Chapter 8
“Yes, but…”
Cassias looked at Briseis, then wiped his tears with the back of his hand and stared at her intently.
“You really resemble Gael. I’m Cas—Cassias… Rosfell. I was Gael’s close friend.”
He seemed about to offer a handshake, but then remembered his hand was already soiled with tears and reached for a handkerchief in his coat. However, realizing he didn’t have one…
By the time he appeared to be searching for it, Briseis had already taken out her own handkerchief as a courtesy and handed it to him. He accepted it with thanks and began wiping his hands vigorously.
“I gave it so you could wipe your face.”
“Oh—yes. Thank you.”
At her words, he used the handkerchief to wipe his face instead. Then he extended his hand.
“I’m Briseis Philia. Gael’s twin older sister.”
Briseis grasped his hand firmly and shook it.
“Nice to mee—ugh… ni-nice to meet you…”
“Yes, it’s nice to meet you, Duke Cassias Rosfell.”
Seeing Briseis, who resembled his late friend Gael so strikingly, Cassias could no longer hold back his tears. He felt embarrassed to cry in front of a stranger, yet he couldn’t stop.
“Sob… ugh… I’m sor…ry…”
“It’s alright.”
If anything, Briseis found herself unable to cry—perhaps because he was crying so sorrowfully. And rather than discomfort, she felt grateful that he cared enough to grieve like this for Gael.
Sniff…
He tried not to cry, but it was futile.
Briseis took out the second handkerchief she had in her possession and tried to wipe his face. However, due to the significant height difference, her arms couldn’t quite reach him.
Seeing her struggle, he bent down, allowing her to gently wipe his cheeks.
His white hair swayed softly in the breeze. Though it was early summer, the wind felt humid and heavy. His eyes were gray, like transparent glass marbles—and the tears that shimmered within them were strikingly vivid.
“It’s alright.”
“Hic…”
At her reassurance, he only cried harder.
It took quite a long time before he finally managed to calm down.
Since he had come after the academy had ended, the sun was already beginning to set.
Still sniffling, Cassias, now somewhat composed, forced a smile with his swollen face.
“I’ll return your handkerchief next time.”
“Alright.”
“You’re in Class 1, correct?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve transferred into Class 1 as well.”
“Is that possible?”
“Yes. I was recognized as a key contributor in assisting His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Ah.”
Briseis nodded, recalling that Kalisten’s achievements were even greater than Damien’s military exploits. While other academies typically fixed class placements upon entry, Wilhelm Academy occasionally allowed students to move up mid-term if they earned enough merit points.
For men, graduating in the top class meant securing a position within the imperial court. They would begin as probationary aides but could eventually rise to become ministers.
That was precisely why so many aspired to enter Wilhelm Academy—it was closely tied to the imperial family, and high-ranking graduates were guaranteed positions.
The empire sought talented individuals early, and heirs of noble families also aimed to build connections with the imperial court.
There was no better place.
“Then your badge will be changed.”
Briseis said, glancing at the Class 2 badge Cassias was wearing.
“Yes. By the way, my lady, are you not attending the victory ceremony?”
“I should, but I’m a bit late. I’m still in my academy uniform as well.”
In truth, Briseis had no intention of going. Without Damien as her partner, it would be difficult anyway.
And attending alone, when her husband Damien would be escorting another woman, would only make the situation more awkward.
“Would you like to go together with me?”
Cassias suggested casually, as if it meant nothing.
Briseis suddenly thought he, as in the original story, seemed unfamiliar with social affairs—perhaps that was why he made such an offer.
“I’m not feeling well. Thank you for the thought.”
“Oh no, it was I who should thank you. I truly appreciate the handkerchief.”
With that, she bid him farewell. As Cassias turned to leave, he noticed she was still standing in front of the gravestone and asked:
“Are you not returning to your estate?”
“I’d like to stay a bit longer. I want to watch the sunset here.”
Cassias had asked out of concern that it might be unsafe for a woman to remain alone after sunset. But then he remembered—this was a cemetery for nobles, with caretakers assigned, and knights patrolling the area.
So there likely wasn’t much to worry about.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow, Lady Briseis.”
“Call me Brise.”
“Then please call me Kaz.”
“Yes, Kaz. See you tomorrow.”
With that, Cassias left first. Even as he walked away, he kept looking back several times at Briseis standing by the gravestone.
She resembled his dearest friend Gael too closely.
For some reason, he couldn’t stop worrying.
However, he also felt it would be improper to intrude on her solitude, so he chose to leave her be—allowing her to spend time with Gael in her own way.
❖ ❖ ❖
The victory ceremony was nothing more than a procession: knights following behind the supreme commander at the front, circling the capital once, and finally receiving a laurel wreath from a servant who attended the emperor’s chambers.
In the end, it was a display meant to remind people that even the emperor’s servant held a position above the commander-in-chief.
Kalisten rode his horse indifferently around the city.
Eventually, he received the laurel wreath from his father, the emperor, and rose from his seat.
“My proud son, Kalisten Ethan Kroppus!”
Kalisten looked at the empress standing beside the emperor—the detestable woman who had displaced his mother through political schemes.
She had once been nothing more than a courtesan who continued to entangle herself with the emperor even while his mother was alive.
Now she sat as empress, pretending to be his mother. And beside her stood the Second Prince, born through secret dealings with her during his mother’s lifetime.
At the sight of that repulsive pair, Kalisten couldn’t help but let a faint smirk escape. All the jewelry she wore had once belonged to his mother.
Without a doubt, she wore them to mock him and provoke anger.
But Kalisten was no longer a five-year-old child—he found the act merely laughable.
“Our empire’s eternal rival, the Viyaten Empire, has been annihilated—and not only that, you have even slain the enemy emperor! You are the hero of this empire!”
The emperor was still exhilarated by the news of his enemy’s death, an adversary who had tormented him for his entire life. Though he had been hungover just that morning, he now spoke with renewed vigor.
“I knew from your childhood that you were exceptional. Seeing you grow into someone who serves the empire fills me with great pride.”
The emperor’s speech continued.
Meanwhile, Kalisten suppressed a yawn and scanned the crowd, searching for Briseis.
But nearby stood the Grand Duke Maze and a woman. Realizing that the woman beside Damien was not Briseis, he couldn’t help but smile.
“And so, as the one who led this great victory in war, I shall grant one wish in the name of the Emperor to my son, Kalisten Ethan Kroppus.”
Normally, he would have already decided on a wish—but knowing the person he intended to grant it wasn’t present, his enthusiasm faded. Of course, he was pleased that she hadn’t come with Damien…
But he had also wanted to see her flustered, adorable expression.
“Ugh…”
“Your Highness?”
“It’s nothing.”
He held his breath for a moment as pain surged through his lower body.
“My wish is to enter Wilhelm Academy.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At his answer, the emperor laughed as though amused.
“Very well. So be it.”
The emperor, realizing how trivial his son’s wish was, smiled in satisfaction.
It seemed as though his troublesome son had no ambition to threaten his position, which pleased him.
Thus, the victory ceremony concluded successfully.
❖ ❖ ❖
“I knew you’d be here.”
“You startled me.”
As soon as the ceremony ended, Kalisten left his attendants behind and came straight to the cemetery. This cemetery was reserved exclusively for nobles.
“Here.”
“Is this alcohol?”
“Yeah, it is.”
He didn’t believe Briseis had stayed away because of Damien. Even if Damien had asked her to come, she wouldn’t have shown up today.
“I have class tomorrow.”
Briseis gently pushed away the rum Kalisten offered and stood properly. Looking past Gael’s gravestone at the moonlight and the stars scattered across the dark sky, she let out a quiet sigh.
“Drinking won’t make one’s skills improve.”
“That’s your case.”
Even as she said that, something in her chest felt strange.
“Why did you come?”
“Because Gael is like a younger brother to me.”
Kalisten replied, then opened the rum bottle himself and took a drink.
“Brie.”
“Yes.”
He looked at her silently. When she turned to him after gazing sadly at Gael’s gravestone, he couldn’t help but smile.
“I think I’m in a lot of pain.”
At his words, Briseis’s expression hardened. She didn’t need him to explain—she already seemed to understand where the pain was coming from.
