Chapter 34: Chapter 18.2

“I’m drunk, but why did you do that yesterday? You didn’t drink. This isn’t a bribe, is it?”

“Bribe?”

“For the kiss or something like that.”

“You think I was giving  you cookies in exchange for something?”

Cassian was speechless when he glanced at Yernia.

He looked grumpy when he forced her to hold the box, but Yernia didn’t mind.

“Or not. You surprised me with the cookies, so I thought it was that. You realize I would rather jump into the river than kiss you, don’t you?”

Yernia wanted to die from embarrassment when she tried to recover last night’s memories with Cassian because–

Yeah.

That just can’t be true.

“What would I have done if you kissed me in that awkward position?”

Cassian’s face darkened.

He must have felt the same way as Yernia.

Cassian had the right to be angry after she misunderstood him about the non-existent kiss and the cookies.

“—But thank you. I wanted to eat these cookies from that particular bakery. They tasted amazing, Cassian. You’re the best! Did you wait in line to get them?”

“I’m not crazy, Yernia. Why would I do that?”

Cassian looked scary when he was mad, but to Yernia, he appeared like a grumpy cat who had lost his sleep.

“I figured out that you didn’t, but I just wanted to ask you. You didn’t get shot in the head, right? Why would you wait all night to buy it?”

“Well, yes. If I don’t get shot, I’ll never get shot.”

“Relax. I’m sorry if I misunderstood you. I’m sorry, Cassian.”

Phew.

Relieved, Yernia opened the box, took out the cookies, and put them in Cassian’s mouth.

“Thank you, Cassian.”

“…….”

“You took me home after I got drunk. You also bought me these special cookies despite having a servant who does everything for you.” She uttered with extreme delight.

Cassian stared at Yernia’s face for some time before he sighed.

“I know. I’m glad to hear that.”

‘I almost lost you for nothing but a kiss.’ Cassian murmured to himself, and a bitter smile flashed across his face before it vanished.

“Huh? Did you say something, Cassian?”

“I said the cookies weren’t that delicious.”

Cassian looked away as he chewed the cookies Yernia had fed him.

Yernia tilted her head in confusion.

She had no idea what was going on in his mind.

“Really? I love it, though.”

“You can eat all of them. I’ll buy you more when we get married.”

Yernia sighed in desperation, almost forgetting the reality she was in.

She munched on the cookies in contemplation.

Was there no other way for Yernia to avoid this marriage?

***

“Here’s another drink!” A husky voice broke through the loud noise.

Most busy people, some farmers, and merchants had already finished their work.

“Here, too!” A clear voice rang among the crowd.

They glanced around each other to find the source, but they couldn’t see the woman who had covered her face with a hood.

“Give me another drink!”

The only thing all these dark-skinned men could see was the pink hair sticking out of her hood.

“Hey! Over here!”

Bang!

A beer mug was slammed in front of the woman’s table, and the alcohol had spilled over the rim.

“Well, what are you in a hurry for?”

“I’m a little hungry today.”

“There are so many people like that here!” The owner scolded the woman, who had already drunk three beers the instant she got there.

However, she just threw her head back and laughed.

The owner’s eyes narrowed when he saw her face.

“I’ve never seen your face before.  Did you come here alone?”

“Don’t ask me that. It’s a secret.”

“Right.”

The tavern owner wasn’t that curious about the customer’s identity, so he decided to leave her alone.

Another voice called him, and he ran towards it immediately.

“Wow. Sweet. Sweet.”

Yernia gulped down the beer she was given.

After wiping the foam around her lips with the back of her hand, she ate some fruit.

“Did you come here alone, madam? I’m alone, too. Why don’t you drink with me?” A bearded man sat in front of Yernia, and she thought about what to do with him.

“Why don’t you listen to my complaints instead?”

Yernia also needed someone to talk to.

Cassian was her only friend, but she couldn’t say all these things to him.

Even her family was on Cassian’s side, and she was left alone.

“Oh, sure. As much as you like.”

The man seemed to be open-minded.

Still, Yernia tried to test him just in case.

“Do you have any friends?”

“Friends? Yes. But I’m older than you.”

“Then, old man.”

“Older brother.”

Yena interrupted the man’s bullshit.

The man looked ten years older than her, but he didn’t have any self-awareness.

“Can you marry your friend?”

The man quickly understood Yernia’s point.

He didn’t even need her to elaborate.

“I guess this friend is of the opposite sex.”

“Yes.”

“There’s no such thing as ‘being friends’ between a man and a woman. All the boys who were called ‘a ladies’ friend’ are insidious. I’m sure your friend has a wicked heart.”

Ah.

Here we go again.

The ‘men-and-women-can’t-be-friends’ speech

Yernia always got in trouble whenever someone misunderstood her and Cassian’s friendship.

Whenever she explained that they were just friends, most of them would respond like that.

“No, he’s not like any other man. We’ve known each other since we were kids. I don’t think I’ll be able to see this either.”