The Stepmother Has Left - Chapter 31

Adolf nodded at her answer and continued.

 

“So he ran away. But after 7 years, A slowly realized…”

 

“…”

 

“Just because he gave up, his father didn’t give up on him.”

 

His words instantly reminded Cassia of the Duke and Nick, and she took a deep breath.

 

Irwin continued.

 

“Everything was the same. He thought that if he went in hiding and waited for the time to pass, everything would flow and take place without him perfectly fine, but that was not the case.”

 

Adolf looked a little tired.

 

“Everyone was waiting for A. And everyone was getting tired. No situation has been resolved, and no mind has been settled. A feels guilty in it, anger at the unresolved situation, and a sense of helplessness.”

 

“…”

 

“And he finally faces a moment of choice. To either go back and face the situation, or he waits, withholding the situation further.”

 

He grinned.

 

“And he also knows that if he puts the situation on hold again this time, then he may not be able to go back until the day he dies.”

 

Cassia realized at that moment.

 

What Adolf was really trying to ask her wasn’t the answer to his question.

 

He was seeking courage from her.

 

His excursion was coming to an end. And now he had to go back and endure life again as the Third Prince.

 

He was afraid of the weight of the position as the Third Prince that he would experience again in the meantime, and the conflict that he would face among his family.

 

He wanted to gain the courage to face it.

 

His situation, which seemed to overlap with his words, was broken. Cassia held his hand.

 

“Oh my God. Adolf, you can do well.”

 

“…”

 

“Don’t be afraid. You have the power to overcome all conflicts. You are the most honest and sincere person I have ever seen. How big of a weapon you have.”

 

Adolf looked at her with trembling eyes.

 

He asked her again.

 

“…Do I really have that kind of power?”

 

“Of course. Diana- No, under my name, I’m sure you have that power, Adolf.”

 

She was talking.

 

“My name is Cassia.”

 

“…Cassia?”

 

“Yes. Cassia Bennette. That’s my name.”

 

She nodded and said. He was looking at her with blank eyes.

 

He also told her his identity, so it would be the proper order for her to tell him her identity, too.

 

“Seven years ago, my friend died, and I married Duke Whidrian to become the Duchess of Whidrian. Now, all the children have grown up, I left the Duke’s mansion.”

 

“…I see.”

 

Hearing her identity, his eyes were young with astonishment but calm at the same time. He let out a small laugh.

 

“I was expecting it someday, but it feels strange that you really were the Duchess.”

 

“It’s a name that doesn’t have much to say, but I think I have to say it, too. And this is the only thing I can bet for you.”

 

“…”

 

“You can do well. Trust my intuition. Because I’m sure, you have the power to do that.”

 

Looking at him, she smiled. He looked at her like that with a puzzled face.

 

“Cassia.”

 

‘Cassia, Cassia.’

 

He repeated her name a few more times.

 

“It is an honour to be able to put your name on my existence.”

 

* * *

 

After that, Cassia spent time chatting with Adolf until dawn approached.

 

As Adolf said, even after they revealed their identities to each other, there was no awkwardness at all.

 

It was partly because they were already aware of each other’s identities, and partly because they thought of each other as friends even before that.

 

Their conversation was no different from before they knew each other’s identities, and there was still a lot of laughter inside.

 

Adolf enjoyed the food she had prepared.

 

She couldn’t hide the pride as she watched him eat the food ferociously, even though the taste must have gone down compared to when it had just cooled down.

 

When she looked at him with a happy expression, he smiled, saying that even his mother didn’t see him with those eyes. Of course, he didn’t forget to thank her as well.

 

After he finished eating, the energy of dawn was rushing outside.

 

“It will be dawn soon.”

 

Adolf said, looking out the window. Looking at the streets of dawn that have become brighter as if the morning was about to rise.

 

“It’s time to go back, Cassia.”

 

“…”

 

“If they find out that you have been hiding and even helping me while everyone is looking for me, it won’t be a good word among people. I don’t want to embarrass you, so I think you better go home now.”

 

“I know what you mean.”

 

Cassia agreed with him. He knew that if she was caught, he would be in trouble too. She also thought that she should get out of here soon.

 

She grabbed the empty basket and stood up from her seat.

 

He got up from his seat as if to see her off and led her out of the tent.

 

“It was fun today. I should get going… Oh, by the way, Adolf.”

 

She opened the door and breathed in the cool morning air, and looked back without going out.

 

At the last moment, there was only one thing that stuck with her.

 

“What are you going to do now?”

 

Leaving Adolf here was not comfortable.

 

Lawrencia’s borders were tight, and no one could escape from the area.

 

So, she really wanted to hear about Adolf’s plans before the final departure.

 

“Everyone has their own thoughts.”

 

He answered her question with a grin. He looked at her with a relaxed expression.

 

“Thank you for today. Thanks to you, I made up my mind.”

 

He beckoned her to go quickly. The tent and his image in it were gradually disappearing from her sight.

 

She started going back the way she came, and kept looking back at him.

 

And as he waved his hand toward her, he spat out a word to her at one point.

 

“See you later, Cassia.”

 

“…!”

 

Cassia looked back, and the appearance of the tent had disappeared entirely from her sight.

 

* * *

 

[See you later, Cassia.]

 

All the way back, she was thinking about the meaning of Adolf’s last words.

 

[See you later, Cassia.]

 

‘What is he thinking?’

 

The last time he smiled at her, his face was still filled with remorse.

 

It was the kind of remorse that a person who made a decision after long deliberation could show.

 

She was curious about what that decision would be, but it seemed that she knew it intuitively, so she felt uneasy.

 

‘…I wonder if he really meant that he would even reveal his identity.’

 

But as time passed, Cassia smiled.

 

Irwin, no, if it was Adolf, he would probably make a good choice on his own.

 

He has a playful face all the time, but she knew he was a wise and clever man.

 

Her anxious heart slowly subsided. On the way back, her heart was pounding.

 

She had just shared her real identity with him, and her first thrilling outing was getting an adrenaline rush.

 

It was still dark outside. She succeeded in safely reaching her house, avoiding the eyes of the knights.

 

She opened the window that had been slightly opened in case she came back, and she jumped into it and entered the house.

 

It was when she was about to close the window when she got into the house safely…

 

Cassia looked back, startled by the reflection of someone in the window glass.

 

“…!”

 

Duke Whidrian was looking at Cassia.

 

* * *

 

He was sitting on a chair.

 

Cassia looked at him, feeling her chest sinking. Her mind was complicated.

 

‘When did he come into my room? Since when has he been here? For what purpose did you come to me?’

 

Her expression barely maintained a poker face, but she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

 

After double-checking that she was entering the house, he looked at his watch. Axion opened his mouth

 

“It seems like you’ve been for a walk since dawn.”

 

“…”

 

His two eyes turned towards her.

 

There was a glimmer of doubt.

 

Cassia was still nervous, but she didn’t want to show an anxious look in front of him. He straightened her back and said.

 

“Yeah. It’s frustrating having to go out with the knights all the time, and you have to keep me locked up.”

 

“It’s the same thing that knights and maids followed you in the past.”

 

“That was a thing of the past. I am no longer a Duchess, right? Of course, it won’t happen until Your Excellency signs the divorce papers.”

 

As she put the basket down naturally in a corner, he looked at her without saying anything.

 

Silence passed. Soon he opened his mouth. An unexpected sound came out.

 

“Are you dating Count Allison?”

 

“…”

 

She thought he’d ask about the places she had been to, but it was a random question compared to how nervous she was.

 

But it was a satisfactory question. Because it meant that the knights listened to her correctly and delivered it to the Duke. Cassia smiled.

 

“I never mentioned who wanted to date first, but let’s just say that we have been liking each other.”

 

“I even threatened to not sit still if my privacy was invaded too much.”

 

“Isn’t that right? When you see me walking through the window like this from dawn, you realize how frustrated I am.”

 

Do what you want.

 

Strangely, when she stood in front of the Duke, she felt like that these days, and it was still the same today.

 

No matter what speech she uses, what she does, whom she meets, it is her life.

 

She couldn’t stand the moment when it was controlled.

 

She couldn’t lose her life and her freedom to anyone.

 

An uncompromising, tough attitude was the least defensive measure she had to protect her life.