Chapter 7: I Have Decided To Test Him.

Chapter 7: I Have Decided To Test Him.

It was early morning, and everyone was still asleep, and the boy had the audacity to come to my room and ask if we could sleep together.

Is he testing me?

Even when I had already told him I didnt bring him for his services, he didnt let his guard down and was still questioning me. He wouldnt have asked me to sleep together if that hadnt been the case.

He might have realized that I approached him with an ulterior motive.

It was probably because he knew I had other intentions that he could say such bold things. While using some sort of dumb excuse that hes too scared to sleep alone at that.

So I decided that I would purposely be tricked by Cassadin. If he was testing me, I just needed to prove to him that he didnt need to.

Of course, if thats what you want. Come here.

Cassadin, who was sitting at the end of the bed, instantly came closer to me as if he had been waiting.

Its the first night, and youre already struggling to sleep. It must be incredibly hard for you to be sleeping in a new environment.

I covered him with the blanket I had been using before he arrived.

Theres that, but more than that

Cassadin trailed off, slowly closing his eyelids. Maybe it was the moonlight, but his face looked a lot more melancholic from this angle.

More than that?

The people I had to kill to survive appear in my dreams every day. They crawl to me, covered in blood, whispering to me. Asking me why they had to die.

It was actually because I had the dream again that I came to your room, Sister.

Was what he said the truth or a lie? But even contemplating this in the first place was foolish.

I just had to put on the mask of a loving sister for Cassadin. In order for him to rely on me and completely open up to me.

That must be really hard. But its not your fault that those people died. You, as the person who did it, know that it was for the best, right?

But killing people is still killing.

Cassadin.

I gently called out his name. Then I stared intently at his face as he lay next to me, and he returned that gaze without looking away.

Do you know that youre really kind?

Me?

Yes, guilt is a feeling that only kind people have. At least you feel sorry for the people youve killed. And besides, you didnt wield your sword to kill, but just to protect yourself.

Damian killed me without any hesitation as I tried to pull away from him, and there would be no occasion where I would appear in his dreams.

Its the first time Ive ever been told that Im kind.

Just what kind of life have you been living?

Its an ordinary one. It wont be interesting.

Cassadin cut the conversation short with that. He had been trying to naturally change the topic every time the conversation mentioned his past, as if he were hiding something.

There was no need to dig into what he didnt want to mention. He didnt seem to want to tell the truth either. It was all information that could be found with a little research anyway.

I see. But I do wish you wouldnt be so tied up to your past.

That was something I was telling myself too. It was ironic that I, who was the most tied to the past, was saying such a thing.

I hope you arent bearing a wound thats already been ignored for so long. There will only be good days from now on, after all.

What I added were my wishes. Then I reached out and gently stroked Cassadins hair. Seeing me do so, he gave me a serene smile and said,

At the arena. Only one person, Sister. You alone were shining brightly.

But you shine even brighter up close.

What is it, Sasha? You dont normally wake me up at this time.

Well, Miss. Master is calling for you.

This early in the morning?

Sasha nodded in response to my question.

Alright. Ill be there shortly.

With the help of the maids, I quickly got prepared and went to my fathers office.

Before leaving for his office, I glanced at the room next door, but I couldnt sense anyone inside.

Look at him, waking me up and falling asleep comfortably in his own bed.

I grumbled to myself internally, then hurried my steps to soon arrive at Fathers office.

When I opened the door, I found Father busily flipping through documents at his desk.

Did you call me Father?

Youve come.

Father pushed the stack of papers aside and opened the conversation with a serious expression. He had dark rings under his eyes, most likely from a lack of good sleep last night.

I thought about it all last night. The slave you brought Aren, his name is Cassadin, was it? Ive thought about him.

Yes.

I thought about it long and hard. And I have made a decision.

What decision did you make?

Just when I asked him, Father suddenly slammed his hands on the desk. When I flinched in surprise, Father gave me a sweet smile as he answered.

I have decided to test him.

A test?

Yes, if he passes the test I give him, Ill allow him to become your younger brother.

What kind of test will it be?

It wont be fun if I tell you in advance. Youll find out soon.

And I was able to figure out what test my father had planned later that day at noon.

We have a large cavern in our territory. And its said that theres a medicinal herb only known to exist in legends within that cavern. Its called mountain hawthorn, a herb with red fruits and a very pleasant scent. All you need to do is bring me that herb.

Father had Cassadin seated in the living room as he started to explain the test.

Father, is the cave youre referring tothe one located on top of the steep cliff in the straight west?

Yes.

I let out a deep sigh. That cavern was already hard to reach with just the climb, but there were also rumors about a terrifying monster living inside.

Ill be on my way then.

But Cassadin merely bowed his head with an indifferent face and left for the cave. Watching his silhouette fade into the distance, I turned back to Father.

Father, you dont intend to accept Cassadin in the first place.

Aren, a slave is just a slave. You are my precious daughter. You will understand your fathers intentions one day.

Father gently patted my shoulder as he responded. If this were my fathers test, then it would be up to Cassadin to pass it.

[I will prove my worth here.]

And he truly kept his word.

Ive returned.

Because it didnt take even half a day for Cassadin to come back with the specific herb.