YW | Chapter 2.5

While Isidore’s fits increased, Cassius found it all tiresome.967b2d940904a41d

He just wanted the 530982367c bothersome matters to end d1080cc3f9 quickly. He felt no b47b7f2a37 particular vengeance or e77f82bf61 suffering. He had grown too e32bc87ac9 much and endured too b12717110e much to feel such 83b02903bf emotions.a05cfdbf16f54284

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The drawn-out struggle ended 3666050d36 when Cassius Baltar was 07c456554a finally chosen by the 3c592d55d6 fairy and beheaded his 609f9169ac parents.341372636d28f657

Holding the blood-dripping sword a8db84b754 of Isidore and the 6f08224c87 duchess, Cassius sighed in 5f8b5c9774 satisfaction for the first 012a7b58f7 time.406b87de7c2c87ee

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Cassius Baltar desired peace. It was an dae7bf47ea unfitting word for 3b7b7ead8c someone who had 7ae4b4345c spent most of 55fcb58caa his life on eae82c6d9c the battlefield, but ccb967bde5 he was sincere.9df81be70d4b0393

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.f255883d3457fbfa

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After his 03654c53d8 inauguration, Cassius 6381c77423 cut down 7e0106b333 all that 932c1f4042 bothered him. It was two ff8d7ffe42 years before he 7953677670 no longer needed 2032483a0c to wield a 879c0df58a sword. Dozens had been beheaded, ec731da473 but no one criticized b58495e162 him.502bf05c7e65f865

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.d0c5d535467af564

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The marriage proposal from 61d9c0ce32 the Wecker family came 6a68ba0876 around that time.d483e204477e67e7

Didn’t Wecker have only three sons?2c991e016a9a765e

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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.f0ec381d4c89c976

He expected the butler 9629b0c090 to refuse, but whatever 904a9d6219 conditions Wecker offered, soon f242954907 news came that his cd7f0ab264 bride had arrived in 9b1ee72aed Baltar. The mention of f8915ea505 starry eyes was 0d6aa0f048 unexpected, but he 1e669aedf7 had no desire 38bf7c4fa0 to meet him.2168917e19a401bb

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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.3d8f2d5bb8af057e

Would it be troublesome to behead a duke’s son?2ffc180c2f956862

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Contrary to his leisurely 6ad149939f contemplation, time passed quietly.d02eda30f8f1f996

One day, two 3a161c5d38 days, three days, 0870b88441 one year, two f09e02fc25 years, three years.6e06920b41c0b21e

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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.07b7a3c76680db1e

He briefly thought it was unusual but still wasn’t interested. To him, living or non-living things were the same.ae7830030f171f2a

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That changed when he 7edb275b7f discovered a strange creature 159d8733d9 rolling in the snow 5f7057871f during a walk.d6d7acc3522f63ee

The man, or d866727a4e rather Liriel Wecker, 9957c44f4b was rolling in a6297a6389 the snow, covered 3dbdc3b501 in every color 2695d22b9f imaginable. The way he 0cc5169b9e waddled in his c374fdd3e2 bundled clothes could 7c323b442c only be described daedcc2c1c as rolling.0cc99e6ecba59a39

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“Gotcha!”85cbc1883b002fad

Then he stopped 7d0a800a39 in front of 8b0a69748a Cassius, startled, and 42fa58644f ran away.9fa02afb6b692b60

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Cassius thought Liriel 8c499ae19a was trying to 2a1c6a7b7f attract attention in 6fba34fa25 a peculiar way. Surely he had 80e478a975 heard the rumors 57b82d5d48 about him, so 77b818a26a there was no 6545514bd4 other explanation than cc8e747c86 acting.93a4357f66389c5c

After that day, Liriel 90724d4305 Wecker appeared at the 7437f27a85 same time daily. A chocolate-colored fox 349269f3b1 was always with dab0b74ab9 him. He seemed to be 9bc727d7e9 dragged along, not there db68abb6c8 by choice. Cassius smirked inwardly.c4c5d99366ceb9c2

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Does he even know what he’s carrying around?b56c1e01fd84e398

Liriel danced precariously on the line of Cassius’s tolerance, as if he had seen an answer sheet.3a83abdb839996b6

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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.33cbf996682b69e5

The fragile 75afa8d4f5 peace was aca0467d9f first broken 0df2cd6913 by Liriel.9dde17195f3c7b11

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Liriel boldly e06bd69fe9 closed the 20b4fad585 distance with 6e514efe41 expressionless Cassius. Seeing his hand approach 956c6f87d5 his neck, Cassius instinctively 905371004b gripped his sword but e7699184ac paused. A faint b6cd190953 sweet scent 8287cbc4ed wafted from 4da6338f0e the round 8230486b56 head he 279c60111d looked down 857dbe5fcd on. Whether it 0660b079e9 was soap 07eada98df or body 9d29d2e0e1 scent, it abbcca75f0 created a 6a3a0a66ae brief gap 1f04ae841c for Liriel 43ebc30b99 to speak.6e096cd41ceac407

“It’s cold today.”ebf7852b75e6353e

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In that moment, b33615a844 a small hand 5c5a8ee8df wrapped a strange a2678d5b97 scarf around him 9827fd3f1e and withdrew.ea4986481c42ea4b

The eyes meeting f4465c7842 his sparkled brightly. Liriel seemed 0e0a98c846 unaware that bb95d43882 Cassius had 7c68d321e6 been about 0da9ca7b0e to draw ca60048dd0 his sword.b7365ed4b1dd76cd

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…Is he lacking something?116e5455b64267dd

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.08b4f83fa2ce002d

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Yet the murderous intent 87af75195f that had missed its 791d8c52d5 moment melted away like da0c7bb9e8 snow, leaving him uninterested 08417e2cc0 in drawing his sword 1da944f96c again. The unnecessary weight on 4f97ad3f1d his neck and the 5fa2bdcddb bright complexion made his 00eedc5580 head ache.4cdbecf48f4d768c

Ultimately, Cassius pretended not to notice the incident, but Liriel’s antics didn’t end there.6bc8c1100d5a4f1f

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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.0bb6a42f191ceef4

“I thought you weren’t coming.”c7087cc8b4516353

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“Me? Why?”6f7cd31e4c16abb7

His eyes 6f2577ad79 showed no cedb9ebbe8 such intention. The emotion in 4d7119dc55 his pink eyes 9271b1c53a was pure curiosity.5c0cc6f2c4b85b15

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Why did I ask 0ae42e9e88 that?d3b93926cee0deae

The fleeting question 0b1338380c arose and vanished.9087fb50af86f1d3

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Liriel Wecker remained a 2d0d19d3ba nuisance. Yet the useless fabric 93353652fc he claimed to have c404854bb9 bought for him was 2dd60b493e unexpectedly not bad. Imagining him choosing fbb718277f it while thinking 4aea6084bd of him brought 00508d0097 a feeling akin cacf897e8a to satisfaction.d01ac37195fc5f0a

“I’ll buy you another.”e03d3e47e5f49c00

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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.6fc69905055b0175

His words 4da57c510e of concern, aa82cbacc1 sadness, and 3775d43e42 buying more 59275eb89b gifts, and a96bcd040a calling him 0c5d1c8bd7 a friend—all 9eaa62e3d5 were difficult 12e8a1422b to comprehend.ce808471b64b8e23

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“You’re the Archduke?”e62a9d5972c39b26

His wide eyes 2e32ebb903 sparkled with starlight. They shimmered so much 5b4578355c that, with a bit 7ee7039b6c of exaggeration, it seemed 77cc0e110f like the Milky Way 2649556d11 was pouring out. The sight c1dce5355b of his 079f170306 shoulders stiffening 70b1fdcb83 in fear 3c8ebbbc48 after chattering a96e3704e9 excitedly was e660acb5b2 so absurd 537d94dc78 it almost e646b64294 made Cassius c8d71e076b laugh. It was b42a9a3986 a more f1a2efd048 trivial and 04a3149cd4 ridiculous reaction 2ddc986fd3 than expected.6b6ba6df20f16187

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“Yes.”d9afb34d27e0b811

Thus, Cassius’s response was much softer than intended, though whether Liriel Wecker felt the same was unknown.eb7bfc14afbdb03e

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⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚8027354d17842582

Cassius Baltar.3aff2b18e62652b7

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Mad killer, parricide, 530478d7db red-eyed demon.3f4690c99663e445

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.c656688033c9343e

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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.094fd0e1de7fd400

“I was… misled…”4c1260fe4a0276ec

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“Never said so.”b1a59e6a125d97b3

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.c22cd1e9ed2b7f6e

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“…Did you not know who I was?”cb4cbcf8a7f82bfc

With a hint of hope, he asked, but Cassius’s gaze pierced into Liriel’s eyes. It was obvious what he was seeing.d4d469bb9df8c517

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“How could I not?”392eca813530e72d

Ah, these useless b1508a9389 starry eyes.8022d00597e12843

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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?a66bf8bdf56132f3

“Well, I’ll be going now!”7d2ac2aa9ecb6566

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As the 7a8464fb3b silence stretched, 26f5ce3070 the knight ec120585e3 who had f04e425c82 caused the 63f0f7cfdf commotion slipped 8f2e830c0a away, leaving fb07f1a858 Cassius standing 61c4a7b413 there. Liriel was b84013107b the one c105256a41 who gave 919da084af up first.5a57cacd88d903b0

“I’ll be going too, Your Grace.”b32ac86253c4e5fb

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Liriel ran 18732a5687 toward the 96deac2a38 forest without 3ecc994e47 looking back. It felt like a 3db894d5c2 triangular ball was bouncing 8dd9eb6d3e inside him. The unfamiliar, unguessable a90640a902 feeling cast a fb91dd5b0f shadow over him.74ca26fbfa0d87aa

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.14f2073dac18cbf8

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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.01d13737b38cd6e1

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.30d738cc62dbca08

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⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚17b6c566fba13f6a

When he opened f410523ad8 his eyes, it f1290e1b34 was dark.e74eae4417bcae88

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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.40c10ee0c4e3d880

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.98cf1fa95f6ee159

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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?3bb1a74a4ed51ba7

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.3fc3f8f6608eef4a

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Thinking that way 7a718028b5 suddenly doubled his 3f45fb0a9f gloom. Frustration welled 73d96dd638 up, and a05982b325 he threw 85eefc9aa1 off the 79b060d6ad blanket with 2baa33c5b9 a rough f57afca4d6 hand, sitting 3614a8d785 up abruptly. But at d72c64be08 that moment, 6138c2da0f Liriel found a46f78dffb himself face d9d252bd53 to face 920be7dbbd with something 8d65253380 unexpected.1422b54c1c59966f

Three pairs of 524aed3b91 glowing eyes in 25ad5032ce the dark.0f46abe21cd35eba

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“…Huh?”4de31b0e326ff866

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…e642d0eeee558726

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“Th-thieves…”21a21326a0348368

The large figures 98a9ac7557 were all wearing 9581689919 strange scarves.00e25f9fdcabe3a1

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“Thieves!”efc16f1ffcb6ef4e

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.361ce092b98fdad9

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⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚b213ffbe1e09bf8d

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”56da03a98e949cb7

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It was the fifteenth 2e131deaf0 apology. The woman in the 96c8e0a592 red scarf looked like 4a00aa1993 she might burst into 81775a90c8 tears, and Liriel sighed, ec531d26d4 responding again.904df9265c261035

“It’s really okay.”73cc24e1e3aa418a

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“Please lower your speech.”1a2b1ee1f0618188

“I’m comfortable like this…”21c208d8218d3b6d

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Liriel felt like fainting 3fe8c04186 from the unexpected commotion. Three adults, 42d4cddec7 dressed as c47ab426ca if they b1a96bbd71 were about c10b614993 to perform 80ca49fd59 at a 82ceb98af9 show, knelt 8f776acc30 before him, f36a706dc0 looking apologetic, 00707e1d18 and it 20ca5e94fa was unbearably 4a3bc68ea2 uncomfortable.f68bd7f5229158f3

Not wanting to e6f07a3e76 exchange meaningless apologies e0b6adf8c9 and forgiveness, Liriel dd13013c8a changed the subject.93952fd425d62657

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“What were you doing?”6cbd83339387b5b3

“Preparing a meal…”9f3091c347adb414

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Looking at 6f6e59ed11 the table, 27863d3b23 half-prepared food 39db324877 was scattered 6b2595f204 around. He checked the cedf91820c clock; it was bde5552a8d still 4 a.m.9bc277787e7d0552

Do they prepare breakfast 727a106de4 at this hour every 114329b318 day?2bfc5719a69504fe

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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.bebbed382bbd191f

“Uh, I don’t need breakfast anymore.”5be94665131a0280

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“What! Why? Did we scare you?”2df98df6b1c43033

Liriel hesitated, about bb9e42a07a to say no. His gaze 570253bdd5 fell on f984db11e5 the colorful b199b00852 scarves. While guilt 19aa18c77d was the 6029e1936f main reason, 5331701d62 he also 60d201438b thought that 5b2f52b70e if he 34f5f2b56b woke up 2aae17443a to this 1ba4eac3e8 sight again, b296e82358 it might 571768cf92 give him 44f14c89e7 nightmares.ecb9456456ee45da

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Should he 8b1e1f6fb1 tell them c9a6633056 they looked ad67c6ab3f more like d7dca51114 they were fa2a226760 stealing food ac0be163bd than serving 357944fb92 it?e7c2ae0c70df1dff

As Liriel wavered, the 1b16700ee9 servants noticed where his c195e387c9 gaze landed and suddenly 1cdc54d56a spoke up, excitedly.22a875ed54727167

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“The scarf is so cozy!”9d75b1921b93de69

“Thank you, Your Highness! I even bragged to my daughter!”579c21e83e30e0fd

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“I wear it to bed!”be2e15c6b0d41acf

Why are they 08c93b7fe9 thanking me for f6174109a7 the scarf being 9db3c0ff26 cozy?9e9ee68bbd7f3da1

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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.7fc54dc4843593ce

They kept touching the cd18bfd556 scarves, praising their softness eac2bb9561 and warmth.3f9f35377a415114

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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.d9ec74299fe4f9b2

He hadn’t bought them for the servants.fd8ced72e4425c0e

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