Chapter 23
Ever since overhearing Cassia’s conversation with Baroness Lillipen, Edmund had been caught in a storm of conflicted feelings.
Anyone who had heard that exchange would believe the same thing—that Cassia had bowed her head, accepted money, and agreed to obey the duchess’s orders.
Willace had not held back in condemning her.
“She’s only waiting for the chance to sell you out for money.”
Edmund had already told him about the things Cassia had done so far.
Even so, Willace refused to believe in her. He repeated his warnings again and again.
“Those few favors were only to lower your guard.”
“Do you think her fainting in front of you was really a coincidence?”
“Never trust her.”
Edmund’s reason told him Willace was right.
He couldn’t trust her.
Or rather—he must not.
But another voice inside him rebelled.
Who gave me the clothes I’m wearing now?
Who made sure I could eat safely?
I’ve been gladly learning everything she teaches me—and yet I say I don’t trust her?
Then how am I any different from my uncle?
Every time suspicion toward Cassia rose, counterarguments echoed in his chest.
He was being torn apart between doubt and trust.
It feels like I’ve been split in two.
And then, the little object Cassia had handed him calmed that storm completely.
It was a fountain pen—quite a fine one.
The body was carved ivory with gold inlay, the tip adorned with a garnet.
Clearly, it had been chosen to suit him.
Edmund just stared, unable to even think of accepting it.
“Why? Don’t you like it?” Cassia asked, tilting her head.
“Your nib is worn out—you keep tearing up your paper. So I bought this. Don’t like it? Should I exchange it?”
“N-no, that’s not it!”
“Good. I’m relieved.”
She sighed in relief, smiling faintly.
“Why relieved?”
“Because gifts should make the person receiving them happy. I worried you wouldn’t like it.”
Her smile was pure, untainted.
Edmund’s chest grew heavy.
Even in this moment, he was still doubting her.
He couldn’t help it.
And yet, what pressed on him harder than doubt was guilt.
That was why, when she said—
“Come on, take it! It’s yours!”
“Uh…?”
Without thinking, he accepted the pen, stunned into silence.
His expression looked as if he’d been struck. Cassia noticed.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?”
She reached out to check his forehead.
Flustered, Edmund jerked back, face blazing red.
“Ah—!”
Her hand swiped only empty air.
And Edmund panicked even more.
“N-no!!!” he shouted.
Cassia was startled more by his desperate scream than by the rejection.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“I-it’s not that I hate it or I’m afraid of you!”
“Oh. Then that’s fine.”
“And I’m not sick either. I’m fine.”
Cassia smiled, pleased.
A faint blush crept across Edmund’s pale cheeks… until his eyes flicked past her.
Behind an old piece of furniture in the corner, someone was hiding.
Right… Willace is still here.
When Cassia had barged in earlier, Willace had hidden himself and masked his presence with magic. She hadn’t noticed.
Now, his eyes glinted from the shadows, watching Cassia with suspicion—eyes so sharp they carried killing intent.
Edmund blurted out before he could stop himself:
“I know exactly what you’re doing.”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“You’re walking a tightrope, aren’t you?”
Cassia immediately understood.
“You mean between the duke and you?”
“Exactly.”
Saying it aloud, Edmund realized he was persuading himself.
“You were sent by my uncle. But you don’t fully side with him. Everything you’ve done for me proves that.”
And he also realized—these words weren’t only for himself.
They were for Willace, still glaring from the shadows.
“You’re playing both sides to survive. You’re not completely my uncle’s pawn. And you’re not completely mine either.”
It was a message: Cassia Florence is not wholly my enemy.
So stop threatening her.
Willace stared, doubtful.
He didn’t speak, but Edmund understood his silent question.
Are you serious?
Edmund’s answer was also silent.
Yes. That’s an order.
…If that is your will.
Unable to disobey, Willace withdrew his killing intent and melted back into the darkness.
Only then did Edmund finally exhale in relief.
He looked back at Cassia’s carefree, glowing face.
It annoyed him—did she even realize how close she had come to danger?
She clapped her hands cheerfully. Clap!
…She clearly doesn’t.
“Wonderful!” she said.
“…What is?”
He had just told her outright: You’re playing both sides.
“This is huge progress!” she declared.
“What progress?”
She pointed at him with her finger.
“You didn’t trust me at all at first!”
“…And I just told you I still don’t. Nothing’s changed.”
She shook her head. Her soft brown hair swayed with the motion.
“No, it’s totally different now!”
She looked delighted, almost giddy.
“Back then, you thought I was completely on the duke’s side—that I came here only to torment and spy on you.”
“…Which was true.”
“But now, at least, you admit I’m not fully on his side.”
“…That’s true.”
He had just used that reasoning to stop Willace, after all.
“See? I went from being your enemy to being… not necessarily your enemy.”
“……”
He couldn’t deny it.
Cassia beamed.
“That’s a huge step forward! My efforts paid off!”
Edmund suddenly wondered.
If she called this a step forward… did that mean she wanted to move closer still?
Does she… want to come closer to me?
His heart thudded, and he forced himself to shove the feeling down.
After Cassia left, Willace emerged.
“I still don’t trust her.”
“Neither do I.”
“…Good. Please stay that way.”
Unspoken between them was another thought: Haven’t you already started to?
Neither of them voiced it.
“Give me what you brought,” Edmund said curtly.
Willace produced a glass vial.
It was an antidote—for the poison the duke had been feeding Edmund for nearly seven years.
He had stolen samples of the poison from the kitchen and created a counter-agent with what materials he could find.
“The poison in your body must be purged slowly,” Willace explained.
Edmund uncorked the vial and drank it down in one gulp.
“But the reagents I can obtain here are pitifully limited.”
“Can’t be helped.”
“So you must absolutely avoid consuming more poison. Even now, your condition is on the edge.”
Edmund felt a pang of regret.
So even with the antidote, I can’t stop sharing Cassia’s food…
Whether he trusted her or not, he couldn’t stand seeing her collapse pale-faced again.
Then Willace said something unexpected.
“May I examine that item?”
He gestured toward the fountain pen in Edmund’s hand.
“Just to ensure it isn’t cursed or poisoned.”
?
