortably at the table with Kashion's family. She wondered why Kassia had wanted her there at all. And again and again, she heard his name mentioned in conversation.
Soon she felt she couldn't eat another bite. Yina suddenly sighed loudly and said, "My belly is full, but my mouth is still hungry!"
Everyone laughed again.
When they finished eating, Lina suggested going outside for a walk across the meadows.
"You go ahead," Aliror said. "I'll rest a little. We'll have tea later."
The three women and Yina went outside. Yina naturally took Prior's hand, and the two walked a little behind Lina and Kassia.
So Lina was Kashion's cousin, Prior thought.
"And how is Oren?" she heard Lina ask. So she knew Oren as well. Of course—if Kashion had often been here and Oren had known him since childhood, then Lina would know him too.
Prior let her gaze wander across the landscape. In the distance, she could already see mountain peaks. Everything seemed so peaceful here, and she almost felt free. She had missed this feeling, since on the spaceship and in the palace she couldn't sense this vastness.
Then, almost without noticing, the thought came to her that Kashion had probably walked here too. Almost certainly.
Suddenly Yina let go of her hand and ran joyfully across the meadow.
Without thinking much, Prior took her tab from her pocket. "kashion233 has made a move," it said. She opened the game, moved her piece a few spaces, and captured one of his foresters. Then she put the tab away again.
"Prior! Catch me!" Yina suddenly called.
Prior laughed—and then she ran after her.
– Kashion –
After the picnic, Oren came back to Kashion's room with him.
Kashion sat in his armchair.
Oren didn't sit down at first. He stood there, then paced back and forth across the room. Kashion watched his strange behavior suspiciously.
"Is everything alright?" Kashion asked.
Oren looked at him and stopped in front of him. "I've figured you out," he said.
"Oh?" Kashion replied.
"The strawberries, the visit to the lab, the Saturn rings," Oren began, and Kashion's heart started beating faster. "Then the question about the wedding… And I was watching earlier as well. It's Prior, isn't it?" he continued.
Kashion simply looked at him. He couldn't say anything.
"And you keep saying it's harmless and that you know what you're doing and—"
"Oren! That's enough!" Kashion interrupted.
"What are you planning?" Oren asked. Then he sat down opposite him.
Kashion sighed and rubbed his eyes. "I'll see to it that I make the agreement work—without losing myself."
Oren drew in a sharp breath. "Are you sure?"
Kashion thought for a moment. "I wasn't sure. I wanted to use these days to figure it out. But whenever I'm with the princess, I don't feel free. I feel like someone playing a role."
"And Prior?" Oren pressed.
"Prior is like question and answer at the same time. I absolutely want to find out," Kashion replied.
Oren looked at him critically. "Did you send her to Gelserkh to create distance?"
Kashion shook his head. "I wanted to give her something. She really wanted to go there. Is this interrogation over soon?"
Oren laughed. "Just one more thing. Have you asked yourself what happens if Prior doesn't want you?"
Kashion sighed. "I think it would hurt more never to try," he answered.
"Then good luck, Your Highness. And try to treat the princess fairly," Oren said.
"I will," Kashion replied.
Oren stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and said goodbye.
Kashion remained seated in his armchair for a while. He felt relieved to have spoken the thoughts aloud.
Now he had new plans. He would prepare even more thoroughly for the agreement. He had to manage it without a bond to Evlina.
But at that moment, he didn't want to think about any of that.
Instead, he picked up his tab and opened CheqiMasterPro.
– Prior –
Prior was sitting with the others in the cozy living room of Aliror's estate.
The women were drinking tea and chatting freely. Kassia sat between Lina and Aliror, while Yina sat on Aliror's lap.
Kassia talked a bit about how she and Yina had been lately. She also mentioned that her parents were doing well.
Prior had wondered what had happened to Kashion's uncle, but she didn't dare ask. She didn't want to dampen the mood.
Suddenly Aliror asked about Princess Evlina.
Kassia looked at Prior and then said, "She's exactly how one would imagine her. A true beauty, very intelligent, and she also has a kind nature."
Aliror nudged Kassia with her shoulder. "And how is it going between her and Kashion?" she asked curiously.
Kassia looked at Prior again. "Kashion hasn't really commented on it yet. So far, it's only about the negotiations. You know how much he values his freedom. Nothing has been decided yet. He will make the decision he believes is right."
Prior could hardly breathe. He hadn't commented yet. And Kassia was his family—she would know best. Nothing had been decided yet! Why, oh why, was a spark of hope rising inside her again? Even if it weren't Evlina—wouldn't she be the last possible choice?
"Kashion is a clever boy. He will know what's right. I won't judge him either way," Aliror said.
"I'm curious to see who will win Kashion's heart," Lina added. "He's never really paid much attention to a woman before."
Prior's heart was pounding hard now. So they truly didn't assume something was already happening between Evlina and Kashion. And he had never paid much attention to a woman? She could hardly imagine that. She almost found his attention overwhelming. Well, it was mostly about Cheqi, she reassured herself. It's just Cheqi.
"Enough about my brother," Kassia said at last. "What are we doing tomorrow?"
"Let's go on an excursion!" Lina suggested.
"Where would you like to go?" Kassia asked.
"Let's go to the Valley of the Hundred Waterfalls," Lina proposed.
Prior nearly lost her breath again. This couldn't be real.
Kassia and Lina looked at her. "Prior, what do you think?" Kassia asked.
"I would love to," Prior said softly, beginning to smile.
"Then we'll do that," Lina said.
Lina and Kassia exchanged a smile.
Prior was so grateful. "Thank you, Kassia!"
"Oh please, no need to thank me," Kassia brushed it off.
Then Prior suddenly thought of her last game with Kashion. What would he think now? Would his eyes widen if she could go there—even though she had lost the game? The game! She remembered she hadn't continued playing for quite a while.
"Is it alright if I play a bit of Cheqi?" she asked the group.
"Of course!" Kassia replied.
Prior took her tab and opened CheqiMasterPro. And indeed: "kashion233 has made a move."
She tried to focus entirely on the game now, weighing every possible move. Kashion seemed to be sitting with the game as well, because it didn't take long before another notification appeared that he had played.
It was an exciting match—but in the end, Prior won. She sat there, grinning.
"Won?" Kassia asked.
Prior nodded.
"Great," Kassia said. Then, turning to Lina: "You should know, she's playing against Kashion."
Prior felt warmth spreading through her and was afraid she might blush again.
"Is that so?" Lina asked.
Kassia nodded, and Lina began to grin. "Well, that's interesting. Serves him right that you won!" she said.
Soon, everyone said good night.
Prior even had a room of her own. Finally alone, she thought.
She looked around the room a little. There was only a bed and a desk, really. But it felt lovingly arranged. On the desk were a few objects. She examined them more closely. They were small mechanical wooden devices. She tried operating a few. One was a little music box, another a globe that could be spun, and one she couldn't quite identify. It looked as if someone had assembled it by hand.
But she was tired.
There had simply been too many impressions. The journey, the landscape, Kashion's family—and all the conversations about Kashion. What did it all mean?
She lay down in bed and glanced at her tab once more. A message appeared:
"kashion233 has invited you to a game."
Again?, she thought.
Then she saw that he had, of course, chosen black for himself again. She let out a dry laugh.
Then an idea came to her.
– Kashion –
Kashion wondered how Prior liked Gelserkh. How she felt with his family.
It was very hard for him not to ask Kassia. But she had written earlier that they had arrived safely. At least that.
He had just lost the game against Prior—and he didn't want to let that stand.
Besides, he wanted to stay connected with her.
So he sent another invitation.
It didn't take very long before he received a message. But when he read it, he was startled:
"FoxPriority has declined your invitation."