Chapter 51

✿

“Was Cassian Gray within the longitude?”

However, the other person showed an unexpected reaction.

“Well, that’s… Sir Cassian Gray went on sick leave for a while.”

I could feel Ropa staring at me.

“Sick leave?” Duke Anais asked briefly.

“Yes, yes! He’s a very healthy human being. He fell down on the floor like a withered spinach, so I didn’t know if he’d ever be able to go back to the North, Haha! Was it because he’s upset that he got disciplined?”

“…”

Regardless of being healthy or sick, Cassian Gray will now be banned from entering the North again, Duke Anais sneered and raised his head lightly.

“Haha, what else is there…?”

Although there was nothing more to say, Rofa awkwardly continued to scratch his head.

Duke Anais stopped his steps as he was about to sail to the Rose Knights’ Room.

I could see the gentle breeze drying the sweat on Ropa’s forehead.

He decided to revise the evaluation of this Knight Commander, who he thought was quite honest.

“Sir Ropa Schellind.”

He wasn’t very good at acting. To the point where it smells quite suspicious even to strangers.

Or maybe he was simply not good at lying.

“That’s…”

Ropa kept opening his mouth, reading the Duke’s countenance.

“It’s a matter of his privacy, so I couldn’t tell you the details…”

“Sir Cassian Gray is a knight who will be transferred to the North after being summoned to the Monster War.”

He was thinking of preventing Cassian Gray from going north anyway.

However, it was particularly special to reveal what this dubious man was hiding right now.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Information on who will become a knight under my command must be shared with me in advance, even for the honor of the Knights.”

“But it’s still Sir Cassian’s private life, so it’s a little difficult…”

Duke Anais squinted at the word ‘privacy‘.

“I’ll have to find out for myself.”

Then, the eyes of the knight commander Ropa shook violently.

Rumors of Cassian Gray spread all over the place.

If it’s all true information, people who were jealous of handsome and popular knights mixed more malice among the gossip.

In that case, it would have been better off saying it himself.

“…I’ll tell you.”

“Yes.”

“…That’s, in fact, it’s only nominal sick leave, and it seems that Cassian’s personal appointment was a bit difficult these days. Should I say family affairs?”

“Family affairs?”

He had little interest in Cassian’s family affairs.

Cassian was an orphan and grew up in Zenet Orphanage.

But I think there was something wrong with him.

However, Ropa shook his head and spoke.

“Yeah. Apparently, he has a bit of a relationship with a woman, of course, he’s been in a relationship with all the women neatly by agreement so far, but somehow…”

The Duke slightly pointed out the nuance contained in Ropa’s omitted words.

“In short, Cassian Gray is in a truce right now. Isn’t this?”

“Yes. Maybe there’s a child… Oh, this is just my guess. It’s not reliable at all.”

He stared intently at Ropa Schellind.

Ropa Schellind was not just gossiping about Cassian Gray, but was genuinely worried.

Therefore, there was a high probability that his behaviour was true.

Because Cassian Gray is one of the most promiscuous prodigals.

“It seems that all the money he earned from the Knights was wasted on love, so…this guy, I’m really worried these days.”

With every word added, the image of Cassian Gray in the Duke’s mind was slashed again.

‘How can he ask Astel for money while squandering money on another woman?’

In many ways, he’s a human being below the standard.

“But I’m not saying this because he’s a knight under my command, Sir. He’s quite genuine. In addition, he has excellent skills. He never had any accidents when I participated in the war, so I’m sure there will be no problem this time.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

As if he didn’t want to hear about him any more, the Duke took another step.

Ropa Schellind falters during the day when he’s still alive.

Leaving him behind, the Duke decided to think only good thoughts all day instead of Cassian Gray, who was annoying.

As long as Astel was in the North, there was nothing to worry about hastily because she would never meet Cassian for the time being.

Besides, in two days I’d be returning to my castle.

With all kinds of gifts for Astel.

I’ve also warned Astel firmly about Cassian Gray, and her mind was opening little by little.

So, wouldn’t I be able to do everything I thought of when I first brought Astel to the Castle?

Warm thoughts, like the moderate afternoon sunlight, ran through his mind.

Unfortunately, however, at that time, Cassian Gray was in the Northern Duchy on his sick leave.

Holding a child’s hand.

✿

Inside the Duke’s guest room.

With a pounding heart, I stopped outside the room where my brother was waiting.

‘The man I referred to as my friend appeared.’

My older brother appeared without revealing his name, Cassian Gray.

Thanks to the fact that I warned the maids that my friend would come, my brother was able to enter the Northern Duke Castle without any problems.

After being bitten by all the maids, including Sally and Jenny, I took a deep breath and strode inside the room.

As soon as I entered, my brother, Cassian Gray, who disguised himself with a black robe, came into view.

I walked closer, looking at my brother.

On the edge of my brother’s robe was a tiny fist size of a parrot baby.

‘Parrot? Isn’t that a baby?’

Why is there a parrot here?

It was around the time I was reviewing the original timeline of the story in my head.

My brother called carefully.

“Astel…”

After my attention was turned to the parrot, I saw my brother’s face and stiffened.

My brother’s eyes, who always smiled and teased me for being a crybaby, were red.

He has never cried in front of me until now.

But now…

As my gaze reached the corners of his eyes, he lowered his hood down a little more to cover his face.

It looked like he was about to cry again.

The only difference is that what Cassian brought was a parrot, not a child, and this scene was also in the original.

When Cassian handed over his child during the day when he was about to cry, Astel in the original was embarrassed and started crying.

Such a situation gave Cassian a greater sense of debt.

In order not to do the same as Astel did in the original, I tried to pretend to be calm and spoke.

“Idiot, why are you crying?”

“…I’m sorry.”

The always playful smile was gone, and his throat seems sore.

“What’s going on? What’s that parrot?”

I stared at him, straightening my shoulders, pretending to be a trustworthy adult.

Then my brother carefully touched the parrot’s wings next to him.

“This parrot…”

I watched my brother’s actions silently.

A parrot jumped over my brother’s lap.

Staring intently at it, I closed my eyes for a moment and then opened it, and the parrot had become a baby.

A little surprised, I raised my trembling hand and put it around my lips.

“What’s this…”

In the original novel, there was no record that the child was a beast.

However, in my head, a description came to mind that the male protagonist used various ancient magic to hide the child.

Perhaps, in order to bring a child who’s difficult to disguise its identity, he must have used ancient magic to enter the Duke’s Castle.

That must have been the reason why the child disguised itself as a parrot.

I was deeply moved by the appearance of a three-year-old child, but on the outside, I tilted my head and pretended to be puzzled.

“So… What’s going on?”