Chapter 6

Chapter 6

As she approached the stairs going down to the first floor, she saw Cassian’s figure waiting for her.

His hair was slicked halfway back like when she met him on the first day, but today he was wearing a suit, not a uniform.

That time, he seemed to wear something like a uniform at the banquet that also commemorated the return of the knights from subjugation to the empire on the first day.

‘The uniform was good, but this one’s not bad either.’

Maybe it’s because he was a man with such a nice body.

He just curled his eyes and raised his mouth, but the air around her seemed to warm up.

She wasn’t the type that was so weak against appearances, but he was her taste so she couldn’t help it.

Although he is nothing but a blackmailer.

“It suits you well.”

Cassian reached out his hand with an expression that said ‘I thought so’.

Elysia joined his hands, thinking he was pretentious.

“The Duke looks nice too.”

It was a bit harsh, but they were words with plenty of souls.

Because Cassian had a higher body temperature than her, she felt a fever rise in the places he touched.

They didn’t have enough time to spare till the banquet, so she went straight to the carriage.

As Elysia looked at the carriage, she sighed a little, it was a new kind of torture.

It seems that they’re going to be together in that small space.

As soon as the carriage departed, Elysia spoke.

“You can’t suddenly ask me to meet you just a day before like this.”

“You should have attended the banquet anyway.”

He looked like he got the axe disease, but he must have been interested in her.

(Axe disease: a term to describe when one thought everyone had a crush on them. Reference: https://hinative.com/ko/questions/7196679 )

Elysia also knows that he is busy, but he will spend one whole day once a week with her. Does that make sense?

Elysia finally put the subject on her mouth.

“So, what are you going to do about the rumor that the Duke fell in love at first sight?”

“What do you want me to do?”

“I’m sure it’s okay. I don’t know if that’s meaningful.”

“Huh.”

Cassian tilted his head, amused at Elysia.

It was a very arrogant appearance, sitting with legs crossed and leaning his arm against the wall of the carriage and touching his chin.

But she was annoyed because it looked good on him.

Elysia simply closed her eyes and leaned back comfortably.

Even with her eyes closed, she felt his gaze staring at her, so she turned her head slightly.

When she turned her head, the slender neckline became more prominent, so she didn’t know that it was drawing attention.

Still, in the stark gaze, Elysia bit her lips and lifted her eyelids again.

She blinked her eyes a couple of times and saw him, and his gaze was on the necklace.

“This… is the Guardian’s Eye, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“…How do you have this?”

“Let’s say it’s the price to cooperate with the surveillance.”

Elysia’s lips were fluttering.

Maybe the axe has hit her too. What is he interested in? He seemed to be a knight who considers his people very much.

(See above reference on axe disease)

The voice of the coachman was heard and the door opened as the carriage had stopped.

Elysia, who was escorted by Cassian, got out of the carriage and took a small deep breath.

Aside from the first day at the banquet, Elysia hasn’t been to crowded places.

She didn’t think she would lose reason like that at the time, but it was something she had not yet known for sure, so she had to be nervous.

“Duke Esteban and Lady Lowell are entering!”

After the cry of the attendant to announce their entrance ended, Elysia, who began to walk, slightly frowned.

Cassian noticed that the hand holding his arm had stiffened and turned his head slightly to see Elysia.

“Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

“No?”

Cassian reached out and slightly fixed the hand that held his arm.

No, it was more of an act of grabbing a little bit rather than fixing it.

Elysia looked a little surprised at him. Are you worried about me?

“You better stick close by. If you have another accident like that, you’ll be in trouble.”

Oh, I’m not worried about that.

Elysia clenched and smiled, saying not to worry.

The reason he brought her as a partner seemed to be because of surveillance.

Thanks to Cassian, her body that was stiff, had relaxed, but she didn’t appreciate it at all.

From the moment they appeared, various exclamations burst out from all over.

The voices of the nobles who were talking, including the busy attendants, suddenly fell apart.

All eyes fell on the man and woman entering the banquet hall.

“I guess they’re really a couple.”

“Then what about the Prince?”

“The two of them have already broken up. That’s why it’s a bit weird.”

“What! Isn’t that the Guardian’s Eye?”

Elysia and Cassian, oblivious to the babbling and pouring gazes, stepped forward.

Elyssia just found out that it was the first time he had ever attended an official ceremony with a partner.

Hearing the voices of the ladies who are gossiping in the corner. Elysia shrugged and took a glass of wine from the attendant.

The moment the wine glass touched his lips, Cassian raised his eyebrows and took the glass.

“Duke?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to avoid alcohol? You seemed drunk on that day too.”

Is that what he’s thinking? He must have done that on purpose.

As Elysia watched the cup be given back to the attendant, she squeezed his arm in hopes of pain.

Cassian, feeling her, smiled and opened his mouth.

“Skinship like this is too much.”

“I guess you like this.”

Elysia whispered lowly with a smile on her lips.

The nobles who had been hovering around wanting to talk to Cassian were just staring at them and couldn’t get closer.

He was already difficult to approach originally, but it was even more so because of the atmosphere that felt like the two were in their own world.

As Elysia was talking with Cassian for a long time, a cry announcing the Prince’s entrance was heard.

At the Prince’s entrance, the conversation between Elysia and Cassian stopped for a while, and nobles flocked around him.

“Duke, rumors from the surrounding kingdoms said that you played a big role in the subjugation.”

“Are you staying in the capital for a while?”

Cassian pushed Elysia slightly behind and dealt with the nobles.

Elysia, who was going to go to the lounge room at the opportunity, looked at his hand holding her and clicked her tongue.

(Who is the one that said their skinship was too much?! Who?!)

Thanks to him, the eyes of the nobles who were talking with him were constantly pointing to the joined hands, but Cassian didn’t care.

‘What the hell is this?’

Elysia turned away, leaving him alone.

Even today, the two protagonists entered together.

Lumiere in a white dress was really beautiful.

She smiled with her bright blonde hair braided on her shoulders, and it made Elysia understand why she was called a saint in the original story.

Every time she laughed, the transparent green eyes seemed to sparkle.

Next to her, she saw Prince Revos, smiling sweetly.

The hair was put back without missing a single strand,

She started to get bored. If it had been the usual, she would have rested in a suitable place and returned home, but there was no end to the crowds that flocked because of Cassian.

Elysia pulled Cassian’s arm slightly and beckoned him to lower his head.

“I’ll be in the lounge.”

When Cassian heard her whispering in his ear, he shook his head firmly with his eyes saying no.

Elysia once again pulled her arm.

Her intense gaze signaled for Cassian to return quickly.

***

Elysia, who came to the empty lounge room, flew herself as if she was one with the sofa.

The problem was, the dress was now wrinkled.

“I can’t really help it.”

She reached out to pull her hair like a habit, then lowered her hand when she realized she had put her hair up.

Blankly, she wondered if there were any other banquets that she was required to attend.

Even if she was asked to go as a partner at a party held in any other noble family, she vowed to refuse, but she felt someone’s presence at the door.

Elysia, who thought it was Cassian, opened her mouth as soon as the door opened.

“I can’t stand that moment…”

“M’lady.”

There was a click, and the door closed, and there was Revos where Elysia’s gaze was directed.

Elysia raised herself up and took a bow.

“Greetings, Your Majesty the Crown Prince.”

“M’lady, was it because of the Duke of Esteban that you asked to break up?”

Elysia blinked a couple of times and tilted her head.

Why is he curious about that? Was it unpleasant to be entangled in the rumors?

“Your Majesty, Duke of Esteban is irrelevant. Also, it is rude to come into a Lady’s lounge where she is alone without permission, no matter what the reason is. I don’t want to make a useless misunderstanding again.”

Elysia bowed her head, raised herself, and moved her steps to get out.

Revos looked at her with an unknown gaze and grabbed Elysia by the wrist.

“What is your relationship with the Duke of Esteban?”

“Let me go. I don’t want to answer any personal questions.”

Elysia frowned and tried to pull her wrist out, but Revos held it stronger.

She wanted to put a lot of strength into it, but then she was afraid he would fly away or get tossed to the wall so there’s nothing she could do.

Revos lowered his gaze at the touch of his hand holding her wrist.

“Ha! It’s the Guardian’s eyes. If you wanted something like this, you should have said it right away.”

What nonsense had he heard? It felt like he thought she should’ve told him if she wanted anything. I would have bought it for you.

He interpreted it as saying that she was only meeting that man for this kind of thing.

Did the Crown Prince have the ability to give her to Guardian’s Eyes?

She doesn’t know where Cassian got it, but regardless of the amount, she wondered if Revos had tried to get it.

Elysia raised his mouth sharply.

“Your Majesty, may I ask you why you are suddenly doing this?”

“If you’re trying to get me jealous, you better stop.”

“You seem to have misunderstood something.”

Elysia has not said anything to Revos, who for the past five years continues to live a prodigal life and attracts women to his bed every night.

At least he didn’t take any other partner and put them on the official spot.

Thankfully, Revos didn’t touch her in the last five years.

Is that all? Once a month, she was notified of their meeting time in a one-sided manner.

The place is always a tea table in the Isle Palace used by the Crown Prince.

Plus, there were always piles of papers on the table.

Why did he come up with the word Silent Tea Time? How much time has he spent trying to soothe his upset family, and now he’s feeling jealous?

Elysia looked at him with a cold gaze.

“Please don’t make it difficult.”

If he didn’t let go of it this time, she would really try to use her strength but her wrist fell off smoothly.

As Revos released her hand, he grabbed Elysia’s shoulder and pushed her against the wall.

The moment he bowed his head and tried to kiss Elysia, the door opened and Cassian entered.

The eyes of Elysia and Revos turned to him at the same time.

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