Author: Nikss

Cassian paused as he headed straight for Astel.

 

Something about the atmosphere was off. The Duke of Anais, whom he had met in the archives, was still looking down on him, cold and insignificant. 

 

As usual, it was very, very unkind. Most likely, the wretch was protecting Astel. So I have no choice but to bend down to meet her.

 

— ‘Your Excellency, Duke of Anais, I have a message for you.’

 

— ‘I’m very busy at the moment.’

 

The Duke, who had finished his work in the archives, gave Cassian an annoyed glance and strode off to the other side of the room.

 

He was still firmly in doubt about his relationship with Astel.

 

‘We’ll see.’

 

With a creepy grin, Cassian turned and walked away. 

 

Of course, Cassian did not give up his efforts to contact Astel after that. He even tried sneaking a letter to the Duke of Anais’ residence in the capital. 

 

But it never seemed to reach her.  Astel never replied.

 

I wondered if Astel and Rune were staying in the Northern Duchy instead of the capital, so I asked Rachel to spy on the situation in the Northern Duchy. 

 

But Rachel, not knowing where Astel was at the moment, gave up after three days.

 

Finally, he tried to send Cello, but she merely croaked and hovered by his side.

 

As a result, Cassian hadn’t heard from Astel in days. His mouth was dry with impatience.

 

‘Astel, what’s going on? Are you tired?’

 

How could she be so busy and not show up, considering that we were finally getting the revenge we wanted and deserved? 

 

I wondered, and my anxiety grew sharply.

 

He ran a hand roughly through his silky brown hair and pondered.

 

‘Anyway, the job’s done, and since I’m tired, I might as well get some rest.’

 

Everything was perfect. 

 

The Crown Prince was in prison, and most of the nobles of the Crown Prince’s faction had been forced to pay hefty reparations. 

 

Even the Duke of Anais had been quietly chipping away at his mansion since yesterday.

 

If so, he didn’t have to wait any longer; he could simply head to the Duke of Anais’ mansion. 

 

Cassian chuckled lowly as he thought of the pair of blood relatives who would be waiting for him at the Duke of Anais’ mansion.

 

Astel, and Rune.

 

Now that he thought about it, he had to tell Rune about his heritage.

 

But I don’t know how to tell him.

 

That I’m not just a Mister, I’m actually your father. He clenched his fists, remembering the puffy-cheeked Rune who had said, “Mister,” and he shuddered.

 

Somehow, he trembled more than when he’d been trapped in the secret passage. He cleared his throat and muttered in embarrassment.

 

“I’m your father, no, that’s too cool.”

 

He coughed repeatedly, staring at the couch across from the empty carriage.

 

“Ahem, mmm. I didn’t abandon you.”

 

The beautiful face, usually the flower of the capital, flushed for a moment, trembling and embarrassed.

 

“And the woman next to you is your aunt, you know her, right?”

 

It was as if there was Rune in front of his eyes.

 

Cassian said what he’d been wanting to say all along.

 

“Daddy loves you every day, my boy.”

 

My jaw dropped, and I felt a swell of happiness deep in my chest.

 

Once I have them officially at the Duke of Anais’ manor, I must rebuild the family name and give them only the most precious things.

 

Cassian pursed his lips as he envisioned a glorious future. 

 

‘First, I’ll reclaim the lands and mansions that belonged to my family.’

 

The Imperial Court had also offered to pay huge compensation to the wronged families, so there would be no shortage of money.

 

In his mind, he imagined a future where the three of them would live together in perfect harmony.

 

As long as he could get rid of the impure Duke of Anais…

 

Cassian’s cheeks flushed in rosy reverie. There was nothing but happiness ahead for the two of them.

 

He opened the window and spoke loudly to the coachman’s assistants standing behind the carriage.

 

“Let’s go to the Duke of Anais’ mansion.”

 

“What?”

 

“The Duke of Anais mansion in the capital!”

 

The young assistant nodded nervously as he smiled broadly.

 

He looked happier than anyone I’d ever seen, and I was tempted to grant him an unreasonable request.

 

Surely a horse’s head would be a decent enough thing to do?

 

Even if their carriage was almost at the imperial palace!

 

🐾

 

“Your Grace, Duke.”

 

Cassian Gray’s brow furrowed in self-pity.

 

The Duke of Anais frowned weakly at the dry expression on his face.

 

“I don’t think we’re meant to meet in person.”

 

Cassian swallowed hard. Such iron walls don’t bother him at all.

 

Just so long as I could finally get my revenge and meet Astel.

 

Cassian pursed his lips, then paused.

 

Something was bothering him, actually, ‘The Duke had a strange air about him, almost like some sort of tribute.’

 

Surely Duke Anais would have hired only the best.

 

They make mistakes when they open the door, and they shed tears in his presence.

 

Each one was as white as a sheet.

 

As Cassian walked down the hall toward the parlor, he saw the rare sight of a silver fox cub bursting into tears.

 

“Hmph, hmph…”

 

“Why are you crying?”

 

“Hmph…”

 

The fox’s bushy tail and pointy ears twitched at the same time. The baby fox cried so loudly that it scampered off down the hallway.

 

The floor of the hallway where it stayed was covered in tears…

 

“Why aren’t you talking?”

 

“Ah.”

 

The silence was too long as he briefly recalled the strange circumstances of the Duke of Anais.

 

Cassian smiled wryly and spoke lightly, “I’ve come to see Astel.”

 

The Duke of Anais didn’t answer, just stared at him with a strange, searching gaze.

 

He was certainly his usual cool demeanor and arrogant aristocratic self, but strangely, he looked like a man with something to hide.

 

“…Your Excellency the Duke?”

 

Cassian addressed him, and the Duke of Anais replied monotonously.

 

“You are in the Duke’s residence, yes.”

 

“Let me see her!”

 

The Duke of Anais did not respond to Cassian’s exuberant request. He seemed to be pondering something.

 

There was a long silence. It was then that Cassian felt a strange discomfort in his demeanor. 

 

Then a polite knock on the door and Lord Meyer, Astel’s chosen bodyguard, entered.

 

Kneeling on one knee before the Duke, he bowed his head. Cassian ran his subtle gaze over Lord Meyer’s chiseled, chestnut-brown head.

 

Things had taken a strange turn. Since Lord Meyer had become Astel’s bodyguard, Cassian knew quite a bit about him.

 

Meyer was a stout, bear-like man, but this was different. 

 

At first glance, his complexion was withered and pale, almost dead. As if he had lost someone dear to him.

 

“Your Highness, the Duke has a visitor…”

 

…The actual voice belonged to the dying man.

 

Judging by the state of the entire ducal estate, it couldn’t be personal.

 

Duke Anais whispered to Lord Meyer as if it were no big deal.

 

“I don’t mind knowing your interest.”

 

It was quickly dismissed as ‘interest,’ but that didn’t matter.

 

Cassian threw a blazing gaze in Lord Meyer’s direction.

 

Lord Meyer muttered in a low, despair-filled voice, “Very well, I have prepared Astel’s coffin, and placed her little body in it… with flowers.”

 

The Duke of Anais’s expression, which had been so calm throughout, darkened for a moment.

 

“The flowers are of my choosing, are they not?”

 

“Yes, I filled it with hyacinths. Would you like to see for yourself?”

 

For a moment, Cassian thought he had misheard.

 

He muttered in a cold voice, “What the hell.”

 

And then he paused again.

 

‘What kind of combination of words was this?’

 

Astel’s coffin, flowers. It didn’t make any sense.

 

He snorted and spoke, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

 

“…”

 

For a moment, Lord Meyer’s empty pupils met Cassian’s.

 

Cassian felt the back of his neck stiffen with foreboding at the sight of those glassy, hollow eyes.

 

He glared at Meyer, cleared his throat, and turned his head stiffly away.

 

“Explain yourself to me properly, Duke.”

 

“Explain what?”

 

The Duke of Anais was remarkably calm in the face of this. Almost brazenly so.

 

Cassian couldn’t help but raise one eyebrow.

 

“Astel’s coffin. I think I heard some nonsense.”

 

Cassian whispered in a foul tone and winced.

 

“I think my ears have gone deaf.”

 

He shrugged, as if this was some kind of ridiculous statement.

 

Table of Contents
Reader Settings
Font Size
Line Height
Font
Donation
Amount
Nikss

Ko-fi Ko-fi

Comments (0)