Episode 16
“Did I ever talk to you about Cassium?”
“Beep.”
“Oh, I did? When was that?”
A memory of cursing Cassium flashed through my mind. Hmm, I guess I did.
“That guy—no, that person, I mean.”
“Beep.”
I started again, glancing at the Golden Bunny.
Its round golden eyes were fixed on me.
The Golden Bunny usually listened to me, but never gave me its full attention like this.
Now, however, it was utterly focused.
“Are you curious about Cassium?”
“Beep.”
The Golden Bunny nodded enthusiastically.
“This level of curiosity is a bit troublesome…”
“Beep.”
“No, let’s not talk about him. Let’s talk about something else, Golden Bunny.”
“Beep?”
Golden Bunny extended its two front paws, grabbing my sleeve and shaking it.
Its expression clearly said, How could you stop midway?
“Beep!”
“Are you that curious about Cassium, Golden Bunny?”
“Beep.”
“You’ve never pressed me this hard when I was telling my own stories. That hurts, Golden Bunny.”
“Ah, beep…”
When I feigned a hurt expression, Golden Bunny quickly retracted its paws.
“How about we go on an outing with Bryce tomorrow afternoon? There’s a garden nearby that I like.”
Golden Bunny still looked regretful, but I pretended not to notice and changed the topic.
I’m sorry for not satisfying your curiosity, Golden Bunny…
But I couldn’t help it. Bryce and you weren’t even close yet, and the bunny was overly interested in some other guy.
Moreover, in the original story, there’s a scene where Lily thinks Cassium is handsome.
I need to eliminate anything that could interfere with Bryce’s romantic storyline.
The full moon was approaching again soon.
The pain would be worse, not less, than last time.
Considering that, there was no choice. Bryce and the rabbit needed to connect quickly…
Wait, if awakening powers through the power of love is the goal… does it really have to be Bryce?
Of course, I wanted things to go well between Bryce and the bunny for Bryce’s sake. But for now, I was in a dire situation myself.
So, even if Lily ends up liking Cassium…
The moment that thought crossed my mind, something inside me flared up, and I muttered under my breath, almost growling.
“No. Absolutely not. Do you know the age gap?”
I widened my eyes, and the golden bunny flinched.
“Absolutely not.”
“Beep, beep?”
“Got it?”
“Beep.”
Golden Bunny answered meekly.
Even if that’s not the reason…
The very thought of Cassium falling in love with someone else annoyed me in an unexplainable way.
Just imagining him being sweet and affectionate made me want to grab him by the collar immediately.
I must really dislike that guy. The mere thought makes my skin crawl.
“Anyway, it’s not happening.”
I declared firmly again.
The bunny responded with a “Beep,” as if it understood, though it probably didn’t.
By then, I had reached the Artiel estate and started walking along the garden path toward the annex.
“Lady Lize.”
Then, a voice called me from behind.
It was my uncle’s attendant.
“The Count wishes to see you.”
“He’s been calling for me quite a lot lately.”
He hadn’t given me a raise since the last time he called. What could it be now?
“He instructed me to bring you directly to his study upon your return.”
“Tell him to wait a bit.”
“That won’t do. He said to bring you immediately.”
I could already imagine the commotion my uncle would raise if I brought the golden rabbit along.
While I was hesitating, the bunny poked its paw out of my bag and tugged at me.
“Beep.”
The bunny wiggled its ears as if to say, Don’t worry.
“Golden Bunny.”
“Beep.”
“Are you planning to go alone? Will you be okay?”
The bunny hopped out of my pocket, waved its little paw reassuringly, and disappeared over the wall toward the annex.
I lingered for a moment, watching until it was completely out of sight, before heading toward the main house.
***
“Clear your schedule for 2 PM tomorrow.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I have plans.”
“Whatever your plans are, there’s something more important. You must clear it.”
“And whatever you think is important, I have something more important to do.”
“I said must, Lize. That means you can’t refuse.”
My uncle spoke firmly. I suppressed my irritation and replied calmly.
“If it’s so important, why are you telling me just now?”
“I tried to tell you earlier, but because of that rabbit…”
He snapped.
I remembered seeing papers in his hand that day.
I thought he’d come to talk about my pay, but apparently not.
“What’s this about?”
He stared at me for a moment before continuing.
“All the other young ladies of your age must be married by now.”
“No, 80% of my peers are still unmarried.”
“That’s because you associate with sword-wielding women who delay marriage indefinitely. Ordinary young ladies are already married.”
“Well, the young ladies around me aren’t, and neither am I. I don’t know what you consider ordinary, but that’s the truth.”
I was starting to wonder why he was even bringing this up when—
“Always arguing back… tsk, tsk.”
He clicked his tongue and grabbed a document from the table.
That document…
It was the one I’d seen in his hand when he visited the annex with Mars.
“Tomorrow at 2 PM, a family will visit the estate. You’ll accompany me to meet them.”
“Why should I meet your guests?”
“I told you not to argue. And they’re your guests too.”
“…What?”
“They will bring a branch of a Veranium flower tree from that family.”
A branch of a Veranium flower tree…
In the Empire, it was customary to weave a basket out of Veranium flower branches and place a marriage proposal letter inside when arranging an engagement.
Wait a moment. Does that mean someone has proposed to me?
Was that why my uncle had suddenly started talking about marriage earlier?
I was quite taken aback.
Until now, I had only been concerned with Bryce’s romance and had never given any thought to my own.
But marriage?
“Wait. Who is it?”
“The Duke of Balteire’s family.”
“…Bal…”
“What?”
“Balteire?”
Balteire… that was Cassium’s family.
I instinctively shut my eyes, feeling like my gaze would give away my inner turmoil. I didn’t want to show this reaction to my uncle.
“You seem surprised. Well, I suppose it’s hard to imagine a family like that sending a proposal to you. Of course, it’s not you they’re interested in but our family name.”
“…”
“Which one is it?”
“What?”
“That family has two sons, don’t they?”
“That, I don’t know yet. I’ll find out after talking with them tomorrow.”
“…”
I couldn’t think at all for a moment. So, there was a possibility that I might… marry Cassium?
Really?
Just as the realization began to sink in—
“Father, I’m home…”
It was Mars.
As soon as Mars saw me, his expression twisted into something serious, and his voice dropped.
“Lize? What are you doing here?”
His voice, unnaturally low, sounded strained, as if his throat was blocked.
My uncle glanced at him and asked, “Have the results for the intermediate knight exam come in? How did the exam go?”
“Oh, uh… ah… of course, it went well.”
“‘Went well’ means you didn’t disappoint me, right, Mars?”
“Of course! Getting my intermediate knight certification this time is a sure thing!”
Mars puffed out his chest and patted it confidently, as if to assert his determination.
He seemed to say something to me as well, but I didn’t hear it.
Marriage proposal… Veranium flower branch… the Duke of Balteire’s family…
Only the words my uncle had spoken earlier echoed in my mind.
Cassium…
I shook my head, trying to dispel the heavy name swelling in my thoughts like water-soaked cotton.
“I’ll be leaving now.”
Mars followed me as I turned to leave.
“Lize, are you ignoring me?”
“I know. The joint training with the Visel Knight Order is in a few days.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about!”
“Got it.”
I shook off Mars’s hand gripping my arm and hurried back to the annex.
I wanted to return quickly, hug the golden rabbit, and sort out my thoughts.
“Hey!”
At that moment, Mars called out in a voice simmering with anger.
“Are you completely losing it because of that rabbit?”
I stopped in my tracks.
Then, I turned around and faced him.
“What do you mean?”
“You really don’t know?”
Mars let out a sharp laugh.
“You act like you care so much, but you’re not even fit to be its owner.”
He chuckled sinisterly and said in a chilling tone:
“Your rabbit? I killed it.”
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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