-Prior-
Prior was on her way to the palace café. In the end, the day in the laboratory had done her good. At least here she had made some nice friends by now. Despite all the work and experiments, they had laughed a lot.
Now Prior was looking forward to seeing Kassia, Yina, and Lina. Talina and Evlina hadn't contacted her yet—perhaps it had been a long excursion. Kashion hadn't written anything either, but she tried not to think about it too much.
When she entered the palace café, Yina immediately called out, "Prior is here!"
She ran toward her and let Prior lift her up and swing her through the air.
Prior laughed.
Then she walked over to Kassia and Lina, who were sitting at a table. Both stood up and hugged her.
"We waited especially for you," Lina said.
"We wanted to try the Chestnut Latte. It's new. Want to join us?" Kassia asked.
Prior nodded. That sounded good.
They sat down, and Kassia placed the order.
"Are you feeling better today?" Lina asked.
Prior nodded. "I was just a bit overwhelmed. It's better now," she said with a smile, though she noticed Kassia's searching gaze.
"If something is bothering you, you can always tell me or Lina," Kassia said.
Prior smiled and nodded. "Thank you. But how are you? Lina, how was it yesterday with Oren and Terland?"
Lina started grinning. "Oren was really nice. We even danced together twice, and he walked me to my room after the reception. We could talk just as easily as if no time had passed."
"Haven't you been in contact recently? Messenger or anything?" Prior asked.
Lina shook her head and shrugged.
Kassia laughed softly. "Lina didn't want to make the first move, and Oren feels unsure because of his position. But I think it's only a matter of time."
"I see," Prior replied. "I wish you good luck, Lina."
Lina smiled shyly. "Thank you."
"And how was it with Terland? Were you okay?" Prior asked.
Lina sighed and shook her head. "Actually, yesterday was difficult for me. I could still feel it this morning. My compulsions got worse again. But I have to face it." She shrugged.
Kassia and Prior nodded understandingly.
A servant brought the three drinks and a small hot chocolate for Yina—with marshmallows, because Lina had insisted. All four of them looked forward to their drinks.
-Kashion-
Kashion and the others were sitting in the hover again, flying back to Lantian. The day had passed without any major incidents. Unfortunately, the others had never left him alone, and he had never been able to take out his tab. He hoped he hadn't disappointed Prior.
Now he finally picked up his tab, opened CheqiMasterPro immediately, and began to write a message.
At first he wanted to apologize for not writing again. Then he deleted it.
He wrote another message asking how things had gone in the laboratory—and deleted that too.
Finally he simply wrote:
"What plans do you have for this evening?"
and sent the message.
He kept looking at his tab, but apparently she hadn't read the message yet. Even after several minutes, there was no reply.
-Prior-
Prior picked up her tab again. It had almost become a habit. She didn't want to miss anything.
And indeed—there was a message from kashion233.
She quickly wrote a reply and put the tab down again.
"My brother?" Kassia asked with a smile.
Prior looked surprised. "How did you—?"
"You told me that you play Cheqi together," Kassia explained.
"Oh, right. Yes," Prior said, smiling shyly.
"You already know my cousin that well?" Lina asked with interest.
"Hm?" Prior said.
"Well, if you're playing Cheqi together through an app. That's quite unusual for Kashion."
Prior shrugged. "It just happened."
Now she felt Kassia's and Lina's eyes on her, as if they were studying her.
Lina and Kassia looked at each other and both laughed quietly. But they didn't say anything. Prior didn't say anything more about it either.
Did they know more than just the Cheqi game? Or did they simply find it amusing? She didn't dare ask.
They changed the subject and talked about a few people from the reception. That's how she learned that King Mandach and Queen Manina were actually good friends of the royal family. And Crown Prince Rein had spent much of his youth in Tingdao and knew Kashion well.
-Kashion-
They were almost back at the palace when Prior's message arrived:
"Right now I'm in the palace café with your sister and cousin, and afterwards I'll have to help the princess."
She was with Kassia and Lina.
He immediately smiled again. That was perfect.
-Prior-
Yina had returned to the floor, sitting on her blanket to draw, and insisted that Prior come with her. Kassia gave Prior an apologetic smile, but Prior was happy to do it.
Yina handed Prior a sheet of paper.
"You can draw Saturn here," she said.
"Oh," Prior replied. "But I'm not very good at drawing."
Yina lifted both hands and said, "That's okay. You can just draw however you can."
So Prior took a pencil and began sketching her planet.
-Kashion-
As soon as they arrived, Kashion apologized to the others and headed straight for the palace café.
When he looked inside, he first saw only Lina and Kassia sitting at a table and thought he was too late.
But then his gaze fell to the floor, and he saw Prior sitting there with Yina.
Kassia noticed him, but he placed a finger to his lips, asking her to stay quiet. Lina had seen him too. Both simply nodded in greeting.
Prior was kneeling on the floor with her back to him, drawing something on a sheet of paper. Every now and then she said something to Yina.
Kashion stepped closer, and when he stood beside Prior, Yina noticed him.
"Hello, Uncle!"
Prior turned her head and looked up at Kashion in surprise.
She made a move to stand up—out of etiquette—but Kashion simply sat down quickly beside her on the floor.
He stroked Yina's hair and said,
"What are you drawing, little one?"
-Prior-
Prior first had to find her voice again. Or find herself again entirely.
Kashion had simply sat down beside her on the blanket.
Now he was sitting so close that their knees lightly touched, and she could feel the warmth of his body. Strangely, though, it gave her an inner calm.
Kashion chatted with Yina for a moment.
Prior looked toward Kassia and Lina, but they continued talking as if it were the most normal thing in the world that she and Kashion were sitting on the floor together.
"And what are you drawing?" Kashion suddenly asked with a teasing grin.
She looked at him but quickly looked away again and pointed to her picture.
"Can't you recognize it?"
Kashion pretended to examine the drawing carefully.
"Perhaps a melon?"
Yina burst out laughing.
Prior almost playfully raised her hand to hit his shoulder but stopped herself at the last moment. That would surely go too far. After all, he was a prince.
-Kashion-
Kashion had to smile.
It was amusing to throw Prior off balance, and she had almost playfully hit him just now.
He was so close to her, and she hadn't moved away. That felt like a small victory.
He took out his messenger, opened the pictures he had taken, and held them out to her.
-Prior-
"Look, that's where we were today," he said in his gentle voice, holding out his messenger.
She looked at the first picture. From a mountain you could see Lantian and, in the distance, the palace.
"You can see Lantian here, the great tower…"
Kashion was explaining the picture, but she had started looking at him instead.
He looked so attractive when he spoke quietly like that, explaining things.
Suddenly he turned his face toward her and looked at her.
She felt caught, and he raised his eyebrows questioningly.
She simply nodded. "Oh, I see. A beautiful view. A beautiful photo!"
He laughed.
Then he swiped across the messenger and showed her another picture.
"And here is Moon Lake. You already know that one."
Prior nodded. "From above it almost looks even more beautiful."
"Next time you'll come with us," he said gently, yet with a certain firmness.
Then he asked,
"And how was the laboratory?"
-Kashion-
When he mentioned the laboratory, she actually started smiling and almost glowing.
"It was very interesting today. We did exciting experiments and laughed a lot."
In his mind he briefly saw her again leaning over a tube together with Tin, the way she had looked at him admiringly.
But then she said,
"Today I worked with Professor Nara the whole day. She truly is a master of her field."
Nara. Not Tin.
Kashion smiled again.
"I'm glad," he said. Then he had an idea.
"Yina," he said, "I have a pet now. Would you like to see it?"
"A pet? What kind is it?" Yina asked.
"A little baby clouded leopard," he explained—and he heard Prior inhale softly.
He looked at her, and she was indeed staring at him with surprise and curiosity.
"Mom! Mom! Can we see Uncle's pet?" Yina shouted as she jumped up and ran to her mother.
Kashion stood up as well, and when he looked at Prior, he held out his hand to her.
-Prior-
She looked at Kashion and saw his outstretched hand.
He wanted to help her up?
He looked slightly impatient and made a small motion with his hand.
Then she placed her hand in his, and he pulled her to her feet.
Once she was standing, she quickly withdrew her hand again.
It had all happened very quickly, but she had noticed that his hands felt nice—delicate and yet strong.
Suddenly she felt her messenger vibrate.
-Kashion-
Kashion brushed his thumb over the fingers of the hand he had used to help Prior up. It had only been a brief moment, but he liked the feeling of her small, delicate hand.
Yina stood with Kassia, who was stroking her hair. Kassia nodded in agreement. They would go visit Luu.
Yina jumped into the air with excitement.
He looked at Prior. She was still looking at her messenger. Then she looked up and said, "I'm afraid I have to go. The princess is sending for me."
"Oh no, Prior, you have to come with us!" Yina said, speaking right from his heart.
Before Prior could respond, he said,
"Just a few minutes. The princess can surely wait a few minutes."
He didn't want Evlina to ruin his plans again.
Prior hesitated.
"Yes, please, Prior!" Yina said again.
Finally Prior nodded and smiled. "All right. A few minutes should be fine."
"Then let's go right away," Kashion said, and they all set off.
Yina had taken Prior's hand, and they walked ahead.
Lina, Kassia, and Kashion followed a few steps behind.
"Well, well, so that's how it is," Lina said, grinning at Kashion.
Kashion simply grinned back and shrugged.