“…Murphy, sir.”
Dennis Beckman was waiting for Jared as he came out of the dining hall.
“Cassandra is alone. If you’d like, please go to her.”
“…Is that all right?”
He seemed hesitant. He was Cassandra’s former fiancé. Even though he must have wanted to rush to Cassandra’s side right now, he was being considerate of Jared, who had lost his fiancé.
“Please do. I have no further business with her. It would be troublesome if anything strange were to happen in this mansion, so please keep an eye on her while you’re at it.”
“I am grateful.”
“Please stop, there’s no need for thanks. I’m not…”
“And I apologize.”
“Apologize? Why?”
Jared tilted his head, not understanding why he should be apologized to. Dennis bowed deeply.
“I returned to the Capital City to help Lord Jared. However, in the end, we became adversaries. I am truly sorry.”
“Ah, is that why? There’s no need to apologize. You wanted to protect your former fiancée, didn’t you?”
Frankly, Jared was surprised that Dennis had been Cassandra’s fiancé.
He wasn’t angry that Dennis had protected his former fiancée. Of course, at the time, he had been frustrated by the interference. He couldn’t rule out the possibility that Olivier might have returned.
However, he was more envious. Jared had lost Olivier, but Dennis had been able to protect Cassandra.
“…However.”
“It’s fine. I was out of my mind back then too. There was no guarantee that Olivier would return if I killed Cassandra, and I doubt she would have been happy with a way of being brought back like that.”
This wasn’t just a tough facade because he couldn’t get her back. Of course, if killing Cassandra would have truly brought Olivier back, he would have done anything. It was the same even now. However, he also knew that Olivier would not have been happy, just as he had said.
Still, wanting Olivier by his side was Jared’s honest feeling.
“I may not have any right to say this, but please let me say it.”
“I am listening.”
“Cassandra Hagedorff foolishly says she has nothing of her own. Rasmus went to great lengths for her, you have always cared for her, and Clawence is here too… She has everything she needs. She has what she desires right beside her. I want you to make her realize that.”
He could sympathize with her upbringing. He felt sorry for her, lost after losing her mother and having a bad relationship with her siblings. But her way of life, which he could only see as giving up for such trivial reasons, was beyond his empathy and understanding.
For instance, if she had forced someone to make a sacrifice for her own happiness, he might have understood. Humans want to be happy, even if they have to trample on others. He might not have empathized, but he probably could have understood.
But her feelings, which had sacrificed her life and involved others for an unknown ancestor she had never even met, were frankly beyond his comprehension. No, that wasn’t right. He didn’t want to understand.
How could he ensure she never did something like that again? It was simple. She needed to know that she had people who loved her nearby. She needed to know that there were people she could love. Then, she wouldn’t cling to some unknown ancestor. If, by any chance, she still prioritized the Progenitor above all else, then he would simply become her enemy again.
“I will be leaving the mansion for a while. I might not return until the Progenitor does, but please don’t worry about it.”
“Lord Jared, what exactly do you intend to do?”
“Cassandra said I couldn’t defeat the Progenitor. But I have to defeat the Progenitor. So, I’m going to make myself capable of using my full power.”
“In that case, I will guard this mansion in Lord Jared’s absence.”
“…I’ll leave it to you. It’s fine if Cassandra stays here too, please take care of her.”
Jared gave a slight bow and turned his back on Dennis, walking away.
The First Seat of the Royal Magicians bowed deeply once more at the back of the boy’s receding figure.
