Not long after the King and Paris left for Laconia, autumn set in. The palace became a whirlwind of energy as the staff prepared the building for winter.

Bored without her king by her side, Hecuba chased after the staff night and day. When she didn't nag her subjects, the Queen pestered Hector, who sat on the throne in the King's absence.

Since her time at the market, none of Cassandra's siblings bothered her like they once had.

At first, their avoidance upset her, but in time she decided it was for the best. She had to stop Paris and needed to focus on currying favor from the gods.

Every day, Cassandra worshipped a series of gods. She started with the Olympians (minus Apollo and Hermes), then moved on to the lesser deities. She studied the scrolls Aesacus had left and discovered gods she'd never known existed and honored them, too.

When not in prayer, Cassandra spent her time in her part of the gardens. Many of her precious plants had died for the year without her appreciating their beauty.

What remained, she tended to with a level of care she'd never applied before. The flora flourished and brought Cassandra the only joy she allowed herself.

Three weeks into the King's voyage, Hecuba gathered her available children into the throne room and announced another pregnancy, due to end at spring's beginning.

For the first time in days, Cassandra connected to the present as she eyed her mother with the same concern as her siblings. No woman her age should conceive and hope to have a healthy child, nor live through the ordeal. But the same had been thought when she'd carried Polyxena, and the Queen had had no trouble with labor, and Polyxena had been the fittest child Hecuba's midwife had ever seen.

At the responding silence, Hecuba broke down in tears.

The Queen's misery shattered the bewildering spell her announcement had cast, and, as one, Cassandra and her siblings swarmed their mother. They hugged and kissed her until her crying ceased.

That night, Cassandra prayed to Eileithyia for hours and made a note to do so every night before bed until Hecuba had her newest child.

Another month passed, and news came of the King's travels. They'd reached Laconia safely, and events had progressed smoothly with King Menelaus. Paris had taken to his duties as a prince of Troy and couldn't have pleased Priam more.

No mention was made of a woman who'd caught the prince's eye, but a prophecy Cassandra had a day before the messenger arrived told her Paris had met the woman and had seduced her.

After the King's update, Cassandra and Helenus turned seventeen.

Despite the twins' protests, Hecuba planned a spectacular party almost as extravagant as her own.

When they appealed to Hector, their brother laughed and vowed to encourage their mother's overzealousness.

On the day of the party, Cassandra forwent her religious duties and spent all her time in her bedchamber. She wanted to attend the party to please Hecuba but longed to avoid it. She couldn't stop thinking of the Queen's party earlier in the year and how Apollo had surprised her with his sincerity. Cassandra knew better but still couldn't kill the hope he'd show.

When the hour came, Cassandra pushed aside her foolish thoughts and dressed in the outfit the Queen had chosen for her. She allowed a handmaiden to do her hair and makeup.

Once finished, she joined Helenus outside the hall Hecuba's party had been thrown in. He threw her a soft smile, then held her hand.

"Ready?"

Cassandra sighed. "No."

"We'll have fun, you'll see."

The twins entered the party.

As Cassandra knew would happen, the Queen paraded the birthday duo around the room. She gushed over them like any other proud mother, to the point Cassandra caught a few eye rolls once the Queen's back turned.

Neither Cassandra nor Helenus spoke much—Hecuba left no opportunity.

Halfway through the night, Hector convinced the Queen to let the twins intermingle on their own.

With a frown, their mother complied, and Cassandra and Helenus raced away as fast as they dared without hurting their mother's feelings. They sought food and sat some ways from the main action.

They conversed about nothing remarkable, but Cassandra didn't mind. It was almost like nothing had changed their relationship.

Their newfound closeness wouldn't last, she knew, yet she'd allow herself to believe so tonight.

At some point, a young man with the blackest hair and prettiest grass-green eyes Cassandra had ever seen caught her attention.

As soon as she focused on him, a quick vision struck her, but one unlike she'd experienced in a long time—a pleasant one. She saw the young man and Creusa playing with a child clearly theirs.

Once the vision passed, Cassandra excused herself from Helenus and approached the young man. She smiled at him. "Hello."

The young man bowed. "Happy Birthday, Princess."

"Thank you. Are you enjoying yourself?"

He nodded. "This is quite the party."

Cassandra chuckled. "The Queen outdid herself."

The next moment, Creusa appeared nearby.

The young man's attention drifted to the older princess. His lips turned up into a grin Cassandra was sure he didn't notice. An emotion stronger than lust inflamed his eyes.

Cassandra stepped closer to the young man. "Would you like to meet her?"

He jumped. "Oh, I didn't—I don't know—I'm sorry, Princess."

"For what? Looking at my sister?"

"It was rude of me to ignore you."

Cassandra shrugged. "No harm was done." She gestured to Creusa. "I swear she won't bite."

The young man gazed at Cassandra, then glanced at her sister. "Would you be so kind as to introduce us?"

Cassandra smiled again. "I'd love to."

She took the young man's hand and led him through the crowd where Creusa talked with her favorite attendant.

Creusa stopped mid-sentence when Cassandra and the young man stepped in front of her. She looked between the two.

"Why, hello."

The young man bowed. "Hello, Princess. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise, uh..."

The young man blushed. "Forgive me, Princess. My name is Aeneas. My father is your father's cousin."

"How is it you've never visited before?"

"I don't know." Aeneas' gaze drank in Creusa. "I regret every opportunity I've missed."

Creusa's skin flushed, and she looked at her sandals.

Cassandra took that as her cue to leave. She wished them both well, but neither paid her any mind.

Cassandra laughed as she walked away, and from then on tolerated the rest of the party.

Instead of returning home, Aeneas remained at the palace. He claimed he liked to travel and adventure, and only stuck around for that reason, but no one believed him. Especially not when he and Creusa disappeared at the same time multiple points in the day.

Rumors flooded the palace, and, just like with Cassandra, Deiphobus butted his nose in.

Unlike Cassandra, Creusa couldn't hide well, and Deiphobus caught her and Aeneas in a compromising position.

Deiphobus dragged his sister and her lover, both half-clothed, to the throne room. He shamed them in front of Hector and demanded the worst imaginable punishment.

Before Hector could respond, Aeneas declared his love for Creusa and asked to marry her.

Hector approved, to Deiphobus' surprise, and ordered the pair to behave until their wedding.

Hecuba wanted to put the wedding on hold until the King and Paris returned, but Creusa claimed she was too in love to wait. She threatened to elope if the Queen pushed the issue.

Hecuba relented and set the wedding for two weeks after Deiphobus had discovered the young pair.

Many guests who'd attended the twins' birthday party were invited to the wedding.

Aeneas wanted his father there, but not only couldn't he have made it in the short time, but his lame foot kept him from traveling far. After Aeneas lamented his woes to Helenus, Cassandra's twin suggested, once married, Creusa and her husband visit Anchises.

For a hastily put together affair, the wedding went well. It wasn't as lovely as Ilione's (Cassandra's oldest sister) had been, but Creusa looked pleased all the same.

Hecuba cried all day but blamed it on her pregnancy.

Cassandra allowed her thoughts to take a lighter air during the wedding, much like they'd been during the summer, as hard as it was. More than once the idea of her and Apollo getting married broke through her shield of happiness. It never lasted long; its quick retreat made by the goblet after goblet of wine she drank.

By the event's end, Helenus had to carry Cassandra to her bedchamber.

Her sleep that night troubled her.

At some point, a dream of her being buried by a pile of olives decorated with Deiphobus' face turned into a vision. In it, the woman Aphrodite had promised Paris crawled into a massive bed fit for the king that occupied it.

Cassandra knew the flat, bloated face of King Menelaus well (he'd been to Troy often over the years).

The woman wore too lovely of clothing to be a mere concubine. She kissed the King's cheek.

He cupped her breasts, laughed, and pulled her against him.

The vision ended, and Cassandra woke, more terrified than before. She shook her head, unwilling to accept what she'd learned.

Paris couldn't be that stupid, wouldn't want a woman of her status. He had to realize his goal would come with severe consequences.

But Cassandra knew he didn't care. He adored the ground the Queen of Sparta walked on, and, if Paris had her, the rest of the world could fade away. His love blinded him from seeing how disastrous his decision would be.

Instead of crying or bemoaning Troy's fate, Cassandra left her bed, dressed, and went to Aesacus' prayer chamber. As she went about her rituals, she didn't believe she'd ever please the gods enough for them to listen to her, but she had to try.

Cassandra feared for her wellbeing if she gave up.