TYWML 46

Chapter 46

Cassel’s Wrath (2)
June 15, 2024

“Wait, hold on.”

Even Raul seemed startled by Cassel’s fury, raising both hands in a placating gesture.

“How about calming down first? Me threatening Ria? Come on, you know that’s not true.”

“…Ria?”

Cassel’s expression grew even more threatening. Raul, as if unaware of the danger, responded with an unapologetic shrug.

“Yeah, Ria. What’s the problem with using a nickname for an old friend? If you must know, I was the one who started calling Riena ‘Ria’ first. Sounds a bit petty saying it now, but still.”

Regaining some of his composure, Raul shrugged his shoulders, then extended his right hand to Cassel.

“We already know each other, but it’s been a while. How about reintroducing ourselves? Raul Bernaya. I’ve known Ria since we were kids, and now I serve in the Imperial Knights.”

“….”

Cassel neither shook his hand nor offered an introduction. Raul gave a short, amused snort.

“What, the mighty Duke Winkler doesn’t bother with mere knights? Or do I need to bow and formally address you, Your Grace?”

“Raul, must you do this?”

“How can I refuse such a warm welcome from the Duke himself? Wouldn’t it be rude not to respond in kind?”

“Raul, please.”

Riena pressed her fingers to her forehead. Raul sighed and, in a slightly calmer voice, continued.

“I admit it was wrong of me to show up unannounced. It was rude. But is that really something worth getting this angry about?”

“….”

“I had my reasons. When Ria disappeared, I was frantic for days. Then I hear she’s staying with the Winklers—who she has no ties to. Of course I rushed over as soon as I got the letter.”

He shrugged again.

At last, Cassel, who had remained silent, spoke in a low voice.

“Now that you’ve confirmed she’s safe, shouldn’t you be heading back? As a knight of the Imperial Order, I’m sure you’re busy preparing for the Founding Festival.”

“So I’m being thrown out? I haven’t even finished my conversation with Ria.”

“From what I’ve seen, you’ve said plenty. Now stop spewing nonsense and leave.”

Spewing nonsense? That was not a word one would expect from Cassel.

Raul, now clearly provoked, sneered.

“Fine, I’ll leave. But I’d like to know why I’m being treated this way. What exactly did I do wrong?”

“Don’t you think it’s already a problem that you don’t know?”

“I say that because I genuinely don’t believe I did anything wrong. Or are you saying you’re not being irrational right now?”

Raul let out a short laugh.

“Or don’t tell me—are you jealous? Did you come running because you were scared Ria would leave with me? If you can’t even trust her, why propose? How are you going to marry someone you doubt?”

“Enough!”

Riena stepped between them, pressing her hands against both their chests to push them apart.

“I thought it’d be nice for the three of us to meet again. We used to be friends! Why are you both acting like this instead of being happy to see each other?”

Raul muttered coldly.

“Ria, I didn’t want to say this, but I never once thought of that guy as a friend. I only hung out with him because you insisted the three of us play together.”

“….”

Cassel said nothing, but Riena could sense he felt the same.

Raul’s expression softened a bit as he looked at her, on the verge of tears, and he sighed.

“Alright, maybe we overdid it. I get it. Seems like I’m not welcome here, so I’ll head back. We can talk again later.”

He shot Cassel a glare and left the parlor. Only after the door closed did Cassel’s hostile energy begin to ease.

He turned to Riena, who was struggling to hold back tears, and asked gently,

“Are you alright?”

“Do I look alright to you?”

She snapped unintentionally.

“Did he do anything to you?”

“What could Raul possibly have done to me? He didn’t do anything.”

But her answer didn’t seem to reassure him. Cassel grasped her shoulders and looked her up and down, inspecting her.

Up close, he smelled cool and grounding. A scent like the forest path near the Dyke estate after a summer rain—fresh pine mingled with the earthy musk of old trees.

Though she was furious with him, Riena couldn’t help thinking it was a nice scent.

“I’m glad you’re unharmed.”

“I told you, I’m not fine. Why did you act like that toward Raul?”

“….”

“Why were you so angry?”

Again, no answer. Riena spoke faster than usual, driven by frustration.

“It’s Raul. He’s my friend—and yours too. Don’t you remember how we used to play together as kids?”

“…I remember.”

“Then why act like that?”

She’d suspected their reunion might be awkward. Even as children, they hadn’t been close—probably wouldn’t have played together at all if not for her insistence.

It had been ten years. Even close friends would feel distant after that long. So a strained reunion was understandable.

She had hoped they’d reconnect, but it was just a hope.

Still, this wasn’t awkwardness. Cassel had been outright hostile.

And unlike Raul, who seemed to at least acknowledge their shared past, Cassel was openly antagonistic.

Yes—what Cassel had shown wasn’t discomfort. It was clear enmity.

Riena didn’t think he’d act like that without reason, but not knowing why only frustrated her more.

If he would just explain, maybe she could mediate between them. But he wouldn’t say a word.

“So now you’re not even going to talk to me?”

At that, Cassel asked something entirely unexpected.

“Do you trust him?”

“Who? Raul?”

“Yes. Do you still trust him?”

“That’s an odd question. Why wouldn’t I? Raul is…”

Flustered, Riena missed the subtle nuance in Cassel’s tone.

“He’s someone I trust enough to ask for help when I’m in trouble.”

Cassel clenched his jaw and muttered under his breath.

“Do you say that knowing what that bastard did to you?”

“What did Raul do to me?”

Riena asked instinctively—not in protest, but because she genuinely didn’t know.

Raul had always been kind and gentlemanly to her. If anything, he was overly considerate. He had never harmed her.

—Though… today had been a little different.

Still, that wasn’t enough to cast him aside.

Cassel seemed to realize what he had just said. He fell silent. Riena stepped closer and pressed him again.

“Tell me. What did Raul do to me? I really have no idea.”

“…I misspoke.”

“You’re not someone who says things without meaning. I know that better than anyone.”

“….”

“Then please. Tell me what happened between you two. Did Raul do something behind my back?”

Cassel went silent again. Normally, Riena respected his silences—but this time, her frustration boiled over.

She couldn’t calm herself, and the words spilled out.

“We promised to talk to each other when something was hard. I don’t know what happened with Raul, but I’ll listen. If I can help, I will.”

“…I can’t say.”

“You tell me everything else. Why not this? And it involves me!”

“There’s a reason I can’t.”

“Is it because you still don’t trust me?”

“It’s not that. Never.”

“Then why?”

Looking back, there had been times when Cassel kept things from her—like when he warned her not to go to the west tower or wouldn’t explain why he brought Noah.

Riena hadn’t pressed him then. She respected that line between them and didn’t want to cross it. She didn’t think it was her place to interfere.

But this was different. Raul was her friend—one she’d stayed in touch with even when she lost contact with Cassel.

No matter how much she cared for Cassel, she couldn’t accept him insulting Raul like this.

She didn’t expect them to be close, but she also couldn’t accept this rift—especially when the hostility was so one-sided.

And Cassel had practically said it himself—his anger at Raul was because of her.

As the person at the center of it, she couldn’t let it go.