SBTSML

eighteen.

Ahh, so Cassis was kicked out after all.

How hard it must have been for the child to write a letter to his mother.

Cassis was pitiful for the first time.

Since he's the male lead, a happy ending is guaranteed anyway, so I don't have to worry about the pain because it would pass later on.

But when I saw Cassis so furious yesterday, I only looked into his wound.

— To Duchess Urquio.

I can't tell how much trouble you must have gone through to write this sentence.

I asked sharply, naturally wrinkled between my eyes.

"Why do adults do that?"

"Pardon?"

"It's not Cassis's fault that he's sick. So why should Cassis be kicked out?"

"He wasn't kicked out, he's just taking a rest for a while..."

"That's why he got kicked out. So Cassis didn't have any say in this until he got here. That's so cheap!"

Paul shut his mouth like a clam when I shot the words at him. I quickly got up from my crouched position.

"Paul is bad too! Cassis will be a great duke now, and in the future."

"M-Miss..."

Paul stammered in perplexity. I suddenly felt annoyed at Paul, and I turned my back and I ran.
 
 

After Evelyn disappeared, Paul, who was left alone, suddenly smiled.

Then he spoke to himself loudly into the empty air.

"Did you hear, Young Master? You'll be a great duke in the future."

"...She didn't say it that loud, but I heard it all."

At that time, Cassis, who was hiding behind the pillar, came out in front of Paul and attacked him.

Paul approached Cassis and said gently, tidying up his wrinkled clothes.

"Don't fight. I feel sorry for the Miss's sullen expression."

"I'll take care of it."

Cassis answered bluntly and ran after Evelyn.

Paul smiled, turning his head in the direction the two had disappeared.

"How can you two run so much like that?"

***

The next day I went back to Cassis's room.

Originally, I was going to hold out until Cassis spoke to me first, but after listening to Paul's story, I couldn't.

Yeah, because I'm nicer. I must reach out first.

I visited his room in a more relaxed mood.

Knowing why Cassis is being capricious, I didn't want to delay reconciliation anymore.

Come to think of it, Cassis used to make a strange face whenever I and my parents were in harmony.

At that time, I thought it was because he didn't like it. But each and every one of them fits.

On the train platform, his gaze was on me, hiding in my mother's arms.

His face was shocked when I was attacked by my father's beard, who had been on a business trip.

Even the attitude of trying to look like an overly nice child to adults.

These were the characteristics of a child who was not loved.