I opened the window to tease him. A fresh breeze blew.

Anyway, I was glad Cassion found out about the blocked path.

Otherwise, he would have thought I’d changed my mind.

If he did, he would have poured out those harsh words like a waterfall with his pretty lips.

‘Oh, I hate just imagining it.’

I asked as I was tired imagining him spouting vitriol.

“Shouldn’t you find a proper way to get in and out?”

“Yes. That’s why I’m here. I just have to sneak in with straws a few more times.”

I had something to discuss with Cassion to deal with qualification for official entry and exit. Before that, I told him about what he asked me to do.

“The purchase of the twilight mansion is going smoothly.”

“Okay.”

“Do you have any questions?”

“Can’t I just look at that report?”

Cassion pointed to a report on my side.

“That’s right. You can just read this.”

I put the report near Cassion. Cassion reached for the report and stopped.

“Did Julia do anything?”

“Yes. Aside from the hole, it was nothing big. And you’ll be busy right now.”

He was looking into the Phoenix bank.

“What about you? Didn’t Julia bother you?”

“There was nothing much except that Julia’s person came once. It’s been a while since the last time Dyson came.”

I knew in advance that Julia would send someone to spy on Cassion’s palace. That’s why I had a hard time changing the state of this palace.

His palace was again filled with shabby bedding, worn clothes, and ragged, low-quality books.

“You’re doing great during my absence, right?”

“Yes. That’s why you didn’t call me, right?”

It was right that I did it on purpose, but it wasn’t not necessarily mean that I didn’t want to contact him.

It was fair to say that I couldn’t do it.

It would be a problem if someone knew that letters were coming in and out.

‘You must have been really upset that I didn’t come.’

“Don’t make that apologetic face. I know it’s because of Julia’s surveillance. Does that mean you have a way to deal with Julia if she finds out? Or did you find a way to go back and forth without being caught?”

Cassion asked a pretty sharp question. But both were the problem.

“No, I’m going to come even if I get caught.”

Cassion raised his eyebrows as if he were asking what in the world I was talking about.

“Is there a way?”

“You know, there’s only one.”

The wind blew through the open window. The wind blew Cassion’s fluffy hair.

Cassion, who was annoyed by it, brushed his hair back carelessly.

“Your expression is weird.”

Cassion pointed to me with a furrowed eyebrow. My face must have been distorted because I said it seriously.

Cassion’s expression imitating me was hilarious.

I said, biting on my cheek so that I couldn’t laugh.

“Your Highness, about that. Let’s talk seriously.”

“I’m sure you’re going to start a weird topic again.”

He had a reason to be nervous.

Because my demands could hurt him.

I wanted to give Cassion only good things if possible. I always wanted him to be happy while we were tied up in the name of marriage.

However, the way we had to get through was the thorny road, not the easy one.

‘I’ll make sure he doesn’t get hurt as much as I can.’

There were things that could be solved only when we were together.

‘This is what we need to do together.’

I took a deep breath. It wasn’t easy to bring it up. Because I knew the pain Cassion would be suffering.

And because he had become an important person to me before I knew it.

“Diana, why are you taking so long that it’s not like you. Don’t tell me you’re gonna marry me? Why, on second thought, I can’t marry or succeed the throne when I am in the state of dying.... Hmp.”

Cassion uttered mean words while I was choosing my words.

I’d rather cover his mouth than to act like an adult and comfort him.

His lips twitched under my palm as he continued to talk negative things.

“What do you mean you’re getting married? Stop talking nonsense. What I was going to say was by meeting His Majesty.”

Cassion’s reaction has become noticeably subdued. His eyes have changed from before.

I took my hand off his mouth as if he was finally in a serious state of speaking. I wiped the saliva off my palm on my handkerchief.

“....With father?”

His voice was dry. Cassion’s eyes changed not because he felt overwhelmed, but because he tried to hide his wounds.

It was like there was a thin film covering his emotions in his eyes.

I gave him water. He needed to drink some water and calmed down.

“Yes, I have to meet him.”

“His Majesty.. Why all of a sudden?”

“Why? I’ll meet His Majesty and get permission to marry us.”

“Pfft.”

Cassion spat out the water he was drinking.

So messy.

With a slightly wrinkled brow, I held out a handkerchief to him and patted him on the back.

“I’m fine, get your hands off me.”

Cassion snorted and pushed my hand.