The King's Mistress

Chapter 148: Everyone Has A Choice

Cassandra smirked as she savored the fading smile on Sierra’s face. This was the moment she had been hoping for. She could not wait to see it turn into despair. But she did not get the chance to do so just yet.

Sierra had a sullen look on her face as their eyes met, "What are you trying to say, Cassandra?"

"I’m glad you caught on this far, I was getting worried for a second," she took the opportunity to rub it in before delivering the blow, "I just wonder what would happen if the royal court learns that you’re not exactly a princess."

Sierra bit the inside of her cheek. Her worst fear materialized before her eyes. She had expected to feel a wave of nausea, followed by despair. However, she felt none of it.

In fact, she felt a sense of calm wash over her.

Even Cassandra was perplexed by her expressions. Sierra leaned back in her seat and let out a sigh. She knew there was no use denying it, as the princess would not have revealed this if she did not have concrete evidence to support it.

"Nothing seems to be going my way these days," Cassandra sighed as she mumbled beneath her breath.

She did not get the outcome she was hoping for, but she was going to make the best of it. But before she could speak, Sierra straightened in her seat.

"Are you in love with him?" She asked, unblinking.

Cassandra furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, "In love? With who?"

"With Alistair of course," Sierra had not considered it before.

But perhaps the reason why Cassandra was doing all this was so that she could get her hands on Alistair and have him all to herself. She had seen the way they interacted at the ball. Perhaps this was her way of getting Sierra to step back.

However, Sierra was in for a surprise as her question was met with laughter.

"You think... you think I’m doing this because I’m in love with him and I want to fight you for him?" Cassandra could not contain her laughter.

Sierra sat there, mouth agape, and watched as the princess continued her laughing fit as if she had just told her the greatest joke she had ever heard.

"I’m sorry to disappoint you but no," Cassandra finally replied as she regained her composure, "I find it comical that you would even suggest that. You’re simply an obstacle that I would very much not have in the castle when I become Royal Concubine. You could easily cloud Alistair’s judgment and I can’t have that."

"I think you’ve lost me completely," Sierra said in defeat as she slumped in her chair.

She had so many questions in her mind, that she did not know where to even begin. Cassandra did not see the need to explain everything to Sierra. However, she decided to give an explanation so that she could comprehend the situation. freewebnσvel.cѳm

She got up from her seat and looked out the window for a few moments before she began her explanation.

"I don’t harbor any romantic feelings for Alistair, you need not worry about that. The relationship we pursue is one of politics. Kingdom politics, Sierra. The union of our kingdoms through marriage would strengthen our ties."

"For that, you’re willing to marry someone you don’t even love? To share a husband with other women?" Sierra could not understand.

Cassandra glanced over to her, her expression unchanging, "That is what a princess must do, for the sake of her kingdom. For the sake of her people. It is her duty to uphold the interests of her nation."

Sierra sensed a tinge of sadness in her tone of voice. After all, who didn’t yearn for free will? From her point of view, Cassandra was doing it for the sake of others. She wasn’t doing what she wanted to do.

"But you have a choice, everyone those," Sierra protested.

Cassandra clenched her jaw as she responded curtly, "A real princess does not. What would you know?"

Sierra wanted to rebut her statement but could not find the words to do so. She remained silent for some time and so did Cassandra.

"So you’re going to ruin things for your own benefit, did I get that right?" Sierra broke the silence as she crossed her arms.

"Yes," Cassandra said as she spun around to face Sierra, "which is why I’m telling you now. To spare you the humiliation for when it happens."

"Why are you being so nice? Don’t you hate me?"

"I do, but I don’t like owing favors either," Sierra had saved her life multiple times and she hated that.

"And trust me, I would have very much preferred to not reveal any of this and watch the color drain from your face as you learned the truth in front of an audience," Cassandra leaned over the table as she continued, "But against my better judgment, I decided to scrap all of that and give you an opportunity to leave."

"Leave?"

"Leave Drakin and disappear for all I care. Begone and never return."

Now, it was Sierra’s turn to be amused. She slammed her hand down on the table and laughed. It did not take long for it to turn into a laughing fit as she clutched her stomach in agony.

This time, it was Cassandra’s turn to be stunned silence as she watched Sierra laugh. Sierra got up to her feet. She gently pats Cassandra on her shoulder, who was still too stunned to even move.

"I appreciate the advice, the warning, and the threat. But Your Highness, I’m not one to shy away from a challenge like that," Sierra responded without skipping a beat.

As she walked towards the door, she stopped in her tracks. Sierra turned back around as she spoke one last time before exiting the room.

"I’ll see you soon, Princess Cassandra. I’ll be prepared."

With that, Sierra left the room and returned to her own. Cassandra could not believe the exchange they just had. She did not expect Sierra to have that much confidence.

"She’s crazy," Cassandra muttered beneath her breath.

However, what Cassandra did not notice, in her shock at Sierra’s responses, was the slight quiver in her voice as she delivered her final lines. As soon as Sierra exited Cassandra’s room, she felt as if her legs were about to give way.