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Chapter 13
Instinct
Cassian was a noble, but at the same time, he despised the pretentiousness of the aristocracy. Nobles who were endlessly friendly toward those who brought them benefit, yet eager to trample and crush those who did not—that was what he believed nobles truly were.
Above all, he disliked the culture of social clubs. Factions gathered together, showing off their trivial abilities.
And the rumors that spread from mouth to mouth were powerful enough to distort everything.
Even rumors about himself—spread through high society—eventually reached his own ears.
Rumors grew and grew. Because of that, people who had never even met him would propose partnerships or make requests based solely on “what they heard.”
Marriage proposals, even.
What a hollow kind of relationship that was.
Cassian found it revolting. That was why he refused everything and never stepped into social circles.
For someone like him, visiting someone’s home was already unusual.
And Sara had become the one to create his “first.”
“….”
Even so, Cassian felt a lingering sense of regret as he prepared to leave.
Using that feeling as an excuse, he wondered if he might be able to see Sara again by chance. With that thought, he naturally headed toward where she might be.
The Tresha estate’s garden was full of flowers. It seemed to reflect the countess’s preference for extravagance.
“Haa… this is difficult.”
Where could she be?
Cassian bit his lip slightly, worried about Sara’s absence.
And then—
He stopped walking.
There she was.
Sara, smiling among the flowers.
He had found the person he was looking for, yet he could not easily approach her.
There was something about her presence—an aura—that made Cassian hesitate.
Sara was quietly smiling while looking at the flowers. When she smiled, she looked even more beautiful.
Cassian stared blankly for a moment before snapping back to his senses and wiping the foolish expression from his face.
Just ask what he came for.
Only about what happened that day… and how she survived.
With that thought, he started walking again.
* * *
Sara liked flowers as much as she liked looking at the sky.
Flowers did not speak.
They did not reveal emotions like humans, nor did they judge or impose standards on others.
Sara had lived her entire life being constantly evaluated.
As a child, she was mistreated for having different-colored eyes.
As she grew older, her beauty became the subject of constant harassment and judgment.
Even her own parents—who looked down on her and abused her—saw her as nothing more than a flower meant to elevate their family.
To them, Sara was a flower.
To Diana, she was a flower she wanted to break.
An existence that could not be discarded easily.
Her influence in high society… her position… and the benefits she brought to the Tresha family meant she could not simply be thrown away.
It was ironic.
No one ever asked what Sara wanted to become.
No one ever asked at all.
She was simply a flower—meant to bloom beautifully, then wither as they wished.
But Sara did not want that.
Before being a flower, she was a human being.
“…It’s beautiful.”
And yet, flowers were still beautiful.
Sara smiled faintly at them. Looking at them made her smile.
And then—
She felt a presence.
Her expression sharpened as she turned around cautiously.
“Oh.”
Her face stiffened in surprise.
As if she hadn’t expected him to be here.
“…Sir Dayburn?”
It really was him.
Cassian.
At first she was startled, but soon her relief softened into a faint smile.
“I’m disappointed. You promised you’d call me by my name.”
Cassian spoke lightly, sounding slightly hurt, as if she was drawing a line between them again.
Sara flustered immediately.
“Oh, that… I’m sorry. Cas…sian.”
Saying his name still felt awkward. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke it shyly.
Cassian smiled.
“If the lady is going to be like this, I can’t help but smile.”
“Honestly…”
Sara blushed slightly. She wasn’t used to conversations like this.
Silence fell between them.
Sara broke it first.
“I heard you came by. I actually planned to visit you, but the situation wasn’t good.”
She spoke quickly, as if making excuses.
Cassian looked down at her without saying anything.
The wind played with her hair, scattering it gently.
Beautiful.
Just as he had told Diana—Sara was beautiful.
Caught staring, Cassian quickly looked away and responded casually.
“…It’s fine.”
Silence returned.
Cassian didn’t dislike it.
The scent of flowers, the clear sky, the sunlight—and beneath it, just the two of them.
It felt strangely pleasant.
A feeling he had never experienced before.
He found himself quietly observing her.
“Your eyes.”
Sara had changed since he last saw her. Her golden eyes were gone.
She quickly turned away in embarrassment.
“Ah… d-don’t stare like that.”
She tried to hide them with her hand.
Cassian gently took her hand and lowered it.
“They’re beautiful. Don’t worry.”
“….”
Sara flinched.
She had never heard those words before.
She froze, unsure how to respond.
She remembered him calling her “odd-eyed” when they first met at the market.
So she assumed he simply wasn’t affected by them.
“You’re reacting like this because you already knew I had heterochromia, right? People usually get surprised when they see it for the first time… that’s how it always is.”
Cassian answered calmly.
“I was a bit surprised.”
Just as she thought.
Sara’s expression darkened slightly with disappointment.
Even if she was used to it, it still stung.
Then Cassian added, in a flat voice:
“I’m not sure why that would be surprising.”
Sara looked at him.
He really was different from others.
His indifference strangely felt more comforting than sympathy.
“Oh, right.”
Cassian quickly changed the subject, sensing her discomfort.
“That necklace… I haven’t seen it before.”
“Oh.”
Cassian’s gaze shifted to her neck.
A ruby necklace rested against her pale skin.
His brows furrowed.
Was it a gift?
From whom?
He stared at it as if it were something offensive.
Of course, he didn’t even know why.
Just that his mood had shifted slightly.
“This was a gift from my brother.”
Sara didn’t mention the truth—that the necklace could weaken her and eventually kill her.
“…You have a brother.”
Cassian had only been interested in Sara, so he hadn’t researched the Tresha family.
Still, the idea of a “brother” didn’t sit well with him.
Just like Beria.
And the more he imagined Sara happily receiving that necklace, the more his brow furrowed.
Sara’s neck was slightly flushed, as if irritated.
Was it a poorly fitting necklace?
Cassian felt uneasy but didn’t show it.
“Oh, right—the handkerchief.”
Sara tried to continue the conversation.
“Ah, yes.”
Cassian nodded.
In truth, he had brought it.
He wasn’t careless enough to forget something like that.
But he shook his head anyway.
“Sorry, Sara… I was in a hurry with work and left it in my room.”
It was a lie.
Even as he said it, he glanced at her cautiously.
Sara looked slightly disappointed and said nothing.
Seeing her deflate made him lose confidence.
Still, it gave him another chance to meet her again.
Strangely, that thought pleased him.
But Sara, contrary to his expectation, felt relieved.
If he had returned the handkerchief now, she would have found another excuse to visit his estate.
So she could change the future… and survive.
She looked at him again.
What should she say?
“Um—”
And then—
She noticed Beria walking with the maids in the distance.
Sara stepped forward.
“Ah!”
She lost her footing.
Cassian caught her before she fell into his arms.
“Lady… are you feeling unwell again?”
“….”
For a moment, they froze.
Cassian looked up at the sky awkwardly, blinking.
She smelled nice.
Different from Diana.
He couldn’t tell whether it was her scent or the flowers’.
Sara was just as flustered.
She blinked rapidly and looked up at him.
“…The handkerchief.”
“Ah…”
Cassian bit his lip.
No matter how much he tried to look away, his eyes kept returning to her.
Instinct.
His heart beating faster in her presence.
Instinct.
“May I go get it myself?”
Sara asked softly.
Cassian had no will—or strength—to refuse.
“…Of course.”
He smiled.
Sara shifted her gaze toward Beria, who was watching them.
And she smiled.
