The corner of the manuscript bundle created a sharp cut in Cassian’s grip.

Nevertheless, the hand grasping it refused to open.

By now, veins were bulging on his wrist.

It’s quite a sight, her words as she hurriedly hands over the manuscript, tidied up to leave his side as quickly as possible.

Asking if he’s leaving Alphonse.

Even pretending to hold him back, in quite a heartfelt manner.

Speaking with such a trembling voice, damp with tears, doesn’t it raise expectations?

It’s not her who’s holding back.

“Yes. Even if I die, I’ll do it spectacularly. That’s what it means to be a Blanchet.”

“…”

“Wouldn’t the capital be more fitting for a Blanchet’s death?”

“When… are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow.”

Those distinctive green eyes widened. As if she couldn’t have imagined it would be tomorrow.

Soon, a pleasing fracture spread across her face.

A fracture as if shocked by his departure.

“You’re leaving tomorrow, you say.”

The force behind ‘tomorrow’ seemed to betray a sense of betrayal.

As if a lover had announced their departure without warning just a day before.

Yuriel, who looked like she might collapse at any moment, had already turned ashen.

Cassian carefully took in the sight of the trembling Yuriel.

Every detail, without missing a single one.

A malicious desire to break her down further, to see her wailing in the end, blossomed.

Despite having decided to put everything to rest just moments ago.

Such resolutions always crumble pathetically in front of this girl.

In a life where he had never once broken a plan, an unplanned crack had entered and kept widening.

“Yes. Tomorrow.”

Cassian’s breathtaking gaze fixed on her.

Yuriel’s lips moved, but she couldn’t form words.

How could a person be like this?

To say so nonchalantly that he’s leaving tomorrow.

And if she hadn’t asked now, she would have known nothing even until tomorrow.

The numerous emotions that had been floating around until she entered this room felt foolishly trampled.

As her head cooled, she could now clearly see her future after his departure.

The lord who would be eyeing her mother greedily once the young master was gone from the broken house, and also…

Her mother’s medicine.

All the emotional games she had been playing until now were mere luxuries.

There was nothing left to hide. Such things were just arrogance that only those in a position to afford it could indulge in.

The young master before her eyes was just looking at her without saying a word.

“Young master.”

Yuriel’s mind was in chaotic disarray.

How would she obtain her mother’s medicine now?

There was only one answer. No one else could give her such a thing except this young master.

Urgency knocked anxiously at her heart.

This young master wasn’t someone who would give just because she begged.

If he were such a person, he wouldn’t have waited until today to say he was leaving tomorrow.

His intention to leave behind everything related to this Alphonse was crystal clear.

There was no reason for the young master to grant her request that had already served its purpose.

Yet she couldn’t give up so feebly.

In a flash of dizzying thought, she recalled what he had said in the prison.

His words about how it was courteous to ask about one’s well-being before saying such things.

Yes. If his goal was to forget, then she just had to make it unforgettable.

It might be an absurd act in others’ eyes, uncertain whether it would work or not, but she was desperate.

Desperate enough to do anything for that medicine.

“Can’t I come with you?”

He gazed at her blankly.

“I’ll do anything you ask.”

Cassian’s eyes sank as he looked at Yuriel clinging to him.

“I thought you’d dance when I left, why.”

“…”

“Didn’t you want to get away from me?”

Yuriel’s tear-filled emerald eyes slowly rose to meet his.

She’ll ask for her mother’s medicine.

Then I’ll play the fool one last time and maintain the gentlemanly Blanchet image, is that it?

In that instant, those lips that had exhaled sweet breaths opened gently.

“I like you.”

“…!”

Cassian’s daily routine flowed as usual.

Except for Yuriel, that child who came and stirred everything up as she pleased.

The doctor who entered as usual towards the thoughtful Cassian listed his diagnosis and prescription.

If there was anything different from usual, it was that today’s diagnosis contained good news for the first time in a while.

“Your heart rate is much closer to normal than before.”

While it still couldn’t be called a normal rate, it was clearly better compared to the previous sluggish heartbeat of someone on the brink of death.

“It seems you’ve had some good news.”

This doctor always had a habit of connecting a person’s psychological state with their body.

Well, it wasn’t wrong. It was undeniable that his mood had been good ever since Yuriel, that child, had spouted those brazen words and left.

“You’re going to the capital soon and the cure has been developed, so if you just endure a little longer, you’ll be able to recover completely.”

After that, the clueless doctor went on quite a bit with hopeful words.

As if his improved condition had anything to do with going to the capital.

Yuriel pops up abruptly between the doctor’s diagnoses.

Saying she likes him… What nonsense.

The afterimage of Yuriel saying those words remained even after the doctor had left.

Cassian closed his eyes languidly, throwing himself into the armchair.

When he opened his eyes again, he took out a smooth stone from his breast pocket.

As he fiddled with the recording stone that fit snugly in his hand, it turned with a click.

At the same time, a soft voice flowed out from it.

“I like you, Cassian.”

Click―

“Please come back alive.”

Click―

Her voice alternates flowing out.

As a result of making her call his name instead of ‘young master’, she uttered the name Cassian.

She unfailingly did so when told not to address him as young master.

In reality, he had recorded all the words he wanted to hear.

No, he had recorded more than that.

He couldn’t have even imagined that this child would say such things with his crude imagination.

To speak so naturally while hiding pitch-black intentions as if caring for him.

It’s not even funny, but the fool that he is decided to just go along with it.

By the time the voice from the recording stone had repeated dozens of times.

Cassian pulled the bell rope.

Renode, who entered, diligently wrote down his words as usual.

“Don’t touch her spaces within the mansion.”

“Understood.”

“The same goes for this room I’ve been using.”

“Will you be returning here after the treatment is over?”

Silence fell over the space for a moment.

Renode, who raised his head in the heavy void, met the piercing red gaze.

The appearance that made one involuntarily bow their head was unmistakably that of the Blanchet heir.

If he survives by taking the rumored successful new drug and eventually becomes the heir, the already unprecedentedly powerful Blanchet Duchy would boast even greater strength than ever before.

Swallowing hard, Renode was certain.

He thought you would forget about this Alphonse after that…

Keeping the room empty, does that mean you’re planning to return?

If the lord, who’s only looking forward to the young master’s departure, heard this, he would grab the back of his neck.

Renode tried to maintain his composure and bowed his head.

“I apologize.”

When Renode raised his head, he saw the young master looking out the window with a dry gaze.

To think you’re coming back to Alphonse.

Are you really planning to take that child as your mistress?

Given her lowly status, she couldn’t become a noble lady under imperial law, so that would be the natural course.

I thought she was just a plaything you were toying with in Alphonse… I’ll have to pay more careful attention to that child from now on.

After coming to this conclusion, Renode began his report.

Thinking this would be the last time, Renode inwardly hummed a tune.

Most of the content was about the visit of the Duchess Blanchet, which had turned the mansion upside down, the preparations for her, and how much effort had been put into polishing the road for the lord’s arrival.

It was when the lord’s merits were being listed at length that the young master, who had been listening with his eyes closed and an indiscernible expression, opened his mouth.

“That silver-haired one.”

Renode, who was regretfully looking at the remaining page of the lord’s merits, thought of Hael at the mention of silver hair.

Come to think of it, that child who hadn’t set foot in this mansion even once since that day, yesterday was the last day that could be considered a holiday.

“I heard that Hael left Alphonse without a word, shocked by that incident.”

Cassian drew a satisfied curve on his lips as he listened to Renode’s additional explanation.

It was entirely predictable.

Anyone could guess what the atmosphere in that household would be like after learning of Lady Catherine’s atrocity.

It was quite regrettable that the marriage talks between that silver-haired one and the Vilrod Viscount’s daughter had fallen through.

Still, it was quite satisfying that the boy had left this place, and Yuriel.

After that, Yuriel would be left alone in this Alphonse territory.

Quite lonely.

And so she would live up to those words of liking him.

Perhaps occasionally remembering him.

Even if she doesn’t miss him.

If she likes him, she should do at least that much.

Once again, the moment when that child told him she liked him with a trembling voice comes to mind.

It was as absurd and ridiculous as her sudden, brazen kiss.

Enough to make him laugh just by recalling it.

Of course, he knows. That child’s utterance of such words means she’s that desperate.

It’s a cry for him to hand over her mother’s medicine.

But he’ll ignore such things this time too.

Doesn’t he have that much right, having decided to give her that medicine?

If those words are nonsense, he’s the actual victim.

He’s the one being played by a false confession.

Snicker, Cassian’s smiling appearance was clearly different from usual.

Renode, who was backing away at that strange sight, noticed the recording stone in the young master’s hand.

So he did end up using it after making me buy it at such an exorbitant price.

It was anyone’s guess what grand purpose he had for ordering something that cost more than a mansion, something that only comes up for sale once every few years from a merchant group.

It was quite curious, but Renode also knew well that it wasn’t his place to know.

Having quickly grasped his position, he swiftly disappeared outside.

As the door closed and a deep silence settled in, a red sunset spread across the sky.

Cassian silently gazed at that sky, then at the shadows settling beneath it.

Those shadows still within his sight, but which would probably disappear from his view from tomorrow.