– Kashion –
Wanyi was still standing there idly, and Kashion was so beside himself that he almost wanted to shake him. He had to leave as quickly as possible.
Suddenly, Wanyi looked at his messenger and exclaimed, "He's got her!"
Kashion was confused. "Who is he? What do you mean, he's got her?"
Wanyi shook his head. "Zho, my Wander-Hualin, the one I had shadow Prior."
"Shadow?"
"Since the incident with the tiger, I knew she was important to you. So I had her secretly protected."
Kashion felt relieved. "But what does it mean, he's got her? Are they at the palace?" he asked. He needed to know where she was immediately.
"He hasn't written anything else. I'll ask him." Wanyi started typing into his messenger.
Kashion didn't take his eyes off him. Time seemed to stand still. When would he finally know? It was unbearable. Then Wanyi suddenly looked up, shocked. He cleared his throat.
"He jumped out of the transporter with her. He said they're fine."
Jumped out of the transporter? That sounded insane. Impossible. Transporters weren't as fast as other ships, but they still reached orbit within minutes. How could they have jumped?
"Call her," Kashion ordered. "With video. I need to see her."
Wanyi started the call and handed Kashion his messenger.
It didn't take long before a young man appeared on the screen. He grinned and gave a thumbs-up.
"Oh, Your Highness," he said when he saw Kashion.
Kashion was confused by his relaxed, cheerful expression. But he was wearing some kind of protective suit.
"Where is Prior?" Kashion finally asked, and the video turned. Kashion saw a green meadow. Then he saw Prior's head. She looked wide-eyed and surprised.
"Prince Kashion wants to see you," he heard Zho say in the background.
Prior looked a bit exhausted. He couldn't see her entire body. She was wearing a black protective suit with violet stripes. He had to admit, she had never looked more attractive.
She looked into the screen. "Kashion?" Her voice sounded a little weak. Then she smiled faintly. She seemed unsure.
"How are you?"
She pressed her lips together. "Mm, considering the circumstances… okay."
"Send me the coordinates. I'll come and get you."
She shook her head. Kashion's heart almost stopped. He felt a surge of fear. His father had done this to her. What if she didn't want anything to do with him anymore?
"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "But I can't come back to the palace today. I just can't."
"Then I'll come to you," Kashion said.
Prior looked at him and said nothing for a few long seconds. She seemed to be thinking. Then she said, "Would it be okay if I'm just alone today?" Her voice broke slightly, and it almost broke Kashion's heart. His chest felt tight.
"I think I just need some time for myself right now. Can you understand that?"
Kashion closed his eyes. He just wanted to take her into his arms. He wanted to be there for her. To tell her he would hold his father accountable and that something like this would never happen again. He wanted to be with her. To see her.
"Let me come, please, Prior," he said.
He saw a tear roll down her cheek. "Just today. Please. Just give me tonight."
She wouldn't agree now. Kashion felt so powerless.
"But it's dangerous," he said.
She let out a dry laugh. "Dangerous? Not more dangerous than the palace. And I have Zho with me." Zho stepped into view again, gave another thumbs-up, and grinned.
It was some comfort that someone was protecting her. But it stung Kashion's pride that someone else had saved Prior—and was now with her. And on top of that, another man.
"Please, Prior," he said again.
Her eyes filled even more with tears. She shook her head. "I'm sorry." Then the call ended.
Kashion stared at the black screen. For a moment, he was in shock.
Then he said to Wanyi, "Tell Zho to send you the coordinates. I'm going there immediately."
Wanyi took the messenger, but then said, "Maybe it's not so bad if you stay here. You still have to deal with your father."
That was true as well. "But I can't just leave her alone now."
"Zho is a good man. One of my best. She's in good hands," Wanyi tried to reassure him. But it only half worked.
Maybe he should respect Prior's wishes? And if he saw her tomorrow, that would still be much better than a year later. But he didn't want to leave it like this. He felt a deep inner restlessness.
"Give me your messenger," Kashion said. "Or better—write to him to send us the coordinates. And give me his contact."
Wanyi nodded.
Once Kashion had the contact, he sent Zho a message.
Then he said to Wanyi, "The men who put Prior into the transporter are to be dismissed immediately and never work for the royal family again."
Wanyi nodded. "Understood."
They had acted on the king's orders, but they had to go. It was merciful enough that he wasn't sending them to prison.
"And the pilot," Kashion continued, "as soon as he sets foot in Tingdao, he goes to prison. He ignored my order. He can go wherever he wants—but if he returns to Tingdao, he'll be arrested."
Wanyi nodded again. "I'll take care of everything."
Kashion patted Wanyi on the shoulder and then made his way toward his parents. With every step, his anger grew.
– Prior –
Prior took a deep breath and covered her eyes with her hand.
It had been so hard to end the call. And even harder not to immediately give in and say she would go to him—or let him come to her.
She wanted to see him. So badly. But at the same time, she knew she needed to be alone right now, to sort out her thoughts. She didn't want to face him like this—so broken.
"He sent another message," Zho said.
Prior looked at him questioningly.
"He says he respects your decision. But one word from you and he'll come immediately."
"Good," Prior said. That, in turn, filled her with warmth.
Warmth. She actually felt very hot.
"Oh, it's so hot in this suit," she remarked.
"I'll have clothes delivered for us," Zho said.
"That's possible?" Prior asked. On Saturn, there was a well-developed delivery network, but she didn't know how it was on Earth.
"Yes, no problem. It'll be here in about half an hour. Pretty fast. I'll order a black jumpsuit for myself. Maybe pink for you?" he asked, grinning.
Prior turned her head toward him and saw that he was amused.
She gave a dry laugh. "Black for me too."
She tried to stand up. It worked better this time. She stepped next to Zho and looked at his tab, where he had opened a clothing shop. She also noticed that Zho wasn't really much taller than her—maybe just a few centimeters. And she was already small. She smiled. This small, adorable person had saved her.
"Can I hug you for a moment?" Prior asked.
Zho looked startled at first, but then simply said, "Okay," and opened his arms.
She hugged him. "Thank you for saving me. Thank you for jumping with me." Tears welled up in her eyes again. Then she let go.
He smiled faintly. "No problem. It's my duty." Then he looked back at the tab. "The hover will be here in a few minutes, and the clothes in half an hour at most. We'll wait here."
Prior nodded and sat down again.
It didn't take long before a hover arrived. It came in autopilot mode. The good thing about hovers was that they didn't need roads—they could hover almost anywhere.
They didn't have to wait long before a delivery person arrived on a hoverbike and brought them the clothes. Finally. Zho accepted them and registered with some kind of scan.
He sent Prior into the hover to change while he changed outside.
It was such a relief to finally take off the protective suit. Prior breathed out deeply.
When she was dressed, she went back outside. Zho had started rolling up the parachutes. He seemed both clumsy and efficient at the same time. She helped him, and they put them into the hover.
Finally, they were sitting inside the hover.
"So, to the sea?" Zho asked.
Prior nodded.
"If I understood correctly, you don't want to return to the palace until tomorrow?"
Prior nodded again.
"Well then, I'll find us a hotel right by the sea."
Prior looked at Zho. He typed busily on his tab, making faces now and then. Finally, he nodded and set it aside.
Then he went to the hover's control panel, and they started moving.
"Off to the sea!" he said, smiling.
Prior looked out the window. She saw a gentle breeze moving through the meadow, as if it were caressing it. It almost seemed like there was music in the wind.
Prior closed her eyes and took another deep, relieved breath.
She was still on Earth.