SBTSML

twenty-three.

The next early morning, I washed and dressed up before heading to Hisaya.

It was because Count Monstera hastened the departure out of concern of my health.

Thanks to that, I haven't talked to Cassis once.

I couldn't do it yesterday because he was asleep....

When Cassis said he was worried about me a lot, I tried to leave after seeing his face, but the schedule was tighter than I thought.

I stared at the rabbit beast trapped in the cage.

Seeing that he was eating finely chopped carrots, he seemed to eat even normal food.

Unlike Cassis, you eat carrots well.

I stared blankly at the white creature chewing on the filthy carrot.

Perhaps it was because of the color of the fur, the rabbit reminded me of Cassis.

I murmured unconsciously.

"Shall we name it Carrot?"

Kiying!

At my own words, the rabbit shook its head violently. I asked with my eyes wide open.

"No?"

Kkiying!

"Hmm. I thought it suited you, but..."

I murmured regretfully and the rabbit suddenly threw away the carrot it was eating.

Then it settled down as far away as possible from the carrot. It was shivering.

The behavior seemed to be showing a bitter dislike. I put my hand in between the gap of the cage and comforted the rabbit by rubbing its back.

"Okay. I'll think of a different name, so finish what you're eating."

Kking.

The rabbit reacted coyly and brought back the carrot again to munch on.

That thing looks just like Cassis, right?

I liked the way it ate well, so I took another carrot out of the food bag next to me and threw it into the cage.

***

Cassis stared blankly out the window. The midday Monstera Castle was unusually calm.

Why does it feel empty when it is clearly a familiar stillness?

Maybe it's because there hasn't been a quiet day since he came here.

Cassis stared at the empty seat next to him.

Originally, she would have run over, sit down, and chatted.

But now there's no owner, so there's a chair that's alone.

So he keeps checking for when the owner is coming.

Cassis thought of Evelyn, who coldly left for Hisaya at dawn.

He wanted to make sure she was okay by looking at her face, but he wasn't even allowed to do that.

Spare groom. Nonsense.

Cassis hardened his face, recalling Evelyn, who seemed indifferent to him.

The moment Cassis heard it, he felt his mind go blank. Even before that, it was an unrelenting blankness.

He felt something similar when Evelyn gave Allen a fluffy hug.

In addition, it was a more intense emotion at the time.

It doesn't make sense.

Cassis sighed, recalling Evelyn, who stubbornly rejected him.