Chapter 87

Sep 05, 2023

Perhaps it was just my imagination, but... Pandora seemed to be eyeing Cassis with more than polite interest from what my butterflies showed me of the dining room. Instead of focusing on the food on her plate, all her efforts seemed to be on stealing glances at Cassis.

It was pretty obvious. But then again, I recalled that she was supposed to be lovesick over Luzark Castro. Although with so much of the story having been altered, I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that her interests had changed.

Nevertheless, it bothered me.

However, I couldn’t quite explain why that was at the time. I didn’t have any real reason to be upset, so I resigned to thinking the feeling had something to do with being linked to my butterfly for too long which was giving me a headache. So after watching the four of them dine for a bit longer, I cut the connection and walked out to the terrace.

Cassis’ terrace to be specific.

Since I had nothing in particular to do, I intended to wait for him there. Leaning against the balustrade, I took in the night view and thought about how peaceful and beautiful the dark yard was in its own mysterious way. Suddenly, the sweet words Cassis whispered to me came rushing back to me.

“That night we left the Agrece compound...”

“...it may not have mattered to you who came to your rescue, but...”

“...the only person I would have rescued was you.”

Then I exhaled slowly. I started to sense that perhaps I shouldn’t have come to the Blue fortress. Things I hadn’t considered important then were beginning to weigh on my thoughts more and more. It felt as if Cassis was making indelible imprints on my heart as more time passed. Honestly, I probably should have declined his invitation back then.

Leaning forward against the balustrade, I cupped my chin. I felt my hair slide from my back to my shoulders as Sylvia’s red ribbon came loose. As if to add insult to injury, the red sash fluttered away into the air.

“Oh no...” I knew I couldn’t lose a gift from her. I panicked as I remembered how happy she had been while playing with my hair. As I stood up to check where the ribbon had flown off to, I heard an unfamiliar voice from below.

“What is this? A ribbon?”

A beautiful, blue-haired man was holding my ribbon. Needless to say, it was Orka Fipellion.

Before I even had time to wonder what he was doing there, his silver-gray eyes went round with shock as they locked with mine. He just stood there ramrod straight—as if he had even forgotten how to breathe.

“A... demon?”

I frowned the moment he uttered those words.

“Perhaps a demon of... some sort of evolved humanoid appearance.”

While his face was still twisted with confusion, he continued to mutter his nonsensical hypotheses.

“But that can’t be. I’ve never heard of such a thing...”

“Orka Fipellion.” A cold voice reminiscent of an iceberg resounded through the air and overwhelmed Orka’s wispy rambling. Cassis had finally caught up to him. His expression was as frigid as an overnight frost. “I see you didn’t pay much heed to my warnings since you’ve now taken to roaming around the Pedelian compound without approval as well.”

It was obvious that Orka had eeled his way out of the supper, so the ever-vigilante Cassis had come after him. Instead of appearing embarrassed over his blatant disrespect for the rules, he turned his silver gaze toward to meet the compound’s young master with the astounded look still on his face.

“B-But... Blue Heir, are you seeing what I’m seeing? Surely that can’t be a human.”

Upon Orka’s prompting, Cassis looked up at me. Our eyes met for a moment before he turned his gaze right back to the White Demon Tamer.

“What’s going on? Am I the only one who sees it?! Is it some sort of spirit?”

“It seems you’ve grown fond of our dungeons. Well, as an obliging host, I shall honor your wishes.”

Hearing Cassis overtly disregard his questions, Orka seemed to almost immediately deflate.

“Take him away.”

Despite the hospitable nature of his words, there wasn’t an ounce of warmth in his voice as he ordered the guards to apprehend Orka. While the guards held on to either side of him, the Fipellion shot me another questioning look. He never got the chance to ask it though since the guards were quick to execute Cassis’ order.

“Why did you come outside?” His tone was entirely different from how he had sounded while addressing Orka. It was far more mellow. The few guards who were still nearby began to make their way back to their posts. For a moment, I could have sworn I saw actual flakes of ice in his eyes due to how cold his stare was.

It wasn’t hard to guess who such coldness was being directed at, but as I was somewhat responsible for what happened with Orka, I figured I should play nice with Cassis. Instead of going on the defensive, I decided to switch the focus to more pleasant matters. “I was waiting for you.”

Cassis looked up at me silently with his mouth closed in a tight, straight line. “So you’ve finished with the supper?”

“Yes.”

“Then you kept your promise and came back early.”

I removed my hand from the balustrade before going on. “Well, come up. As you can see, I’m in your room.”

Without responding, Cassis turned toward the building. That was when I also returned inside. Once he was back in his room, we had a late supper together. Since he had eaten quite a bit already with his guests, I did most of the eating.

Strangely enough, he didn’t say a word about his errant guest. That was how we passed yet another day, then the Pedelian master and his wife returned the day after that.

* * *

It was just as Cassis had explained. The Pedelian master and his wife had indeed been away on a journey. They’d been gone for about 10 days. It was my first visit to the main castle, and by Roussel’s invitation no less.

Since the first thing he did upon returning home was ask to see me, my suspicion that he must be avoiding me practically evaporated before my eyes. I was even more surprised that a guard led me to his office as it’s the innermost sanctum of the Pedelian clan’s fortress. But that was likely due to the level of importance of the matter we were to discuss.

Knock, knock.

“Miss Roxana Agrece has arrived, sir.”

Hearing my guide formally introduce me as he knocked on the office door was a bit surreal, but after inhaling deeply to ground myself, I heard an answer from inside.

“Yes, come in.”

* * *

Inside the office, I sat across from the Blue clan’s master, Roussel Pedelian. His office was very neat, and on the table between us were two teacups with steam slowly rising from them. Roussel didn’t seem to be in any hurry, but he did insist that I have some.

As I lifted the cup to my lips, I reflected on how I had worried that he might be in such haste that he wouldn’t even offer me a glass of water. But no. The Blue Master was the virtuous and respectful host he was reputed to be.

We didn’t speak much while drinking the tea, but it wasn’t all that awkward either. Perhaps it was because he was completely non-threatening, or maybe because I hadn’t expected to be in his presence for long to begin with. Even so, I was prepared to calmly accept whatever he determined should be my fate. However, when he did finally address the issue, I was shocked to my core at what he had decided.

“To tell the truth, I don’t feel there is much for us to discuss. So as it stands... Please stay as long as you like.”