Chapter 42: Chapter 22.2

Yernia didn’t like Cassian at all.

If he hated her that much, then the feeling was mutual.

She wanted to get Cassian out of her sight if she could.

Yernia ran to her mother and told her about Cassian’s harsh criticism.

“Cassian’s father went to the battlefield, so he had  no place to put his attention.” The Countess sympathized with her and added,  “That must be why he quarrels with you all the time, Yernia.”

When Yernia heard that from her mother, she stopped and felt sorry for the cursed boy.

Yernia wouldn’t be able to stand it if her parents went on a one-day trip without her. How much more if her father decided to go to war?

From that day on, Yernia vowed to be nice to him.

“Little Duke!”

“……?”

“Come play with me.”

The door had burst open, and Yernia appeared.

Cassian, who had been staying as a guest in the Cillard mansion, had isolated himself in this room until now except on the first day.

He also ate alone here, and no one had dared to look for him like Yernia did.

“Let’s go boating!”

Except for one person.

“I told you not to come in.”

Yernia visited again today, and Cassian covered the book he was reading with a bang, indicating that he couldn’t read a book because of her interruption.

“Are you closing the book because you wanted to go too?”

“No, I closed it because of you, dummy.”

Yernia grabbed Cassian’s hand as if she couldn’t care less.

“Don’t you feel hot if you stay too long in your room? Let’s play instead. I’m bored by myself.”

“You don’t have any friends?”

“It doesn’t matter if I have friends or not. I want to play with you.”

“I don’t want to play with you.”

Nobody had rejected Yernia except Cassian, which made her a little embarrassed.

Fortunately, it didn’t hurt that much because she had low expectations of his character.

“Let’s go boating together. It would be fun. You won’t regret it.”

*SIGH*

Yernia was right.

Cassian was bored.

Four days had passed since he came to live in Cilliard Mansion.

Yernia had kept visiting his room during those four days, and she was already getting on his nerves.

It wasn’t like he hated her.

He was annoyed at her for disturbing his peace, but sometimes, Yernia was fascinating to watch.

Therefore, Cassian allowed himself to go with Yernia this time.

“It’s just boating.”

Cassian frowned as if Yernia had forced him to go. “All right.”

Yernia dragged him by the hand.

Cassian wasn’t in the mood for boating.

He had no choice but to do it because Yernia wanted it much.

Yernia dragged Cassian to a large lake behind the Cilliard Mansion.

The Count and Countess, who persuaded Yernia to bring Cassian out of his room, smiled broadly as they watched the two children walk hand in hand.

“Yernia, come here.”

“Princess has never been on a boat.”

After carrying Seria to the boat, the Count reached out a hand towards Yernia, but she shook her head and pushed Cassian forward instead.

He was standing too far from the group as if he never wanted to be there.

“I’ve been on a boat. It’s nothing.”

“Really?” Yernia asked.

Cassian had lied because he had never been on a boat before.

His father was too occupied with other things, and his mother was often sick.

Even if he wanted to go out and explore, he had no companion.

In addition to that, there was no lake behind Lecardo’s mansion.

She didn’t have to know the truth if he just went along with it.

Appearing ignorant in front of her felt like losing.

“Yes. I rode a boat before.”

“Oh, my.”

Climbing a rocking boat was more challenging than he thought.

The arrogant little earl next to Cassian jumped unto the ship with confidence.

“Our little Duke is as skinny as our Yena. You need to gain some weight, child.”

“No! I don’t weigh the same as Yena. I’m lighter!”

Cassian had the guts to say that in front of her parents.

Yernia opened her arms, asking his father to carry her to the boat.

The count smiled and lifted her.

“Little Duke.” Yernia sat next to Cassian and reminded him. “You still didn’t tell me your name.”

He watched the water currents, which appeared like dark blue paints spilling around them, sway and shake the boat.

“What’s the point of knowing?”

“I see. It’s fine if your name is embarrassing.”

“What?”

“It’s alright. You can tell me your name. I won’t reveal it to anyone else.”

When she brought her ears close to his mouth in anticipation, Cassian frowned at Yernia.

If she was that curious, she could have asked someone else.

Why did she want to know his name, anyway?

How annoying!

Cassian turned his head away and ignored her again.

“Brat.”

Yena dipped her hands in the water and lifted them.

Cassian was in a bad mood again, so Yernia played a prank by splashing him with water.

The wrinkles on his forehead crumpled even more, when the water touched his face.

He scowled at her.

“Oh!”

Cassian, the one and only heir of the Duke, had never been treated like this.

The Emperor and his parents were the only people who addressed him informally, and none of them had ever splashed water on him for no good reason.

Yernia’s behavior was beyond irritating.

“I’m sorry.”

Yernia felt hurt that Cassian didn’t like her friendly attempts at getting close to him.

The Count and the Countess had repeatedly told her that it wasn’t a joke if the other side didn’t accept it.

Of course, it was the boy’s fault!

With just one glance, Yernia apologized sadly and hugged the Count.

Cassian raised an eyebrow at her.

What was she doing?

Didn’t she care about what he would say?

How could her face turn blank while she asked her father to hold her in his arms just because Cassian expressed annoyance?

“Hey.”

“I told you that I’m sorry.”

Yernia buried her face in the crook of his father’s neck, refusing to show her face to him.

Cassian called Yernia again, but the only response she could make was ‘ I’m sorry.’ not ‘Why?’

She was so energetic earlier.

“Sorry? Is that all?”  Cassian spat.

“…….”

He regretted opening his mouth.

Cassian felt a bit guilty because he didn’t mean to say that aloud.

He was about to tell Yernia to do things she usually did, but all she did was apologize.

He heard a loud sniffle followed by a whimper.

The Count looked awkward as he held Yernia in his arms.

Was she crying?