Author: Nikss

 Cassian’s gaze flicked to the twitching flowers.

 

‘I wonder what the hell they did to Astel’s coffin to make it sound like that.’

 

“Move.”

 

Cassian hurried toward the coffin, leaving the Duke of Anais as frozen as ice.

 

Astel was inside the coffin. She looked like she was sleeping soundly, propped up by hyacinths and tulips, wearing a dress as white as her face.

 

He peered through the flowers of the coffin where Astel’s body lay, but the rustling had ceased. 

 

All he could see was Astel’s still form.

 

Cassian gently brushed a hand across Astel’s face, tears streaming down his cheeks.

 

“Open your eyes, Astel.”

 

“…”

 

“Please…”

 

He pleaded, desperate and plaintive, in front of the coffin. He crossed his hands in front of his chest and prayed.

 

And then it happened. Cassian’s plea seemed to reach the gods.

 

Astel opened her eyes…

 

… her eyes?

 

Cassian paused as he watched Astel’s eyelids tremble. 

 

The eyelids opened gently, revealing delicate green eyes that resembled the color of fresh green grass.

 

Astel blinked for a moment as if searching for focus, then turned to face Cassian, who looked dumbfounded. 

 

Cassian looked back at her in disbelief.

 

“…Uh, are you a ghost?”

 

Astel’s face flashed with a strange question. 

 

But it was only for a moment, as she ran her hands over her stiff shoulders, kneading them together.

 

“A ghost? Oh, my shoulder hurts…”

 

By now, Duke Anais and Cassian were both stunned into silence, unable to speak. Only Astel was exuberantly moving her stiff muscles.

 

“I see I’m alive, so everything’s all right, isn’t it?”

 

Astel chirped curiously, the color of her pure white lips returning to pink.

 

Undaunted, she stretched and yawned, humming and grunting. 

 

Cassian, finally regaining his senses, looked at Astel through quivering lips.

 

“Who are you?”

 

Astel shook her head, then laughed softly and patted him on the shoulder. 

 

Cassian was still breathing rapidly, his face filled with horror. Astel looked up, puzzled.

 

“Who are you…? What’s that look?”

 

Astel’s gaze fell on Cassian, who looked as if his soul had been sucked out of him by someone else. She stared at him in bewilderment.

 

“What’s wrong, why do you look like you’re looking at a dead person?”

 

“Because you’re dead… But, there’s obviously no heartbeat…”

 

“…Didn’t you get any messages?”

 

Astel narrowed her eyes, looking even more puzzled. 

 

Cassian asked with questioning eyes, “Which one, the…?”

 

“I gave you two notes, don’t you remember?”

 

He suddenly remembered that Astel had left him two notes the other day. He had forgotten about them until now…

 

Cassian hastily wiped his tear-stained eyes and muttered, “…Yes, you gave me two, and I don’t know if it was written there—”

 

Seeing his confused expression, Astel cut him off with a mischievous grin.

 

“Ugh, I did write down that I’d take a pill to pretend to be dead for a while, why didn’t you read it!”

 

Cassian’s face turned stern as he met Astel’s grin, and his lips curled into a frown.

 

“You cried because you thought I was dead?”

 

Astel wiped the tears from his eyes and whispered sweetly.

 

“You’re such a crybaby.”

 

“No, I didn’t cry.”

 

“…You lied.”

 

Cassian’s chest heaved, and his eyes squinted in frustration.

 

‘But how could I take out my anger on my lovely, dead sister?’

 

His venomous gaze flickered around Astel, and Cassian finally found his scapegoat.

 

“By the way, did you know, Your Grace?”

 

Taking a few steps between them, Duke Anais maintained an oddly polite expression. Then he tilted his head and answered gravely.

 

“Yes.”

 

Cassian jumped to his feet.

 

But Duke Anais was far more concerned with the awakened Astel than Cassian. 

 

His hands twitched, and he muttered something about wanting to escort her away at once.

 

“How about we get Astel out of the coffin first?”

 

Astel, who had been watching the confrontation with amusement, rolled her eyes and scrambled to her feet.

 

“I’ll get out myself, I feel a little stiff, but I’m fine!”

 

Cassian shook his head coldly.

 

“No, it’s dangerous.”

 

He took Astel’s hand and helped her out of the coffin.

 

Cassian had seen the Duke of Anais’ hand twitch to escort Astel.

 

As Astel pulled herself out of the coffin, Cassian turned to Duke Anais and asked.

 

“Never mind, then why were you crying?”

 

Astel’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

“What, did you cry?”

 

Just then, the Duke of Anais, who had been standing on the sidelines, strode over and muttered.

 

“I knew it… but it was just sad to see you lying there like your life was over.”

 

It was a very romantic answer. Enough to make Astel’s ears perk up.

 

Cassian ran a hand through his hair, looking exasperated at his sudden sense of being left out of the loop.

 

“Alas, I see…”

 

Seeing Astel’s cheeks flush, Cassian wiped his hands over his eyes in frustration.

 

‘How dare you, at this late stage of your relationship, pick and choose what you think Astel will like.’

 

The thought of childishly stealing Astel’s attention and interest offended him even more.

 

‘I’m doubly offended, anyway.’

 

Meanwhile, I wondered if I’d only felt a flicker of emotion.

 

As if his anger and hatred for Cassian had already melted away, the Duke’s eyes narrowed, and he smiled, a 180-degree turnaround in his demeanor.

 

It was clearly an act of goodwill.

 

But Cassian was not to be trifled with.

 

He maintained his stony expression for a long moment, then turned his head and smirked at Astel, his precious sister.

 

🐾

 

Luckily, there was a round table near the coffin, so, my brother, and the three of us were able to sit together.

 

My reaction to my brother’s recounting of the events so far was…

 

“Oh, really? I should have seen that!”

 

It was a bummer.

 

With my left hand on my cheek, I cupped my chubby cheek, looking regretful.

 

Then my brother raised his shoulders and said proudly, “You should have seen how cool I was when I handled the Crown Prince!”

 

My brother’s hands were high in the air. I reached over and pressed my right hand to his side, whispering affectionately.

 

“Mmm, that’s right.”

 

“But what the hell happened to him, and how come you were dead?”

 

“I had no choice but to pull the trick on the Crown Prince’s mind.”

 

“…To pull the trick on his eyes, there are other ways. Did you have to die?”

 

Looking at my brother, who still seemed bewildered, I said, “I’ve been thinking about the Crown Prince. He’s arrogant, the type who thinks he’s accomplished everything and lets his guard down.”

 

He nodded, as if he knew the Prince well from his time as an imperial knight.

 

“I had to make him think that everything he dreamed of was close to being accomplished, so that his spirits would rise, and his vision would narrow, and he wouldn’t see what I had planned.”

 

I giggled softly as I looked at my brother, who was all serious.

 

But he remained grim in the face of my playful laughter.

 

“…No, I don’t. It didn’t have to be your death…”

 

“Whatever, I’m not dead, and I figured it was for the best, since my death would get rid of Cornwall, who hates me.”

 

“Ugh, you sure have a lot at stake.”

 

At my comment, he scratched the back of his head in disbelief. I laughed lightly to lighten the mood.

 

“Um, so, the plan was for you and the Duke to go in and kill him while he’s off guard after learning of my death, so he doesn’t think to escape, and we can use the final weapon he has.”

 

The ultimate weapon.

 

This was the most tantalizing part. The final weapon of the final Dark Villain was mentioned in the original story.

 

‘The final villain has a great weapon in its hands, but it was never used, so we don’t know exactly what it might be.’

 

It was only described as a weapon dangerous enough to destroy the world.

 

So I had to find a way to nullify that kind of ultimate weapon…

 

‘It didn’t say exactly what it was, which gave me a headache, but since the Prince was in league with Cornwall, I assumed it was some sort of Imperial treasure.’

 

I swallowed, glancing briefly at Knox, who hadn’t said anything so far.

 

“Did he use it?”

 

“Yes. I got rid of the final weapon.”

 

I was relieved to see his expression relax from its stony demeanor.

 

“What was it?” I ask, breathing a sigh of relief, only to have my brother break the exchange of glances.

 

“What’s the ultimate weapon? Speaking of which, I heard the Prince brought out a regression totem. Is that what you’re talking about?”

 

It was an interesting enough tale to draw a quick glance away from Knox.

 

“Yes, a regression totem.”

 

I raised an eyebrow at my brother and Knox.

 

A regression totem, if the Crown Prince had activated his secret weapon, I would have been caught unawares.

 

“How did you get rid of it?”

 

“I only heard that the Empress came and turned back time.”

 

My brother smiled broadly and looked relieved.

 

“And the Duke must have helped the Empress, right?”

 

Knox nodded solemnly.

 

‘…Knox, because you are not restricted by space-time magic.’

 

He wiped his face dry, regretting the loss.

 

“Still, it’s good to see that Her Majesty has moved as I expected. Otherwise, the sacrifice would have been great.”

 

My brother’s eyes widened as he heard me muttering to myself.

 

“You mean to tell me that you planned this all along, even the Empress’s intervention?”

 

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