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nTranslator and Editor: Ddalgi and Wyvern

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nChapter 29

nCassius looked at Sierra, reflecting on her past. It was frustrating to think how she had raised a child alone.

n‘Sierra was active in the academy.’

nBack in the academy, Sierra had quite a few friends.

nHe remembered her meeting a friend named Lina and being kind to her as well. Sierra, who was always sincere when dealing with people, was a common object of envy. Now it was different.

nPerhaps it was hard to raise a child in the countryside. Cynical thoughts filled his head.

n“Then check the list. Let’s fill it with the people you like.”

n“Ohhh…”

nSierra looked through the list carefully. The portraits, names, and characteristics of the nobles were all listed.

n“…And their details are here too?”

n“Yeah, it’s necessary. They may spread rumors, so take a look.”

nBefore writing the list, Cassius had it properly filtered. A person with discretion, a good reputation in society, manners, and favors owed to the Ideos Family.

n‘I don’t plan to invite anyone who dares hurt Sierra.’

nCassius pursed his lips as he thought of the princess. He heard that the Princess was discussing marriage. He promptly removed all her attendants’ names.

n“Okay. I need your opinion, so tell me about the person you like.”

nAt Sierra’s direct words, Cassius felt as if a thorn was stuck in his neck. He almost said he liked her, but those words would be even more burdensome for Sierra, who was still struggling.

nHe murmured, eyes downcast. “The person I like is…”

n“Yes?”

nSierra had said five years ago that she was a great listener. It seemed she hadn’t changed.

nShe nodded and made eye contact with Cassius. “So?”

nLooking into her eyes, Cassius quietly recalled the past.

n“She’s nice and comforting.”

nWhen he first got only second place in the academy, his father had insulted him. However…

n‘Cassius, you were second!’

n‘…’

n‘Congratulations. Uh, you look bad, though. Is it because you were always the top student?’

n‘Still, there’s still room for improvement!’

n‘…I feel like a worthless person.’

nShe shook her head and looked at my report card with a smile.

n‘My rank was so average! Don’t I look like a worthless fool?’

n‘…No, you are smart.’

n‘Yeah, see? Your grades don’t prove your worth!’

nAt that time, Cassius was able to grow thanks to Sierra. Her words helped him not to be too proud.

n“You say good at comforting? Hmm… That’s a little vague.”

nSierra went through the list one by one as if contemplating, picking up the bookmarks one by one.

n“And?”

n“I like good people who like flowers.”

nCassius recalled the flower garden Sierra used to walk through during her academy days. She used to walk down the path with awkward steps.

n‘I’m afraid that the flowers will be stepped on. Isn’t it strange to walk like this?’

n‘Oh, it’s not strange.’

n‘You must not step on it!’

n‘Huh?’

nCassius couldn’t hear her properly because he was smiling at Sierra’s leaping.

n‘Oh, no. nothing.’

nOnly Sierra’s smile was clear in his mind. How could he ever let her go? When he thought of the times when their love deepened little by little, a smile came to his lips.

nFor a while, he heard the hallucinations that had tormented him all the time.

n‘You are trash.’

nHe flinched at the memory of an echo, a woman’s screeching voice.

n‘Sierra was pregnant at the time.’

nThe day he’d learned of her pregnancy was clear as day in his mind. There were times when he blamed himself, enough to feel numb even at war when he saw the blood of his comrades.

nAll the seasons passed one by one, like a panorama.

nSierra glanced at his frozen expression.

n“You… Your face is pale, what’s the matter?”

nHe shook his head.

n“No, I’m okay.”

nAlthough it must have been difficult raising a child by herself, Cassius was grateful to Sierra for staying kind and sweet.

nHe blinked slowly.

nHanael quietly read a fairy tale next to her.

n“The one the bad guy likes.”

n“Huh?”

nCassius and Sierra looked at Hanael at the same time

nThe little girl smiled.

n“It’s all Mom, no, Aunt… It’s Sierra!”

n“…Huh? Yeah?”

nSierra’s eyes widened. Her gaze passed through Hanael and focused on Cassius.

n“…Really?”

nCassius caught her gaze and nodded slowly.

nIt was the same feeling as when he first became friends with Sierra and fell in love with her, a blush on his face just like when they were dating.

n“We have to take etiquette and ballroom dance lessons, Sierra.”

n“Uh… huh?”

n“Go. I will be reading a book here.”

nCassius and Sierra stopped at the same time when they saw Hanael’s mature behaviour.

nHanael raised her chin and rolled her eyes as she looked at the two of them.

n“What are you doing? Go quickly and learn.”

nShe hummed and picked up a cookie from the table.

n“Can I stay here with the maids?”

n“Of course!”

nAs Hanael nodded while chewing on a cookie, Sierra glanced at Cassius and he greeted Hanael lightly.

n“We’ll go now, Hanael.”

nSo the two of them left. Hanael, who was left alone on the sofa in an instant, closed the children’s book.

n‘Strange. Are they two dating or what?’

nIf little children were good-natured, Hanael was doubly good.

n‘I guess my mom doesn’t like bad guys that much. No, I think I rather like it.’

nHanael pouted. But strangely, they seemed to fit together. The fact that they are her own mother and father…

n‘But why does mom want me to keep calling her aunt? I’m not the kind of person who can lie…’

nA question flashed through Hanael’s mind for a moment, but it quickly passed from her mind.

n* * *

nSierra, who had left Hanael on the sofa, headed to the library with Cassius. Etiquette was taught at the library.

nShe sat down at her desk in the library and sighed as she looked at the many books already on the desk.

n‘When will I ever live in a noble mansion again? I’ll even pay Cassius for it, I think.’

nBasic etiquette was learned quickly even at the academy, so there shouldn’t be a problem with that, Sierra thought innocently.

n“Let’s study now.”

nShe looked at him.

n“…Cassius? Are you my teacher?”

n“Yes.”

nHe nodded lightly and turned his back on the table.

n“Uh… aren’t you busy?”

n“Nothing is more important than you.”

nCassius, now feeling twitterpated as he said that, smiled softly, but his cool face instantly turned calm.

nSierra coughed to get Cassius’ attention back and fixed her gaze on the book again.

n“Then, when are you going to teach me?”

n“I’ll tell you about the properties. First of all, it is polite for the host hosting the party to be the first to enter and greet guests at the door.”

n“Oh…” It’s been a while since she heard an academy lecture! Sierra’s eyes were shining as she listened to Cassius.

nIt felt like her learning ability had increased with her honest attitude of asking freely. In that way, the first etiquette class that Cassius personally taught was completed successfully.

nNext was dancing, which was a problem for Sierra’s two left feet.

n‘Come to think of it, I’m bad at dancing.’

n* * *

nWhatever Sierra’s condition, Cassius and Sierra entered the small hall of the duke’s mansion to learn to dance.

n“Oh…”

n“Is this where you learn to dance?”

n“Are you also teaching me social dancing?”

nFor the ballroom dance, a professional teacher was usually called in, but Cassius nodded. As for now, the ballroom dance teacher wasn’t called in for today’s lesson.

n“Oh, I guess you’re good at dancing too. So, what’s popular in the social world these days?”

nHe didn’t know exactly what dance was popular because he left the social world. However, his brilliant brain came up with something.

n“Tango.”

n“Oh… Tango!”

nCassius clumsily, nervously took her hand even as he trembled. “I’ll teach you tango.”

nSierra looked at him blankly. Cassius held his breath for a moment. Everything was silent.

nSierra’s eyes felt as transparent as glass reflecting the distant sky, even though they were obviously green.

n“Are you good at tango?”

nNaturally, Cassius knew how to do a ballroom dance. He had to know it as the heir to the duke.

nAfter all, his father, Duke of Ideos, had a dance teacher and he taught him. The dance teacher flattered him, saying that he was good at using his body.

nOf course, Cassius had a tendency to never forget what he had learned. But if he said that, he might lose his chance to dance with Sierra.

n“I know how to run a little. I think I will have to practice consistently with you.”

nSierra shrugged her shoulders towards Cassius, who pretended to be innocent.

n“Then there is nothing I can do.”

nSierra reluctantly took his hand. It must be just a harbinger for her to dance without much thought. But for Cassius it was different.

n“Then let’s dance together. We don’t want the host to be embarrassed.”

nAt that, he took a breath. It took courage since he didn’t know he had to hold hands with her, and even dance with Sierra. Sierra softly rolled her eyes and smiled.

n“Now, shall we dance without accompaniment? I don’t know anything.”

nIt was informal, but it was his first dance with Sierra, and yet there was no such thing as a beautiful orchestral melody… He tightened his grip on her.

n“Yeah, I can lead.”

nSierra smiled at him and the atmosphere felt rosy.

nCassius felt like his heart was about to explode from the tension.

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