CH 139

Chapter 139

Side Story 3. Spring Day (1)

About a month after I visited Eugene’s castle, the first meeting between the Housekeeper was held in a long time.

As usual, Rachel, I, and Astra brought Erica to a simple tea party at Noble State Field after the meeting today.

“Whoa, it’s been a while since we had this meeting.”

Astra clapped her hands and said.

Not many of the Academy’s classmates gathered unless it was a Housekeepers meeting.

So the four of us tried not to miss the tea party right after the Housekeepers meeting as much as possible.

Otherwise, we didn’t have many chances to see each other.

“I’m glad no one’s missing today. Can we all go home a little late?”

I replied to Rachel with a nod.

“Well, of course. I told Cassius I was coming in late.”

“Oh, come to think of it, you must be staying at the palace these days. I forgot. Oh, everyone eats these cookies. It’s delicious.”

Astra said, handing out a couple of cookies to all of us on a plate.

“Yes, I spend three months a year next to Cassius. Oh, thank you for the cookies.”

Erica, who was biting the cookies Astra gave me, glanced at me and smiled.

“Yes, I can see her often these days because she lives in the palace. That’s why I love it.”

“And it turns out Erica’s quarters are not far from the main palace, right?”

“Yes, it’s pretty close.”

Erica nodded and laughed at Rachel’s question.

Erica was like an angel today as she folded her fresh cherry blossom eyes.

Looking at her, I prayed for thanks to God that I can actually appreciate my favourite heroine’s face today.

Erica is the best.

I wonder if she always smiles like an angel.

It’s also been a few years.

‘Isn’t Erica a real angel if she’s been like that for years?’

However, I did not have to say such thoughts out of my mouth.

“I think I did a great job studying hard and working in the Imperial Treasury.”

Erica looked at me, wrapping her hands around the teacup in front of her.

“It’s only three months, but I can see Yerine every day, and the rest of the year you come to Noble State Field.”

The moment I heard it, I was moved and covered my mouth with my hands.

“Erica…!”

When I called her name because I was proud and grateful, Erica also called me by my name.

“Yerine…!”

In the end, we hugged each other, unable to control our emotions and joy.

Astra looked at us like that and shook her head with a breath.

“They’re like that again.”

On the other hand, Rachel smiled as if nothing was going on and answered Astra’s words in a calm voice.

“It happens a lot. It’s much better to see than fighting with friends every day, right?”

“Well, that’s true, but…….”

It was Astra who agreed with Rachel for now, but when our hug seemed to be getting too long, she clapped her hands and called us out.

“Hey, guys, wait a minute, please look over here.”

When we finally fell apart, Astra held her hands together with her sky blue eyes.

“Everything’s good, but there’s someone to celebrate today.”

“Oh, right.”

Erica said, putting the teacup down from her hand.

“Would you like to celebrate with me now?”

Erica answered Astra’s question at the same time.

“Okay!”

“Yes, then one, two……”

To Astra’s chant, she smiled broadly and shouted congratulations.

“Congratulations on your engagement, Rachel!”

The voices of the three of us filled the hall, and Rachel blushed slightly and waved her hands.

“No, you don’t have to do this, but thank you all.”

I looked at Rachel, who was smiling shyly, I looked at her with her expression of no idea what she was talking about.

“Huh? What are you talking about? There’s a lot I want to do for you in the future.”

“That’s right. I heard the news in a hurry today, so we’ll have another big engagement party later.”

Erica nodded back to me at my words.

Ehm, really.

As expected from my favourite one.

‘She’s quick-witted and has a good personality, so she takes it well.’

While I was praising Erica inside, as usual, Rachel laughed and picked up the cookies.

“What are you talking about? A celebration party for barely getting engaged. I’m not getting married.”

“Of course we’ll have another wedding party, Rachel.”

As Astra answered calmly, Rachel asked in surprise.

“No, are you doing it twice?”

“Of course, you won’t die if we do it twice.”

“Yes, there’s a reason for the party, it’s just when we’re happy!”

Astra nodded at Erica’s words and extended her fingers.

“Let’s decide like this. Let’s have a party when one of us is set up for engagement and when we’re set for marriage.”

“That’s nice.”

As I took a sip of black tea and nodded, Astra winked at me who agreed with her.

“Then it’s decided that there will be two parties for Rachel.”

Erica tapped on the tea table and said.

“What about Astra? Didn’t you say you were going to get married without getting engaged?”

“That’s right, Erica.”

“Then three times to Astra.”

“What about Erica? Are you going to get married?”

When Rachel asked, Erica thought for a moment and shook her head.

“No, I don’t think much about marriage.”

Erica has been telling me that she doesn’t intend to date or get married yet.

But today was the first time I had brought it up in front of Rachel or Astra.

“Oh, I see.”

Astra nodded slightly when she heard Erica’s answer.

“Then what’s left…….”

Three pairs of eyes pointed at me in a flash.

Erica’s eyes resembling tourmaline were as usual, but Astra and Rachel’s eyes seemed to be hesitant for some reason.

“Well, Yerine.”

Astra opened her mouth first.

“Huh?”

“You’ll get married, right?”

When Astra asked in a strangely insecure voice, Rachel added in a hurry.

“With His Majesty, I mean.”

Looking at her awkward smile, I thought about what to say.

“Eum……..”

Cassius’s eyes, which seemed to be holding the sun in front of him, passed by my mind.

I smiled at a lovely look that made me feel comfortable just thinking about it.

“I will.”

I turned my head to Rachel and Astra, who were waiting for my answer.

They relaxed their facial expressions and raised the corners of their lips.

“I want to marry Cassius.”

I meant it.

I haven’t made much of a relationship in my previous life.

It wasn’t hard enough to die, but it was true that I felt lonely.

But this time, it was different.

There was someone I could trust who would never abandon me.

And there was someone who really wanted me to be happy.

If I can be with Cassius for the rest of my life.

I can also watch how he makes his happiness with his own hands.

I thought it would be perfect.

‘I do, but…….’

The problem is that there have never been many marriage stories between the two of us in earnest.

Only once, when we saw a newlywed couple getting married in the middle village, Cassius was very cautious and asked what I thought about marriage.

At that time, I said, ‘It’s not easy to decide, but I personally like it.’

Come to think of it, Cassius looked a little relieved.

‘Well, there’s no need to rush it, so let’s take it slow.’

I looked into the red tea and thought to myself.

I was vaguely guessing the idea of why he didn’t want to talk about marriage easily.

Knowing that I didn’t want to rush him, and I wanted to wait until he was ready.

Of course, I even thought about telling him to get married first if it doesn’t work out.

‘Let’s talk about it once when it gets relaxed around the summer.’

I didn’t know that day.

The wedding will be much faster than I thought.

And that Cassius accidentally heard the sincerity I said unintentionally in front of my best friends.

It was about a month later that I learned all of that.

***

“Today’s birthday was the best, Cassius.”

I leaned my back against the sofa in the parlour room and smiled.

During the day, Cassius and I enjoyed it for the first time in a long time, and in the evening, we met with the Academy classmates and had a party.

Thanks to it, my mood was at its peak.

“That’s a relief.”

Cassius, looking at me like that, replied with a happy smile.

“Did you like the king pudding you ordered this year?”

“Oh, sure. I liked it because it was bigger than last year, and Cassius has the best eye.”

“Wow, that’s an honour.”

Cassius came next to me and sat down and said.

I smiled broadly at him and said in an excited voice.

“Well, of course, I don’t just like pudding. It’s just that the whole day with Cassius was perfect.”

Cassius then blushed slightly and tilted his head as if surprised.

“Really?”

“Yes, because you’ve prepared only the things I want to do.”

“Oh, but I’ve done that every year.”

Cassius said in a shy voice, saying it was nothing much, and I couldn’t resist and pinched his cheek and inflated it.

“You fool, I’m even more grateful that you prepare so much every year.”

With a dissatisfied face, I pinched Cassius’s cheeks and stretched it out.

‘His face is still handsome in the midst of this….’

I opened my mouth thinking so.

“And you were the first to celebrate my birthday this year. You woke up early in the morning to say happy birthday and were waiting at the dining room, right?”

Cassius asked with his eyes wide open at the words.

“Yerine, did you know everything?”

“Sure. I just pretend I don’t know.”

The naive Cassius

Anyone would come to the same conclusion at 7:00 in the morning to see a handsome boyfriend grooming his hair, wearing a suit, holding a giant pudding, waiting.

Looking at Cassius, who put as much effort as he did when he was officially pointed, it seemed that he had prepared well since 5 a.m.

“I didn’t want to miss the first chance to celebrate your birthday this time, so I tried my best.”

Cassius replied with a smile.

“I was worried that congratulatory letters sent by our classmates might reach you before I did.”

“No, you don’t have to…….”

“I wanted to congratulate you first. I didn’t want to be deprived of that opportunity by Blothea and the others.”

When I saw Cassius, who had a look similar to the puppy that was slightly sulking at the owner, I burst into laughter.

“Okay, okay. Thank you.”

I said, stroking his black hair like ebony.

“It was nice to have you as the first person to celebrate my birthday.”

The mind contained in the calm voice slowly spread through the room.

When Cassius heard me, he opened his mouth slightly, looking embarrassed, and said in a hesitant voice.

“Is that true?”

It’s because he still has so many doubts.

“Sure.”

I added with a slight smile.

“You’re my favourite.”

His golden eyes began to glisten.

My heart felt warm.

As expected, I loved that sparkle.

“Well, can I be the first to celebrate your birthday every year?”

Cassius’s subdued voice echoed through the room.

“Of course. I’d rather be happy to do that.”

When Cassius heard the answer, his mouth was strangely stiff.

Unknowingly, he seemed nervous.

“Not in the morning, but I want to congratulate you after midnight.”

Huh? Midnight?

Do you mean you want to congratulate me as soon as midnight is over?

Oh, you’re going to call me on bail as soon as my birthday comes?’

As soon as I thought so, Cassius rose from the sofa.

I thought Cassius was sleepy and was going to bed, but to my surprise, Cassius sat on one knee on the carpet.

“Cas, Cassius?”

“Yerine.”

Even when I saw Cassius calling my name solemnly, I couldn’t figure out what the situation was.

“If we live together, we can celebrate your birthday as soon as it’s your birthday.”

Don’t tell me.

My hands covered my mouth in surprise.

‘This is not……’

In the meantime, Cassius held out a case wrapped in red velvet that was hidden in his arms in his right hand.

“So, to put it straight…….”

On Cassius’ hand, which had briefly cleared his voice, a ring with a purple sapphire in the moonlight glistened.

“Yerine, will you marry me?”

***

I couldn’t lie to you because my life with you would continue to be a spring day.

However, one was certain.

With you, I will find beautiful spring in summer, fall, and winter.