Chapter 14 - Abel, Cassius, and Sierra

Chapter 14 – Abel, Cassius, and Sierra

“…Who are you?”

At the foot of the mansion, the Duke of Idios asked Abel. He looked up at Cassius, who was a span bigger than him.

‘Don’t you know me? I thought you did!’

Abel smiled brightly and bowed.

“Ah, you are Sir Duke Idios, right? I am Abel. I lived with Miss Sierra!”

“You lived with Sierra…”

Abel has often heard of the human world, but has not been very bright in the physiology of real humans.

“Yes!”

Cassius stared at Abel with a look of discomfort. Then, Hanael began to tease Cassius.

“Bad man, what are you doing? Let Abel in!”

Cassius stared at him and nodded.

“Come on in. Let’s have a little chat before you meet Sierra.”

After hugging Hanael because of their time apart, Abel answered clearly.

“Yes, sir. Your Grace!”

Abel was also a formidable flower figure.

‘It’s better than meeting sister right away.’

He hums as he enters the mansion. Hanael whistled happily and followed him in.

***

“So…”

Inside the drawing room. Abel, who was looking around with wide eyes, burst into excitement again.

“Very, very nice, Your Grace! I’m so glad sister can stay in a place like this.”

“…”

Cassius almost lost his fighting spirit with Abel’s bright words. He looked at Abel and tapped on the table.

‘So that’s the Duke Cassius Idios. He looks better-looking from up close.’

Abel smiled brighter than the sun and bowed toward him. Then Cassius softly spoke.

“You are… Abel, and you lived with Sierra.”

As if to emphasize what he said earlier, Cassius gritted his teeth. Abel flinched because of the bloodthirst coming from him.

Abel was a dog mixed with wolf blood. Come to think of it, Cassius had a faint smell of blood. It showed that he was a soldier who fought in the war for several years.

‘Come to think of it, he’s being a little bit hostile toward me.’

Abel tilted his head. Why would he be hostile? I’m nice to Sierra and Hanael…

‘Are you really hating me? That’s upsetting.’

Abel, a male dog, did not have much of a concept of male and female bodies. He drooped his shoulders but said bravely,

“Yes, I’m here to see Miss Sierra!”

“For what?”

“Because Miss Sierra needs me!”

Cassius’s eyes became fierce. Abel, however, only looked at him with a bright expression.

“Your hair looks a bit filthy.”

“Ah…”

‘I couldn’t wash my hair because I was in a hurry, so my hair is a little gross…’

“Yes, that is correct!”

Abel scratched his head and nodded. Abel was a powerful enemy who could not make a remark that could turn the situation around. Cassius, who was staring at him, calmly spoke.

“If you require anything, tell me. I’ll give it to you.”

This meant, to be exact, that he would prevent Sierra and Abel from meeting. Though Abel, who could not read between the lines, tilted his head.

“Oh, I don’t think that’s going to work! This secret is between me and sister.”

“…”

Cassius’ brow raised at a more intimate call than expected. Abel nodded and froze like a bright puppy.

“Oh, the nobles in the capital don’t use that title in public places, do they? I’m sorry, Your Grace.”

Abel, who was somewhat tactless, was an unexpected ambush and opponent for Cassius. He looked at him silently.

No, in fact, it would be more appropriate to say that he stared at him. Naturally, this was a very uncomfortable situation for Cassius.

“I’m sure Miss Sierra will want to see me now. She needs me.”

Cassius has always been an underdog when it comes to love. If he tries to hurt Abel, or at least stop Abel and Sierra from meeting, and if Sierra finds out.

Cassius said quietly,

“…Then, I will guide you to the tea room.”

He looked down at the floor. Then, Abel’s cheerful thanks came to his ears.

“Yes, thank you!”

Abel, who has a bright personality, smiled and bowed ninety degrees.

“Although…”

“Huh?”

Cassius calmly spoke. Abel was a man who knew Sierra’s situation for the past five years, while he did not.

Now, he asked, trying not to appear like he lost his composure.

“…I wonder how long you’ve been with Sierra.”

Abel, who saw his expressionless face, replied sincerely.

“It’s been about five years? We’ve been living together ever since she settled down in Supe Village! She’s also a pharmacist.”

At Abel’s seriousness, Cassius bit his lip.

“…How did Sierra live? Did someone make it difficult, or did something happen…”

Abel tilted his head.

Not long ago, Sierra had a rather painful five years, including the owner of the building and the flirting men handled by Duke Idios.

In addition, she was full of ambition, wanted to make a lot of money, and wanted to show her abilities. Of course, pharmacies always made a surplus, but it was not enough to satisfy Sierra.

‘There were people who harassed her, and she had many personal problems, but sister always seemed happy. She was full of ambition to make money.’

Abel, who was debating whether to say all that, glanced at Cassius’ face. He looked like a monster from hell. So, he just answered concisely.

“Yes! It was really difficult!”

Abel was trying to add that Sierra’s expression was terrifying when the pharmacy failed to make profit. However, when he saw Cassius’ expression become gloomy, he paused.

“There was a time when a man dared to harass sister… what else?”

Of course, Sierra didn’t care much about the truth or anything because she was very cool. But neither Abel nor Cassius knew that. Abel, who was talking about this and that, suddenly stopped talking.

Strange.

Why does he look so distressed? As if he had heard the news of someone’s death.

‘He pointed out my hair earlier. Does it smell…?’

Abel scratched his greasy hair and vowed to wash it thoroughly. Cassius continued to speak.

“O… kay.”

His voice was a bit murky. Abel tilted his head. He really needed to wash up.

***

A few hours later, in the drawing room.

“Miss Sierra, you’ve succeeded.”

Abel looked around the drawing room with a bit of admiration. Sitting face to face with him, Sierra, with her vulnerable face, spoke seriously.

“There’s no such thing as a storm out of the blue. It’s like a dream.”

“As expected… Please let me live here too!”

“I think you could, but don’t forget we have to leave in three months anyway.”

Abel nodded while listening to Sierra’s regretful voice.

“By the way…”

Sierra, with a serious look on her face, grabbed Abel’s hand and said,

“Is she coming? Will she come and clear all this up?”

Although I have requested a paternity test kit, it would be more beneficial for my sister to visit the duke herself.

Although Abel stuttered, avoiding Sierra’s eyes.

“Well…”

At Abel’s limp tail, Sierra felt an ominous premonition. Her palm, which held Abel’s hand, was wet and damp. Abel was silent and soon opened his mouth.

“…She- the archmage- Well…”

“Why, well, what’s next, what do I do?!”

“…”

Abel quietly spoke and diverted his gaze to avoid attention.

“Stay with Duke Idios. She said she couldn’t come… and left.”

After listening to Abel, Sierra opened her mouth.

“Isn’t she completely insane? Well, I’m not, but what about Hanael? She hasn’t even bothered looking for her these past five years, has she?”

She’s a crazy older sister who’s doing much harm. Sierra clenched her fist.

“Abel.”

“Yes?”

“Poison or a stone axe, pick.”

“What?”

Abel was one of the characters who were very aware of Sierra’s fierceness, which was hidden behind her fragile appearance.

She didn’t know what she would do to find her sister, Amil, if she left it like this. No, it’s not that simple, but now, Sierra was burning with the will to fight with her eyes wide open.

“I think I’m gonna kill that woman.”

Of course, Abel, who had been in the same boat with Sierra for a long time, knew very well how to deal with her.

He needed to change the subject.

“Well… fortunately, I picked up a small letter and a scroll before the archmage disappeared.”

Sierra, who became like a calm rabbit with a carrot in front of her, watched Abel take out the scroll.

“Scroll? What is it?” Sierra’s eyes glistened.

“When Hanael’s life is in danger, I think we can use it only once. It said if you use it, she’ll be summoned.”

What Sierra knows about her sister is that she never lies.

And if there was something she didn’t know about Sierra, it was the fact that no one could stop her even if she went blind.

She lifted it high into the air, ready to rip up the scroll.

“This is an emergency. I need to kill my sister right now…”

“C-Calm down, Miss Sierra! According to Amil, this scroll is automatically triggered when Hanael is sick. If you tear it up, it’ll just become useless!”

Sierra frowned and took the scroll. She had an attitude.

“In any case, the one who cares about Hanael never bothered to search for her. I really dislike her.”

Of course, Sierra didn’t mean it because Amil was the only family she had.

“…Hanael will soon be cleared of the charge of being Cassius’ child, so I’ll l just have to put up with him for three months.”

“Yes, that’s it!”

“By the way, wait a minute. She said I could show my abilities now?”

“Oh, yeah! That’s good news, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is, but…”

The past when she hid her abilities came to Sierra’s mind. She had to give up even though she was capable enough to take the top spot and get a scholarship.

‘She told me to hide my strength, so I just kept it hidden.’

Sierra gave a long sigh.

“Then shall we go for a walk? There’s a glass garden here, and the scenery is really nice.”

“Yes, that sounds nice!” Abel smiled like the puppy he is.

Without delay, they began to take a walk together in the small glass garden.

Yet, one thing Sierra didn’t know was that the garden was visible from Cassius’ drawing room.