– Kashion –
Kashion regretted not having arranged an exact time with Prior. He didn't want to stay in his room the entire time—but what if she came precisely when he wasn't there?
She would probably just leave everything on the table outside and go. But he wanted to see her.
He had told Oren he would rest and read. Now he sat with his tablet in hand, various calculations from the council members open before him.
He was also reviewing a few highly classified laboratory reports that he didn't fully understand.
But Kashion couldn't truly focus. Again and again, his eyes drifted to the clock — or to the door.
Suddenly, there was a knock. Kashion's heart leapt. He took a deep breath and rose to open it.
"She's much earlier than I expected," he murmured to himself.
But it wasn't Prior standing there.
It was Oren.
"I don't have anything better to do, so we might as well prepare together," Oren said, brushing past Kashion into the room.
When they were alone, Oren no longer clung so strictly to etiquette and sat down immediately.
"By the way, you received a message. From Crown Prince Rein," Oren added.
Oh—that was interesting. Rein was Crown Prince of Firefields, a small southern realm of Tingdao with little influence. Rein and Kashion were almost something like friends. In their youth, they had met often, played sports together, and even shared lessons for a time.
"He's asking why he hasn't already been invited to the negotiations—and has essentially invited himself," Oren continued. "He'll arrive in a few days, at the same time as the others."
"Oh," Kashion said. "Then we should prepare a room for him and his entourage as well. Firefields can't really contribute much. I didn't invite him because there isn't much to negotiate with them. But I don't mind him coming."
Feuerfelder had no oil reserves, and in terms of research or polymer development, they offered little. Saturn had no real interest in them.
Still, Kashion looked forward to seeing an old friend again.
– Prior –
Prior stood in the palace kitchen.
It was worlds larger than Yin's kitchen—and far more modern.
The staff had already been expecting her; all her ingredients were laid out and ready.
A kitchen maid introduced herself as Shara and asked whether she might watch.
Prior laughed. "Of course. But I should warn you—I'm not a professional."
It always made her nervous when someone watched her. And she was nervous already. After all, she was making Saturn Rings for none other than Prince Kashion.
"No problem," Shara said. "If you need anything, just tell me."
Prior nodded.
She began preparing the dough. At first, she felt Shara's gaze intensely, but after a while she grew used to it and simply continued working.
She wanted the rings to turn out especially well this time, so she paid attention to every detail.
When she finished the first ring, she handed it to Shara. The maid hesitated at first but gratefully accepted when Prior insisted.
Prior's gaze wandered around the kitchen. Four other staff members were present, and there were enough ingredients.
So she made Saturn Rings for them as well. When she handed them out, they were delighted. Everyone praised the unique taste.
Good, Prior thought. Then they turned out well.
On her way back to her workstation, she noticed a bowl of strawberries.
An idea sparked.
She picked up the bowl and asked Shara, "May I use these?"
Shara nodded. "Of course."
Prior smiled and popped a strawberry into her own mouth first.
She knew Prince Kashion liked strawberries. So she would make special Saturn Rings for him.
Most of them she prepared the usual way—with the salted and chocolate side. But she also made several with icing and strawberries instead of chocolate.
She had never made them with strawberries before, so she tasted one herself. It was different—but it had something. She nodded to herself. It would work.
She admired her finished work, pleased.
Then Shara gave her a container, and she made her way once again to Prince Kashion's room.
Once again.
That small flicker stirred inside her.
If she were honest, she was looking forward to seeing him. Even if it wasn't right.
I'll look at him properly one more time today, she told herself. And then I'll keep my distance, as planned.
She reached his door.
Paused briefly.
Knocked.
This time, she didn't have to wait long.
He opened the door.
She looked into his eyes. He smiled.
This time, she tried not to look away so quickly. And in his gaze she saw such depth—so much unsaid. It was a mixture of questions and intensity.
He lifted his eyebrows slightly—
—and suddenly she heard someone clear their throat.
She broke eye contact and looked into the room.
Oren was sitting there.
He regarded her somewhat suspiciously.
She swallowed. "Good evening, Oren."
"Good evening, Prior," he replied.
She turned back to Kashion and held out the container.
"The Saturn Rings, as promised," she said softly.
Kashion took the container. "Thank you," he answered—equally soft.
They held each other's gaze for a brief moment more.
"Thank you for the library," Prior added. "I went there. It's wonderful."
Kashion smiled. "I'm glad."
"Well then—I won't disturb you any longer," she said, and left.
– Kashion –
You're not disturbing me, Kashion thought as he watched her walk down the corridor.
Then he returned to the room and closed the door.
"What was that?" Oren asked.
Kashion set the container down. "Prior brought me Saturn Rings," he explained with a grin.
"Good, I'm hungry," Oren said, reaching for the container—but Kashion was faster and pulled it toward himself.
"No! Those are mine. I earned them," he said firmly.
Oren looked at him suspiciously.
"Kashion, what game are you playing?" he asked.
Kashion shook his head. "It's harmless. I know what I'm doing."
This isn't a game, he added silently. Maybe it was at the beginning. But not anymore.
Oren exhaled. "I hope so. You should be focusing entirely on the agreement and Princess Evlina—not on her attendant."
"I know," Kashion said quietly. Oren was right.
"Good."
"If you're hungry, you should go. I'm going to eat my Saturn Rings now," Kashion said. He wanted to be alone.
Oren stood. "You could at least be fair and give me one—"
"Not from these," Kashion interrupted.
Oren shook his head and left, muttering a "Good night."
Kashion settled into the armchair, the container in his hands.
What he held wasn't just Saturn Rings.
It was Prior's time.
Something she had made only for him.
And in that moment, he realized—it had never really been about the rings.
He thought of the way she had looked at him. There had been so many questions in her gaze. It had been so intense—as if she were searching his eyes for answers.
And then Oren had broken the moment.
He was glad she had gone to the library. He had suggested it, and she had listened.
He smiled.
Then he opened the container.
His eyes immediately fell on the strawberry Saturn Rings.
She hadn't made those for Oren before. He had never seen that variation.
His smile deepened.
She had made him something she herself liked.
It felt like a small piece of her.
Kashion took a bite and closed his eyes, savoring the moment. It tasted far better than the rings he had eaten days ago.
He wished he could have seen her preparing them.
He wished he could have seen her entering the library. What had caught her attention first? Had she discovered the observatory? Had she visited Gelserkh in the VR station? And what had she felt?
Suddenly, Kashion felt dissatisfied.
He had gotten what he wanted. He had prepared for the game for nights and won. He had received his Saturn Rings.
And yet—
he wasn't satisfied.
Not at all.
He took another ring—this time chocolate—and wondered how long it had taken her to make them all. Had she thought about him while doing it? And if she had—what had she thought?
He wanted to give her something in return.
But he didn't know what.
Then an idea came to him.
He picked up his messenger and wrote a message to his sister.