Chapter 54

When Elysia washed her face in the bathroom and returned to the bedroom, Cassian was already there.

She was going to go find him herself, though she was lucky that he was already there.
Cassian was in full clothing, perhaps he had just gone out.
His black hair was half-twisted.

Gazing at him, she felt tickled all over again, just like the day she first met him.

Elysia sat across the bed and opened her mouth.

“When did you come?”

“A while ago.”

Cassian approached her.
She swallowed a gulp and grabbed his arm as he approached.

“Cassian, can we talk?”

“No.”

He cut Elysia’s words in a low voice.

His face hardened, not knowing what she was going to say.
Cassian gently removed Elysia’s hand, which was holding his arm, and rummaged through his arms.

It was a small black velvet case.

As she glanced at what was in his hand without a word, he knelt down on one of his knees in front of her.

Elysia seemed to know what he had in his hand, so she flinched and tried to back off.
However, Cassian grabbed her left hand and dragged her, preventing her from retreating.

“Because tomorrow is the wedding.
I want to do it right, but I think you’ll run away.”

Saying that, he smiled bitterly.
He opened the case and took out the contents.

Elysia blinked at her heartbeat speeding its pace.

It was surprising that it could beat faster than she felt in the morning.
Maybe, she will really faint like this.

Now that the situation was awkward and she continued her strange thoughts, Cassian kissed the back of Elysia’s hand.

“Give me a chance.”

He carefully put a ring on her ring finger.

A large diamond in the center was surrounded by small diamonds.
She could tell without listening to the explanation that he had made it in a color similar to her eyes.

Among the diamonds, the color was exceptionally vivid.

“If you hesitate, even though you think you’re using me… drinking blood or wanting my body.
I’ll be happy to be used.”

Looking at the ring, Elysia bit her lower lip tightly.
She bit it so hard that a fishy taste lingered on her lips.

Cassian smiled bitterly and grazed his finger across her lips softly.

“You need to change the habit of biting your lip.
It’s bleeding.”

“I…”

“Can we not say anything? I think it will hurt too much if you say more.”

As he said, his purple eyes had an impatient look.

When did he confidently seduce her, and now, he was so weak instead?

“I’m not pushing you because I don’t like you.
There are other reasons, as you might expect.”

Cassian clenched his fists at those words, thinking he’d probably hear her refusal.

She could see his veins bulging out.

Elysia clasped his hand that was clenching his fist.
Although Cassian’s hands are so big, she couldn’t cover them all.

“Elysia.”

“I told you I’m using you.
I can’t tell you why, but if that’s okay with you, just for three years… Can I stay with you for three years?”

“Yes.
That’s enough.”

It was just going according to what was written in the contract.

No more, no less.

…Just like the first plan.

Even then, if they feel the same way they are now, even if it is not a love that is deeply engraved in the soul, they can be together a little longer.

“I like you, too.”

‘I like you.’

At the words spoken again, Cassian opened his eyes wide and took in his breath.

Elysia was taken aback by the reaction that was more violent than expected.
Is it because it’s been three years? Saying that was enough, why did his eyes look like that?

She knows she’s selfish as well, though has she hurt him again?

Thinking so, she gazed into the sunken eyes as Cassian cupped her cheek and pressed his lips against her.

“…Heup.”

He came close to her body and pecked her lips.

She could feel the pounding beating in his body, and it was also running as fast as Elysia’s.
The squeaky sounds echoed in her ears, and her head was dizzy.
It was such a sweet and gentle kiss, and she didn’t know why she was so suffocating.

The soft tongue, digging deep into her, tickled her mouth.
The kiss grew more intense, and Cassian dug between her legs.

Lying on the bed, Elysia raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck.
Cassian, who was slowly rolling up her skirt, starting from the ankle bone, suddenly stopped.

Because of that, she took her breath as their lips fell apart with a sound.

“…Ha— Cassian?”

“Huh.
I have to endure today…”

Why? He made her like this?

Elysia glanced at him, swallowing the words that she couldn’t even utter.

Her attire had long been ruffled, and the hem of her skirt was above her knees.
Her face was clearly dripping with regrets, but she was arranging clothes with her hands.

“Why today?”

“Tomorrow is the wedding.
Your wounds are still…”

“You said I could go into the bathroom.
What are you talking about?”

“No.
If we start now, you won’t be able to get married.”

In the end, Cassian arranged his clothes and left the bedroom.

At that, Elysia, who was lying on the bed, raised her eyebrows.
She tried to catch him, but she let him go because she thought she might never get out of the bedroom.

 

***

 

From early morning, the entrance to the Duchy of Esteban was crowded with carriages of guests to attend the wedding.

Most of the nobles supporting the emperor and the Crown Prince in the Empire attended, as well as some nobles who had business relationships with the Duchy of Esteban or Lowell.

Of course, the nobles who had a connection with the Marquisate of Blanche were excluded.
As the nobles in attendance would notice, perhaps the Marquis of Blanche was going to be more isolated after the wedding.

“Oh, isn’t he the Crown Prince of Dylan Kingdom?”

“The person next to him is the Prince of Chereville Kingdom.”

“Oh, my God.
That’s great.”

The ladies who had been gossiping as they watched the Royal Family of the neighboring kingdoms, turned their heads and opened their mouths at the sight.

It was because they saw the Archmage Ramote and the High Priest Arbel together.

Ramote, who had captured the attention of the nobles, was on edge.
Since Elysia had an incident recently, he took Der from the entrance and was checking to see if there were any people or objects related to black magic.

The knights of the Esteban Knights also stood vigilant about every single one of them, and they were busy examining even a single gift from the carriage.

The nobles heading to the garden under the guidance of the employees tilted their heads in the harsh atmosphere.
Nevertheless, there were no rumors about Elysia’s personal life, so it was only possible that a lot of celebrities attended the event.

Around Ramote, Arbel was following along, asking what the hell was going on.

“Isn’t this tougher than a checkpoint when entering the Imperial Palace?”

“Arbel.
Why is the high priest speaking so frivolous?”

“What are you so arrogant about between us? It’s harsh.”

Ramote pushed Arbel’s face away with an annoying gesture.

As A priest who arrived at the mansion to attend the wedding ceremony came to Arbel and greeted him, he answered in an instant with a solemn expression on his face.

“You must be the officiant.
Do your best without making any mistakes.”

Ramote shook his head as he stared at Arbel, who was arguing, whether it was a compliment or a nagging.

The priest retreated, and he murmured as if it was a pity.

“I was supposed to officiate myself.”

“Don’t be silly.
Did you receive an invitation?”

“Of course.”

In the garden where the wedding was to be held, Cassian, who had finished preparing early, was welcoming the nobles.

At last, the corners of his lips should rise at the thought of a wedding, though he was busy watching the guests with sharp eyes.

It was because one of the men who hit Elysia’s carriage at dawn had confessed.

He doesn’t know who the master it was, but he knows he was trying to kidnap her.
Even trying to kidnap her wasn’t enough, and the word black magic was entangled in it, so he couldn’t put his heart down for even a moment.

He hadn’t yet heard from Elysia or Ramote that it had anything to do with black magic, but he was already guessing.

Seeing Der going into a riot, Cassian couldn’t have been unaware.
Hopefully, they won’t be stupid enough to fool around with so many guests again…

An employee approached Cassian in a cold sweat.

“Your Excellency.”

“Why?”

“The Prince has come… The one who came with him was Lady Blanche.
What should I do?”

What kind of weird combination is this?

Did Lady Blanche join the Second Prince’s side? Second of all, did she even think that if she was on the Prince’s side, she could come here?

It was someone who the line of employees could answer to.

“I will go by myself.”

As Cassian followed the servant, he saw the figure of her second prince, Peloite.
And, next to him was Lumiere, wearing a white dress.

At the wedding, it was basic etiquette to avoid colors that overlapped with the bride’s dress.

The energy of a sharp edge was flowing around Cassian.

“Greetings, Prince.
I sent you an invitation, although I didn’t expect you to come.”

“It’s been a long time, Duke.
Of course, I have to attend.
But, it seems that the employees made a mistake with me.”

“Your Majesty, if you intend to enter with Lady Blanche, you must return.”

“Hey, that’s not a very funny joke.”

Cassian turned to Lumiere.

A person with a normal mind wouldn’t be able to do that.

“I’m sorry to hear that it sounded like a joke.
Bring out Lady Blanche.”

He then beckoned to the knights waiting behind him.

At that, Lumiere grabbed the Second Prince’s arm and hid behind him, avoiding the knights’ hands.

“Duke.”

“Would you like to step back together, or would you like to attend alone? You have only two options.”

Cassian and the Second Prince exchanged tight glances, when a tearful scream was heard from beside them.

“Kyaak!”

Turning her head, Lumiere saw High Priest Arbel.

There was a bottle of wine in Arbel’s hand, but when Lumiere saw that the white dress she was wearing was all red, it looked like it had been spilled on it.

“The High Priest?”

The Second Prince was intrigued by the appearance of the unexpected character.

Lumiere raised her eyes and stared at Arbel.

“What rudeness is this?”

“Lady, this is High Priest Arbel.
Give a greeting.”

Lumiere put on a bewildered expression at the Second Prince’s stinging remark.

Arbel gathered his eyebrows and hurriedly pulled out his handkerchief, and bowed down.
However, due to the excessive bowing, the remaining contents poured over Lumiere’s head.

“Aaak!”
“Oh my, there is some wine left.
I made a mistake trying to place the bottle because Lady’s dress is the same color as the tablecloth used in the temple.”

Obviously, it wasn’t a mistake.
It was intentional.

The Second Prince gave a resigned breath when even the High Priest joined in and became hostile to Lumière.

“It would be better if Lady went back alone.”

In the end, Cassian blocked the Second Prince’s way as he took his steps to get inside.

Because of Cassian, who did not hide his feelings, the air around became heavy.
The employee standing behind him was shaking their legs at the intimidation of the Master.

“Wouldn’t it be nice to go back together?”

“Is that because of you, or is it because of Lady Blanche?”

“It’s the latter.
If you want to protect the Marquisate of Blanche, you’re making a mistake.
If you don’t want us to splash dirty water, you’d better stop.”

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