Author: Nikss

“Get up.”

 

“What kind of crap is that?”

 

Cassian’s voice trailed off, but no one in the room noted his tone. Duke Anais rubbed his brow slowly, then spoke.

 

“You should probably get up so we can go see Astel.”

 

“Ah, yes. I must see her with my own eyes, Your Excellency.”

 

Astel was in a coffin, what a load of rubbish. Cassian’s jaw tightened. 

 

The Duke of Anais pushed open the door to the parlor. 

 

The door swung open as wide as the gaping maw of Cerberus, the gatekeeper of Hell. Cassian strode to the doorway, biting his lip to keep from becoming indignant.

 

🐾

 

Cassian’s trembling gaze fell toward the Sacrament Coffin.

 

The white face, the pale lips, the closed eyes.

 

“Why is Astel…”

 

Astel was in a coffin.

 

Now that we had gotten all the revenge we wanted, why was she…

 

It was unbelievable. He fumbled to reach out and put his hand under Astel’s nose, to her slightly parted lips.

 

Finally, he slowly placed his hand underneath her heart, and her body collapsed near the coffin. Even her heart stopped beating.

 

“No, no, it’s not…”

 

A series of faint moans escaped him.

 

But the reality was brutal. Astel was as cold and stiff as a corpse, and she wouldn’t even open her eyes.

 

Should he believe what he saw, or the reality of Astel’s departure?

 

After staring at Astel, who was indeed as pale as a dead soul, Cassian glared at Duke Anais.

 

The Duke of Anais, who had been standing still until then, pressed a hand to the corners of his eyes.

 

“…You’re crying, aren’t you, Duke, Your Excellency.”

 

As if Cassian’s words weren’t even worth answering, he removed his hand from the corner of his eye.

 

The Duke’s eyes were just as red as Cassian’s. 

 

They were even dripping with tears. Cassian sucked in a breath, a look of horror on his face. 

 

The beast, which could be stabbed with a knife and not draw a drop of blood, stared at Astel pleadingly. 

 

The sight of his parched lips and sorrowful eyes was enough to break one’s heart.

 

At that moment, Cassian’s subconscious was convinced that Astel was truly dead.

 

“Ah…”

 

Cassian’s knees shook, then gave out. He staggered as he tried to pull himself up, then tumbled to the floor.

 

“Ugh, please…”

 

Finally, I thought, we could be happy.

 

‘If only…’

 

Cassian staggered back to his feet and quickly grabbed the Duke of Anais by the scruff of the neck as he stood beside him.

 

“Why, why didn’t you tell me, you rascal! You should have told me before, before!”

 

I know it’s not the Duke’s fault.

 

Circumstances dictated that the Crown Prince had a hand in it.

 

Duke Anais cares about Astel and would have done anything to stop it. But his anger has nowhere to turn but toward his opponent. 

 

The Duke of Anais, not even bothering to soften his tone, replied dryly.

 

“That’s quite an impudent and abrupt change of pace.”

 

“Why didn’t you tell me, you bastard!”

 

The Duke, who looked remarkably calm for a man who had cried, ripped Cassian’s hand away. 

 

Cassian’s twisted face contorted twice as much. 

 

His eyes hurt like they were bursting with blood, but he rubbed them a few times, then turned to the Duke and spoke fiercely.

 

“Astel is dead, and you seem so calm.”

 

Over Cassian’s raspy voice, Duke Anais spoke with a calm face.

 

“Calm down.”

 

Looks like tears were flowing, but they were quickly wiped away.

 

‘How unfortunate.’

 

Cassian gritted his teeth and glared at him fiercely.

 

“You said you’d follow her to death.”

 

“Of course, I’ll be following her in death… No.”

 

The Duke of Anais asked with a frown, “You really didn’t hear anything from Astel?”

 

Cassian asked coldly, “What words?”

 

The Duke’s voice trailed off.

 

“I thought you had heard.”

 

“What do you mean, Astel is dead… well, I mean, like this?”

 

“You didn’t hear.”

 

The Duke of Anais’s brazen smirk held a hint of superiority.

 

“You weren’t that close.”

 

Cassian glared at him, trying to force down the emotions that were churning inside him.

 

“What exactly did you hear, and what’s with that dirty look?”

 

As much as he wanted to be more confrontational with the Duke, the sight of her in the coffin made his heart race and he couldn’t speak.

 

It was hard to control my emotions anymore.

 

‘Why the hell is Astel dead…’

 

Cassian sobbed, his body trembling. Tears trickled from his eyes.

 

He cupped Astel’s cheek, not even bothering to put the lid on the dark coffin.

 

“Why do you look… like you are still alive…”

 

As tears streamed down his face, he heard the Duke of Anais dismiss Lord Meyer. He was frighteningly calm in front of Astel’s body.

 

That was why his sister had told him not to have anything to do with him.

 

Astel was dead, and all he could do was shed a few tears.

 

“… Duke, no. You’re a brute.”

 

The Duke of Anais raised an eyebrow.

 

But Cassian was nowhere to be seen, and he shook his fists in anger, muttering to himself.

 

“Why do you look so calm? You were by Astel’s side, and you failed to protect her. Shouldn’t you feel guilty?”

 

“I feel guilty enough.”

 

“Then why do you look so calm.”

 

He was crying, but his demeanor was one of disbelief.

 

“I can’t tell you now, because if Astel didn’t tell you herself, there must be a reason.”

 

My anger flared at the sight of the stranger’s decision to remain silent.

 

Even if the Duke of Anais had done nothing directly wrong, he was guilty of failing to protect her.

 

A wave of anger and self-loathing washed over him for failing to protect Astel.

 

As he had hoped, all was revealed. The Emperor would soon declare the reinstatement of House Vietry.

 

So, neither Cassian Gray nor Astel would have to hide their identities.

 

After all, all the slander surrounding the Vietry family was put to rest yesterday.

 

Tomorrow, the world would know that he was the rightful heir to the House of Vietry.

 

And Astel, for that matter.

 

Sooner or later, he and Astel would appear before the Emperor, side by side.

 

But now it was all for naught. Cassian closed his eyes tightly and opened them.

 

Until then, the blue eyes stared back at him arrogantly.

 

“After what happened to my precious Astel, what can I say? How the hell.”

 

“What, are you saying she’s precious?”

 

“That Astel is precious to me.”

 

“That… she’s important to you.”

 

He looked offended by the word ‘precious’ when Astel was dead.

 

Cassian couldn’t forgive him anymore. 

 

A whisper of anger escaped his lips, “Astel is dead now, and you talk like that.”

 

The Duke of Anais gave him a rare troubled look.

 

Cassian gritted his teeth and muttered, “Yeah, well, a cold-blooded brute like you could just forget about Astel and be done with it.”

 

“No way.”

 

But Cassian snapped back, his throat tightening.

 

“But I’m not like you.”

 

Duke Anais pointed out, annoyed and sarcastic.

 

“I don’t think you’re even listening to me anymore.”

 

The words were plainly true. None of the voices reached Cassian’s actual ears, as he stared blankly at his wrist.

 

He looked down at the white magic circles on his wrist that had protected them for so long.

 

A half-hearted, frantic voice escaped his lips.

 

“I’m not like you. Astel is someone I would trade my life for…”

 

With those words, his gaze snapped up, and he turned to the Duke and declared.

 

“Because she is my precious sister.”

 

The Duke’s eyes fluttered open and asked, “What did you just say…”

 

Those steadfast eyes, which had never wavered in all his life, were shaken by the words, “Astel is my sister.”

 

Well, it was a surprise. Less surprising than the fact that Astel was dead…

 

Cassian warned him bluntly.

 

“I heard you.”

 

With a hollow mockery, Cassian’s wrist flashed a pure white light, and the magic circle inscribed there scattered, smeared, and shattered.

 

Cassian glared at the Duke of Anais and spoke coldly, “The dead Astel, she is my precious sister.”

 

Cassian’s deep voice filled the room where Astel’s coffin lay.

 

As if to prove his point, Cassian’s brown hair slowly turned to a blond color similar to Astel’s.

 

His green eyes also turned a slightly darker color, giving his features a slightly more defined look.

 

Cassian’s face, which had always been similar, now looked exactly like Astel’s.

 

Cassian ran a hand through his golden locks in a huff and muttered.

 

“Ha, that was so easy…”

 

The Duke of Anais’ expression changed in an indescribable way.

 

It was as if he had heard something horribly wrong, something that shouldn’t exist in the world.

 

His complexion turned pale, and Cassian sighed heavily as they stood in the field.

 

The coffin in which Astel lay made a small clatter. It was the sound of something moving.

 

Rustle, rustle—

 

Cassian’s eyes widened as he peered inside the coffin.

 

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