-Kashion-
After the others had left, Rein said, "I just want to be able to talk normally with my friend again, like in the old days. Something to drink?"
Kashion laughed. "Did you actually bring Firefields Botanicals?"
Rein grinned. "As if I'd come to Tingdao without it."
He stood up, fetched a bottle and two glasses, and poured them each a drink.
Kashion smelled the glass. "Blueberry?"
Rein nodded. "Very good. It turned out especially well this year."
Kashion took a sip and nodded. The alcohol really did have a pleasant blueberry note.
"I want you to know that I'm on your side," Rein said.
Kashion gave a dry laugh. "But you couldn't have mentioned earlier that you have rare earths?"
Rein grinned again. "Was I even invited? No—because you always see Firefields as unimportant."
"Then I clearly underestimated you."
Rein took a sip. "You did. But I'd like to form an alliance with you. I'm far too dependent on Terland and Ostrand. Terland raised all the tariffs again recently."
"And how do you imagine that?"
"Well, we supply dysprosium and cerium, Tingdao processes it and provides knowledge—and a bit of oil."
"If only we had more oil ourselves. Our reserves barely cover our own needs. If I give any away, I'll have to get it back from Ostrand and Terland."
Rein shrugged. "I can give you tips. I've got experience with that."
Kashion laughed.
Then Rein suddenly became serious.
"Kashion… what's going on with you and that scientist? Is it something serious?"
Kashion set down his glass and nodded. "It's serious to me. Her name is Prior, and I've never met anyone who fascinates me this much."
Rein raised his eyebrows. "Interesting. And the princess?"
Kashion sighed. "The princess didn't take it well, of course. But I can't bend myself. I just can't."
"You're sure?"
Kashion nodded. "Absolutely sure."
"Your parents?" Rein asked.
Kashion shrugged. "You can imagine. My mother already sees Evlina as her future daughter-in-law. And my father… you know him. He only thinks about politics."
Rein stood up and patted Kashion on the shoulder, then poured another round.
"And what do they say about Prior?"
Kashion thought for a moment. "Actually, they don't really know her yet. They don't know it's about her."
Rein held out his glass for a toast, and when Kashion clinked his against it, he said, "To you and Prior."
Kashion smiled. That sounded good. And the drink tasted just a little bit better.
-Prior-
After Evlina wanted to speak to her father alone, the others had the rest of the day free again. But there wasn't much Prior could do.
She considered messaging Kassia. But just as she picked up her messenger, she received a message—Kashion.
"Where are you? What are you doing?"
She smiled and replied, "Nothing. At the palace in Lantian, Tingdao."
He replied shortly after: "Oh, I didn't need that much detail." Then another message followed: "Hungry?"
Prior held her stomach and realized she actually was hungry. With all the excitement, she hadn't eaten much.
"Yes," she replied.
"Let's meet in the kitchen," Kashion answered.
"In the kitchen?" Prior thought. Would he expect her to cook something? Or did he want her to choose something? Curious, she set off right away.
Kashion was already there, waiting in front of the kitchen entrance with his arms crossed. "Finally," he said.
"I came as soon as you messaged me," she defended herself.
He grinned. "I meant—finally I get to see you again."
"Oh no, I'm probably blushing again," she thought.
"Come on," he said and walked into the kitchen.
Prior immediately recognized Shara. Apart from her, there were two other servants. All of them looked surprised and bowed to Kashion.
Kashion walked over to them and said, "I need one—no, two aprons, potatoes, carrots, onions…"
Prior stopped listening. She just stared at him in surprise.
One servant quickly returned with aprons and handed them to Kashion. He gave one to her and tied the other around himself. She was still speechless. Gradually, the servants brought boards, knives, bowls, vegetables, eggs, cheese, flour… and placed everything on the counter in front of him.
When she still stood there, staring at him as if rooted to the spot, he looked at her and raised his eyebrows questioningly.
"You can cook?" she asked, surprised.
He laughed. "Well? Surpassed your expectations again?" he said, winking at her. His gaze lingered on her.
"Oh no… I'm falling deeper and deeper. He's completely pulling the ground out from under me," she thought. But it felt good.
They smiled at each other, and then he said, "Let's start, or you'll stay hungry."
He picked up a carrot and began peeling it. She kept watching him. It felt like she had never seen anything more fascinating. He took a potato and held it out to her. "If you want, you can peel the potatoes and cut them into small strips."
She nodded and took it.
"What will this be in the end?" she asked.
"Ostrand pancakes," he explained.
She had never heard of that. She began peeling the potatoes.
A melody suddenly came to her mind, and she started humming softly, swaying slightly to the rhythm.
-Kashion-
He kept glancing at her. How was he supposed to focus on the vegetables? She had started humming, almost dancing. She was so adorable. Like a magnet—he couldn't look away for long.
Then he almost cut his finger and inhaled sharply.
"Oh no!" Prior said, looking at him.
"It's nothing, just close," he waved it off. But she was already there, taking his hand and examining his fingers. She held each one carefully and looked closely.
He felt so touched, warmth spreading through him. His heart started beating faster. He grew nervous.
"I told you, it's nothing," he finally managed to say.
She let go of his hand, and he took a deep breath. It was hard not to reach for her hand again. It almost felt like something was missing now.
"Good," she said. "You need to be more careful."
He gave a dry laugh. "You distract me too much."
"But I didn't even say anything!" she replied.
He smiled. "Prior, you don't have to say anything to distract me."
"Oh," she said, then cleared her throat and continued with the potatoes.
He explained what to do with the rest of the vegetables.
Once everything was cut, he mixed it in a bowl with eggs, cheese, and flour.
Then he added oil to a pan and started frying the first pancake.
"Can you take over for a moment?" he asked. She nodded.
He went over to the servants, who all pretended not to watch—but kept whispering and grinning.
"Could you set a table for us here? We'll need a few sauces for dipping and something to drink. And could you serve the finished pancakes?"
They nodded and got to work immediately.
-Prior-
These vegetable pancakes smelled so good. She was getting hungrier by the minute.
Kashion returned to her side.
"Smells good," she said.
He smiled. "Let the servants handle the rest. Come, let's sit down."
He gestured for her to take off her apron and did the same.
She saw that the servants had set a table in the kitchen, and they sat down.
Soon Shara brought them each a plate of pancakes, and Kashion told her which sauce she absolutely had to try.
She took the first bite and was surprised at how good it tasted.
"Good?" he asked.
She nodded and said, mouth still full, "Very good."
He laughed.
"What do you like most about Earth?" he asked.
She was glad he didn't ask something generic about her interests. She didn't like shallow small talk—it usually exhausted her.
"I like how the air feels here," she said.
He looked confused. "The air? Why?"
"It feels fresher. Stronger. And more real," she explained.
"I see. Do you know where the air feels the best?" he asked.
She shook her head.
He looked almost dreamy. "When you're riding a horse across the steppes of Gelserkh."
She pictured him like that for a moment. Before she could say anything, he continued:
"I'll take you there someday. Then you'll understand."
He looked at her so seriously and sincerely, and she nodded. It was a beautiful thought.
They kept talking about all sorts of things, and for Prior it all felt so natural. She could just be herself. It felt like they had known each other forever.
They talked long after they had finished eating. Prior wished the evening would never end.
Later, he walked her to her room, and when they said goodnight at her door, it almost hurt.
-Kashion-
Kashion had enjoyed the evening with Prior so much. He could just be himself—and yet felt like a different person. As if he usually wore heavy armor that he could take off around her.
And it wasn't easy to say goodnight.
As soon as he was in his room, he took his messenger again and wrote:
"Good night, Prior. It was so lovely being with you. Sleep well and sweet dreams."
She replied shortly after:
"Good night, Kashion!"
He liked that she didn't write "Prince Kashion," but simply "Kashion."
He stroked Luu and soon went to sleep.