Chapter 23

Cassian deliberately straightened his back and faced Duke Anais proudly.

‘Do you know who I am? The Duke would have absolutely nothing to do with the Count of Vietry… No, it might be. First of all, it was clear that the traitors of the family were hiding in this castle.’

After organizing his thoughts, Cassian stared at the Duke without blinking once.

The piercing gaze of Duke Anais was also focused on Cassian the whole time.

Duke Anais opened his mouth and asked in a languid voice.

“Did you say the Knights of the Roses?”

“Yes, your majesty, the head of the Royal Rose Knights, your majesty’s strong right wing, Ropa Schellind, greets you.”

“I’m Cassian Gray, a regular knight who joined the Rose Knights as the deputy commander.”

Duke Anais stared at them, raising his head.

Cassian, who was just observing the Duke, adhering to an attitude like a sack of barley that had been borrowed, had a cold attitude.

He raised one of his mouths and thought grotesquely.

‘I still don’t like you, but the attitude was unfortunate.’

Soon, the indifferent voice of Duke Anais resounded.

“Cassian Gray. The hero of the Empire.”

But for Duke Anais, it was not a big deal.

The Duke was a dangerous person who was notorious across the continent with the Empire’s Dark Hand. It was true that Cassian was awarded the Medal of Merit from the Emperor for his brilliant achievements in several wars.

With that, he even received the surname ‘Gray‘ and the title of semi-noble without territories.

I thought there would be an exaggeration, but when I met him in person, he looked really strong, frighteningly beautiful, and threatening.

In many ways, Cassian and himself are very different from each other.

In other words, the Duke of Anais had no reason to dwell on the name of a regular knight.

“Yes, that’s right. Cassian Gray.”

When Cassian answered clearly, the Knight Commander Ropa, who was by his side, spoke more.

“Oh, yes. Sir! This guy next to me was Cassian Gray, the deputy commander of the Knights of the Roses. He’s My successor.”

“Ah.”

The Duke raised only one eyebrow.

It was a crooked attitude to a short answer.

“It’s amazing to be awarded a title from a commoner.”

Cassian, of course, didn’t stay put either.

“Thank you, but I’m not the only one who has overcome my origins.”

In a way, it was also aimed at the Duke of Anais.

Because he was an adopted child and took the title of Duke.

Noticing that fact, the Duke looked at Cassian with sharp eyes.

But Cassian didn’t stop there.

“So my job doesn’t seem to be a big surprise. Your Excellency.”

If you’re not a fool, you know what Cassian’s words mean.

The knight leader’s heart stuck between the two fluttered as if it would pop out of his chest.

He clenched his teeth and murmured, poking Cassian in the arm with his thick arms.

“What are you doing?”

The knight commander blinked his eyes very quickly several times.

But neither Cassian nor Duke cared about the Knight Commander.

The Duke of Anais stared at the Knight Commander and said.

“That’s not a problem.”

Cassian stared intently at the Duke’s cold, but still face.

Indeed, it did not seem to strike much.

Cassian looked at the Duke and nodded gently.

Thank you for your consideration, sir.”

The eyes of the Duke of Anais, who was staring at Cassian, became even more strange.

Looking at them, Knight Commander Ropa Schellind thought.

Obviously, everyone was using respectful language, but in a way, they were just talking about where they came from, and they didn’t say things that greatly insult each other…

Why does Rofa Schellind feel like he’s becoming a rat between them?

“A- ahem!”

The captain of the Knights, caught between the two, coughed hastily.

However, there was no trick to overcome this situation, which was filled with war clouds.

Instead, the Duke of Anais first brought up the main point, not the reason for bringing them here.

“You must know that your friend, Astel, was entrusting herself to the Duke’s residence.”

Cassian answered calmly by opening his lips without much expression.

“I think I’ve heard of it…”

Constructing an extremely indifferent tone was not difficult for Cassian.

The most precious thing in my life, the most precious sister I could even exchange for my own life, seemed not to be that precious.

-‘Brother, who in the world likes to work?’

-‘Astel, of course.’

Cassian smiled as he lowered his eyes.

Immersed in the feeling that one day I would be able to say those words in front of everyone.

“We only met briefly when we were young. We are not very close friends. I couldn’t even remember. Did she get caught?”

Cassian playfully shrugged his shoulders at the Duke of Anais.

He had no intention of dragging on the topic about Astel for very long.

As soon as Cassian finished speaking, the knight commander intervened and joked.

“Haha, sir. This friend of mine was very popular with the ladies. That’s why he may not remember her very well. He’s such a popular guy. Wasn’t he?”

In order to solve the situation, Cassian habitually pretended to be arrogant and smirked at the knight commander who was struggling and laughed.

“Yes, because I pursue multiple relationships?”

Duke Anais’ lips twisted coldly at the conversation between the two that seemed as if they had kissed.

“Multiple relationships?”

When the Duke showed interest, the commander of the Knights said jokingly, perhaps he thought he could revive the atmosphere.

“Ah, yes! It’s popular among young commoners in the capital these days, and it’s called polyamory, so it’s dating several people with mutual consent!”

(N: Polyamory- specifically refers to people who have multiple romantic relationships at the same time.)

“It looks like you have a lot of lovers.”

He asked casually.

Glancing at the Duke’s cold expression, the knight commander presumed that it was time to reverse the atmosphere.

He spoke in a fiery, loud voice.

“Yes! There are more than one or two lovers. Hahaha, what an open world.”

Clink!

With a loud noise, the teacup that Duke Anais was holding shattered.

At the same time, both the Knight Commander and Cassian, who received the gaze, were loud enough to make them shiver inside.

“Oh, that’s my mistake.”

Duke Anais said softly, as if he had ever done so. And he clenched his hand.

Soon the teacup was restored as if nothing had happened.

The knight commander, who felt the unfamiliar atmosphere, quickly changed the topic while wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

“…that- I mean… Your Majesty, let’s talk about the War. Our Knights are ready to obey your orders at any time.”

At those words, Duke Anais whispered with a look that didn’t show any joy at all.

“I’m glad.”

He didn’t even try to give a polite smile.

Cassian had never met the Duke of Anais before, nor had he really been interested in him.

No one knows the exact origin, but only the rumors of the most beautiful and rare heavy breed beast, and the strange notoriety of being a demon of war with monsters have only been heard.

But look at this man’s attitude right now.

The way he, who was said to be indifferent to everyone and said to be an emotionless beast, shows clear hostility towards him.

At that moment, Cassian recalled the letter that his sister had sent.

[Duke Anais seems to be a good person. Of course, we would have to wait and see, but for now!]

A red alarm began to sound in Cassian’s head.

No.

I don’t think the Duke of Anais was a good person, Astel.

I’m sure of this.

And that bastard… Something smells fishy about him.