-Prior-
Prior had spent the day quietly. She had slept in. Talina had left at some point, and no one had asked about her. She had been messaging Nari and Eynara again, and both had reassured her that she shouldn't feel guilty because of Evlina. She hadn't forced herself on Kashion or come between them. Everything had come from Kashion, and there was nothing Evlina could have done about that.
Prior knew they were right. And yet she still felt a bit guilty. She simply hated being the reason someone else got hurt.
But Evlina hadn't forbidden her anything either. She had simply left the choice to Kashion.
The choice—just thinking about it almost made Prior laugh. She couldn't imagine anyone choosing her.
To distract herself, she later started reading articles and reports about rare earth elements again.
Eventually it was late afternoon, and while she was reading a report about experiments with dysprosium, she received a message from CheqiMasterPro: "kashion233 has sent you a message." As if at the push of a button, her heartbeat quickened, and she opened the game.
kashion233
Can you come play? I'd like to play with the real pieces.
She had to laugh. Wasn't it easier and more convenient to play in the app?
kashion233
Actually, that's not a question or a request.
kashion233
You have to come.
And once again, the army of insects formed in her stomach, everything tingling.
kashion233
Are you coming?
-Kashion-
Kashion was sitting in his chair, Oren across from him. He had to laugh as he sent Prior the messages. At the same time, he was afraid she wouldn't come.
"Nice to see you're still in good spirits despite everything," Oren said.
"Thanks for your help today, Oren." Kashion thought for a moment. "Oren, I need you and one other person later to guard the corridor outside."
Oren looked at him in surprise. "Did something happen again?"
"No. But I'm going to have an important conversation that I don't want to be interrupted."
Oren looked at him as if he had no idea what he meant.
At that moment, a message came from FoxPriority.
FoxPriority
Alright, alright.
FoxPriority
Give me half an hour, okay?
A smile spread wider and wider across his face. He quickly replied with "Okay."
"You need to have something prepared in the kitchen," Kashion said. "I'll need it in half an hour."
He gave Oren a few instructions and explanations, then glanced at himself in the mirror. "How do I look, Oren?"
Oren shook his head. "Like the most desirable bachelor in the galaxy," he replied mockingly.
Kashion laughed. That title had followed him for a long time, ever since a journalist had called him that.
Oren eventually left to make the preparations, and Kashion waited.
-Prior-
Prior put on comfortable pants and a comfortable shirt and then set off. She was excited. They hadn't played at the Cheqi table in a long time, and so much had happened in the meantime.
As she approached Kashion's room, she saw Oren waiting in the corridor. He greeted her and said Kashion was waiting. As she walked on, she noticed a black-clad figure standing some distance behind the table. A Hualin?
Prior knocked on the door and didn't have to wait long before Kashion opened it and stepped out.
"Prior," he simply said, and she nodded.
Then he went to the table and pulled out her chair so she could sit down. He made a small gesture and said, "Please, have a seat."
-Kashion-
She sat down, and he sat opposite her. He was nervous but tried not to show it. He now saw Prior in a different light. Her insecurity and vulnerability had taken on a new meaning. At the same time, she seemed even stronger and more attractive because of it.
She glanced to the right and left, then asked, "Did something happen again? Are we in danger?"
He shook his head with a smile and looked at her intently. "I just want us to be undisturbed."
"Oh," she said.
-Prior-
Suddenly Oren came in with a tray and two drinks, placing them in front of them. Then he returned to his post in the corridor.
"You have to try this," Kashion said.
Prior looked at the drink in the glass. It looked like hot chocolate. "This is…?"
"Hot chocolate with yuzu," Kashion explained. "A citrus fruit."
Prior took a sip and was surprised. The chocolate aroma paired perfectly with the citrus fruit. Very pleasant.
"Good?" Kashion asked.
Prior nodded.
He smiled and then gestured toward the game board.
So he wanted to start playing.
She was, of course, sitting with the white pieces. She took a white tree in the center and moved it forward two squares.
Kashion moved his black tree forward two squares as well, placing it right next to hers. She then took the tree on the right edge of the board and moved it forward two squares again. He did the same, placing his tree next to hers.
She looked at him, and he met her gaze. This was more than a game. It was as if he was trying to tell her something.
"What's your favorite piece in Cheqi?" he asked.
Didn't he already know that?
"The fox," she said uncertainly, looking at him again.
He didn't break eye contact and said, "Then my favorite piece is the bear." There was so much expression in his eyes, and he added more softly, almost in a whisper, "Because it protects the fox."
Prior had to look away and felt herself grow warm, her breathing becoming shallow.
"But you don't really know me at all," she said.
"That's exactly what I want to change," he replied.
She heard that rushing sound in her ears again. She looked down at the board and made a move with one of the donkeys.
She couldn't bear the uncertainty any longer and said, "If you knew about my past…" She trailed off.
She looked at him again, and he said, "For example, the story with Ayden?"
Her heart started racing. He already knew? Then it must be clear to him now that she wasn't a good match for him.
"You know about that?" she asked.
He moved his eagle, and she responded with a move of her fox.
He nodded.
-Kashion-
He noticed how uncomfortable the topic made her. It was as if a shadow had passed over her eyes. But she absolutely needed to know that he knew—and still wanted her.
He moved his donkey forward a few squares, and she continued with her fox.
She looked at him and bit her lower lip. She seemed to be thinking about something, then finally said, "Princess Evlina told me about her offer. You don't have to feel bad. I completely understand if you accept it."
He smiled. He had almost expected that. She wanted to give him a way out so he wouldn't feel guilty. How selfless. But he wouldn't give her a way out.
He took his eagle and captured one of her pieces, a forester.
"Oh no, Prior, I won't let myself be defeated or pushed away," he said.
She moved her fox further, away from his eagle, but had apparently overlooked his donkey.
He pointed at his donkey. She looked at him, then at the board. Then he pointed at her fox, which he could now capture. He tapped her white fox with his fingertip and said, "That's the piece I want." He looked at her and waited until she met his gaze. "I want FoxPriority, who is sitting here right now. With her past."
-Prior-
Prior felt overwhelmed by every emotion at once. She didn't even know what she was feeling anymore. His fingertip was still resting on her fox piece before he captured it. She felt as if she were that piece.
"But we live in two different worlds," she said.
Kashion nodded. "You're a scientist, right?"
What kind of question was that? She nodded.
"And you run experiments, even when something doesn't seem possible."
She nodded again.
He continued, "And when an experiment doesn't work perfectly right away, you don't just give up."
She was starting to understand what he was getting at.
"Please, Prior—even if we come from different worlds, let's try."
Prior was deeply moved. Also by the fact that he had chosen such a comparison. But he was the most desirable bachelor in the galaxy. The ruler of a great realm. And who was she? What could she possibly offer him?
"But I don't deserve you," she finally said.
He nodded. "That's true."
Even if it was the truth, hearing him say it still hurt.
But then he continued, "I don't deserve you either. You can't 'deserve' a person. But if I get to choose, then I choose you."
Prior felt the swarm of fireflies inside her gather again.
She looked at Kashion. She knew it was true—he had defeated her. There was nothing she could do against him. It felt like a chemical reaction starting to bubble, something that couldn't be stopped anymore.
"What do you say? How do you feel about me?" Kashion asked gently.
An idea came to her, and she smiled.
-Kashion-
Kashion was so eager for her answer. She wouldn't reject him now… would she?
"Bring me a piece of paper and a pen," she said a bit more firmly.
He laughed, stood up, gave a playful bow, and said, "At your service."
She suddenly seemed to realize she had just broken every rule of etiquette in speaking to him. She covered her mouth with her hand and was about to stand up, but he gestured for her to stay. He liked this free, unrestrained side of her. "Wait a moment," he said, quickly fetching something to write with from his room.
He handed her the paper and remained standing beside her. What would she write?
She began writing something that looked like a chemical equation. She handed the paper to Kashion, and he read:
"Mg + 2HCl → MgCl₂ + H₂↑"
"What is that?" he asked, looking at her.
She grinned. "That's my answer. When you figure it out, let me know."
Then she winked at him.
Kashion smiled and looked back at the paper. He was terrible at natural sciences. What could it mean? Magnesium? Hydrogen? What was she trying to say?
Suddenly he heard a growl.
Oh—Luu had come out of his room. He had forgotten to close the door.
-Prior-
Prior saw Luu, stood up from her seat, and walked over to her. Luu stepped back at first, but when Prior held out her hand, she sniffed it and then allowed herself to be petted.
"Do you think I could pick her up?" she asked.
Kashion smiled. "Try."
Prior lifted Luu's small body and held her in her arms. She was such a cute little creature. She couldn't help but think of the tiger again. Where was it now?
Kashion stood in front of her, reached out, and stroked Luu.
Prior looked at him, and he looked at her. There was something so warm about it.
"Can you bring her into my room?" Kashion then asked.
Prior nodded, set Luu down in his room, came back out, and this time closed the door.
She saw that Kashion was still looking at her equation and had to smile. She had to hold herself back from laughing out loud.
She was quite sure he wouldn't figure out the meaning that easily. That made it more exciting. She was really enjoying it.
He looked at her.
"Shall we finish the game?"
Prior shook her head and gestured at the board. "I don't stand a chance anymore. No matter what I do, you'll capture my eagle within two moves at the latest. So I concede."
He grinned, beaming at her.
She grinned as well and said, "I think I'll wish you good luck solving the equation."
She gave a small bow and left.
-Kashion-
Kashion watched her go. She said he had defeated her, but it felt like the opposite to him. He still held the equation in his hand. He had to figure out her answer as soon as possible.
That was now his priority.