Chapter 91: Chapter 47.1

“You must have come to see the performances today.”

“Yes. Hello.”

A singer appeared on the stage as she clutched the pamphlet.

Another singer’s name was written on it.

Not Jennan.

“I came to see them, too. I gain strength from watching my colleagues’ performances often because it makes me see what I lack.”

As expected, he was very professional.

She wanted to respond with ‘Great.’, but she caught herself before saying it.

Whether it’s true or not, the rumors regarding Jennan that Cassian had told her about wasn’t good.

She would get in trouble if Duke Lecardo found out she was involved in those rumours.

Yernia suppressed her bloody tears and replied half-heartedly.  “Yes.”

Unfortunately, Jennan’s seat happened to be next to Yernia.

She didn’t expect to see him at the balcony because these seats were only reserved to the upper class like Yernia and Cassian.

“Why aren’t you sitting down?”

In addition to that, Jennan had company.

It was the rude woman who asked her what kind of relationship she had with the opera singer.

“I’m so happy to meet you, Yernia. Let’s have fun together.” Jennan whispered, smiling.

He even dared to hold her hand but Cassian was faster.

He took Yernia’s hand and exchanged seats with her so she didn’t have to sit next to the bastard.

Both of them sat down at the same time.

Now, Cassian sat in the middle with Yernia and Jennan on either side of him.

The stage had started but she couldn’t even focus on the opera itself because Cassian hadn’t released her hand yet.

His grip wasn’t tight but he still refused to let her go.

She rested her free hand on her thigh and waited for him to do it.

Yernia nervously removed the glasses she wore every time she watched operas.

Cassian didn’t let go of her hand until the opera was over and it made her feel uncomfortable.

His mind and posture were uncomfortable.

***

“You’re married?”

The lady’s eyes widened in shock because she had first considered the girl her rival at first.

What was this sudden development?

Marchioness De Bellet covered her mouth with her hand.

“I had no idea you weren’t at the wedding.”

“I’ve had a lot of work to do but I have read the news in an article. I didn’t see the photograph, but I’ve heard a lot of rumors about the Marquis’ fiancee. I heard you dated him when both of you are studying the academy.”

“What?”

Where did that rumor come from?

Even so, most of the students in the academy had misunderstood Yernia and Cassian’s relationship.

Some of the schoolgirls who had crushes on Cassian would come and visit her just to cross their arms and glare at her.

Yernia would try to correct the misunderstanding every single time.

It was hard but——

Cassian nodded his head  and replied,  “I was chasing after her.”

Why did he agree to that?

“That’s weird. Haven’t you married each other because you were fated?” Jennan sneaked a remark.

‘Exactly.’ Yernia nodded.

“The rumor about us dating each other at the academy in the past was false.”

“Oh, really?” Marquis De Bellet cut the steak and asked her for clarification. “So the future Duke was chasing you all by himself?”

“….”

“Oh, he must have had a crush on you.”

Well, it wasn’t that she wasn’t interested in him.

Yernia knew this would obviously lead into a quarrel that she had carefully thought about what to respond.

Cassian  replied for her sake. “My wife is shy.”

Mrs. De Bellet giggled.

Cassian casually ate his steak and Yernia almost choked.

What?

Wife?

Shy?

Cassian patted Yernia gently on the back.

Yernia turned her head and whispered in Cassian’s ear.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Just do it. I don’t need to explain it one by one.”

“Is that all?”

“Should there be another reason?”

Yernia looked at Cassian, but she still couldn’t find a reason why he was doing this.

What the hell?

Perhaps, she had attached too much meaning in Cassian’s words and actions these days.

***

The peculiar scent of saltwater washed her senses and the slapping sound of beach waves felt like music to her ears.

*SIGH*

Yernia, who was leaning her chin against the railing on a huge ship, was in a bad mood.

Usually, she would be excited to enjoy such trips, but she didn’t feel as much as today.

Jennan stood next to Yernia and asked. “Did something upset you?”

“You.”

Cassian answered instead and pulled Yernia’s shoulder toward him.

Yernia decided to ignore both men standing on either side of her.

*SIGH*

“You sigh every time we move farther away from land. We’re at the ocean right now, Yernia.”

“Perhaps, she just wanted to separate from you.”

Every time Yernia sighed, Jennan would say something and Cassian would interrupt him out of annoyance.

Forehead in her hand, Mrs. De Bellet or Marchioness De Bellet, one of Jennan’s patroness, stood up and said, “Oh, my head hurts. I’m afraid I’ll have to take a nap.”

“Do you want me to take you somewhere else?”

“Well, it’s alright. You should play more.”

Her dark hair fluttered in the wind.

After that, Yernia saw a blonde beauty climb up the stairs as if she had just come out of her cabin.

“I am Vihani.”

That’s how she introduced herself.

She was the woman who cried in front of Cassian on their wedding day.

She still couldn’t understand how she got on a boat with these people.

Yernia was so conscious of Cassian at the opera that when she came to her senses, she had already uttered an impulsive invitation.