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Chapter : 08
“Yes, but…”
Cassius looked at Briseis, wiping tears from his eyes with the back of his hand, staring at her.
“You really look like Gael. I am Ca—Cassius… Rosefel. I was a close friend of Gael.”
He seemed about to offer a handshake, but then realized his hand was wet with tears and tried to find a handkerchief in his pocket. When he noticed he didn’t have one, Briseis, politely, took her own handkerchief and handed it to him. He accepted it with gratitude and rubbed his hands dry.
“It was for wiping your face.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
He wiped his face with it and then extended his hand.
“I am Briseis Filiae. I was Gael’s twin sister.”
Briseis held his hand firmly as if shaking it.
“Nice to… uh… meet… you…”
“Yes, nice to meet you, Grand Duke Cassius Rosefel.”
Seeing Briseis, who looked remarkably like his late friend Gael, Cassius couldn’t stop the tears. He felt embarrassed to cry in front of a stranger but couldn’t help it.
“Sniff… uh… sorry…”
“It’s okay.”
Her calm words and the fact that she didn’t cry herself made him feel grateful. Someone cared enough to cry for Gael.
“Heh…”
He tried not to cry, but it was useless.
Briseis then took another handkerchief from her pocket to wipe his face, but her arms barely reached him because of the height difference. Seeing this, Cassius bent down slightly, letting her reach his cheek.
His white hair swayed gently in the breeze. Even though it was early summer, the wind felt heavy. His gray eyes shone like glass beads, and the tears sparkling in them were striking.
“Don’t worry.”
“Sniff…”
Her words made him cry even harder. Eventually, after a long time, Cassius calmed down.
By the time the academy ended, the sun was nearly setting.
Sniffling, Cassius finally managed a faint smile on his swollen face.
“I’ll return your handkerchief another time.”
“Alright.”
“You’re in Class 1, right?”
“Yes.”
“I also transferred into Class 1 this semester.”
“Is that possible?”
“Yes, I am the top contributor who helped the Crown Prince.”
“Ah.”
Briseis thought about how Calisten’s achievements were even greater than Demian’s and nodded. Usually, class assignments didn’t change mid-term, but at Wilhelm Academy, extra points could move someone up.
Boys who graduated at the top of Class 1 could take important royal positions. They’d start as assistant officers but might become ministers in the future. That’s why everyone wanted to enter Wilhelm Academy—it connected directly to the royal family and guaranteed high-ranking positions for top graduates.
“So your badge will change, then.”
Briseis said, noticing Cassius was still wearing a Class 2 badge.
“Yes. By the way, aren’t you going to the ceremony?”
“I think I should, but it’s a bit late. I’m still in my academy uniform.”
In truth, Briseis had no intention to go. If Demian wasn’t attending as her partner, it would be awkward to go alone.
“Do you want to come with me?”
Cassius said casually, as if there was no other meaning. Briseis realized he might not know much about social etiquette, just like in the original story.
“I’m not feeling well. But thank you for the offer.”
“No, thank you for the handkerchief.”
She gave him a polite nod. Cassius was about to leave but noticed she was still standing by the tombstone and asked,
“Aren’t you going back to the mansion?”
“I want to stay a little longer. I want to see the sunset here.”
Cassius asked, concerned that it might be dangerous for a lady alone at sunset. But there were graveyard keepers and patrolling knights, so she was safe.
“Then see you tomorrow, Miss Briseis.”
“Call me Bri.”
“Then call me Kaz.”
“Okay, Kaz. See you tomorrow.”
Cassius left first, glancing back several times at Briseis standing by the gravestone. She looked so much like Gael, his dearest friend.
He felt worried but decided to give her space to meet Gael alone.
❖ ❖ ❖
The ceremony was simple. Knights followed the commander in line, and they circled the capital, with the emperor’s slave giving the laurel wreath. The ceremony existed to show that even the commander ranked below the emperor’s slave.
Calisten rode his horse casually, circled the town, and received the laurel from his father, the emperor.
“My proud son, Calisten Ethan Crofus!”
Calisten looked at the detestable empress beside the emperor. She had pushed his mother aside and claimed the throne, pretending to be his mother. Her second son, born in secret during his mother’s lifetime, stood by her side.
Calisten couldn’t help but sneer at the disgusting sight. She wore his mother’s jewelry, clearly mocking him.
But he was no longer a five-year-old; it just seemed laughable.
“Our empire’s hero, who annihilated the eternal enemy, the Biaten Empire, and even executed the enemy emperor!”
The emperor, thrilled that his lifelong enemy was dead, gave a speech with pride, even after a hangover earlier that day.
“I have known you were special since childhood. Seeing you grow up and serve the empire fills me with pride.”
Calisten yawned internally, looking for Briseis in the crowd. But the woman near Demian wasn’t her, which made him smile.
“So, my son Calisten Ethan Crofus, who led this great victory, shall have one wish granted in the emperor’s name.”
Normally, he would have set a wish beforehand. But Calisten realized no one here could hear it. He was secretly glad Briseis wasn’t here—he also wanted to see her cute embarrassed face.
“Uh…”
“Crown Prince?”
“No.”
He held his breath for a moment due to pain in his lower body, then said,
“My wish is to enroll in Wilhelm Academy.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The emperor laughed, amused by how trivial the wish was. He seemed pleased that his troublesome son wasn’t seeking power.
The ceremony ended successfully.
❖ ❖ ❖
“I knew you’d be here.”
“You scared me.”
Calisten left the ceremony and went straight to the family cemetery, reserved for nobles.
“Here.”
“Is this alcohol?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t think Briseis wasn’t here because of Demian. She wouldn’t have come even if he asked.
“I have class tomorrow.”
Briseis pushed away the rum he offered, standing properly. She looked at the moonlight over Gael’s gravestone and the stars in the dark sky, sighing.
“Drinking won’t change my skills.”
“That’s your story.”
Her chest felt strange despite her words.
“Why did you come?”
“Because Gael was like my brother.”
Calisten said, opening the rum and taking a sip.
“Bri.”
“Yes?”
He silently watched her. When Briseis looked at Gael’s gravestone with sad eyes and then at him, he smiled unconsciously.
“My body hurts so much.”
Her expression stiffened at his words. She didn’t need him to say where it hurt; she could tell.
