Forever and Always

16 - Confrontation

The afternoon sun streamed through the castle windows, illuminating a mountain of freshly washed laundry that lay on Cassandra's bed. With a sigh, she began the tedious task of folding, her mind elsewhere. The Exposition had just concluded, leaving a sense of bittersweetness in its wake. While Varian's invention hadn't won first prize, the positive reception it received fueled a quiet pride within her.

Suddenly, a flash of yellow burst through the door, followed by a flurry of excited chatter. Rapunzel, hair cascading down her back like a golden waterfall, bounced into the room, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Cassandra!" she exclaimed, tossing a folded tunic onto the growing pile. "Guess who I just saw talking to Varian in the marketplace?"

Cassandra paused, a flicker of apprehension crossing her features. "Varian?" she said, feigning disinterest. "Who else?"

Rapunzel's smile widened. "Exactly! They were talking for ages – Varian was showing him some kind of new contraption with gears and... well, I don't know what all. But Varian seemed super excited!"

Cassandra felt a pang of... something. Disappointment? Jealousy? It was a tangled mess of emotions she couldn't quite decipher.

"That's... nice," she mumbled, burying her face further into a pile of shirts.

Rapunzel, however, wasn't so easily fooled. She perched on the edge of the bed, her expression turning serious.

"Cass," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper, "you know Varian has a bit of a thing for you, right?"

Cassandra's head shot up, cheeks flushing crimson. "A... what?" she stammered, her voice betraying her feigned composure.

Rapunzel shrugged playfully. "It's pretty obvious! The way he looks at you, the way he stutters when he talks to you..." she trailed off, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

Cassandra scoffed, trying to regain her composure. "Rapunzel, you're imagining things! Varian and I are just friends. Good friends."

Rapunzel's smile remained undeterred. "Well, whether you see it or not, Varian definitely does," she said. "Just a friendly tip, Cass. Be sweet to him. He's a good guy, and a genius inventor to boot!"

Cassandra opened her mouth to protest, but Rapunzel, sensing their conversation had reached a natural end, sprang up with renewed energy.

"Speaking of inventors, I promised Eugene I'd help him test out his new slingshot design. Want to join us?"

Cassandra, eager to escape the flush of emotions Rapunzel's words had ignited, jumped at the chance to change the subject.

"Sure," she said, shoving the remaining laundry aside with a determined sigh. "Let's go see what kind of trouble Eugene's gotten himself into this time."

As they walked out of the castle, the weight of Rapunzel's words still lingered. Varian having a crush on her? The idea was both flattering and confusing. Their bond had been forged in a shared love for tinkering and a mutual respect for each other's abilities. Was there room for something more?

She stole a glance at Rapunzel, her heart brimming with a newfound appreciation for their friendship. Rapunzel, ever the perceptive one, had unknowingly planted a seed in her mind, a seed that promised a new chapter in her relationship with Varian. Whether it bloomed into romance or remained a strong friendship, Cassandra knew one thing for certain – treating Varian with kindness, with the same respect and admiration he showed her, would always be the right choice.

As they ventured into the bustling marketplace, the air thick with the scent of spices and sizzling food, Cassandra couldn't help but scan the crowd for Varian's familiar mop of brown hair. Rapunzel's words echoed in her head, making her see his every smile, every shy glance in a new light.