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Chapter 09
The Perfect Family
[Sometimes… I guess dreams do come true. Just like now.]
At that time, Sara’s eyes were clearly filled with tears. Even though she was smiling on the outside, to Cassian, that smile somehow looked sad.
It might have been his imagination—but that was how it seemed to him.
Back at the marquis household, Cassian sat in his study, absentmindedly fiddling with the red handkerchief Sara had given him.
He had never imagined he would receive such a gift from her. It was supposed to be nothing more than a passing dream, Cassian thought.
[If we meet again someday, please think of it as because of this handkerchief.]
“……”
The red handkerchief she had given him had a black rose embroidered on it. Black roses were not common. He thought it was a uniquely her kind of taste.
“Haah.”
Meet again someday…
Ever since he had sent her off, Cassian had been unable to focus on his work. Something kept lingering in his mind, leaving him restless.
He even considered going hunting to clear his thoughts, but his body felt strangely heavy and drained. It was as if he had been bewitched—Cassian spent the entire time unable to do anything.
Could this be some kind of aftereffect of her?
Cassian quickly shook his head, denying the thought.
At that moment, someone’s presence approached.
“…So you’ve been spacing out ever since that woman left?”
“Ah, Lotte.”
Recognizing Lotte, Cassian relaxed and put the handkerchief into a drawer.
Lotte entered the study, sat down with her arms crossed, and spoke flatly. Seeing Cassian acting unusually dazed and foolish, she shook her head in disbelief.
“Are you bothered by her?”
“What are you talking about? Of course not.”
Cassian’s expression stiffened.
It had been a casual question, but his reaction said otherwise—he was clearly very bothered.
Lotte cleared her throat and leaned back on the sofa, glancing at him.
Feeling her gaze, Cassian tidied his desk and sat across from her.
“Did you find anything?”
Lotte nodded and, instead of answering, placed a thick book in front of him.
“…You said she had heterochromia, right? This book contains a short section about the ‘Krun Tribe.’ It’s a banned book inside the empire, so I had to go through a lot to get it. Do you know how hard it is for a kid like me to get something like this? Anyway, read it. It might help.”
Cassian took the book.
“A banned book?”
Before opening it, he examined the cover. Aside from the imperial seal of the Asila Empire, it looked like an ordinary book.
Yet it was forbidden.
That alone felt unsettling.
Lotte nodded, frowning slightly.
“Of course it’s banned.”
Rarely did she show emotion, but her expression turned serious.
“That tribe had to be completely erased from history. Most citizens don’t even know they existed.”
“So there’s something very dirty about them.”
“Exactly.”
If even Lotte had trouble obtaining it, then it was undoubtedly a highly classified document. Someone powerful must have designated it as forbidden.
For example—the Emperor.
Cassian opened the book.
On the designated page, it described the rare tribe called the Krun.
A race possessing the most beautiful dual-colored eyes in the world.
Unlike ordinary humans, they possessed special abilities and had a deep connection with the divine—but for some reason, they were suddenly abandoned.
The Krun Tribe had become a disgrace in the history of the Asila Empire.
As Cassian read further, a headache seemed to build, and he closed the book.
“According to the banned records, the Krun were massacred in that war. If that woman is truly Krun, there’s no way the imperial family doesn’t know.”
“You’re right. But there’s still a possibility. Krun can easily change their eye color. Ordinary people wouldn’t notice anything.”
“…True.”
So she could be one of them.
When Cassian first met Sara at the market, her eyes had looked normal. Only someone as sensitive as him would have noticed something off.
Cassian rubbed his face repeatedly in frustration.
Lotte took the book back and added,
“But we still need confirmation.”
“…Confirmation?”
Cassian looked at her.
Lotte suddenly frowned and said sharply,
“If you hadn’t told me to leave back then, I would’ve confirmed it already. Tch, you’re really dense.”
“Now it’s my fault?”
“Yes, it is.”
Lotte clicked her tongue.
Cassian sighed, already exhausted.
“Every time I see you, I still can’t get used to it. Lotte, change your appearance. Why did you have to make yourself look like me? It’s causing unnecessary misunderstandings.”
Lotte replied indifferently,
“The person I know among humans with the best face is you. Don’t get the wrong idea—that’s not a compliment.”
Cassian frowned.
Compliment or insult—it was impossible to tell with her.
“…And it doesn’t matter anyway, right? She’s just a woman you’ll meet once.”
“….”
Unlike Lotte, who treated it casually, Cassian did not answer.
Sensing something, Lotte raised an eyebrow triumphantly.
“Ah. So that’s not it, Cassian.”
Realizing his feelings had been exposed, Cassian felt irritated.
“Don’t make assumptions on your own, kid.”
“Excuse me? Ungrateful brat. I’m technically over three hundred—”
At that moment, the study door burst open and Lotte’s maids rushed in.
“Ah, Sir Cassian. Sorry for interrupting your reading. And young master! Where did you go? We’ve been looking everywhere!”
“Please come back! You have class!”
“……”
Lotte sighed deeply, as if expecting this.
With maids nagging from both sides, she had no energy to respond.
One of the strongest maids, Felia, casually lifted Lotte by the waist.
“Waaah!”
Every time Felia lifted her, it felt like flying. But Lotte still hated being treated like a child.
“Don’t make weird noises, young master. Sir Cassian, excuse us.”
Cassian suppressed a laugh as he watched Lotte being carried away like a doll.
“It’s fine. Take her.”
“Yes, understood. Let’s go.”
“Waaah!”
Cassian smiled gently as they left.
Watching Lotte pout as she was dragged away, he muttered,
“She really has become a child.”
Then his smile faded as he recalled their earlier conversation.
[But we still need confirmation.]
Lotte was right.
They needed confirmation—whether Sara truly was Krun.
And if she was… what should he do?
Cassian sighed deeply.
“I should ask her.”
He came to a conclusion.
He would ask her again.
Luckily, he still had a good excuse—the handkerchief.
Thinking that, Cassian lifted the corners of his lips slightly.
Whether he was simply curious—or happy at the thought of seeing her again—he himself wasn’t sure.
But Cassian was, without doubt, in a good mood.
Meanwhile, at the Tresha Count’s estate, a cheerful hum echoed through the mansion.
Lady Diana was in a bright mood, having locked Sara inside her room.
It was because today was the day her youngest daughter, Beria, was returning home after finishing her academy schedule.
The mansion was busy from morning preparing to welcome her beloved daughter.
“Mother! I’m back!”
Seeing Beria arrive with the butler, Diana smiled brightly.
“Beria, my daughter!”
She rushed over and gently embraced her.
Even though Beria was already seventeen, she was still a child in Diana’s eyes.
“You must be exhausted from academy life. You’ve lost weight. Do you know how much I missed you? Welcome home, my daughter.”
Beria was a beautiful girl with fair skin and cute freckles.
She had delicate features, a straight nose, and golden eyes like Diana’s.
Diana herself was a beauty, so the entire family was visually blessed.
It was all thanks to Diana’s overwhelming affection.
Beria smiled brightly.
“Where are brother and sister?”
“Your brother went to your father’s place early this morning. He’ll return soon.”
And Sara…
Diana’s expression darkened instantly.
If Beria found out Sara was locked up, she would be disappointed.
Unlike Diana, who despised Sara, Beria was kind to the point of foolishness.
“She…”
As Diana hesitated, Beria looked toward the maids behind her.
They were hiding something. Uneasy whispers filled the air.
Especially Meiri, who had always followed Sara, looked extremely anxious.
Beria immediately sensed it.
Something had happened.
She quickly erased her cold expression and smiled again.
“Is she not here?”
As she said that, the corner of her lips curled slightly.
Oops.
She immediately corrected her expression and became the innocent, cheerful daughter again.
“…What a shame. But I’ll see her at dinner, right? Hehe. Anyway, I’m just so happy to see you, Mom!”
“Is that so?”
Beria linked arms with Diana and smiled warmly.
She thought:
Sometimes silence is the best answer.
And right now, ignorance was peace—and peace was safety.
A perfect family.
