Chapter 33: Disappearance Of Cassadin

Chapter 33: Disappearance Of Cassadin

Of course not.

I didnt fight with Cassadin. I was just avoiding him.

To think that I decided to become his nest, only to avoid him like this. I could laugh at myself. But I didnt have the certainty that I would be able to look him in the eyes.

It was because I couldnt forget those eyes glazed with madness, and I felt my breath get caught in my throat from his obsessive gaze.

Was I really this much of a scaredy-cat? A bitter laugh gurgled inside of me from shame.

Aren, is something the matter? You dont look well.

My face must have also shown this, as Father was looking at me with a concerned expression. I attempted to smile in order to reassure him that I was okay.

Its nothing.

Hearing that, Fathers eyebrows furrowed, and he drummed the desk a couple of times.

T-tap, t-tap.

His steady beat reminded me of raindrops falling down on a rooftop.

Father continued to play the melodic beat for a while quietly. It seemed that he already realized I was lying with his quick wit.

Aren.

Yes, Father.

If there is something you have on your mind, then Im here to listen.

Father stopped drumming the desk and gave me a faint smile.

Im always on your side.

It was just one sentence, but it held much more meaning inside of it. It was an unfathomable amount of affection and absolute trust. Fathers warm ray of kindness was enough to melt my frozen heart.

Because Ive been thinking that I had been tricking Father this entire time, I decided to tell Father about the events of my past life. Of course, since I also did not know how I returned to the past, I used the excuse of a dream.

Father, Ive actually dreamt a very long dream.

Dream?

Yes, a dream so terrible that I never want to dream it again. In fact, its closer to a nightmare than a dream. In that dream, Father was called to the battlefield, never to come back, and I died a miserable death. The nightmare was so vivid that I must have made you worry, Father.

I tightly grasped Fathers hand on top of the desk.

I see. What a horrifying nightmare.

His voice sounded as if he were calming a frightened child.

Aren, a nightmare is merely a nightmare. Us being here, alive and well, is proof, isnt it not?

A nightmare was just a nightmare. And I nodded in agreement to Fathers claims.

Hes right. The past has already passed, and Im here now, breathing and alive.

I still dont know how I returned to the past, but the fact that Father and I were alive, unlike the past. That was the unchangeable truth.

So there was no longer any reason for me to avoid Cassadin.

Leaving Fathers office, I immediately went to knock on Cassadins door.

Knock knock.

Cassadin.

It was the first time Id looked for Cassadin since that day. I played with my lips under the urge that I needed to control my expression.

But the closed door had no thought of opening.

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There was no way Cassadin didnt know I was avoiding him. So it might be that he wasnt opening the door on purpose, despite knowing I was outside.

So I cleared my throat and called out his name in an even gentler voice.

Cassadin.

But the door still remained closed. Even after bringing my ear up to the door, I couldnt hear a single sound inside, much less a person.

I started to get an uneasy feeling, so I burst open Cassadins door.

Hes able to sneak into the Imperial Palace, so it would be childs play for him to sneak past the servants.

If he wasnt in his room, then where was he? It was clear that he went out, but no one had seen him.

If Cassadin left like this and wouldnt come back, then it would be Father who would leave for the battlefield once again, and my plans to drag Damian down would fail.

Looking up through the window in uneasiness, I saw the skies darken with stormy clouds. The state they seemed to be in, with rain about to fall at any moment, was just how I felt inside at the moment.

It seems like it will rain soon.

At the same time that a servant muttered that to himself, the skies started to pour down large raindrops.

Plop. Plop.

The small number of droplets soon became many, and then they became too many to count.

Shwooooooo.

The rain seemed ready to soak everything within its boundaries. Staring up at the indifferent skies, I slowly opened my mouth.

Find him.

It was definitely my own voice, but the flat and tired voice sounded like it belonged to someone else.

Do whatever you need to do, however much money it takes.

We must find Cassadin before its too late. Do you all understand?

Y-yes, Miss!

With my command, the servants all scattered to their places. I even called for the mansions knights. I also put on a robe and made preparations to go out.

M-Miss!

Where are you going in the middle of all this rain?!

The servants and knights all went pale as they persuaded me not to go.

How can I call myself an older sister if I stayed inside when my one and only younger brother disappeared?

We will prepare for a carriage right away.

Its fine.

I waved a hand to express my refusal.

I dont need a carriage. I will be going alone.

All the servants shook their heads and refuted.

Its dangerous!

Who knows when this rain will stop?

We will all be mincemeat if Master finds out.

A few of the servants were already on their way to report this to Father. And watching them take their leave, I begrudgingly complied.

Alright.

It might be quicker to travel in a carriage than to walk in order to find Cassadin. So I agreed to the servants urges and got on the carriage.

Giddyup!

When I entered the carriage, the coachman started the horses. Sitting down, I clasped my hands together and prayed to a God I didnt even believe in. Please let us safely find Cassadin and return home.

After finishing my prayer and dropping my hands to my knees, I turned my head to the scenery outside. The rain seemed to have no intention of stopping anytime soon.

The wheat fields and hills that I could see outside were no different from usual, but they felt oddly depressing. Maybe it was because of the rain.

Thinking that Cassadin could possibly be out there, I made sure to take in every last person I could see. Just like the people rushing back home away from the rain or the people shaking from the cold of it.

But I couldnt see one hair that belonged to Cassadin.

How much had the carriage traveled? Time continued to pass until darkness had completely engulfed the skies. One by one, lights started to shine through the houses.

Just as I was massaging my tired eyes from looking out the entire time, someone caught my eye.

Wait. Stop the carriage.