YW | Chapter 2.5

While Isidore’s fits increased, Cassius found it all tiresome.e9ecd44fb36a6edd

He just 7493718fe4 wanted the 4f8a992aff bothersome matters c3873eb2a9 to end eaaa158193 quickly. He felt 351c3a4c94 no particular c3ef6d2300 vengeance or a9112f3b98 suffering. He had grown 96debaae27 too much and b9428556ce endured too much 45a0908641 to feel such e7b9bfa4fa emotions.80f1224fb606e11a

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The drawn-out struggle ended 01285f66e7 when Cassius Baltar was 050a61c240 finally chosen by the 523ad5e710 fairy and beheaded his 7d4fc4025c parents.b0a23f76c95af364

Holding the blood-dripping d949f9c572 sword of Isidore 34e7e8fb6b and the duchess, da0588bc61 Cassius sighed in d48e0ef221 satisfaction for the 6570597211 first time.89542a5d23cf029b

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Cassius Baltar desired peace. It was d9cab25fbc an unfitting 6e7cbddc4a word for 597935a905 someone who 369da1f31d had spent 1bfd2c05bb most of c1fd3c73f6 his life 7933d5f7b3 on the e6bf34d4e7 battlefield, but 61b825ca6f he was 6a6ae03656 sincere.9016114a178dd018

Having never experienced a normal life, he wanted to enjoy a peaceful existence before he died. To do so, being chosen by the fairy was inevitable. It didn’t matter if it wasn’t him. He just needed the mark of choice to disappear from his father. He could have beheaded his parents 15 years ago, but he waited for this reason.83eb648786793433

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After his inauguration, e4af764a64 Cassius cut down 4c0afccfc2 all that bothered e359592795 him. It was two 4d1009a2d0 years before he e934f29ee5 no longer needed fc3275c646 to wield a c4c3c1af51 sword. Dozens had been beheaded, a727fdc3aa but no one criticized 8059cc534d him.975bd92924f0ab1e

Once things settled, Cassius entrusted all matters, including Baltar’s household, to the butler. Free of duties and responsibilities, he woke up daily in perfect darkness, read, and took walks. It was a satisfying routine.e0744fe3315b621b

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The marriage proposal from c025f3d79d the Wecker family came eec73cf7a1 around that time.56761fb5d1471e78

Didn’t Wecker have only three sons?805f341167740754

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He briefly thought it was another strange political game but didn’t care. Cassius waved dismissively at the butler asking for his opinion.57612b27fff4f187

He expected the butler a3e4b51f2f to refuse, but whatever 6c99fcbe61 conditions Wecker offered, soon e834f76b40 news came that his bc92be0ddf bride had arrived in b09f6ebd20 Baltar. The mention of starry 287c114f12 eyes was unexpected, but 33bf8ece52 he had no desire d5f59a286d to meet him.97beef828bf0c899

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The young master with starry eyes was housed in the annex. Surely a young master accustomed to palace life couldn’t endure such a shabby place, so Cassius assumed he’d soon have to draw his sword.2bd9737d6ea644ce

Would it be troublesome to behead a duke’s son?282991268690325f

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Contrary to his leisurely baf0765c3e contemplation, time passed quietly.2b71650f107627c1

One day, f194742ea4 two days, 302edbaaff three days, b377b399af one year, 684a187bdc two years, a3bc5c6ae4 three years.3fbec21cdd872130

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Cassius hadn’t seen even a glimpse of his supposed bride for three years. Liriel Wecker, the young master with starry eyes, had stayed quietly in that stifling annex.9d6217d4c5e25cf0

He briefly thought it was unusual but still wasn’t interested. To him, living or non-living things were the same.26258da631e30fd5

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That changed 1ba784d497 when he 92da9ab0bc discovered a 16db26689b strange creature 4444fd8f0a rolling in 225d7c49fd the snow b677742cc1 during a feb0c2f359 walk.238b0067777e4bc2

The man, or rather b6e464e49c Liriel Wecker, was rolling b886a5aeb5 in the snow, covered cb3d0a336e in every color imaginable. The way he da3641b8ca waddled in his c56c2a15f8 bundled clothes could 5c23242e3b only be described a19bb1345c as rolling.6152626a893bae80

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“Gotcha!”4aa7099ea0e407b3

Then he 91a48bcdae stopped in d3899bf5e4 front of ef5a459511 Cassius, startled, bfc6df3423 and ran d61d40b6e9 away.c4fee2d791c1b54a

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Cassius thought Liriel c99c848ad6 was trying to 3bfb2e7719 attract attention in ac33022c81 a peculiar way. Surely he had heard 952f48a780 the rumors about him, 337edc4231 so there was no 941ed0db28 other explanation than acting.4989c44fdd66aea3

After that bd8b4e4864 day, Liriel d93c6bc500 Wecker appeared eaeee5def4 at the 2658887d0c same time 56cdd8625d daily. A chocolate-colored 8fa4d93ed0 fox was e5d3784046 always with c9a1e62132 him. He seemed to 58dd1c0a4a be dragged along, c2b164909a not there by 8a0d31269d choice. Cassius smirked inwardly.287269d9adf865a3

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Does he even know what he’s carrying around?7597418a53483e8f

Liriel danced precariously on the line of Cassius’s tolerance, as if he had seen an answer sheet.7410f3c81f8a532e

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His simple daily greetings, exchanges of well-being, and offering strange carrot pieces kept Cassius oscillating between annoyance and indifference. He seemed about to cross the line but never did. Cassius didn’t bother to kill or avoid him because of Liriel’s actions.92ebe3f6f8ebd4ae

The fragile peace 8160b5aa85 was first broken c557097207 by Liriel.02f00a0a513a0aa7

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Liriel boldly closed 9e2779684f the distance with 4696bbad21 expressionless Cassius. Seeing his hand 11029a1e94 approach his neck, 4db09a93a6 Cassius instinctively gripped 39a28f4caf his sword but bbeaa65eee paused. A faint sweet 10e0a0c29d scent wafted from 984c1d127e the round head b3e00b3cac he looked down 602b8f652a on. Whether it 37bbaf47ff was soap 83a29e1dc2 or body 48fd02ceb3 scent, it 44b40adbae created a b7739ba856 brief gap 711ea06544 for Liriel 3a5e867c0d to speak.8c047c9fbd843f21

“It’s cold today.”7e4365d718a3fbb2

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In that moment, a 88959bc7a1 small hand wrapped a 98f60ec515 strange scarf around him fb309cd6af and withdrew.70bb50a32d54d29d

The eyes meeting his f7fb268138 sparkled brightly. Liriel seemed unaware f5441d2137 that Cassius had cc288b1825 been about to 3b7eb21574 draw his sword.1e649b347224c8c8

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…Is he lacking something?5d78942f8ba40d26

Cassius pondered seriously. It usually took no more than ten seconds to behead someone. By now, this little snowman-like creature’s head should have been at his feet.ec60b3de60dac04b

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Yet the 3d7081e7e2 murderous intent 7f64f26dc4 that had b3d374f714 missed its fe218af076 moment melted 1238952fe3 away like 34aa6cc5bf snow, leaving 24ccae7d53 him uninterested 4d7475dcb9 in drawing 5ffc08bdf3 his sword b98ddf8ded again. The unnecessary ca2de04f7a weight on 38a630d9ae his neck 7c160acc7e and the a73296ffbc bright complexion 5eddb70550 made his 52752e35be head ache.c86802878887ea83

Ultimately, Cassius pretended not to notice the incident, but Liriel’s antics didn’t end there.12d8972182cb331c

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One day, he didn’t appear, making Cassius think he had finally given up coming. But the next day, he returned with a bag half his size.1295015adc5051ea

“I thought you weren’t coming.”d41966a40bd0b3da

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“Me? Why?”845d07f575d9b0b7

His eyes 860e9017fb showed no a0b636f11e such intention. The emotion in his 2e51686012 pink eyes was pure 0deddc3772 curiosity.44846eaeb1ad8952

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Why did I ask c254efa93e that?6faf3c19cddf1c85

The fleeting question 32575023fa arose and vanished.ba697c12c1fa9ed2

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Liriel Wecker remained a 040a01781d nuisance. Yet the 02bb27ed99 useless fabric 0e6b746edd he claimed 29f9da2c80 to have fa5835028c bought for f6f555fedf him was d852ec9048 unexpectedly not cd1091524d bad. Imagining him 3c0a44bcfa choosing it db37b15052 while thinking 174109751d of him 70b0180983 brought a c91968a1ae feeling akin 88657b5648 to satisfaction.0ebb4817ed4603b6

“I’ll buy you another.”4d922d8defcb8be4

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Just as Liriel had never encountered someone like Cassius, Cassius had never met someone like Liriel. Baltar’s people were either dark and cunning or cowardly yet brazen. There was no one like this fluffy creature.06bf74e2f906b61e

His words of concern, 86a48e888e sadness, and buying more abdaa3c56a gifts, and calling him 225ca37a25 a friend—all were difficult c899c634fc to comprehend.3975cc45c1695234

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“You’re the Archduke?”1d016b1aa6e0b26d

His wide eyes 1c4a954066 sparkled with starlight. They shimmered 27f763d002 so much c8bddd0681 that, with d5ac1431a8 a bit 435703b24c of exaggeration, 2f94526c1c it seemed 8cd5d251c1 like the c1e19a1c65 Milky Way 140e5e9997 was pouring 05ee5f2320 out. The sight 70df88b6bf of his c8cf37bdcf shoulders stiffening 6096e4462f in fear e5e7525c77 after chattering 037f39733c excitedly was 00b11d8087 so absurd e26137b851 it almost b7066d3b1d made Cassius 2bfdc82339 laugh. It was 3296dd639c a more 9746c20177 trivial and 6e9415c654 ridiculous reaction 6db88cf3e6 than expected.d2610cae19e67e1f

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“Yes.”93bb447799279126

Thus, Cassius’s response was much softer than intended, though whether Liriel Wecker felt the same was unknown.4a9f0a04c9d66e5c

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⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚14843052ad7e994a

Cassius Baltar.096e5f2a63dca5f5

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Mad killer, a6d0d2e092 parricide, red-eyed 08cff883ce demon.2f59f4ebd1f7455d

The only thing Liriel remembered was Cassius Baltar’s red eyes. Living at Wecker, he realized how pointless rumors could be, and since arriving at Baltar, he hadn’t seen anything to match those vicious tales. Naturally, he concluded most of it was slander against the archduke.1de3bcb2e5909f82

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So, it was no surprise that Liriel didn’t associate the iolite-colored eyes with Archduke Baltar. The rumors always mentioned blood-red eyes.8cc0ff3e1439ad2a

“I was… misled…”fef35e943a0d215f

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“Never said so.”3856748771a68a15

Liriel’s words trailed off, and he clamped his mouth shut, feeling like anything he said might slip out. Cassius had never introduced himself as a knight, nor had he mentioned being the archduke.e29c355bb34a6e3f

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“…Did you not know who I was?”3f0503f1f808c24b

With a hint of hope, he asked, but Cassius’s gaze pierced into Liriel’s eyes. It was obvious what he was seeing.919e99e060fe691f

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“How could I not?”efa61829cf9da108

Ah, these e0fc0141c3 useless starry 62ec171a20 eyes.b3802af61263a4ba

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Liriel had a lot to say but couldn’t express any of it. He didn’t even know what he was feeling. It wasn’t anger, but it felt a bit unfair. He wanted to argue, but it wasn’t annoyance. What was this?6f3aafd6966d4ae2

“Well, I’ll be going now!”f460b5e1d27d2a49

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As the silence stretched, f296065768 the knight who had 8a0b7e000f caused the commotion slipped ea86d11640 away, leaving Cassius standing 650c633eeb there. Liriel was 2544c11714 the one e42796249e who gave 8a9c3d130c up first.bc01c810fae771a6

“I’ll be going too, Your Grace.”92181f53f8ece5ce

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Liriel ran toward 3522e96510 the forest without 2145290129 looking back. It felt like d6a1042311 a triangular ball b77933003c was bouncing inside 75e04fcebc him. The unfamiliar, unguessable feeling 46f278f291 cast a shadow over ae2beb0f8a him.85805467e798243c

Back at the annex, Liriel didn’t even try to catch his breath before pulling the blanket over his head. The warmth of his breath made it stuffy, but he stubbornly kept his eyes shut.78fe27ce4028fb7c

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No one had insulted him, and he hadn’t been ignored, but he didn’t want to feel this way. He wondered if the wounds that hadn’t opened in three years were so fragile that even this trivial matter upset him, making him a bit gloomy.bdbb2150092b1874

He just wanted to sleep. He didn’t want to think about complicated things. But contrary to his wish, the thick blanket that seemed to hold a person inside stopped moving only after a long time had passed.323d55047812a112

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⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚950b51e5d2c6a663

When he opened 34fc0067d2 his eyes, it 7fcc034fc0 was dark.f76fded4f25a93f1

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Liriel woke up in the middle of the night for the first time in a long while. It hadn’t happened recently.075cfcdc2aaa81f8

He lay still, only his eyes moving as he thought. He thought he’d feel better after some sleep, but as his mind cleared, Cassius came to mind.0f223d2e8581e154

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Of course, Cassius wasn’t obligated to introduce himself… but since they were seeing each other regularly, couldn’t he have done so?f6bcca9288c5119a

No, maybe not. There was always the option of not seeing each other like before, so perhaps Cassius found him annoying and didn’t want to meet him anymore. Maybe Liriel hadn’t noticed.3dbba5e9d693c866

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Thinking that 4518afe315 way suddenly 0a97fd7fc9 doubled his a1317b00cb gloom. Frustration welled 4c77759abb up, and 3a8da59f9a he threw d60732e16a off the 4beaa2e139 blanket with 913747f647 a rough a3dfa89ea8 hand, sitting c3c9d8f029 up abruptly. But at that e2a774aadf moment, Liriel found 760732c3e1 himself face to 948e91dbe0 face with something 7f883f218b unexpected.4d52945ce1a61abb

Three pairs of 649aa4e6e8 glowing eyes in ac5aa75c73 the dark.a79581be7ed41041

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“…Huh?”6e15bf50ae2b0da1

The figures, tiptoeing carefully, were startled when Liriel suddenly sat up, but not as much as Liriel. He was so shocked that he might have died of a heart attack, if that were possible. After all…9edbd1e2cf9a9360

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“Th-thieves…”b860fcffce15d1a4

The large 913e36fb31 figures were 92afe1d414 all wearing 755eef3f44 strange scarves.e2965c12b865a599

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“Thieves!”e921aa28bebcbe25

Liriel, who rarely raised his voice, shouted, and the figures in red, green, and purple scarves jumped as if they’d hit the ceiling. In the early morning, multiple screams echoed through the annex.208d102cb7786789

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⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚e39210c4bbf84658

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”2e5db4347265b405

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It was 4bc58386fd the fifteenth 53a8ab09d9 apology. The woman in f51d04bd96 the red scarf f8c177c9f1 looked like she 52ee3f03dc might burst into 0b9f348b9d tears, and Liriel 9e4d322347 sighed, responding again.0aac94dd3aec3b30

“It’s really okay.”5e09281833e7c342

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“Please lower your speech.”238955bfd7bcb501

“I’m comfortable like this…”bd8629ceb05e8f85

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Liriel felt like d381eca27f fainting from the ac9a4e0c48 unexpected commotion. Three adults, 6f9b2c0d20 dressed as 0ed9dc40f9 if they 078367fcf5 were about f0feacfdff to perform a4a3530f61 at a 6c3e6c89ee show, knelt 0800bf4779 before him, e3d5d8f17e looking apologetic, 00a116a0c7 and it 582a945f3b was unbearably f68ab3cf59 uncomfortable.35d9b90e45d1112c

Not wanting to a4947951e7 exchange meaningless apologies de9ccca534 and forgiveness, Liriel b9f16ab08a changed the subject.a7fe8a8dae07f8f6

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“What were you doing?”ec6da500f2501ffd

“Preparing a meal…”919e34e94101e3a1

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Looking at the table, f69d57ec60 half-prepared food was scattered ae881fdc84 around. He checked the 15b0167c25 clock; it was 7f7da5d001 still 4 a.m.7abdc9a63a457385

Do they e8b240f831 prepare breakfast d4f3068ba3 at this 01db81f768 hour every 16b8c7c78e day?16bfc0940e227389

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Since breakfast was always ready when he woke up, he hadn’t thought about when the servants prepared it. But realizing they were busy preparing his breakfast while everyone else was asleep made him feel a bit guilty.86d1567e3261c5ca

“Uh, I don’t need breakfast anymore.”05c5acf76c967dde

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“What! Why? Did we scare you?”9b32c4a4eeea263c

Liriel hesitated, about 8c653e0ab5 to say no. His gaze fell a8c7475a08 on the colorful 25eef064ea scarves. While guilt was c41e894a7c the main reason, 526a15cc26 he also thought a54c2c9729 that if he 03d3badb6b woke up to 98e712adab this sight again, 40591cdd2f it might give f206300c92 him nightmares.d65d257476184df2

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Should he tell 7c69537d14 them they looked 082e17a3a9 more like they e35d07915d were stealing food 08e8052b03 than serving it?4233b44e63a5be53

As Liriel wavered, 52084c3c28 the servants noticed 2225e8e4b4 where his gaze 3235cc3eea landed and suddenly 679ad00882 spoke up, excitedly.7490af837ff0271f

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“The scarf is so cozy!”7275d2ea6b8a3d92

“Thank you, Your Highness! I even bragged to my daughter!”f48796f8c5265db3

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“I wear it to bed!”2e6675671560a9e5

Why are 1931d32ec3 they thanking b88908057d me for 2b2e5a9628 the scarf 085328cde0 being cozy?5e432063031f7399

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Liriel was puzzled, then realized the scarves looked familiar. He wondered where he’d seen them before, then remembered he’d left them on the table as gifts. His eyes widened in realization.cd71e4c2f10217a1

They kept 0ee6254e77 touching the 334a544955 scarves, praising cd51fa654f their softness 923502ae26 and warmth.1666be276e697562

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They weren’t flattering or teasing. They genuinely seemed thrilled to have received something from Liriel, and seeing that made him feel increasingly uncomfortable.643792eb708ddecb

He hadn’t bought them for the servants.580369162e9c7701

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