Chapter 58
I hadn’t meant to stutter, but the words just wouldn’t come out right. That’s how startled I was.
“B-but… you’re still so young. And besides, our marriage was something your uncle forced on us.”
Back then, Edmund hadn’t even wanted it.
But if I took his words now at face value, there was only one possible meaning:
He truly accepts me as his wife.
Not because of my lowly background, not because it was arranged by his uncle, but because he chose it himself.
Edmund furrowed his brows, then suddenly dropped to his knees in front of me.
“So… do you hate me, Cassia?”
“…”
Hate him?
I couldn’t even joke about something like that.
But still…
No, because I didn’t hate him, my head spun with questions.
Is this okay? Really?
The prickly little boy I’d first met—the one like a cat with its fur standing on end—was long gone.
His changed attitude, his open affection, there was no way I hadn’t noticed.
But was it really right for me to accept his feelings?
Because the truth was, I wasn’t the real Cassia. Inside, I was Seo Haena, a twenty-year-old Korean woman.
How could I possibly accept the proposal of a fourteen-year-old boy?
And there was a bigger problem.
What if we survive this, only for me to return to Korea?
The mysterious force that brought me here had asked me to protect Edmund. It never said for how long.
If that mission ended the moment he was safe, and I suddenly disappeared…
What would happen to Edmund then?
But I didn’t get to dwell on it for long.
Because Edmund, looking embarrassed, said softly:
“…Not here. I’m not asking for your answer in a place like this.”
Then his face brightened with resolution.
“When we reach Lamberto Castle, I’ll ask you properly. Then, you can give me your answer.”
He smiled so brightly it made my chest ache.
I forced myself to smile back and nodded.
“Okay.”
My heart felt unbearably heavy.
But no matter how much I tried to hide it, I couldn’t deny one thing: Edmund’s words had made me happy.
***
Meanwhile, outside the inn room, two adults were pressed flat against the door.
The nanny shoved at Willace irritably.
“Move over! If you hog the whole spot, how am I supposed to hear?”
“I am at the edge already, ma’am!”
They bickered in whispers, both straining their ears.
And when Edmund finally said those words… both of them nearly screamed with joy.
“Of course. You’re my wife, and… I’m your husband.”
“So, do you hate me, Cassia?”
It was a miracle they managed to clamp their hands over each other’s mouths in time.
Quiet!
Fine, fine!
But they still couldn’t stop themselves from whispering encouragements.
Say yes, say yes!
Just accept him already, young lady!
Each was more loyal to their own master, but they agreed on one thing:
Cassia and Edmund are a perfect match!
The nanny thought, After all her suffering, if he abandons her just because of her family, he’s not even human!
And Willace thought, Lady Cassia’s talents would have shone in the Magic Kingdom’s academy, but as Duchess of Cohen she’ll be even more brilliant!
Different reasons, same conclusion:
Cassia and Edmund must become a true couple.
That was why they’d quietly slipped out of the room in the first place—to give the two some privacy.
These are things they should say to each other alone. It’s more romantic that way!
And now, crouched outside, they nearly burst with excitement when Edmund practically proposed.
They were only frustrated Cassia didn’t give her answer on the spot.
It should be more formal, though!
Exactly! At least a ring or something shiny! They haven’t even had a wedding yet!
The nanny, however, was secretly pleased that Edmund never forgot how much her young lady had sacrificed.
A man who throws away a wife who suffered by his side isn’t worth calling a man!
Cassia, of course, had no idea. Which was for the best. Her mind was already too full with Edmund—if she knew about the peanut gallery outside, she’d faint.
***
We rested at the inn one more day before setting out again.
“Are you sure? Your feet still aren’t fully healed.”
“Getting to Lamberto is more important. We can rest once we’re there.”
We couldn’t know when pursuit might catch up.
Best case, they never would. Worst case, they were already tracking us.
Because I was so insistent, we compromised on one more day of rest. Luckily, Willace had scoured the village and found enough herbs to treat my feet.
Three days of rest left me much better.
Even better, we found a traveling troupe in the village and paid to join their wagons as far as the northern city of Orlan.
“With the roads this dangerous, it’s safer to travel with a group,” the nanny explained, pleased with her bargain.
The troupe leader was a bald man with a cross-shaped scar across his face. He looked intimidating, but the villagers spoke well of him.
He laughed heartily, messing up both my hair and Edmund’s.
“Haha! So these are the kids traveling with us, huh?”
“Yes, thank you for having us!” I replied politely.
Edmund just pressed his lips shut.
That was because I’d drilled it into him before we escaped:
Once we leave the villa, keep your mouth shut. No matter what happens, no temper tantrums. Don’t you dare cause trouble. Got it?
Edmund’s temper was still there, less than in the original novel, but sharp enough. I could see him barely resisting the urge to cut the troupe leader’s hand off.
“Haha! You kids are so pretty! Too bad you’re boys!”
He ruffled Edmund’s hair more roughly.
“Especially this one. You’re so pretty, people might mistake you for a girl!”
Oh no. Edmund’s eyes flashed.
Oh crap, not that look! He’s calculating whether to kill him!
And Edmund knew magic. One wrong move and everything would blow up.
So I darted forward, wrapped him in a tight hug from behind, and shouted:
“Isn’t he adorable? Back home, all the village girls followed him around!”
The leader laughed. “I believe it! He’ll break plenty of hearts when he grows up.”
I squeezed Edmund’s shoulders firmly, giving him the fiercest look I could manage.
Stay calm. Stay calm. Do NOT kill him.
Edmund finally sighed, relaxing his shoulders.
He muttered under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear:
“Annoying… but I’m not stupid enough to make a scene.”
I beamed.
“That’s my Eddie. So smart. So good.”
I fixed his hair where the man had mussed it.
This time, Edmund didn’t flinch away. He just sat there, face a little pink, letting me fuss over him.
The troupe leader chuckled again.
“Obedient little guy, huh?”
Edmund’s temper flared again, but he bit it back.
Though later he grumbled quietly to me:
“Do I really look like your little brother? We’re almost the same height.”
His pout was so boyish I couldn’t help but laugh.
***
Thanks to the troupe’s wagon, my feet didn’t get shredded again. My backside was sore, but that was far better than stumbling along rocky mountain paths.
Still, the rough travel wore us down. By the time we camped in the mountains, I was so exhausted I fell asleep the moment I lay down.
And in my half-dreaming state, I heard something strange.
“Whimper… nghh…”
It was the pitiful cry of some kind of animal.
