Episode 128
Side Story 1: Summer Vacation (1)
âThank you for your hard work.â
At the words of Clayton, his attendant who wore a monocle, Cassius sighed and fell on the desk.
âItâs finally over.â
Cassius, who put his cheeks together on the cold desk, thought blankly.
Although it has already been several years since he stopped treason and ascended to the throne, he is still not used to the heavy work that increases every June.
âSighâ¦â¦.â
âYou must be very tired?â
Clayton, a quick-witted man, said, putting a cup of tea and refreshments on the desk where Cassius was lying down.
For more,
âYou look so bad, do you have any other concernsâ¦â¦..â
Cassius opened his eyes wide as he saw Clayton carefully speaking out.
âOh, concern, it wasnât like that. Donât worry.â
âThen whatâs the problem?â
Cassius hesitated to answer Claytonâs question for a moment.
Then he muttered, holding his hands with a sharper eye.
âIâm lack Yerineâ
âWhat?â
Clayton was briefly dumbfounded by Cassiusâs serious and grim expression as if he were discussing important foreign policy.
âI havenât seen Yerine for three days.â
âOh, Duke of Spadeâ¦â¦..â
âYeah.â
Clayton stepped back unknowingly, with Cassiusâs eyes flashing as if he were mad.
âI canât stand it anymore.â
Cassius had already been overworked for days and had often stayed up all night.
Already difficult to maintain his reason, he seemed to be out of his mind at the thought of not seeing his lover for a long time.
âOh, my God, the withdrawal phenomenon has come again.â
(T/N: Withdrawal is the combination of physical and mental effects that a person experiences after they stop using or reduce their intake of a substance such as alcohol and prescription or recreational drugs.)
Thinking Clayton was in trouble, Cassius, who couldnât stand it, grabbed Clayton and asked.
âClayton, Duke of Spade, Isnât she in the Imperial Palace now?â
âWell, even though you didnât see each otherâs faces, you exchanged conversations through communication jewellery.â
âThe voice alone, of course, is not enough.â
Already, Cassius, who slept for two to three hours for three days, was looking like a crazy person and he was about to go to Yerine Spade.
âWhy donât you get some sleep first and go see her?â
âI can go see her and sleep together.â
Looking at Cassiusâs excited eyes, Clayton thought to himself.
âOh, my God, heâs so out of his mind.â
Inevitably, Clayton pulled out a white pearl and contacted the servant, who managed Yerineâs temporary room.
âOh, itâs me, Trump-nim, do you think sheâs busy? His Majesty has come with a withdrawal phenomenon.â
[Oh, His Majesty?]
âOh, if Trump-nim is busy now, we can come in a few hours, but if she doesnât look busy, can you please ask a little bit.â
[But the Duke left two hours ago.]
It was Cassius, not Clayton, who responded in a clear voice that resonated in the office first.
âWhat?â
The attendant, who mistook his voice for Clayton, continued to talk.
[Suddenly, Mandrake in the backyard is growing exponentially, so sheâs going to take care of it. Trump-nim said it would take some time. She also has just a little work left, so sheâs just going to take care of it at the Dukedom until the night.]
âOh, yeah, I got it.â
When the light of the white pearl went out and the voice disappeared, Cassius looked blank as if the world had collapsed.
Clayton, who felt sorry for the appearance of his master, put Cassius in his office chair and offered words of consolation.
âYour Majesty, donât be heartbroken. Youâll be able to meet the Duke tomorrow.â
Then he filled the empty cup with hot tea again and said.
âDonât be so depressed, why donât you go on vacation for a week or so?â
It seemed that special measures were needed to cheer up his master, who had become low-pressure.
âVacation?â
âYes, take the Duke.â
Clayton naturally dropped the teacup in front of Cassius and continued.
âTrump-nim also said she didnât have much work in July, so have a nice date.â
Cassiusâs eyes were lit at once by the tempting words.
âAnd please, make some progress.â
âNo, Clayton. Thatâsâ¦.â
âYour Majesty, you know that if Trump-nim makes up her mind, men will follow you in line, right?â
Clayton said, lifting the monocular glasses slightly with his fingers.
âI donât know if sheâll be taken away in a moment.â
âOkay, okay.â
At Claytonâs urging, Cassius replied, frowning on his forehead and leaning against the chair.
âA vacation.â
He didnât think there was any problem with his vacation at the palace, but it was different with Yerine.
Under the pretext of vacation, they will not only be together all week, but they will also be able to have a date or outing that they havenât been able to do.
âIâll never let you go this time.â
Cassius smiled and put his mouth on the teacup.
He decided that he would get more reward than what he felt regret for not being able to see each other often for a month.
***
âA vacation?â
âYes.â
Cassius nodded as he looked at me, who opened my eyes wide in surprise.
âIt was a little difficult this June. I think I need to change my mood.â
âOh, right. But Iâm a little surprised though.â
Perhaps because he had been so busy since his ascension, Cassius had never taken a particular vacation or trip.
He could have gone if he wanted to, but he seemed satisfied enough to rest in the palace.
âBut if youâre bringing this up to me, youâre asking me to come with you, right?â
âOf course.â
Cassius grinned.
âIf youâre not busy in July, Iâd like you to come with me.â
His smiley face is very, very handsome.
Honestly, if that face wasnât asking to go on vacation with me, but order me to lick his feet, I might do it all.
âHe knows heâs really handsome.â
Kicking my tongue inside, I held out my words.
After finding out that I liked his face, Cassius often uses his face to seduce me.
âThere is a saying that the face is probable, but isnât he used too often?â
Itâs good to have more confidence in his appearance than before.
Cassiusâs eyes were twinkling as he waited for my answer.
His eyes looked as if he was asking, âWould you like to go?â.
Looking at his eyes with anticipation for some reason, I thought I wanted to tease him a little.
So I decided to pretend that I didnât fall for Cassiusâ temptation and pretend that I didnât notice what his suggestion meant.
âWell, youâre going somewhere far, and I canât help but be your bodyguard.â
I smiled at Cassius, who looked subtly stiff at my words.
âOh, you know you have to pay extra, right?â
At the words, Cassius expressed his dissatisfaction with his expression that he didnât like it.
âYerine, youâre really.â
âIs there a problem, Your Majesty?â
Cassius squinted as he smiled with his mouth corners up.
âAre you serious about that?â
âOf course. You have to pay for labour.â
I raised my voice as I looked at the beautiful gold lining shining under the light of the fireplace.
âIf youâre an emperor of the Great Tigris Empire, of course, you should do that, right?
When I spoke as if I were acting with an exaggerated gesture, Cassius got up from his seat and approached me.
His hair, standing against the fireplace emitting warm light, shook gently.
Cassius had already had a heavenly beauty during his time at the Academy, but now he was taller and had a better physique, boasting a very close-to-perfect appearance.
âWow, how do people really look like this?â
Eventually, I forgot what I was talking about and looked at his face.
Meanwhile, Cassius suddenly bent down and pushed his face close to me.
âSo, youâre saying youâre not going without being paid?â
To be honest, I wanted to shake my head like crazy because his face was so handsome, but I managed to press the urge. And I smiled leisurely.
âYes.â
âSeriously?â
âOf course. Why would I lie?â
Cassius eventually straightened his back and shook his head, expressing that he had raised both hands and feet.
âOkay, Iâll pay you, so come with me. Thatâs enough, right?
âWell, Iâll go if you give me a lot.â
Cassius didnât lose and hit back.
âIâll give you a lot. You donât think I can do that for you?â
At Cassiusâs expression, my voice burst into laughter.
I laughed out loud for a long time and asked Cassius who was staring at me.
âNo, were you really going to give it to me?â
When I looked at his face turned slightly blank, the laughter continued to leak through my lips.
Perhaps he thought he had been hurt by me, Cassius replied with a pouting mouth as if he had a heartache.
âYou said you wouldnât go if I didnât give it to you.â
âYour Majesty, of course, I was joking. You didnât know?â
I barely calmed down and said to Cassius.
âYou donât have to pay.â
Seriously, heâs so cute even with his grumpy face.
âItâs better to go together as a couple, not as a guard.â
Cassius, who stood still as if he was surprised for a moment, soon smiled.
âThe palace wizard is playing with the emperor. Itâs hard for me to let it slide.â
A low voice came out between his lips.
âAnd I told you to call me Cassius when itâs only two of us.â
I smiled softly as I looked at the golden eyes that slowly radiated heat.
âI was going to play a joke.â
Cassius, who smiled at my words, bent his upper body with a look of excitement.
âThis wonât do.â
He whispered to me in both arms.
A voice that seemed to melt the heat in my stomach seemed to stick to my ears.
âItâs your punishment, Yerine.â
Looking at the golden eyes coming closer and closer, I smiled and closed my eyes.
Soon, heat-bearing lips touched each other.
âââââ