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**\<Episode 22>**
The group was about to head to their quarters, but something stopped them.
“Duke! My house has collapsed!”
The person who rushed toward Cassian was none other than a woman from Wervel. She seemed so desperate that she even forgot he was an imperial noble.
But before Cassian could even say a word, Yana moved first.
“Drive her away.”
She ordered the attendants, and the old woman was pushed away before she could get close.
As expected, Cassian’s face did not look good. He bit his lip slightly, clenched his fist, then forced himself to relax.
Edel and May watched quietly, but Yana clearly didn’t see things the same way.
“How dare a lowly thing run up to the Duke!”
“Duke!”
The old woman ignored those who pushed her away and continued to beg Cassian.
“I thought Ez River was one of the better places to live, but compared to the Empire, it must still be far behind.”
When Edel said this, Cassian finally pulled himself together and answered in a calm voice.
“There are rich areas and poor ones. That’s the same even in the Empire, so please don’t think too poorly of us.”
Edel’s eyebrow twitched at his words, which seemed to defend Wervel.
Before things could get worse, Cassian stepped forward.
“We are doing our best to restore the flooded houses as quickly as possible. If you file a report, you can receive aid. Why don’t you try that?”
“And how are we supposed to file a report?”
“…Follow me.”
Cassian looked a little surprised by the woman’s words, but then smiled gently.
Grateful, the old woman hurried after him.
During all this, even Geneva looked at Cassian with disbelief. The attendants also seemed unsettled.
A great imperial noble personally helping a poor refugee from a defeated nation?
Even the fact that he spoke Wervel language was enough to make them uncomfortable.
Some high nobles could speak multiple languages, but since the continent revolved around the Empire, most insisted on only using the imperial tongue.
Especially after Wervel’s fall.
Among all of them, only Cassian could speak Wervel.
“Is the situation so bad, old woman?”
When Geneva spoke in Wervel, the old woman bowed deeply in shock.
“Good grief.”
Yana muttered harshly, unable to hold back. She likely thought Wervel people couldn’t understand her anyway.
Others were also full of complaints but stayed silent. Geneva firmly finished her talk with the old woman, and Cassian personally led her away.
Everyone already knew Geneva was unusual, but Cassian Dwelsen was truly impossible to understand.
Why help that old woman? Why care so much about Wervel people, whom everyone else called outsiders? He gained nothing from it.
Edel clicked her tongue and moved closer. Cassian carefully spoke.
“You’re looking at me with distrust.”
“No one here trusts you.”
“…I see.”
“….”
Cassian gave a bitter smile. Edel, curious, asked,
“Why are you so kind to outsiders? Wervel is already a fallen nation.”
“I suppose I’m just different. I see them as fellow humans, so I couldn’t ignore them.”
What a saint.
Edel barely held back her laughter, shaking slightly.
It was ridiculous. He saw Wervel people as humans and helped them, but he had abandoned her like she was nothing.
She was sure Cassian had another reason. She would uncover it no matter what.
Still, one thing bothered her. Cassian’s behavior seemed more and more different from the way he was in her past life.
“We’ve arrived.”
Her thoughts were cut off when they reached the castle.
A man with dark blue hair, streaked with white, greeted them. His features looked foreign—he must be Wervel.
“Welcome. I see there are new faces.”
He spoke imperial language with a Wervel accent, probably a steward.
“You are honored guests.”
“Please, just call me Jim.”
Speaking stiffly, Jim turned and gestured for them to follow.
The attendants frowned, clearly displeased.
“Would you like to go to your room first? I need to finish some work.”
“Very well.”
Cassian went to help the old woman file her report, while Edel followed Jim.
After checking their rooms, the three women instinctively gathered in Edel’s room. They had too much to say.
Once Edel allowed them in, Yana slammed the table and poured out her complaints like a storm.
Even May quietly spoke this time, and Geneva nodded gravely without a word.
As the talk grew heated, Edel quickly ordered wine. She wanted to give them a safe excuse. Talking badly about Cassian, a duke and crown princess’s fiancé, was dangerous. Better to blame it on drunkenness later.
Edel didn’t plan to punish them. She only wanted them to feel comfortable.
Once they drank, the three grew even more outspoken.
Watching, Edel rested her chin on her hand and said gently,
“You were the ones who chose to follow me.”
“But—”
“But, I apologize.”
At her sudden apology, the noisy room fell silent.
“I suppose what upset you most was that old woman.”
“Well, yes. I really don’t understand why the Duke cares about someone like her.”
Geneva’s voice grew louder. Caring about Wervel was one thing, but caring about a random old woman was another.
Edel sighed and said calmly,
“The Duke of Dwelsen has an unusual fondness for Wervel people.”
Rumors of Cassian’s connection with Wervel had spread, and Edel now confirmed them.
As expected, the three immediately began to suspect strange things.
“I thought he was admirable, but he has unexpected sides.”
They didn’t mean it positively.
Even though Cassian was a great match as a husband, many nobles opposed him for this reason.
May’s hand tightened around her wine glass.
“The Duke has been favorable to them since he took over the Ez River.”
“If the Ez River weren’t such an important trade route, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
“But Countess Chekhov, the Ez River connects directly to other nations. Who else but the Duke could handle it?”
“Ugh, I don’t know! I just hope the Duke restores the dam quickly!”
Geneva raised her voice, drinking heavily.
As they grew drunk, Edel stopped the drinking. They were losing composure.
The conversation continued but without the same fire. Edel ended the gathering, and Kia helped send the drunken women back.
“I’ve never been jealous of Your Highness before.”
“…?”
Edel looked at May in surprise as she spoke on her way out.
May hugged herself and murmured sadly,
“The Duke looks at you with unusual eyes.”
“…What do you mean?”
“His eyes were full of love.”
Edel froze, not expecting that.
“Did it really look that way?”
“Yes. My eyes do not lie. I don’t approve of the Duke’s actions, but to be loved like that is still a blessing.”
“….”
“So in the end… I envy you. You receive the kind of love I never could.”
At her honest words, Edel burst out laughing. May narrowed her eyes, but Edel only smiled softly.
“Yes, that’s how you see it.”
“…Then, goodnight.”
Even drunk, May bowed gracefully and left.
After the room was cleaned, Kia came over.
“Did you drink a lot?”
“No.”
Edel answered firmly, but her mood was heavy.
“Did something unpleasant happen?”
“…I don’t know. Was it unpleasant or good? No, maybe it can’t be judged either way.”
“You’re drunk.”
Kia sighed, watching Edel contradict herself. She laid Edel on the bed and turned off the lamp. Edel stayed silent until then.
Just before Kia left, Edel whispered,
“Kia, no matter what kind of eyes the Duke shows, don’t believe him. He’s acting. Even Lady Kattner would be fooled.”
She was definitely drunk. Otherwise, she wouldn’t ramble like this.
Kia reassured her and left.
Edel blinked at the ceiling until sleep came. She felt certain tonight would not bring good dreams.
—
Edel’s hunch was right. She hadn’t dreamed of nightmares in a while, but that night, she relived the most humiliating day—when she had fallen so low she had licked Cassian’s shoes.
But Edel was thankful for the nightmare. Unlike the shaken Edel of the previous night, now her heart was firm.
The next morning, Jim guided them to the dining hall. The food wasn’t as fine as the Duke’s estate, but it was decent.
Cassian was absent, likely busy with urgent work.
Edel imagined him collapsing from overwork, then shook her head with a wry smile. Cassian was not someone who would fall so easily.
Still, she would stay here until he finished.
May’s group looked more and more displeased. With nowhere to go, they started behaving oddly—gambling for fun in secret.
It was such a small rebellion that Edel couldn’t help laughing.
—
Soon, a meeting was scheduled. Originally, only Cassian was supposed to attend, but no one could refuse Crown Princess Edel.
She walked into the chamber where sleepless aides with dark circles greeted her.
Most were imperials, but since Wervel couldn’t be excluded from Wervel affairs, some were present too.
The meeting moved quickly. The main decision was food aid—not only for Cassian’s territory but also downstream where the dam collapse had caused damage.
That region had also been hit by crop disease and famine.
But the problem was whether the lords there would actually share the food with the Wervel people.
Cassian hesitated, but in the end, he couldn’t do nothing.
The meeting went smoothly until the next agenda came up.
“…!”
“Duke Dwelsen?”
Suddenly, Cassian clutched his chest and staggered.
The aides rushed forward, but he stopped them with a raised hand.
Even Edel tried to move, but he held her back too.
“I… need to step out. A short break.”
His voice was weak and pained.
Cassian quickly left the chamber, almost running.
Edel felt a strong sense of déjà vu.
—
