Episode 67
Yerine, who said she would get drinks for everyone, did not return no matter how long he waited.
Cassius thought strange, so he went to a table with a mountain of pink glasses, but there was no sign of her existence anywhere.
Except for seven unclaimed glasses, filled with drinks.
âWhere did she go?â
At first, he wondered if she went to the bathroom, but it was too long for it.
There was no way she went to the bathroom, leaving alone the drink she had not finished.
As the thought reached that point, some unknown anxiety enveloped inside Cassiusâs mind.
âHey, Yerine is not coming back for a drink. Has anyone seen her?â
He hurried back to the place where the seven heirs were gathered and asked as calmly as possible the whereabouts of Yerine.
âOh, come to think of it, sheâs still not here. Whereâd she go?â
Cassiusâs words cast doubt on the Ale Clubâs successor as if it were strange. Only then did the rest of the people seem to have noticed Yerineâs absence.
âWasnât she with you? You two came out together in the beginning. I thought you were the only one who had something to do with Yerine so you came out in a hurry and alone.â
Erica Blothea asked Cassius with a slight frown and a serious look on her forehead.
Cassius initially said he would go with her, but said he returned to the hall first because Yerine declined him.
âHuh? But Yerine went out to the banquet hall with someone earlier?â
When he saw the heir of Jacquelineâs family, who opened his mouth wide with astonishing blue eyes, Cassius hurriedly asked.
âExit the banquet hall? With whom?â
âI donât know. The person wrapped in black lobes all over his bodyâ¦â¦.â
âWell, which professor is calling?â
But Cassius was not listening to her words.
Only the thought of having to stay as far away from Iker was hovering in Cassiusâ head.
He could have gone back to the banquet hall and run into him.
A space Iker wouldnât know.
Cassius was desperately looking for the place.
âCassius?â
He could give him everything else.
Already, a lot has been taken away by him.
But it didnât matter much if it werenât.
A red ball, an orgel where a ballerina dances when spring is turned, and a wooden stick that twirls around. Parentsâ attention, the expectations of the imperial people.
Even when he gave it all to Iker, Cassius was able to live on enough.
But not as much as Yerine.
Even if Yerine fell in love with Iker, he could not give her to him.
âCassius, hold on!â
It was not until Yerine held Cassiusâ hand and waved and shouted loudly that Cassius stopped running.
Looking back, Yelin was breathing heavily. Only then did Cassius realize that he ran too fast.
âIâm so sorry, Yerine, Iâm in a hurry that I donât knowâ¦â¦.â
Cassius bent over and examined her condition carefully.
Still, out of breath, Yerine closed her eyes and pressed her chest with her hands.
The sight of it made Cassius feel sorry to think that he had already made her more tired.
âA little bit, just a little slow.â
Looking at her strugglingly opening her eyes and answering, Cassius was seized with melancholy emotion.
âWhy am I this shape?â
He was far short of protecting his most precious person in the world.
Far from defending her, he could not stand beside Yerine.
Every time there, he was making her suffer.
Even todayâs banquet hall incident occurred because he thought ahead of Yerineâs dignity.
He took Yerineâs hair off her forehead and put it behind her ears, chewing his lips hard.
In that hand, Yerine lifted her head, and smiled slightly, looking at Cassius with star-like violet, and red-coloured eyes.
âThank you.â
She is lovelier than anyone else.
A strong, very warm person.
So someone whoâs afraid of getting hurt.
âCassius?â
His heart ached even though she only called his name.
It was warm and painful.
Feeling the pain of a deep, soft heart, Cassius opened his mouth.
âYerineâ
And called her name.
The name of the person he wants to cherish the most in the world.
***
âA fool. Still not enough.â
Standing on the moonlit terrace, Iker murmured.
His golden eyes were fixed upon the shadows of two men and women, rapidly disappearing across the eastern corridor of the castle.
âYerine Spade.â
I thought the name itself was quite ordinary.
Yerine was a cute name that was not appropriately common but would fit the Duke.
That was it. And, Spade told him that she was from the bottom of the seven families that had fallen.
Iker was also told that the successor from Spade appeared like a comet and showed great magic skills.
But he was not very interested in the rumour until he saw her in person.
Of course, after he saw her, he realized that he had to take her on his side right away.
Recalling the distorted expression of Cassius when he saw her with him, Iker burst into laughter.
âCasius the Stupid.â
and murmured, clutching his belly.
âYouâre not headed for the banquet hall.â
The voice of the cunning snake rang out, as the wind swept through the leaves.
âââââ