HSLF 20

Chapter 20

I hadn’t realized how breathless I was from running recklessly toward my goal after my return, but apparently, I needed comfort.
I quietly looked at Cassion and reached out my hand.
“Please, give me some comfort.”

Cassion’s hand, lying quietly on the blanket, twitched.
“It’s time to be brave now, Your Highness.”

I swallowed the words that would push him and extended my hand further. Cassion jerked his head away.
But despite turning his head, his hand moved toward mine. His hand narrowly missed mine.
“Hold it properly.”

But expecting more from a shy prince was too much. So, I grabbed his hand myself.
It was stiff. As I ran my hand over the rough, cracked back of his hand, Cassion, unused to contact with others, shivered. I ignored it and spoke.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“For what?”
“For worrying about me.”
“I can only worry.”
“That’s enough.”

You already gave me a great gift in my past life; this time, I only need to receive the gift I offer.

Cassion slowly turned his head back. When our eyes met, he didn’t blink once.
His golden eyes were noticeably different from before. There was now a resolute will to live in them.
“Are you sure?”
He asked. There were many types of certainty I could give him.
“What do you mean? That I’m rich? Or that I’ll take revenge after we marry?”

Cassion exhaled.
“You mean the end of those who pointed fingers at the cursed doll, right?”

He wasn’t an innocent child, so he must know I made up the story. And the fact he asked again meant:
“If you’re not sure, I’ll make it sure for you.”

That must be his way of asking me to do it.
“Me?”
“If you want, together.”

Cassion’s lips curved slightly. For a moment, I saw an image of the grown Cassion overlapping with the boy in front of me:
The noble presence radiating health, a commanding aura that seemed to place everything beneath him.
“Your Highness…”
“Let’s do it. Marry me.”

He tightened the hand he held.
“Let’s get married.”

Finally, he had found courage.

“Really? You’re going to marry me?”

Her large, clear eyes lit up with joy. What had been like a deep forest under dark clouds became a clear meadow scenting of fresh grass after the rain.

At that moment, Cassion’s heart skipped, and he withdrew his hand.
Normally, Diana would have grabbed it back immediately, scolding him, but he didn’t even notice that he had pulled it away.
‘She’s completely dazed. Is marrying me really that good?’

Cassion blushed and brushed under his nose.
“Say it again, Your Highness.”

Diana grabbed and shook Cassion’s collar. In the past, he would have brushed her off immediately, but this time, he quietly endured it.
Her soft, white hand tugging at his clothes didn’t feel unpleasant.
“What? What do you want me to say again?”
“The words you just said to me.”

They weren’t going to live together immediately after marriage, and this wasn’t a marriage from romantic interest. So why did she want to hear it again?
‘Fine, I’ll be generous.’

Cassion said firmly, grateful that she had embarrassed and chased away Julia.
“Let’s marry, Diana Viola Irenberg.”

Diana’s mouth fell open. She blinked, as if she didn’t understand what she had just heard.
“Why? Why do you want to marry me?”

An unexpected question.
She had asked me to marry her, I agreed, and now she wanted a reason?
“Tell me, Your Highness. Surely there’s a reason you want to marry me.”

There were plenty of reasons. Every night, after meeting Diana, Cassion fell asleep thinking about her marriage proposal.

Marrying her would allow him to take revenge. That was the main reason his heart leaned toward marriage.
‘Even that miserable Third Prince’s Palace will become livable.’

Since she mentioned wealth, his life would certainly become more comfortable.
‘And she promised to heal my illness.’

Some magic or medicine from the man with sky-blue hair had made moving around easier. The constant pain that struck at any moment vanished with the medicine, making life much easier. That alone made Cassion feel he had gained everything.

So, the reasons were plenty. But the decisive factor for wanting to marry was something else.
“Your Highness, tell me. Because I’m rich?”

Cassion’s eyebrows twitched.
“Because I’m good at fighting?”

That wasn’t it. He shook his head.
“Because I’m a lady of the Irenberg family?”

If the lady had been someone else, would he have agreed to marry her?
“No. Not because you’re an Irenberg.”
“Then… because I’m pretty?”

That last one was Diana joking—but Cassion’s exposed skin flushed pink.
“N-No! That’s not it!”

He stammered and flailed.
“Why get so flustered? It was a joke. More importantly, Your Highness, are you unwell? Feeling bad? Forget it, stop talking. I don’t need to hear it.”

Diana tried to lie him down, claiming it was a joke. Cassion resisted but could not overcome her; she was older, taller, and stronger.
Eventually, Cassion, in much better condition than usual, had to lie flat in bed with the blanket pulled over his neck.

Diana patted Cassion’s stomach.
Even though they were only two years apart, she treated him like a child—despite being childish herself.

Perhaps her gentle touch made him sleepy.
“Thank you for agreeing to marry me.”
“The reason I want to marry you is…”

He started to speak, feeling he should answer her question, but Diana interrupted.
“I know everything. I’ll handle it all. Just trust me. I’ll buy the Twilight Mansion! Take revenge! Crown you as king!”
“That’s not it…”
“If I’m busy with all this, I’ll give the Twilight Mansion as a wedding gift instead of a proposal gift! Your Highness, I’ll leave now. Rest well!”

“Diana, I haven’t even finished…”

Before he could finish, Diana disappeared like the wind.

Cassion looked at the empty spot she had occupied and let out a small, hollow laugh.
His mood, once at rock bottom after meeting Julia, had unknowingly improved.
He buried the unspoken answer in his heart and closed his eyes, a soft smile creeping across his lips.

While Diana dramatically received Cassion’s acceptance of the proposal:

“What? Phoenix Bank is bankrupt?”

Julia grabbed whatever was nearby and threw it at Anderson.
The first two were cushions, but the third was a vase.
The vase hit Anderson in the stomach and shattered on the floor. He was relieved it didn’t hit his head.

“Where did you hear that?”
“Does it matter where I heard it? Is it true that Phoenix Bank is about to collapse or not?”

Julia approached, ready to bite, and Anderson, overwhelmed by her strong yuri scent, held his breath.
“No, ma’am. While many will withdraw deposits, we will take measures to prevent any issues.”

Julia huffed, resting her hands on the table.
When Diana mentioned Phoenix Bank, Julia thought it was a rumor. Her anger came not from the rumor itself, but from the fact that Diana knew about it while she did not.
“Anderson! I told you to report everything about Phoenix Bank immediately.”

Julia suppressed her anger. Any stored rage would be released later at a suitable target. Anderson was too useful for pointless venting.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

The concise apology made Julia swallow her words and sit on the sofa.

At Anderson’s gesture, the maids approached in a line, removing Julia’s shoes and massaging her feet.
Julia closed her eyes, lost in thought.
The Irenberg girl… Why is she meeting Cassion secretly? Who is behind her, and where is she entering? Does she have an insider in the palace?

From Julia’s perspective, if she is sneaking in, there must be a definite purpose—but Cassion has nothing the Irenberg family would aim for.

“I’ll look into Phoenix Bank.” Anderson said.
“No, there’s something else first.” Anderson bowed. Julia gestured for the servants to leave, leaving just her and Anderson.
“Investigate Diana of the Irenberg family. Also, find out how she has been entering the palace.”

A cold smile appeared on Julia’s lips.
“Let’s remove that gate as soon as possible.”
Whether it’s a person or an actual door.

After hearing Cassion’s acceptance of the proposal, I immediately returned home. I had matters I wanted to resolve before marrying him.

“Where have you been?”

Opening the study door, I smelled the familiar scent of a cigarette. Red hair swayed in the breeze. Cho waved at me.

How should I react to Cho smoking in a study used by a minor niece? I looked disapprovingly at her, and she pointed to the window behind her.
“The window’s open.”
“You must have forgotten to close it after climbing through.”
“Busted?”

Cho grinned cheekily, leaving me speechless.
This room isn’t just for me; Lebert comes here too. Later, Cassion will as well.
So her habit of randomly smoking here should be stopped—eventually.

But for now, to the matter at hand:

“How did things go with Phoenix Bank?”