Chapter 138
“Hyung! How did it go?”
“Were you able to persuade Liena?”
Leandro entered the Cassius townhouse, where Reheim and Duke Cassius were waiting.
“Not at all. It’s worse than that.”
Leandro moved to the duke’s study and explained in detail what had happened at the Baby Rabbit Guild’s founding banquet.
The expressions of the two men listening naturally grew serious.
“An engagement, just like that…”
“What was Prince Mikhail thinking?”
Duke Cassius turned to his eldest son.
“And Liena? What did she say?”
“She seemed surprised, but didn’t say much. I suppose that means she doesn’t refuse the engagement.”
Leandro loosened his cravat as he replied.
“According to His Highness, he intends to hold the engagement ceremony within two weeks. He seemed to be in a great hurry.”
The three men sank into solemn thought.
At this point, if the two forced the engagement, there was little chance that Mikhail would regain the emperor’s favor.
“Of course, as long as Liena is happy, it isn’t strictly necessary for him to become emperor…”
Duke Cassius’s words were taken up by Reheim.
“Knowing the personalities of His Highness and Liena, they won’t back down. Both are ambitious.”
Why on earth were they insisting on rushing this engagement?
The three huddled together, discussing what consequences this situation might bring and how the Cassius family should respond.
For Liena’s sake, the Cassius family would need to actively support Mikhail from now on—but honestly, it wasn’t a path they were eager to take.
In the end, night deepened without any clear conclusion.
Duke Cassius tried to lighten the mood by asking his eldest son a question.
“By the way, you said you came to ask me something. What question was so important that you came all the way to the capital?”
In fact, Leandro had headed straight to the banquet from his territory.
If he had tried to meet her in the usual way, Liena might have avoided him, so he had no choice but to go to the banquet directly without rest at the townhouse.
“Ah, this is it.”
Leandro took an object wrapped in a handkerchief from the inside pocket of his coat and placed it on the table.
It was a small orb with a subtle black sheen.
“What’s this?”
“I wanted to ask about it. While repairing the chapel in the Cassius estate, we tore down the north wall and found a secret space.”
Leandro tapped the smooth surface of the orb with his index finger.
“It was kept like a treasure inside a jar, intricately carved.”
“Really?”
“I wondered if it might be a family heirloom I didn’t know about, so I brought it—but I think even Father hasn’t seen it before.”
“That wouldn’t be surprising. With such a long family history, it wouldn’t be odd for some treasures to be forgotten. Wait… now that you mention it…”
“Why do you say that?”
“I had forgotten since it was so long ago, but my grandfather once told me…”
Duke Cassius’s voice grew careful.
“There may be a mark hidden somewhere in Cassius Castle proving that we are descendants of demons.”
Reheim raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
“Descendants of demons? Wasn’t that just a baseless rumor spread by those who feared our family?”
“…According to the records left by the first head of the family, it can’t be dismissed as mere rumor.”
The records stated that the first head was a half-demon, and had passed down an item received from his demon father to future generations.
With a will stating that it would protect the Cassius family.
However, as attacks on the family over lineage increased, the Cassius family denied the truth and hid the object.
Hearing his father’s words, Leandro asked,
“So you mean this object is the proof… and that this orb is that object?”
“If my grandfather’s words are true,” Duke Cassius nodded.
“But he apparently never saw it directly, and when I searched the castle thoroughly while looking for Cheryl’s time capsule, I didn’t find it either. I assumed it had long been destroyed.”
“Of course, if not for the renovations, I wouldn’t have found it either.”
At that, Reheim’s eyes widened.
“But why did you start renovations all of a sudden? Especially the chapel—it was built so solidly, I didn’t even see a crack anywhere.”
“I just thought it would be good to take the time to check a few things while I had the chance…”
“Oh, I see. So you did it because you were restless after the divorce.”
He smirked at his brother’s vague answer.
“Indeed. With all those rumors, it makes sense you wanted to keep yourself busy. No wonder you didn’t come right away even after hearing Liena had been imprisoned.”
“That’s not it! And you and Father said I didn’t need to come, so I didn’t.”
“You? You wouldn’t have stayed away. Who was it that immediately ran up with cookies when Liena wrote in a letter that she missed the cookies made by the head maid?”
“That’s—!”
Leandro suddenly fell silent, though he had been about to snap.
“…I don’t even know what to say. I’ve been thinking a lot about how I was after the divorce.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“The reason Idel lost respect for me was because I ignored her, but couldn’t refuse Liena and my family anything.”
Leandro’s voice dropped low.
“At the time, I didn’t see it as a big mistake, but looking back, I really don’t understand why I did it.”
“……”
“Of course Liena is my precious little sister. I want her to be happy. But… the way I tried to help her was too much.”
That was Leandro’s conclusion after spending time alone in his territory, apart from his family.
Then Duke Cassius spoke.
“Actually, recently, I’ve had similar doubts myself.”
He began to share his thoughts, starting with the uneasy feeling he had felt regarding Roland Cassius and continuing through other observations.
Then Reheim spoke.
The three were absorbed in conversation well into the night, losing track of time until dawn.
The black orb on the table reflected the early light, glowing softly.
At that moment, none of them knew how this orb would affect them in the days to come.
A Few Days Later, at the Imperial Palace
Mikhail was heading toward the Empress’s residence.
He recalled a conversation with his mother from the day after announcing his engagement to Liena.
“Mikhail! Do you have any sense at all? Why do you keep doing things to get on the Emperor’s bad side?”
The Empress, furious, scolded him.
“Mother, please don’t worry. Father will come to like Liena soon, and will surely celebrate our engagement as well.”
“That’s nonsense! His Majesty dislikes both that woman and the Cassius family!”
“That’s because you don’t realize how lovely Liena is. You’ve never had a proper conversation with her, so you dislike her so much.”
“…Talking to you is hopeless. I’ll give you one last chance. Go to Father immediately, ask for forgiveness, and cancel your engagement.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Mikhail!”
“Mother, I ask you instead: arrange a meeting so Father can meet Liena.”
“Am I crazy?”
“Mother, if you don’t act, the Astelot Empire you’ve devoted your life to will fall to that illegitimate child. Are you okay with that?”
“……”
“You have only two options: fully support me, or abandon your son.”
At that moment, the Empress’s expression softened with sadness.
Seeing her like that pricked Mikhail’s heart, but he had no choice—he had to carry out his plan.
“Arrange a meeting with His Majesty the Emperor. The longer, the better. If I show him how sincere our love is, he’ll allow the engagement. True feelings always get through!”
Watching his beloved speak with such passion, Mikhail believed in his plan once again.
If the Emperor came to know Liena, he would have no choice but to love her.
Because Liena was astonishingly lovely, almost unbelievable in this world.
Though a part of him wondered if his strict father would accept her based on charm alone, his mind painted a rosy future.
Soon, not only the Emperor but the Empress too would be cooing over their adorable future daughter-in-law.
“…Very well. I understand that is your will.”
The Empress said this and withdrew, but unlike her previously cold tone, she had sent Mikhail an urgent letter today.
As Mikhail wished, she had arranged a meeting with the Emperor—he was to come immediately to the palace greenhouse.
The Empress had likely paid a significant price to arrange this, perhaps even giving up some of her personal land inherited from Duke Velord.
The Emperor had coveted that land for building military facilities.
“Apologies, but I’ll repay it several times over once I ascend the throne.”
If Liena could win the Emperor’s favor, the entire situation could be reversed at once.
Mikhail imagined the near future as he arrived at the greenhouse behind the Empress’s residence.
“Welcome. Your Majesties are waiting in the pavilion.”
When Mikhail entered, the Empress’s maid politely greeted him and indicated the direction.
“Ah, Lady Cassius has arrived—”
But before Mikhail could even ask about Liena’s arrival, the greenhouse doors closed.
Unfortunately, he could not come with her.
It just so happened that the Empress’s summons had arrived while he was away on other business.
“Well, it doesn’t matter.”
Since Liena was already at the palace, she had likely arrived first and was meeting the Emperor now.
Mikhail whistled quietly to himself as he moved forward.
Finally, the pavilion came into view.
“Greetings, Your Highness Mikhail.”
But the person who greeted him was neither the Emperor, nor the Empress, nor Liena.
“Those you are waiting for will not come. Shall we have a conversation instead?”
There, beneath the pavilion, Idel Luciviu sat leisurely drinking tea, smiling.
