Ahaha, ahaha-!

“Miss Hardness?”

There was a flash in front of her eyes.

She took a sharp breath. When she closed her eyes once and opened them, her reddened vision cleared.

The scenery that had been covered in a dark red light changed to a forest dense with blue-green hues. Within it, Cassian was looking at her as if she was strange. Her tears had already stopped.

She looked at her reddened eyes and then looked down at her hands. The gloves were intact except for being dirty with soil.

The smell of blood that had permeated her whole body and the image of the man dying helplessly were nowhere to be found. The emotions that had been boiling inside her quickly drained away with her next exhale.

“What were you thinking about to suddenly become so absent-minded?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Contrary to her words, her state seemed quite off. Cassian was puzzled, but just then he saw people gathering from the opposite direction.

“People are coming over there.”

He supported Veronica to help her stand up. As she put her feet on the ground, Veronica stumbled briefly.

“Oh my goodness, young lady!”

“Are you alright?!”

As she emerged from the forest with support, the servants discovered her appearance and were startled.

Looking as if she had just rolled around somewhere, and limping, it was no wonder they were surprised.

Surrounded by those making a fuss, Veronica didn’t have the composure to calm them down. Fatigue suddenly washed over her.

With the support of the servants, Veronica got into the carriage. Cassian approached her. Then he held out his hand.

“The sword.”

He gestured towards the sword Veronica had been holding, though it was unclear when she had grasped it.

Instead of handing over the sword, Veronica stared blankly at Cassian. He was asking for it because it was dangerous, but she just kept looking at him.

As that gaze seemed to linger, she smiled brightly as she always did and handed the sword to him.

The hunting competition was cancelled.

At the imperial hunting competition, Prince Cassian Theron Diastara had been the target of an assassination attempt. This news spread quickly among the nobles.

Of all places, for this to happen at the hunting competition the Emperor had been boasting about, speculation ran rampant about who could have been so bold as to provoke the Emperor’s wrath.

When news spread that his fiancée, the young lady of House Hardness, had been injured, rumors caught fire.

Upon hearing about the incident at the hunting competition, Harry unleashed a torrent of scolding at Veronica for her recklessness.

In truth, Harry had turned pale from the moment he saw her limping.

His scolding was mixed with worried relief, so Veronica listened quietly.

The scolding continued as her leg wound was treated, she washed up, changed clothes, and got into bed.

Harry sat by her bedside, humming his scolding like a lullaby before leaving.

Veronica once again realized her father’s deep love, and thought her ears might bleed.

She wondered if she should get treatment for her ears rather than her leg wound.

Afterwards, she remained in her bedroom without moving, cancelling other schedules.

As expected, the wound wasn’t deep, and with proper care, recovery wouldn’t be difficult.

Due to Harry’s concern, she underwent other examinations, but apart from some minor scratches, the doctor’s opinion was that she was fine. Still, she had to rest in bed for a while.

Veronica sat propped up against the headboard, reading a book to alleviate boredom. Just then, there was a knock at the door and a maid entered.

“Miss Veronica, a guest has arrived.”

“A guest? Who?”

Was there someone expected to come? Before hearing the answer, the door opened again and a man entered.

Veronica put down her book upon seeing the man who had barged in without permission. A smile spread across her face involuntarily.

“Oh my. Did you come to see me?”

“……”

The unexpected visitor was Cassian. It seems he had come to check on her illness.

After the maid left, only the two of them remained in the room. Until then, Cassian hadn’t said a word.

Having come all this way, his stubborn silence and stiff posture suggested he was reluctant to admit he had come out of concern.

Seeing Cassian like this, Veronica laughed as if finding it ridiculous.

“Are you going to keep standing there? You can sit down beside me.”

As Veronica pointed to the chair next to the bed, Cassian finally moved his heavy feet and sat down. Even then, he kept his head lowered, avoiding eye contact.

He wasn’t the type of man to think of bringing flowers or such for a sick visit. Really, how uninteresting.

“Shouldn’t you ask how I’m feeling?”

“…How are you feeling?”

“Not bad. There’s some difficulty moving, but it’s not enough to hinder daily life. Just, it might leave a scar, I suppose?”

The last words were mentioned deliberately.

Cassian’s face darkened rapidly. Veronica smiled with satisfaction.

“Still, I’m going to marry Your Highness anyway, so I’m sure my future husband won’t mistreat me for a scar or two.”

“That and this seem to be different matters.”

Even in this situation, Cassian tried to point out the flaw in her words.

Although he had come to check on and apologize to someone injured because of him, it meant he wouldn’t bend his heart.

Veronica looked at him askance. Go ahead and say what you want to say. And after a long silence, he opened his mouth.

“…What do you want?”

“What do you mean?”

His blue eyes briefly flickered towards her leg. Following his gaze, Veronica let out a short sigh. Ah-

“Because of the scar? Are you trying to make amends?”

“…Speak before I change my mind.”

If that’s how he wants to put it.

“Hmm- I wonder what would be good.”

Veronica fell into deep thought. Cassian waited tensely for her answer.

“…A letter.”

Veronica raised her head.

“Write a reply to my letter.”

“…A reply?”

Cassian’s expression became peculiar. His face said, ‘Is that really all you want?’ Veronica nodded with a smile.

“Is that all you desire? A reply to a letter?”

“Yes, that will do.”

“You could ask for something better. Like jewels.”

“I’m not so lacking that I can’t obtain what I want. Ah, there is one thing I don’t have right now. A reply to my letter from Your Highness Cassian.”

As she said this, Veronica grinned. Cassian asked suspiciously.

“What if you change your mind later?”

“How could I change my words once spoken? Besides, Your Highness is so busy, I’d be grateful just to receive a reply to a letter.”

“…I don’t understand what influence my reply would have on you, Miss Hardness.”

“Oh my. It would have such a great influence.”

Veronica clasped her hands to her chest.

“I want to share our hearts little by little with Your Highness.”

“What an ill-fitting…”

“You’ll do it, won’t you?”

“…Fine, I’ll reply.”

A reluctant answer came out as if with a sigh.

His face, looking down at the floor, was full of unwillingness, but it seemed he was trying to take responsibility for the words he had spoken.

Looking down at such a man, Veronica covered her mouth with her hand. A chilling air swirled in her elongated crimson eyes.

Ah. It’s easy, so easy. How can it be this easy?

As Veronica had wished, Cassian felt guilty about this incident.

It was understandable that he would be concerned about a noble lady being injured, but in fact, there was no need for him to feel responsible.

No one would blame him if he gave appropriate compensation and then forgot about it. Yet, the fact that he felt responsible and was willing to grant her wishes showed that his nature was quite diligent.

The Cassian she knew was a blunt and inscrutable man, but this young version of him was so honest and simple.

Doesn’t he express everything exactly as he’s prodded? It’s easier to manipulate someone who shows their emotions outwardly than someone who swallows them inside.

It was a coincidence that she injured her left leg, but it wasn’t bad. Because she got the result she wanted.

She wanted to show this to Asher.

At that moment, what flashed through her mind was her recent encounter with Asher.

Veronica clenched her fist. Hiding a momentary anger, Veronica smiled prettily again.

“I have one more wish.”

“There’s more?”

At the sharp response, Veronica gently placed her hand on her leg.

“Ah, suddenly the pain in my leg…”

Cassian let out a deep sigh.

“…Tell me.”

“From now on, I’d like you to call me by my name.”

“Your name?”

“Yes, please call me ‘Veronica’.”

He frowned.

“Why do I need to call you by your name?”

“Because I want it. I want Your Highness to call me by my name.”

“You want strange things.”

His reaction was even more intense than before.

Seeing his face that clearly showed his displeasure, Veronica again placed her hand on her leg. Cassian averted his eyes.

“Veronica. Is this how I should call you?”

“I’d like it if you could call me a bit more gently.”

“You have many demands.”

“Isn’t it a natural request to want to be called affectionately by one’s lover?”

“Who’s your lover?”

He burst out in irritation. But Veronica was just as brazen.

“Ah, that’s right. We’re not lovers, but engaged. A relationship that has promised a future, to be together until death.”

“…Is it enough if I just call you?”

“Ah, my leg again…”

“I understand.”

Cassian quickly cut her off. Veronica’s frowning face brightened into a wide smile.

Seeing this, Cassian’s lips moved as if sighing. However, he opened his mouth but didn’t let out his voice.

Hesitation could be felt on his stiff face.

It seemed that although he had agreed to call her, he wasn’t keen on actually calling her name affectionately. Veronica waited patiently.

“…Veronica.”

The voice that reluctantly flowed out was still stiff, but a little more affectionate than before.

“Veronica.”

The hesitation disappeared in the following call. The eyes that had been fixed on the floor slowly raised and met Veronica’s again.

“Veronica.”

A face filled with gravity calmly met her gaze. Veronica didn’t avoid that gaze either.

Did you ever expect this moment would come? A moment even she hadn’t wished for. An unfamiliar sensation crept up from her toes.

Since meeting in countless overturned worlds, for the first time, Veronica faced Cassian without any uncomfortable feelings.

It was a day when the midday energy revealed its heat.

The sound of leaves rustling beyond the window added to the drowsiness, and the faint pain in her leg reminded her that this was reality.

A mundane daily life. A day more dreamlike than a dream. In a life repeated again because there was no way to retreat, a clearly different day was flowing by.