Gwenael, who had been knocked to the floor, got up with a distorted face. Gwenael charged straight at Liam. Liam grabbed Gwenael’s fist as it came towards his cheek in retaliation.

Liam then struck Gwenael’s chin. Bam! The sound was surprisingly dull. Gwenael’s face turned.

Ptui, Gwenael spat. A broken tooth flew through the air along with bright red blood.

Although he was no match for his opponent, Gwenael, whose pride had been crushed, still desperately lunged. One man swung his fists, while the other easily blocked the incoming punches and counterattacked. The two men became a pair, rolling around the relatively small tea room.

Scratches appeared on the faces of the two men, cut by glass shards. Red blood droplets formed between their torn clothes.

At that moment, the tea room door swung open again. A voice with a heavy weight and unique presence echoed.

“What on earth are you doing?”

It was Cassian.

He wasn’t shouting or raising his voice. It was just a single sentence, but both Liam and Gwenael stopped what they were doing.

Quite a few people had gathered behind Cassian, murmuring.

“A person who is a duke and…”

A pair of cold blue eyes swept over Liam once. Liam, who had nothing to say even if he had ten mouths, quietly lowered the fist he had been holding.

“A person who is a member of the imperial family.”

As Cassian’s gaze fell on him, Gwenael, who had been beaten almost one-sidedly, bowed his head while panting.

It was embarrassing enough to have fought with a half-breed in the first place. Moreover, he was furious at the situation where he had been beaten one-sidedly.

“Causing such a disgraceful scene.”

Cassian, who had instantly taken control of the chaotic space, stepped into the tea room. In the tea room that had become so quiet that even someone’s breath could be heard loudly, the sound of footsteps echoed. The sound of crushed glass breaking under Cassian’s feet was heard.

“Explain what happened.”

“Your Majesty.”

Before the two men could open their mouths, Valentine, who had been leaning against the wall watching the two men’s spectacle, slipped in. Standing deliberately next to Gwenael, she whispered tearfully.

“Please don’t misunderstand. It’s just that Duke Blumir put his hands on me… Monsieur Glastia was helping me.”

At that astounding statement, Liam looked at Valentine with a face as if he had been hit on the back of the head.

Put his hands on?

“Putting hands on his sister…”

Where in the world is there such a madman, don’t treat me the same as such a bastard worse than a dog…

Liam had to close his mouth, swallowing the words that rose to his throat.

Until now, had Liam de le Blumir never thought about it? Had he never imagined?

The day Valentine would come to him, the day she would become his, had he really never dreamed of it?

Ironically, it was he him who had blurted out that he was a madman. A bastard worse than a dog existed within him.

‘…It’s disgusting.’

A terrible sense of disgust washed over him. A severe emotion towards himself.

…Moreover, surprisingly, there was nothing wrong with the cute words she had uttered. As always, Liam naturally placed his hand on her shoulder, and she was startled and pushed his hand away. It would be shocking for someone meeting for the first time.

Yes, if it were someone meeting for the first time.

However, the meaning of ‘put his hands on’ could be interpreted in many ways. In fact, the murmuring behind them grew a little louder.

“My goodness, Duke Blumir…”

“I thought he was a pure person.”

“That’s exactly what I wanted to say.”

Gwenael, who had slipped in, agreed. While holding his nose that was bleeding profusely.

“Duke Blumir came, suddenly looking for Madame Marguerite…”

“Your Lordship, be quiet.”

At Cassian’s cold rebuke, Gwenael pouted his lips.

Even for a wild colt running here and there, Cassian was poison. He was not an opponent that could be challenged, considering both his social status and family relations.

Cassian’s cold gaze turned to Liam.

“Duke Blumir. Is that really all?”

“Your Majesty!”

Gwenael raised his voice at the words that were blatantly taking Liam’s side. After subtly shaming him by mentioning he was a member of the imperial family, whose side was he taking now?

It was true that Gwenael had thrown the first punch. But looking at their appearances, it was clear to anyone that he had been beaten one-sidedly. Didn’t Gwenael look wronged at a glance?

Cassian’s voice that followed was tinged with irritation.

“I told you to be quiet.”

“Whose words are you trying to believe? The victim is saying that is right there.”

“Did you not hear me tell you to shut your mouth?”

“…Yes, my lord.”

A slightly harsh word escaped Cassian’s lips.

Knowing well that this was the worst curse Cassian would utter, Gwenael closed his mouth. If he uttered even one more word, he might suffer a terrible fate.

“I’m saying this because I know you both well, Duke Blumir and Lord Gwenael.”

One was still a proper knight, and the other was a well-known scoundrel in the capital city of Gabrienne. The two, who didn’t match like water and oil, looked awkward even standing in the same place.

“Is that all?”

“……”

“Duke Blumir.”

Cassian urged once more.

Liam avoided Cassian’s gaze and lowered his eyes. He tightly clenched his two fists, which had become covered in wounds, and bit his lip. Blood flowed from his split lip.

“No. I… made a mistake.”

Why was it so hard to utter these words?

The murmuring grew louder at the sound of him admitting his own guilt. Eventually, Liam bowed his head to Valentine. His messy black hair flowed towards the floor.

“I thought you were Valentine and acted carelessly. I’m sorry, Mademoiselle Laure. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“……”

Cassian, holding his forehead, sighed. His blue eyes sank heavily.

“I’ll address the responsibility for today’s disturbance later. For now, both of you should get treatment first.”

Cassian turned his head to look at Amaryllis among the crowd.

“Empress, please escort the Young Count Glastia.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Everyone else, please disperse now.”

It was a gentle but firm dismissal. The murmuring people scattered in all directions.

The commotion subsided. For a brief moment, Valentine, left alone with Cassian, stared blankly at the ruined tea room.

For some reason, it reminded her of Astaire’s final moments. Cassian, standing in that ruinous background, seemed strangely out of place.

Suddenly, his lips parted.

“Mademoiselle Laure.”

“…Yes?”

“I’ve heard the gist of the story.”

Cassian glanced sideways, pointing to the path Amaryllis and Gwenael had walked.

“Lord Gwenael is not exactly a good person.”

It was quite a blunt statement. At the same time, it was laughable. Who was talking about being a good person to whom? To Valentine, there was no one worse than Cassian.

Valentine blinked once.

“He’s someone the Empress introduced to me.”

“I’d like you to recall the first day you set foot in the Imperial Palace with my sister.”

“It was the day I received Your Majesty’s apology, which was more than I deserved. At least it seems better than someone who suddenly puts their hand on a stranger’s shoulder.”

At that retort, Cassian reached out without hesitation. His hand touched her pale exposed shoulder. He grasped it once. A familiar temperature, a warmth never forgotten, enveloped her.

Startled by Cassian’s sudden action, Valentine raised her head. Their gazes met for a brief moment.

Unchanging… still unreadable eyes. The eyes looking at Valentine were nothing but calm and cold.

Like the ever-blue sky. Like the moon without an answer.

“Now consider me on the same level as Duke Blumir.”

“…I didn’t know Your Majesty was such an uncouth person.”

This was sincere. Cassian Pendragon was an extremely noble person. He maintained his dignity even when alone and always valued courtesy.

At least in front of Valentine, he often showed a disheveled appearance. On days when he was in a good mood, he would drink with Valentine, and intoxicated by wine and carnal desires, he would devour her like a beast.

So she believed. She didn’t doubt. The true feelings of this man with an unfathomable inner self.

“And… can it really be said that this is the first time I’ve met Your Majesty?”

“It seems inappropriate to call someone you’ve met only once an acquaintance.”

Cassian murmured coolly as he moved his steps. Standing next to her, he said.

“It might seem ridiculous that I’m taking Duke Blumir’s side. But Lord Gwenael is a person with many precedents. I just want to tell you that he will never help you with pure intentions, Mademoiselle.”

Cassian, who had defended Liam and disparaged Gwenael, slowly moved his steps. Eventually, he passed Valentine and headed towards the far end of the corridor.

Valentine quietly gazed at him as he gradually moved away. The soft sound of footsteps was faintly heard.

* * *