“Did you accept my request just to say that?”
I nodded vigorously. “Of course.”
Kasion furrowed his brow. The fine lines on his forehead trembled slightly. “Sigh, Ariel.” He suddenly shook his head, though there seemed to be a faint smile on his lips. A smile that didn’t suit someone called cold-hearted. “I’ve been played.”
“You promised, didn’t you? You said you’d bring the written agreement at the third tea time.”
To train a puppy, you need to meet often and bond. But this wolf was far too dangerous to bond with. Just meeting him could get me devoured.
“Ariel.”
Then, Kasion slowly called my name. His voice was so low that I was slightly worried he might be angry at my little trick.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t let this one slide.”
“What? Why not?”
“Did you forget what I said back then?”
“Forget what?”
“The third tea time was supposed to be after Serhen’s wedding, at your independent house.”
Oh no, did we agree on that?
“So, naturally, I didn’t bring the written pledge.” Kasion leaned back lazily in his chair. His arrogant gaze seemed to look down on me as if I were a foolish child.
I bit my lip for a moment. I just couldn’t back down now. Whether it’s an animal or a person, once you lose a battle of wills, it’s over. He’d look down on me and try to manipulate me from then on.
“I know you didn’t bring it. So, just write it again.”
“None of the conditions I set have been met, so I’m under no obligation to give it to you.”
Unfortunately, I couldn’t win this argument.
“Is it so difficult to write it for me?”
“It’s not difficult to write it.”
“Then why not?”
“Because I still haven’t been convinced why I should write it.” He leaned forward, resting his chin on one hand and tapping the table with the other.
“That’s…”
“Go on, explain it. If your reasoning is valid, I’ll write it for you, even acknowledging today as the third tea time.”
That was a very generous offer from Kasion. The old him would never have made such an offer. There was a reason people said he wouldn’t bleed even if being stabbed.
Instead of answering, I quietly began brewing the milk tea. As I placed the tea leaves into the hot water, a rich brown color spread through the liquid. The swirling brown tea seemed to reflect my jumbled thoughts.
Was Kasion really like the cruel male protagonist from that novel? In the novel, he was depicted as psychologically unstable after returning from the battlefield. But I could hardly sense any of that, except he occasionally pretended to be pitiable.
“Ariel, is there a reason you can’t explain? If Serhen put you up to this…”
Kasion’s gaze darkened. He wasn’t angry, but I worried that the trouble might spill over to Serhen, who was about to get married.
“Kasion… I’m scared of you.” The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Kasion’s eyes widened. His fingers, which had been tapping the table, stopped. The brow resting on his hand twitched slightly.
“Scared? Is that why you want the written pledge?”
“Yes…”
“Have I ever harmed you?”
“No.”
“…”
Silence fell between us. Kasion opened his mouth as if to say something, but he didn’t continue. Instead, he straightened up in his seat. He took the kettle and poured the still-strong tea concentrate into his cup, drinking it without even cooling it down.
“I see. So that’s why your attitude towards me has changed.”
His brow furrowed, perhaps from the bitterness of the strong tea.
“Then, what is it? Is it that you’re afraid of me because of what I did on the battlefield? Or because I killed all my kin to rise to this position when I was young…” He stopped speaking. “Well, I guess that’s why everyone’s afraid of me.”
Kasion looked even more wounded than before. He set the teacup down and stood up.
“Thanks for the tea. I’ll send the written pledge when I return to the duchy.”
“Wait, Kasion.”
I reached out to stop him, but he quickly withdrew my hand from his arm.
“Do you have something else to say?”
“No, it’s not that… It’s not because of those things that I’m afraid…” My words didn’t come out easily.
The truth was, I wasn’t afraid of Kasion for the reasons he mentioned. I understood why he had to do what he did. I didn’t know what he went through on the battlefield, but I knew that if you didn’t kill, you would be killed. But how could I explain that I read a novel in my past life that existed here as well, and that novel had predicted every action he’s taken so far? If I said that, I’d be treated like a madwoman.
“I… understand why you’re scared of me.” Kasion turned with a bitter expression and didn’t look back again.
* * *
Lireania had a busy day catching up on the work that had piled up after her visit to the imperial palace. And just as the sun was setting, she finally welcomed her last visitor for the day.
“Oh my, Your Grace. You’re here.”
As always, she gave a bright, welcoming smile. But there stood Duke Pertelian, with a grim face and shoulders dropping like a scolded puppy. It was odd to see the usually dignified duke looking so defeated.
“Did Lady Ariel not like it?”
“No, she liked it.”
Kasion’s voice hadn’t changed, but Lireania could tell. The spark had gone out of his eyes.
“Is the suit for the wedding ready?”
“Yes, we can have it delivered to you.”
“I came to pick it up while on my way.”
Lireania chuckled to herself. The duke was still bad at lying. He had come for another consultation about Ariel, obviously. Was it because of his pride? He always found excuses to come and ask questions like this.
“Would Ariel like it if I gave her a necklace? She must be angry with me.”
He had asked that once when he ordered cloaks for the knights.
“Did she like the puppy? A puppy to protect Lady Ariel, how romantic.”
It was a hint she had dropped right before they parted at the imperial palace. Kasion, always quick to act, had immediately gone to get a puppy. It was a piece of information Lireania had given to cheer him up since he seemed to have a rival.
“She really liked the puppy. But…”
“But?”
“She asked me to write a pledge not to confine her.”
“Confine?” Even Lireania blinked in surprise.
Why would such an innocent, naïve girl say something like that?
“Yes. When I asked her why…”
“When you asked her?”
Kasion suddenly closed his mouth, prompting Lireania to ask again. A brief silence passed before he answered.
“She said she was scared of me.”
“Ah… well…”
Lireania nodded as if she understood. Seeing that, Kasion almost felt hurt again.
“Duke was big and tall, even when you were younger, right? And your face has always been stern. It must’ve been scary for a young girl.”
“No, it’s because I killed my kin and rose to this position and because I’m constantly killing on the battlefield…”
“How could Lady Ariel not respect you, Duke?”
“There’s no way that’s true.”
“You saved Marquis Mellin’s family because of your experiences. She’s always been grateful and full of admiration for you.”
Kasion shook his head, his face as impassive as ever.
Had he lost his confidence? Lireania decided to comfort him again.
“I didn’t hear the details, but perhaps that incident left an unconscious mark on her?”
Kasion’s eyes flashed. He was recalling that event. The events of that day were enough to leave a lasting fear in Ariel.
“Maybe that’s why she’s afraid of being confined.”
“But she wasn’t particularly scared when she was locked in the room not long ago.”
“That’s because you were with her, Duke.”
Kasion furrowed his brow. What a strange thing. How could being with this woman make him feel so at ease? It was as if he were back in his grandmother’s embrace.
“So… why not try talking to her again without jumping to conclusions?”
“No, I can’t bring up memories of that day. It would only hurt her.” Kasion suddenly shook his head, a self-deprecating smile on his face. “Is this the aftermath of the war? I’m becoming sensitive over something so trivial.”
“Indeed. And now that you’ve got a rival, you should be putting in more effort, not losing confidence.”
“Rival?”
Lireania didn’t answer his question, saying that understanding such things was also a necessary skill in relationships.
Though Kasion was displeased, he let it go. After all, she was his counselor.
“By the way, Serhen and I are planning to go on a honeymoon after the wedding.” Lireania, finding it endearing how he only showed strong emotions when it came to Ariel, subtly threw out a bait.
“What do you mean…?”
“Of course, Ariel won’t be coming along.”
He understood what she meant.
* * *
My heart felt heavy. Kasion must have been angry because of me, right? Even I thought I was being rude.
“That’s why I should apologize.”
If he no longer obsessed over me, that would be a relief. But that and an apology were two separate matters. After all, he was my benefactor and a friend to both me and my brother.
“Selvia, bring me some clean parchment and ink from the study.”
Just then, the girl happened to be passing by in the hallway.
“Huh? Ah, yes, yes, Milady!”
But Selvia became greatly flustered, stumbling in her haste. She even foolishly bumped into the door.
“Huh? What’s that?”
Something Selvia had been holding tumbled to the floor with a loud thud. Somehow, it looked very familiar. A thick book with a red cover?
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