Chapter : 82
The moment we boarded the train, I instinctively took out my notebook. Cassian covered it with his hand.
“You can rest a bit.”
“…It’s just a habit.”
“I realized that very well on this trip—how you’ve been like that long before you ever came to my side.”
Leaning an arm against the window, Cassian wore a playful smile.
“And I think I also realized just how much the barony—and even the nearby residents—love Rose.”
“Didn’t you see how they all treat me like a nag?”
“You don’t need to hide your embarrassment with words like that.”
At Cassian’s remark, I blanked out for a moment before nodding.
“You’re right. Uncle and Aunt have taken care of me since I was little, and whenever there’s something good to eat, they always try to give me an extra portion. They’re basically family.”
“I’ll have to work harder, then.”
He let out a shallow sigh.
Cassian really didn’t seem to want to let me go.
Of course, I understood why.
I don’t want Francis Ashwood submitting his resignation either.
Just imagining the catastrophe of losing five administrators at once was terrifying.
So I tried to reassure Cassian.
“Don’t worry, Your Highness.”
“Hm?”
But he already looked worried.
“For now, I still have far too much work left to do in the capital.”
“…Mm.”
“And even if I do resign, I’ll make sure the handover and successor are properly arranged first! Your bad reputation isn’t what it used to be, either.”
Before that, I’d just need to figure out how to deal with the First Empress’s interference.
I didn’t think Cassian was such a terrible boss that I’d throw in my resignation without considering the consequences.
And the people at the Winter Palace are precious to me, too.
I spoke with all my sincerity—but Cassian’s face only filled with irritation.
“You really don’t know anything.”
“…What?”
What don’t I know?
You have to tell me so I can fix it!
I looked at him that way, but Cassian only let out a deep sigh.
“Even if I say it, you’ll just pretend you don’t understand… You foolish Rose.”
He muttered the childish insult offhandedly.
It was alarming—he must have picked up bad habits at the Salice Barony.
If he turns into one of our villagers, that’ll be a disaster once we’re back in the capital.
Please don’t abandon your cunning, I prayed.
As if growing even more frustrated, Cassian pulled me into a tight embrace and buried my face.
*
Rarely, Cassian’s sulking lasted quite a while, so I soothed him by correcting how I addressed him and handing over some of my work to him.
Whenever he was in a bad mood, he had a tendency to steal all of my tasks.
“You’ve gotten really sly,” he said.
“I don’t think you’re one to say that, Ian.”
After all, he was the one who’d forcibly made me change how I addressed him again.
By the time twelve hours had passed since the train departed, it had been a long journey—but first class was fairly comfortable.
Neither of us was particularly picky about sleeping arrangements, either.
“Even though it’s my second time riding this train, it’s still boring.”
Two years ago, when I came up to the capital, I’d taken this same direct train.
Back then, it had been third class.
“That’s because you finished all the work you brought before we even reached the barony.”
“You did the same, Your Highness.”
Saying that out loud made me realize we both had rather sad habits.
As I thought that, Cassian frowned.
“Ian, too.”
I hurriedly corrected myself, and Cassian let out a mournful sigh.
Somehow, it felt like his sighs had increased since our trip to the Salice Barony.
And his lack of affection seemed worse, too.
Cassian looked dumbfounded at my pitying expression and picked up the phone to call an attendant.
After requesting breakfast, he looked at me seriously.
“Rose, of course this trip was for work, but…”
“Yes?”
“No one in the capital is unaware that we’ve been traveling alone together for nearly two weeks, right?”
“That’s true.”
“And we’re lovers.”
I nodded immediately.
Just then, the bell rang to announce that breakfast had arrived.
Cassian stopped me from getting up, accepted two trays himself, and set them on the table.
Golden toast, perfectly cooked sunny-side-up eggs, tomatoes and sausages, a bit of vegetables, jam, and butter.
He placed tea leaves into his own teapot, then poured orange juice for me.
Apparently, he remembered my complaint about how terrible the coffee on the way to the barony had been.
“So, Rose—when an engaged couple travels together for two whole weeks, wouldn’t people naturally expect some sort of change?”
As he spoke, Cassian neatly cut my sausage for me with his knife.
Mine always turned out tough when I tried to cut it, so I watched in amazement—yet I didn’t forget to answer properly.
“So you mean it would look more natural if I changed how I address you?”
“Exactly. People will assume there’s been some progress between us.”
“When you put it that way… then there wouldn’t be any problem if I call you Ian out of habit?”
“Correct. If the only reason you’re hesitant is that ‘what if.’”
Even as he said it, Cassian didn’t look relieved at all.
If anything, it made me sad that he felt he had to explain this much.
He’d never once criticized my work before.
When we returned to the capital, I really should find some contract-marriage novels and study behavioral patterns.
*
s14
While Rose slept, Cassian wrote notes on the train after it departed once more.
Around ten in the morning, the train—running smoothly—suddenly came to a halt.
Knowing that Cassian’s party was in first class, a station attendant rushed over to explain.
There was a problem with the axle that fixed the wheels, and for safety reasons, the train had stopped temporarily.
It was better than an accident, so Cassian nodded—but what followed irritated them.
After informing them, the attendants never went around the passenger cars to make announcements.
To be safe, Roselita went all the way to third class to check on the passengers.
They were simply anxious, glancing around uncertainly.
On the spot, she explained the situation in detail to the crew and suggested installing a magical amplification device if necessary.
She also helped the attendants personally explain the situation to each car’s passengers.
Three hours after stopping, the train finally resumed its journey.
Cassian forcibly made Roselita rest after she had tirelessly walked through all twelve cars.
Of course, Roselita said she was fine—but she had just powered through a ten-day schedule in five days, and even at the Salice Barony she had been constantly on the move.
It might have been more relaxed than the capital, but long-distance travel itself was exhausting.
Cassian, trained and accustomed to frequent long journeys by all kinds of transport, was fine—but she was different.
Thankfully, Roselita had a habit of falling asleep quickly when fatigue built up.
Once he tucked her in and covered her eyes, her breathing soon became steady.
After organizing the shortcomings he’d noted, Cassian closed his notebook and quietly gazed at Roselita’s sleeping face.
Using what he’d heard at the Salice Barony as a shield, he’d indulged his desires freely.
Yet he was almost grateful she didn’t realize it.
If she truly noticed, it would only make things difficult for him.
She was perceptive about others’ emotions, yet strangely indifferent when it came to him—like a wall stood there.
That indifference allowed Cassian to indulge as he pleased.
It’s not that I’m expecting anything from you.
All his sulking and coaxing were just small steps forward, leaning on her unawareness.
He was certain that if she ever truly approached him, he’d be the one to run away.
Breaking Roselita’s request, Cassian pulled up an old memory.
“I want to live happily like this, together with my parents.”
The little lady who stayed longer because he held on.
Back then, though he’d already recovered, he’d pretended to be sick just to keep her around one more week.
Even as a child ignored by the imperial family, he thought he could at least grant her wish.
Before parting, he’d asked what she wanted.
The answer he received was a wish he could never fulfill—no matter how greedy he became.
But because it was Roselita’s wish, the one who had saved him, he had to respect it.
Even animals repay kindness—how could he repay her with great misfortune instead of simple happiness?
So it’s fine, even if it’s only until you need me. Just a little longer.
He wanted her to stay by his side.
Roselita never realized that he’d already been sly back then—and that now, he was filled with nothing but greed.
He would try to let her go when the time truly came.
Even as he thought that, Cassian laughed at himself.
Because when that day came, he knew he would still beg her not to leave—disguising it as a joke—again and again.
*
For some reason, there were times when an afternoon nap felt sweeter than a full night’s sleep.
Reassured by the familiar touch on my forehead and cheek, I slept deeply.
Only Cassian touched me like that—and as long as he was beside me, nothing dangerous would happen.
How long had I slept like that?
Bang—!
A thunderous sound jolted me awake as my body shook.
“…Ugh.”
The groan near my ear snapped me fully alert.
It was Cassian’s voice.
“…Ian!”
“Even waking up from sleep, you didn’t change how you address me. Should I be happy my persuasion worked, or not?”
Holding me close, Cassian joked frivolously.
I hurriedly checked his condition, but he smiled and stroked my cheek.
“I’m fine. I protected the impact point with aura.”
“Really?”
“You can strip me and check if you want.”
Judging by the joke, he wasn’t lying this time.
“More importantly—”
“It seems like a derailment. There wasn’t the kind of impact you’d expect from a collision.”
Smiling, Cassian tapped my wrist.
The place where that familiar scroll was shrunk down into a bracelet charm.
“It seems this is involved, don’t you think?”
I nodded at his words.
After all, that was one of the reasons he’d shortened the schedule and forced me to rest without argument during the trip.
