Chapter 12
12 A great magic Cassian stood in the small house staring at April, she asked him.
_ Are you planning to spend all day watching me? _I'm watching you, I don't know why my brother hasn't put guards to make sure you don't escape or try to do anything.
_I'm not running away, I don't have anywhere to go back to and I'm not planning anything either, I just want to stay here and live a quiet life with three meals a day, a roof over my head and warm clothes during the winter.
_I don't plan to trust King Venobich's daughter.
_I suppose my father has caused a lot of harm to your kingdom, it is understandable that you hate me.
April felt hungry, she He started to prepare a soup with potatoes and carrots, it smelled delicious.
When the food was ready, April served herself a plate, Cassian's stomach growled, April asked him.
_ Are you hungry? Do you want some soup? _How insolent, how can you offer me something like that? April tasted her soup and said.
_ I guess that's a no.
Cassian's stomach was churning with hunger, he told her.
_I guess it can't be avoided, I'll try that concoction you've prepared, but try it yourself first, I don't want to die of poisoning.
April poured another bowl of soup, tasted it, and said.
_You see, it's not poisoned.
Cassian's mouth was watering, he had had a light breakfast that morning and was starving.
When he tasted the soup he was surprised, the soup was delicious, he finished everything that had been served to him quickly, he held out his plate and said.
_Pour me some more.
April showed him the empty pot and said.
_There is no more.
April picked up the plates, took out some roasted sweet potatoes and gave him one.
What is this? Cassian asked as he poked it with his fingers.
_ Are those sweet potatoes? Have you never tried them? _But I remember they were orange.
_That's because they still have the skin, you have to remove it.
April began to remove it with her fingers.
_Look, you have to do it this way.
Cassian found that doing that went against everything he had been taught, but in that place no one would see him, they were alone, so he did what April taught him.
He stayed all day with April and the pain in his leg disappeared completely, when it began to get dark Cassian returned to the palace since he always had dinner with his brother Alessandro.
During dinner Alessandro asked Cassian.
_How is your leg? _I'm fine bro, it hardly hurts.
Alessandro knew perfectly well that the pain in Cassian's leg never went away and that on cold days like that the pain was almost unbearable, he told him.
You don't have to lie to me, if you feel bad please feel free to tell me.
_It's not like that bro, it's really like I'm telling you, it barely hurts, but thanks for worrying.
In fact, the pain in his leg had almost disappeared that day, Cassian had begun to wonder if April had something to do with his improvement.
The next day Cassian went to the kitchen and asked the servants to prepare a basket with food and some desserts, he went to April's house, as the day before his leg hurt horribly, but after spending some time with April, the pain diminished considerably.
When it was time for lunch Cassian told April to serve what she had brought, when they finished the food they continued with the dessert, it was chocolate cake, when April tried it she shed tears, Cassian asked her.
_ What's wrong? You didn't like it? _On the contrary, I love it, I have never eaten something so delicious in my life.
_You are a princess, this kind of desserts must be common for a princess.
Although April was a princess, she was only one in name, she had never been treated as such, she replied.
_I'm only a princess in name, I've never been treated as such.
_You lie, you are the most beloved daughter of King Venobich, who would dare to ignore you in the kingdom of Laios.
April laughed as she heard what Cassian was saying.
_It doesn't matter if you believe me or not, but I have never received such affection from my father or anyone else and I think I will never receive it, although I don't care, I just want a quiet life.
and go unnoticed until my last days, although I don't think that's possible.
Cassian couldn't believe April's words, he had heard the report from the guards who had escorted the princess, they had said that the princess was the emperor's beloved daughter, that they themselves had verified it when she had not bowed to the king and he had only said affectionate words to say goodbye to his daughter, that he had even given her a blessing.
But there was something that Cassian wanted to verify, that was why he had to be close to April, it was not convenient for him to be on bad terms with her, so he said nothing and simply remained silent.
Cassian visited April every day throughout the winter, although at first she was uncomfortable with his visits, she had finally gotten used to him visiting her every day.
Cassian had a check-up every so often, to make sure that the after-effects of his old injuries were not getting worse, while the doctor was examining him Cassian asked him.
_ Doctor, is there some kind of magic that cures any injury or takes away any pain? _No your majesty, healing magic helps heal wounds, however, when an injury is too serious or the pain is too intense, it is not of much help, unfortunately there is no such magic.
The doctor remembered a story and told him.
_Although some say that a long time ago such magic existed, but I don't think it's real if I'm honest.
_Could you tell me a little more about that magic? _It's not that I know much since it's just a story that my father told me when I was a child, he said that a long time ago there was a magic that was a blessing from heaven, it was the magic of light, a power granted by the Goddess Juno herself, that magic could cure all kinds of illnesses and wounds, it was a magic that increased strength and spirit.
_I've never heard of magic like that.
_That's why I tell you it's just a story, I don't even think it's real, the possessor of that magic was considered a saint, but there has been no evidence that someone with such power ever existed.
_Thank you very much for answering my questions.
_You don't have to thank me, your majesty, I actually think what I've said is useless, I'm sorry I can't help you more.
The doctor gathered his things and said.
_Now if you'll excuse me, I must go.
_Many thanks for everything.
When the doctor left Cassian thought about what he had said and wondered if the princess had such power, since ever since he had been by her side the pain in her leg had almost completely disappeared and she had begun to walk better, her leg had stopped failing her.
If his suspicions were true, Cassian wondered why King Venobich would let someone so valuable go to the enemy.
There's no point in making assumptions, I'd better find out a little more about this.
That day Cassian went to the library and spent the whole day looking for some information about the magic the doctor had mentioned.