I Picked Up My Father Who Left Home 132
“Are you planning to attend the ball at the Marquess’ residence?”
Cassian got straight to the point, unlike his usual demeanor.
“How did you know about that?”
Lia’s expression showed a hint of surprise at Cassian’s question.
Receiving an invitation to the Marquess’ ball had just happened yesterday.
Although she hadn’t mentioned this to Cassian, his knowledge of the event was surprising.
“It’s my angel we’re talking about. How could I not know?”
Of course, Cassian didn’t learn directly from Lia that she would attend the ball.
He had merely received a report earlier from Shion, who had been monitoring the Marquess’ residence, that the Marquess was planning to host a ball soon.
Given the Marquess’ peculiar interest in Lia, it wasn’t hard to deduce that she would be invited.
Moreover, wasn’t there a meeting at the capital just yesterday?
The Marquess was undoubtedly in attendance there and must have encountered Lia. He likely brought up the ball during that time.
“By any chance, was an invitation sent to the Grand Duke’s family as well?”
“They probably sent one.”
After all, it’s the Grand Duke’s family.
Not sending an invitation to the Grand Duke for an official ball would be an outright declaration of hostility.
Even though he hadn’t checked, it was certain an invitation was sent, whether or not Cassian decided to attend.
“So, are you going to attend?”
“…Well, since the Marquess formally invited me yesterday, I said I would attend.”
Cassian frowned at Lia’s response.
He wasn’t pleased with the idea of her attending the ball.
Although it was just a ball, the fact that it was being held at the Marquess’ residence made him uneasy.
While he still didn’t know why the Marquess unsettled him, Cassian had been keeping a close watch on him without finding anything particularly suspicious.
The matter of the greenhouse also remained unresolved.
Although the Marquess’ frequent visits to the greenhouse were unusual, there didn’t seem to be anything peculiar about the greenhouse itself.
Whether it was genuinely ordinary or Cassian simply hadn’t uncovered anything yet, he wasn’t sure.
But the idea of sending Lia there made him uncomfortable.
The Marquess wasn’t foolish enough to try something at a ball, so there wasn’t much to worry about in that regard. Still, the thought of Lia stepping into that place bothered him greatly.
It felt as though she were willingly walking into a tiger’s den.
“Do you really have to attend?”
Hoping she would reconsider, Cassian asked again.
“I already said I would attend, and refusing without a valid reason wouldn’t reflect well on the Duke’s family after receiving an invitation from the Marquess.”
Lia was just beginning to establish her presence in the social scene.
In such a situation, appearing to have poor relations with another noble family would not be advantageous.
Especially since this was the Marquess Lathsiron.
If things soured with the Marquess’ family, it could affect relationships with other noble families of lesser influence.
That, in turn, might shake the reputation and standing the Duke’s family had built over generations, thanks to her grandfather’s efforts.
In the current empire, the Duke Sithran’s family served as the mediator between noble families with abilities and those without, holding a neutral and central role
Lia did not want to ruin the legacy her grandfather had painstakingly built with her own hands.
“…Tsk.”
Cassian, recognizing the meaning behind Lia’s words, frowned again, displeased.
Judging by her attitude, it seemed she would attend the ball regardless of whether he told her not to.
After all, she was always resolute when it came to matters related to her family.
However, with uncertainties about what might happen at the ball and without any concrete information about the Marquess, he couldn’t send Lia there with peace of mind.
If it were up to him, he would attend the ball with her, but that wasn’t possible.
The Marquess knew what Cassian looked like. Even if he disguised himself, the Marquess would surely recognize him.
Given his current efforts to stay hidden, revealing his identity would be troublesome.
At least until he found out who was targeting him and for what purpose, Cassian intended to remain in the shadows, waiting for his opponent to make a move first.
If only there were someone who could attend the ball with Lia in his stead, it would be a relief. But there wasn’t anyone suitable.
He couldn’t just send the Crown Prince, who was living a reclusive life in the detached palace, nor could he send Shion.
The Grand Duke’s family had no particular relations with the Marquess’ family, so suddenly attending the ball would attract unnecessary attention.
Moreover, the Marquess had already seen Shion with Lia before. If Shion attended the ball at the Marquess’ residence, it would be obvious that it was because of Lia.
Shion was also acting as Cassian’s proxy. If their relationship raised suspicions, it might also lead to doubts about Cassian and Lia’s relationship.
But Cassian couldn’t reveal his connection to Lia—not for her sake, nor for his own.
The best option would have been for her not to attend the ball at all. But she didn’t seem inclined to consider that option.
“From the way you’re reacting, it feels like you don’t want me to attend the Marquess’ ball at all.”
Noticing Cassian’s displeased expression, Lia spoke, looking a bit puzzled.
From her perspective, there didn’t seem to be any particular reason for Cassian to dislike the Marquess so much.
“That’s right, I don’t want you to attend. Ideally, I don’t want you to have anything to do with the Marquess at all.”
“Why?”
Cassian was always particularly sensitive about matters involving her.
It wasn’t unusual for him to act this way, but this time, even Lia found his reaction hard to dismiss.
The truth was, she also found the Marquess unpleasant and didn’t want to be involved with him.
Though she couldn’t clearly articulate why, her instincts strongly and subconsciously rejected the Marquess.
“It’s because my angel, Lia, is afraid of him.”
Additionally, the Marquess’ excessive interest in Lia was suspicious and unsettling.
“Is that the only reason?”
“Well, it might not be the only reason.”
Surely, if Lia felt that way toward the Marquess, there must be a reason.
Though she herself seemed unaware of the reason, Cassian couldn’t just brush off her reaction.
“…I simply feel uncomfortable around the Marquess.”
It might have been fear of the Marquess, as Cassian suggested, but the dominant feeling was discomfort.
Everything the Marquess did in Lia’s presence made her uneasy and restless.
It felt as though she was confronting a fabricated mask, something artificially constructed.
“To me, no reason matters besides my angel’s feelings. If my angel dislikes someone, that’s reason enough for me to dislike them too. If someone makes my angel uncomfortable, that’s also enough reason for me.”
Cassian’s voice was resolute and unwavering, as if all his decisions were centered on Lia.
“…The Marquess hasn’t done anything to me.”
Indeed, he had done nothing.
All he had done was approach her with kindness.
“That’s something we can’t know for sure. Perhaps he simply hasn’t done anything yet.”
Lia noticed the subtle emotions underlying Cassian’s words, and her expression turned uncertain.
It wasn’t just that Lia felt uncomfortable and afraid of the Marquess; Cassian’s attitude toward him was clearly hostile.
It made Lia wonder whether Cassian knew something about the Marquess that she didn’t.
As if responding to the question on her face, Cassian spoke again.
“Even if you weren’t my angel, I probably still wouldn’t like the Marquess. That’s just how it’s always been.”
“Why?”
“Because he gives off a bad feeling. He’s not as clean as he appears on the surface.”
And Cassian wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
Lia, who was just as perceptive about people, also felt uncomfortable around the Marquess.
That only meant there was something about him they hadn’t uncovered yet.
And that was why Cassian was keeping him under surveillance.
It wasn’t that he didn’t have suspicions; he just hadn’t found concrete evidence yet.
“I agree with you to some extent, Cassian. But that doesn’t mean I can skip the ball.”
“Tsk.”
Cassian was genuinely troubled.
It seemed impossible to persuade Lia not to attend the ball.
That left only one option: ensuring the Marquess couldn’t host the ball in the first place.
However, to make that happen, either he himself or the Grand Duke’s house would have to take action.
Even if handled quietly, it would attract unwanted attention, creating unnecessary complications.
Neither option was ideal, leaving Cassian visibly frustrated.
“Damn that Marquess.”
The Marquess was as aggravating and troublesome as Lia’s biological father.
However, unable to come up with an immediate solution, Cassian decided to set the matter aside for now.
There was still time before the ball. Perhaps he could come up with a plan by then.
After finishing his conversation with Lia, Cassian stepped out and grabbed Jeshuan, who was waiting by the door, by the scruff of the neck.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Jeshuan, who was suddenly dragged away by Cassian, looked baffled.
Though his physical abilities weren’t inferior to anyone else’s, he was no match for Cassian’s strength.
“We agreed on three hours of training every day, didn’t we? That starts today.”
In truth, it didn’t need to start today.
Cassian used this as an excuse to drag Jeshuan away, simply to keep him from constantly hovering around his angel at every opportunity.
