TYWML 09

9. Coward Cass’s Proposal

May 9, 2024

Like most girls, Liena had dreamed of a romantic proposal since she was little. But to be honest, Cassel’s proposal was nothing like what she had imagined.

First of all, she and he didn’t love each other. The location of the proposal wasn’t a flower-filled garden, but a muddy field where every step sank deep into the ground. Her clothes weren’t a cherished gown, but old, practical garments meant only for ease of movement.

In fact, no woman—let alone her—would find this moment heart-fluttering. It was that much of a disaster.

And yet, there was one thing that matched the proposal she had always dreamed of:

Cassel’s gaze as he looked at her.

‘Am I out of my mind?’

She had never seen this man before, and yet his gaze felt filled with affection. Even his calm voice somehow seemed laced with nervous tension.

That couldn’t be true. There’s no way he actually loved her. But the seriousness in his eyes was what shook her more than Johannes’s proposal ever did.

Still, Liena soon shook off the sentiment. Now was the time for reason. She weighed the consequences of accepting or rejecting Cassel’s proposal in her mind.

If she accepted, she would marry a man she had just met. Whether life with him would be happy or not—she had no way of knowing.

But if she didn’t…?

Since their midnight escape had been discovered, she would surely be captured and forced to marry Baron Rotman. And she knew for certain that a marriage with him would be a miserable one.

The only alternative would be to accept Johannes’s suspicious proposal, which didn’t appeal to her either.

An uncertain future, or a guaranteed unhappy one.

It wasn’t even a question worth agonizing over. Plus, Cassel had a letter written in her father’s handwriting. If her father had entrusted her to this man, surely he wouldn’t treat her badly.

Liena trusted her father’s judgment.

‘But… is this really the right choice?’

In noble society, loveless marriages were common. In fact, love matches were rare and often seen as strange exceptions.

Even though Liena had fled in disgust from the idea of marrying Baron Rotman, girls her age often married men old enough to be their father for the sake of family interests.

Compared to that, marrying Cassel wasn’t necessarily a bad choice.

She didn’t know his exact status—whether he was a noble or had any title—but she believed in her father’s letter. Even if he turned out to be a blacksmith and she had to spend her life working hard by his side, that would be fine. If it was her father’s choice.

But… was it the right choice for him? That’s what troubled Liena.

Judging by the letter, it seemed Cassel’s father and her father were close friends. And Cassel must have had ties with Count Dyke as well—possibly deep ones.

That must be why he came rushing to help upon receiving just one letter asking him to look after her.

But wouldn’t marrying her be a bolt from the blue for this man?

What if Cassel already had someone he loved? What if he had no intention of marrying her but was doing this purely out of obligation?

‘I don’t want that.’

She couldn’t make someone else miserable just to avoid her own misfortune.

Liena gathered her thoughts and finally opened her mouth.

“I don’t want to choose another marriage just to avoid an unhappy one.”

“……”

“I’m very grateful that you rushed here to help me after receiving my father’s letter, but I can’t burden you with this. Besides, marriage isn’t something you can decide on so lightly.”

She tried to speak as politely as possible while looking at the still-expressionless man.

“I appreciate the sentiment. But sir, I can’t accept your proposal. I don’t even know you well—and the same goes for you.”

“……If I said we’ve met before, would you be willing to consider it?”

The man, who had been silent until now, suddenly asked. Liena was startled.

“We’ve met before?”

She had no memory of ever meeting him. She had only seen him in her dreams.

But if he said they’d met…?

It was absurd, but for a brief moment, Liena wondered if this man had dreamed the same dream she had. If he, too, had seen himself kneeling before her and pleading in the dream…

But what he said next was something entirely unexpected.

“Do you remember a boy named Cass who once stayed at Count Dyke’s estate when you were young?”

“Cass?”

Liena dug through her memories, and the name surfaced from a distant corner of her mind.

At last, the puzzle of vague memories that had been surfacing ever since she read her father’s letter all came together.

“Coward Cass?”

About ten years ago, the Count had left the estate for a long time, saying he was visiting a friend, and returned with a child.

That boy with black hair and blue eyes was named Cass. He stayed at the Dyke estate and spent time with Liena.

About six months later, Cass left the estate upon hearing news of his older brother’s death. That was the last time she had seen him.

When Liena’s expression showed recognition, the man gave a faint smile—so faint you’d miss it if you weren’t looking closely.

“I don’t think I was that much of a coward.”

It wasn’t a direct answer, but it was enough for Liena.

“Really? You’re Cass?”

“Yes. That’s what I was called when I was young.”

“Oh my God… how…?”

Liena studied Cassel’s face again. But the sharp lines of his features and the commanding aura he now carried were nothing like the timid Cass she remembered.

“You look completely different from what I remember…”

Though the black hair and blue eyes were the same.

But the Cass she remembered had been a timid child who flinched even at the sound of rain at night.

Cassel now looked like someone who wouldn’t blink no matter what came at him.

“It’s been a long time, after all.”

“But still…”

Even if ten years had passed, the change was too drastic.

As Liena remained lost in confusion, the knight captain who had been watching their exchange stepped in.

“Didn’t you hear what the lady said? I don’t know where you crawled out from, but get lost. Stop bothering her and don’t try to lure her in with some nonsense about being ‘Cass.’”

Even so, Cassel made no move to get up. The captain reached for his sword—but didn’t get the chance to draw it.

The moment his hand touched the hilt, a blade was pressed against his neck from behind.

“Wh-What… when did…?”

It was the man who had come with Cassel. He had been watching from a short distance with his hood up, and moved so fast the captain hadn’t even noticed him approach.

Shock passed across the captain’s face.

‘I didn’t sense him at all…?’

The Dyke territory guarded the southern borders of the empire. All knights under the Count’s command were highly skilled. The captain himself was talented enough to be scouted by the imperial knight order.

For someone to subdue him—just how strong were they?

A chilling energy radiated from behind him. The killing intent was real—he might actually be killed.

‘If this keeps up… I might die.’

Frozen and barely breathing, the knight captain heard Cassel speak.

“Dean. Stand down.”

“……”

The man called Dean sheathed his sword and returned to where he had stood. Cassel glanced behind him and added,

“I’d like to speak privately with the young lady for a moment. Would you mind stepping back?”

The knight captain flared up.

“You expect me to just back off when I don’t know what you’re planning to do to the lady?”

“If you’re worried I’ll kidnap her, you can block the exit, can’t you?”

“That’s not good enough!”

“I think you’re mistaken about something. This isn’t a request.”

Liena couldn’t see it, but Cassel’s eyes had changed. Gone was the sorrowful gaze that had looked up at her. In its place was the piercing glare of a natural-born predator.

The knight captain flinched.

This wasn’t a request, just as Cassel said.

It was a command.