Cassian opened his eyes on the bed, taking a deep, real breath for the first time in fifteen years. The physical body of the deep-sleeping Cassian Valemont, now reunited with his soul, felt remarkably whole and surging with life.
But the sensory shock hit him instantly.
The cold, heavy air of the high tower filled his lungs, rich with the familiar scent of old paper, burning cedarwood, and faint imperial incense.
"I did it–... I came back."
Cassian gasped, his vision blurring as he looked up at the ceiling above his head. His body had shifted once more. No longer the modern university student, but the full-grown, ethereal form of Crown Prince Cassian Valemont. His long black hair spilled over his shoulders, grown over the years of his slumber, and his crimson eyes adjusted to the dim candlelight of the bedchamber.
"But–... Mom... Mellisa."
"I need to find them before they get into trouble."
"They don't know anything about the ways of this world."
Cassian attempted to sit up straight on the massive, fur-draped four-poster canopy bed.
Without hesitation, he tried to stand, but his muscles resisted. His body was numb all over and sore from lying in one spot for a full fifteen years.
"Aargh! Come on, get up!"
His hands trembled as he raised his heavy arms. And all that he could manage was to send the object on the side table flying onto the floor.
*CLANG*
That sound heavily echoed right through the tightly closed doors, and suddenly a knight barged in. It was one of his guard knights.
"WHO DARES TO INFILTRATE THE—"
"Hey, shut up."
Cassian's raspy voice drawled in annoyance.
"You're making too much noise."
The guard merely popped out his eyes in surprise as he looked down at his awakened Crown Prince.
"Go get Sir Lucien Arden here."
"Your Highness!!"
"Your Highness, you have awakened!"
"I said you are making a noise."
The guard flinched, pressing his lips tightly closed.
"Go do what I told you to do."
"At once."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The knight shouted once more before hurrying away to fetch a royal physician.
Cassian sighed, his eyes still glued to the ceiling above his head.
'Not all of them will be happy to see me, right? Especially not after how I left them fifteen years ago.'
'But then, that is to be expected since they don't know I'm merely a possessor invading their real prince's body. And I doubt Lucien told any of them about me being Kagen Walker a foreign soul from the modern Earth.'
'In their eyes, I must be the selfish Crown Prince that just left his duties abruptly and nearly caused political chaos for the Empire.'
Cassian went silent for a moment, thinking.
'How should I approach them in this situation?... I suddenly feel ashamed to come back like an unfilial son.'
Cassian sighed once more closing his eyes and then dragged a sigh.
'No matter, I should be glad that I managed to get back. Lucien must have been suffering without me.'
'Or not.'
*****
The afternoon sun dipped low behind the jagged peaks of the Western mountain range, casting long shadows across the dusty trade road.
Lady Fransia pulled her heavy hard-shell suitcase over the gravel, her simple travel dress rustling with each step. Beside her, Zelda marched forward with her oversized backpack strapped tight, her curly brown hair bouncing as she adjusted her grip on her phone's solar power bank. Behind them, the two maids carried smaller bags, their eyes still wide with confusion as they watched their mistresses wheel bright, smooth plastic boxes through the dirt.
At the end of the valley path stood the massive black stone gates of the Arden Estate, built directly into the cliffside.
"This must be it."
"Whoa!, just look at how massive this mansion is, Mother. Mr Sweeps-a-lot is super rich huh?"
"Melli–.. I mean Zelda, be careful they surely call in a castle here not a mansion."
"Oops!, you're right. Modern reflex I suppose."
At the end of the road stood a massive pair of wrought-iron, black stone gates built directly into the side of the mountain. Towering guards in dark, polished plate armor stood at attention, holding heavy halberds.
As the small group approached, the lead guard stepped forward, lowering his weapon to block the entrance.
"Halt!" the guard barked, his voice echoing under his visor. His eyes darted suspiciously from Fransia's luggage to Zelda's strange gear, and finally to the two trembling maids.
Not to mention they were nobles on feet, who knows if they weren't commoners disguised as nobles with ill intent?
Even fallen nobles don't travel on feet like commoners because of their noble pride.
"State your name and business at the Duke's gates. No displaced nobles or wandering travelers are permitted past this point without an official summons."
Fransia didn't flinch. Instead she was in awe.
"The knights all talk the same. He reminds me of Lucien when he first visited our house."
She giggled before smoothing down her dress, she stepped up to the iron bars, and gave the guard a pleasant, maternal smile.
"Good evening,"
Fransia said politely.
"We are here to see Duke Lucien Arden. Could you please let him know that Kagen's family has arrived?"
The guards exchanged a baffled, uneasy look.
"Kagen...?"
the lead guard repeated, frowning.
"We know no such lord or noble by that name. If this is a joke—"
"It's not a joke," Zelda interrupted, stepping up beside her mother.
'If I use Cassian's name instead of Kagen maybe they might pay attention to us.'
"Look, just go tell Duke Arden that Cassian's mother and sister are at the front gate. Or tell Sir Sweeps-A-Lot that his mother-in-law brought him a home-cooked meal."
The guard's face pale under his helmet, retorting to rage at the careless mention of Prince Cassian's name.
Before he could respond, the heavy iron gates began to groan open.
Elias stepped out from the inner courtyard, holding a leather clipboard. He had come to check on the guard shift change, but the moment his eyes fell on the two strange women standing outside—along with their unnatural, smooth plastic boxes on wheels—he froze in his tracks.
"What is the meaning of this commotion?"
Elias asked, stepping closer.
"Head Steward,"
the guard said, bowing quickly.
"These women claim to be related to–... to the Prince Cassian, disrespecting his name and our honor. They take us for fools, do they think we don't know the royal Valemont's family tree?...They are asking for His Grace's presence no less."
"How should we deal with them."
Elias turned his sharp gaze toward Fransia. He stared at her face, taking in her warm features, and then looked at Zelda, whose cheeks were puffed in excitement.
"They don't seem harmless. Probably retarded then?"
Fransia glared at him.
"Retarded?, we came specially from Earth to meet Lucien and tell him that we have landed with Cassian but this is how you treat us?...his special guests?"
"Why don't you bring him here first before resorting to this nonsense of judgement before even knowing who I am."
Elias's hands trembled slightly, almost dropping his clipboard.
"You..."
Elias breathed, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You came from Earth...?"
"Yes, we did. Now do you feel like paying attention to us?"
Zelda fumed but Fransia pat her daughter's shoulder to calm down, offering her hand through the gate.
"And you must be Elias. Lucien and Kagen spoke very highly of you."
Elias swallowed hard, quickly waving his hand at the stunned guards.
"Open the gates! Open them immediately!"
The heavy iron doors swung wide. Elias bowed deeply, his formal composure cracking into sheer disbelief as he ushered them into the grand courtyard.
"Please, follow me inside at once,"
Elias said quickly. Both the guards and Fransia's maids were stunned alike.
"They were telling the truth?"
"Was the baroness a prominent figure, closer even to the cold Duke all along?"
Elias led the way further inside the courtyard.
"His Grace is currently in the main hall with Lord Sora and the children. I will inform him of your arrival immediately."
Zelda grinned, pulling her backpack higher on her shoulders as she walked past the wide-eyed guards. Sticking out her teasing tongue.
"I told you we were very important people to the Duke."
"Mom. Coming here was truly a package deal after all."
Zelda whispered, looking up at the towering castle walls.
*****