Chapter 83
Chapter 83
“Lord Cassis, did you come out wearing just that? You’ll catch a cold. Let’s go back inside.”
“No.”
I tried to make a fuss to change the subject, but Cassis seemed to see right through it.
He remained firmly in place even as I tried to pull him along, resolutely saying ‘no.’
When I looked at his face, I met his resolute gaze.
He repeated himself.
“No, Irina.”
“…”
“Please tell me. Why did you come here?”
Looking at this situation, it seems there’s no way to escape.
‘Right, System.’
I instinctively searched for the System, but there was no response, and I remembered that it had completely shut down due to an error.
‘Ah, right.’
While I was searching for the System alone, Cassis waited for me without moving an inch.
I finally opened my mouth.
“Sian Terezia is a dangerous person.”
“…You only realized that now?”
Cassis responded with an exasperated sigh after a long pause, as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Ah, I knew that already. But he’s not a bad person.”
He’s not a bad person.
I just feel sympathy for the time he had to repeat alone.
That’s why I hope he won’t be lonely during the remaining time.
However, separately from that, it’s true that ‘Sian Terezia’ is difficult to understand, and therefore his intentions are unclear.
And because of that, I feel a vague fear whenever I face Sian.
“Sure. He’s dangerous. But what does that have to do with this situation?”
“Do you remember when I was particularly unwell or in bad condition in front of Lord Sian?”
As soon as I finished speaking, Cassis’s expression hardened.
He stepped closer to me with a clearly displeased face.
“Earlier in Vroom-Vroom, I experienced… a similar condition.”
Though it wasn’t as bad as when I faced Sian.
“It was hard to breathe, I broke into a cold sweat…”
As I tried to explain my condition in more detail, worried that Cassis might think I was making excuses, his hand suddenly touched my cheek.
His body temperature, which was more than warm—it was hot—made contact with my face.
I stopped speaking and looked at Cassis.
Closer than I expected, he was examining my complexion with a worried face.
“Irina, you’re cold.”
He spoke with eyes that betrayed a hint of hurt.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier that you weren’t feeling well?”
“…”
Something stirred deep within me at Cassis’s reaction.
To be precise, it was a question to which I half-knew the answer.
But since there was no System to respond to my thoughts, I buried it deep down again.
Instead, I could only finish my explanation to Cassis, who held my face in his hands as if trying to warm my cold cheeks.
“So… I thought there might be someone else similar to Lord Sian. That’s why I followed that person and came here.”
Just as Sian Terezia is connected to destruction, I wondered if that person who brushed past me earlier might also be connected to it.
“Yes, I understand. You don’t need to explain further.”
“Yes.”
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No.”
I patted myself here and there to show Cassis I was fine.
“Oh? But this is broken.”
I discovered that the Philosopher’s Stone in my pocket was broken.
“Be careful of the fragments.”
“Ugh, this was really expensive.”
The fortunate thing is that it wasn’t the ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ that Seiren had worked so hard to craft, but rather one I had newly purchased.
“It didn’t look like something that would break easily.”
“Indeed. But it’s cold outside, let’s go in and continue talking.”
And so, with one hand holding the broken Philosopher’s Stone and the other held by Cassis, I was able to return to Vroom-Vroom.
* * *
“How in the world did this break?”
I shrugged my shoulders.
Seiren was lounging on the couch, wearing a dress made of white silk layered with pale purple chiffon.
Today was apparently the birthday of Jane Hellis, who had been a regular customer of our ‘Lu & Cream’ since its street vendor days.
That’s why Duke Hellis had contacted ‘Lu & Cream,’ and I had come to the Duke’s mansion carrying plenty of ice cream.
Of course, this time I received an invitation too.
Not just me, but everyone who was well-known in social circles received invitations.
The list included Seiren, Isiel, and Cassis.
The three of them, who originally had no plans to attend, changed their minds when they heard I had received an invitation too, and now the four of us were spending time on a couch in a corner of the party venue.
Ah, Isiel was being dragged off by some proper young lady to dance in the hall.
“But Seiren, how about sitting a bit more properly? You’re practically lying down right now.”
She was fidgeting with the Philosopher’s Stone I had handed her while sitting rather indecently, despite looking as beautiful as if she had just descended from heaven.
She sharply lifted her head at my words.
Her eyebrows shot up, transforming her angelic face into something quite fierce.
She certainly has her moments.
“Your brother keeps giving me looks from behind you…”
I hurriedly made excuses, intimidated by Seiren’s spirit.
“Ignore him. By the way, you look really pretty today, sister.”
“Clothes make the person, right?”
“What are you saying? You’re the one who’s pretty!”
Seiren jumped up from the couch and circled around me.
“Your Grace thinks so too, right?”
“…Yes, I think so too.”
The dress I wore today was made of sky-blue silk.
Unlike my usual clothes, it showed off my body’s silhouette, making me feel a bit awkward.
However, Seiren had insisted that I absolutely had to wear this dress, and I had simply given in.
“Alright, alright. Seiren. Let’s sit down now.”
Sitting across from Seiren, I crossed my legs out of awkwardness.
The dress had slits along the sides, revealing glimpses of my legs whenever I moved.
‘It’s been a while since I wore a dress like this.’
Every time I moved, I could feel Cassis, sitting next to me, tensing up slightly.
As expected of a proper male protagonist.
“Thank you, even if it’s just flattery. It makes me feel good.”
“It’s not flattery.”
Cassis immediately contradicted my words.
His handsome face was creased with what looked like indignation, which I found slightly amusing.
I thought his furrowed brow and cold expression would make him look angry, but instead he looked wronged.
Cassis must have become much more comfortable.
“So Seiren, take another look at the Philosopher’s Stone.”
“There’s nothing more to see. It’s broken. The interior is completely ruined. It can’t even hold divine power anymore.”
Seiren examined the Philosopher’s Stone I had given her once more and shook her head.
To think it broke.
The fortunate thing is that it wasn’t the ‘Philosopher’s Stone (D+)’ that Seiren had worked hard to craft, but rather one I had acquired separately.
“What in the world happened for it to break?”
“Is it usually hard to break? How hard?”
“Sister, this is a stone that can contain divine power. It may be called a stone, but it’s no different from a jewel.”
Seiren added that it might not feel real, since this was an era where the status of gods had greatly diminished.
“But sister, I could make that chandelier explode right now. This stone can contain that kind of power of mine. Not just anyone can break it like this. Even I would have trouble creating a crack in it.”
From these words, I could be certain.
The power of that person who brushed past me in the alley yesterday.
That power was definitely not something I had imagined.
As the System had always said, it was clearly a power that defied and opposed the power of the gods.
“…Perhaps that’s why the System keeps disappearing.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing.”
Now I think I understand a little.
But still, I don’t quite get it.
What exactly is that power?
While I was clutching my head, troubled by this feeling of almost understanding but not quite, I heard a low laugh beside me.
I stopped moving and lifted my head suddenly.
My eyes met directly with Cassis’s.
He stopped laughing.
“Why did you stop laughing?”
“…Should I laugh more?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Cassis seemed a bit flustered.
Trying to calm the ticklish feeling inside, I answered as nonchalantly as possible.
“Because Lord Cassis is prettier when he laughs.”
Cassis seemed at a loss for words, his eyes wide and mouth open.
Soon after, his ears turned bright red.
“Sister, do you like Cassis?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Oh…”
Seiren’s face immediately turned sullen.
“What about me?”
“I like you too.”
Seiren, who had tied her hair up high like mine, looked particularly prim today, which made her sulking expression look like a disgruntled cat.
“More than Lady Hellis?”
“Why bring Jane into this?”
“Hmph.”
Just then, Jane suddenly popped up behind me.
“Me?”
“Perfect timing. Happy birthday, Jane.”
“Thank you.”
Jane gave a modest greeting and immediately stuck close to my side.
Then, pointing to the central hall, she said:
“Who came up with the idea for the ice cream waterfall?”
“Did you like it? It was a collaboration between Lu & Cream’s genius designer and chef.”
“I love it! When I first came out to the hall holding my brother’s hand, there was something so beautiful!”
I laughed.
Thanks to Jane being such a loyal customer of our ‘Lu & Cream,’ we have incredibly high recognition among young noble ladies.
We receive dozens of calls daily from the most prestigious families in the system, most of them having teenage daughters.
Though we’ve declined them all for now.
“Hello, Lady Lemiere!”
“…Yes, it’s been a while.”
Unlike Jane’s bright greeting, Seiren’s response was rather cold, either because she was still shy or had no intention of becoming friendly.
Well, I didn’t think this was bad either, so I just let it be.
“Sister, sister, when will the shop open? Will there be a party when it first opens?”
“When it opens is a secret. It’ll open on a hot day, and of course there will be a party.”
“Can I be invited too?”
“It would be my honor if you would come, Jane.”
Jane is definitely cute, following me so enthusiastically even though I haven’t done anything special for her.
“…!”
While chatting with her about various things, I happened to look up and was startled.
Because behind Jane, Seiren was glaring at me fiercely, looking like she could kill someone.
“Brother says he’d like to greet you later. Would you like to go together?”
“Duke Hellis?”
“Yes! And he seemed curious about whether you’re engaged or if you’re seeing anyone!”
As soon as Jane finished speaking, this time it was Cassis next to Seiren who started burning up.
“Umm…”
I turned my head away while receiving four blazing gazes from two people.
At times like this, I desperately miss having the System to tease me.
