“It feels so good to be with you like this after a long time.”

“Me too.”

I had been busy with New Year’s gatherings lately. Even without those, there were many who called for me, leaving no time to spare. It was all thanks to His Majesty’s excessive consideration.

The Emperor said that having an engagement ceremony meant becoming a perfect adult qualified to form a family, and that he was now one of the representatives of the imperial family. Then he forced me to attend various invitations.

And with an uncomfortable partner, at that.

In the end, all that talk about being a perfect adult seemed just an excuse, with the intention of making us be alone together. It was truly irritating and made me want to run away.

“I’ve been feeling lonely because my little brother has been so busy lately.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Haha, I’m just saying. Of course you’re busy after getting engaged. You must have many appearances to make, need to be mindful of others’ eyes, I know it must be harder for you than for me. You have to make a good impression on the nobles too.”

“Forget it, it’s not like I wanted this engagement.”

I had no desire to make a good impression or be loved. It’s not like I would inherit the throne anyway.

There were already three princes with clear power standing in front of them. I wasn’t interested enough in power to push through all that and meddle.

“Are you getting along well with Miss Hardness?”

“Just so-so.”

“That won’t do. You should get along well.”

How could I get along well? Cassian’s face crumpled as he recalled the woman who had been grating on his nerves lately.

Every time I saw her, she brought up unpleasant and uncomfortable feelings. Veronica Hardness.

“I don’t like it. Why should I with a woman like that.”

“Cassian.”

“I dislike that woman. I really dislike her.”

“Don’t be like that because of me.”

Asher shook his head.

“Even if it was an unwanted engagement, she’s the person who will be by your side. She’ll be with you more than I will. You should rely on each other and get along harmoniously. If you keep having such negative feelings, it will only get harder later.”

Worry seeped into Asher’s face. Kind blue eyes held Cassian. Asher would know.

Since the day the engagement was announced, what rumors had been circulating about the three of them. And that because of it, Cassian harbored ill feelings towards Veronica.

The small glass palace attached only to the separate palace where the two resided.

The single-story space made entirely of glass was surrounded by forget-me-nots on the outside, and colored with green plants on the inside.

Sunlight poured in generously and the cold was harsh, but this place was their only hideout. It was paradise, a place of rest.

The two had practically lived here since childhood.

They played together every day, relying on each other to endure loneliness. They spent every moment together.

They knew there would come a time when their paths would diverge. They had learned early on that nothing in this world lasts forever.

As Cassian knew, Asher must have sensed it too. But they hadn’t wished for it to happen so quickly, in this way.

That woman had split apart a world where just being together was enough. Cassian could never like her.

“Cassian, I want you to be happy.”

“…Asher.”

“If you’re happy by her side, I’d be truly glad.”

I’d be truly glad. The gentle voice spread softly like a song.

A strand of emotion flowed in and gripped Cassian’s heart. There was a hint of unfulfilled bitterness on Asher’s profile.

“Get along well with her. In my place.”

Yet he smiles with effort, worrying about his younger brother more than himself. He’s considerate of the woman who abandoned him after endlessly craving love.

Asher was smiling, but to Cassian, his face looked like it could fade away at any moment. That face was so pitiful that Cassian didn’t want to make him wear such an expression.

“Aren’t you upset, brother? Aren’t you angry?”

We were helplessly swept away by the currents of fate rushing to separate us. And then discarded as if we had served our purpose.

Wouldn’t Asher really be upset? Had he never been angry? Cassian hadn’t dared to ask.

Asher always acted as if everything was fine, and Cassian felt like a sinner.

He had always been like that. Ever since that day long ago when he injured his leg in Cassian’s place, Cassian could only hang his head before Asher.

Asher said nothing. The image of him smiling kindly as always came to mind. Cassian couldn’t easily lift his face.

“Lord Theron.”

Just then, a servant’s voice was heard. Cassian turned his gaze.

“What is it?”

“Well…”

Somehow sweating profusely and unable to continue speaking, Cassian became puzzled. Looking back at Asher, he too had an expression of not knowing what was going on.

And then an unfamiliar sound of high heels was heard.

Both of their gazes turned to the person who appeared next to the servant. A moderately high and strong voice resonated in the quiet space.

“Prince Cassian.”

“…What.”

Why is that woman here? Veronica Hardness was smiling brightly at Cassian.

Had they made an appointment? Had he given permission for a visit? No, he hadn’t. Cassian furrowed his brow. Such an impolite visit.

As the saying goes, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks – she was doing what she used to do again. However, the ill-mannered uninvited guest brazenly invaded the glass palace.

“It seems you were having a good time with your brother.”

“Ah, Vero- Miss Hardness.”

Asher rose in surprise and greeted her. Veronica didn’t acknowledge it and only looked at Cassian. Cassian was angered by her attitude.

“I didn’t know you had an appointment with Miss Hardness.”

“We didn’t make one.”

“Huh? But…”

Asher glanced at Veronica in confusion. Asher must have remembered something too, as he didn’t ask further.

He just smiled, not knowing what to do. A moment of silence passed like the wind.

“It’s a nice day, isn’t it, Prince Cassian.”

A cheerful voice unsuited to the situation reached his ears. Cassian ruffled his hair.

“There must be no one as rude as Miss Veronica.”

“Please understand, I came to see my beloved.”

“Beloved?”

A voice mixed with sarcasm burst out. Asher could be felt trying to stop him in embarrassment.

“Of course, a very lovely beloved.”

Veronica Hardness smiled and retorted.

“I’m always trying so hard to please my beloved prince like this. It was to be faithful to our relationship after what happened last time. Oh, perhaps you didn’t like it? If you could tell me what you didn’t like that day, it would be helpful for reference.”

Cassian kept his mouth shut. By ‘that day’, she meant the day she had come to see him with a strange excuse. That day too, she had come without an appointment.

Cassian couldn’t speak about what had happened that day. Even more so, he couldn’t recite it in front of Asher.

Cassian gritted his teeth. The intention of mentioning ‘that day’ was obvious.

Noticing Cassian’s feelings, Veronica smiled in victory. She continued speaking, still not looking at Asher.

“I’d like to be alone with him, could you leave us?”

“Ah, yes. Of course.”

“There’s no need for that.”

Cassian tried to stop him, but Asher smiled and soothed him.

“No, Cassian. Your fiancée has come, I should leave. I apologize, Miss Hardness.”

Asher greeted Veronica again, but she didn’t even respond.

She didn’t even glance once at the person leaving because of her, to the very end.

Cassian was truly angered by that rude attitude, but Asher stopped him with a look. Then he left first.

The receding footsteps made the surrounding air heavy. Until not long ago, this picture had been the exact opposite.

Veronica used to come to see Asher without making appointments, and treated Cassian, who had arrived first, as an unwelcome guest.

Sometimes out of spite, the three of them would be together, but it was always Cassian’s side that left first.

Finding himself in the opposite situation from back then, Cassian felt complicated. And he was irritated by Veronica’s rudeness.

“You really know how to disgust people.”

“I’m glad you’re not sick of me yet.”

Veronica, now seated across from him, looked around.

The space made entirely of glass must be fascinating, but there was a faint boredom mixed in her expression. As if she had often seen such spaces before.

Soon her scarlet eyes fell on the table. Until just now, he had been looking at a map and talking with Asher. It was one of the hobbies the two had since childhood.

Veronica’s fingertip touched the pen. Cassian irritably moved it away.

“You should have paid attention to me normally.”

“…”

“What did I do to make you avoid me?”

“I avoided you because there was reason to.”

Cassian rubbed his forehead. Fatigue was already setting in. Just being with this woman for a moment was tiring. Asher, who had left earlier, also weighed on his mind.

“Since it’s come to this, shall we go for a walk together? It would be nice to see the flowers. There were many rare flowers in the imperial palace, it would be nice to see those. If you don’t like that, we could go out to the capital and wander the streets, or we could go on an outing to a farther place?”

“I have other business.”

Cassian cut off Veronica’s words and stood up. He called a nearby servant and ordered them to clean up the table, then passed by Veronica.

Even an uninvited guest is still a guest, so he could have shown courtesy, he could have pretended to go along with her, but he couldn’t accept her actions that had created the most unwanted situation.

Cassian chose to abandon her.

But two days later, Veronica Hardness came to see him again.

Cassian ignored her and left. Three days later she came again. That time too, she irritated Cassian.

And four days later, a week later, again two days later. After that, again and again.