“Right now.”
“…”
“If someone told me to die in your place, I would.”
Cassia was speechless. His words were hard to believe, and yet, when she looked into Zester’s eyes, she found she couldn’t dismiss them. Somehow, it truly felt like he meant it.
No, if she thought back, hadn’t it been the same when they were in the Viche Territory, when she was kidnapped by the barbarians? He had thrown down his sword without hesitation and tried to save her by throwing his own neck into the enemy’s hands.
‘Seriously, what’s with this man?!’
It was absurd, and yet, she couldn’t stop her heart from pounding. Who would ever so readily offer their life for another? It would be a difficult thing to do even with the heart of a parent for their child.
Zester, now on all fours, hovered over her, his eyes burning with as much sincerity as he could summon.
As she stared into his eyes, Cassia instinctively raised her hand and cupped his cheek. Zester’s throat bobbed nervously at her soft touch.
She saw his lips slowly descending and closed her eyes. They had never shared a kiss like this in her previous life, but surprisingly, in just three short months after turning back time, it had become familiar.
This kind of kiss, she had never shared one in her previous life. And yet, having gone back in time, it had somehow become familiar in just three months.
Lips meeting. Parting for shared breaths. Tongues tangling. Emotions mingling. Between quiet affection and heated desire, they danced along a tightrope. Cautious, yet at times intense, their kiss deepened.
“Haah…”
Even the moment their lips parted to catch their breath felt like a waste. Their lips met again creating an slick, embarrassing sound, but neither of them stopped.
Zester’s hands, which still tensed up at every touch, grew bolder, rising to caress the nape of her neck. His touch trailed over her like she was a precious gem, tracing her shoulders exposed by her chemise and down toward her small breasts. Cassia wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer as if her life depended on it.
‘I shouldn’t be doing this. I have to be careful.’
Even as such worries flitted through her mind, Cassia was too swept up in the mood. She began to melt into his arms when—.
“Ah.”
Their lips parted and Cassia’s eyes flew open in surprise. Zester, his face flushed, pulled back and caught his breath as he looked down at her. Then, quietly, he rolled to lie beside her.
“…Sorry.”
“For… for what??”
“For always making a move on you.”
It seemed he was still burdened by what happened before they came to Ruberno, when she refused him, worried about her missed period. Even now, he was clearly still aroused, but he endured the tension and moved away. Cassia let out a dry laugh.
He hadn’t been the only one on fire, so there was nothing to be sorry for. While she felt a slight tinge of disappointment, Cassia was also inwardly relieved. Who knew she would get so swept away by the mood, so soon after deciding to be cautious?
‘Was I always the type that liked stuff like this…?’
“This isn’t even our castle… It feels a bit like I’m committing a sin.”
Zester swallowed dryly and muttered with downcast eyes.
Come to think of it, they weren’t in Greze. Just a few steps outside their door was her father, Count Ruberno, and her siblings…
He was already feeling guilty for ‘stealing away’ their precious daughter and the thought of performing such a ‘great deed’ in his wife’s family home weighed heavily on Zester’s conscience. Of course, his body didn’t care about such thing so it remained hot and weak with desire.
“You’re really strange, you know.”
“Huh? How?”
“Just… you’re strange.”
A mixture of emotions lay behind her words.
It was strange how different Zester was, in a way she could never have imagined compared to his past self. And it was strange how she herself, who had resented him to death, was now crumbling so easily in front of him.
Zester stared at her as she mumbled then he smiled and nodded.
Right. If his wife said he was strange, then he was strange indeed. Whatever she said was right.
Zester’s hand slipped under the covers and tightly grasped Cassia’s, leaving no space between them.
“Let’s just hold hands and sleep.”
***
The four days they were scheduled to stay in Ruberno flew by in a flash. During that time, Zester had become quite close with Cassia’s two siblings, had managed to converse a little more comfortably with his father-in-law, Count Ruberno, and had adapted, just a little, to the southern culture and the delicacies of Ruberno castle.
Cassia had kept herself busy too. Ever since her cryptic meeting with Raergo, she had been wracking her brain over the secret of her time-reversal and had been pouring her energy into deciphering the list of high-grade magic stones whose ancient language she had previously interpreted. She’d thought she would be able to rest comfortably in Ruberno, but in the end, the four days had passed in a blur.
And now, finally, the day they were to leave Ruberno had come, and Cassia felt restless, even though she had accomplished everything she planned.
She’d reunited with family after a long time, introduced her husband, secured funding for prototype wigs from her father, and finalized the distribution rights contract for the south. Though it hadn’t been planned, she also had a reunion with Drian, whom she hadn’t seen since his visit in Greze.
But—.
‘Where in the world did that man go?’
It was baffling. Who knew whether he had vanished into thin air or sunk into the ground but Raergo hadn’t shown his face at all since the very first day. When she asked her father or Drian, they just said they didn’t know where he was. And said that he was the type to disappear without a word when he was immersed in magic stone or pharmaceutical research.
Cassia was hoping to see him one last time before departing. But with no other option, she simply left a message to the philosopher with Drian saying she’d contact him again from Havelyn and prepared to return to Greze.
The Ruberno family, and Drian, who planned to stay a few more days, came to see Cassia and Zester off.
And right at that moment.
“Ah, Master Philosopher!”
It was a rather comical title. Drian was the first to spot Raergo running toward them from a distance and called out.
“Haah… haah… Ah, thankfully, I made it in time.”
Cassia, who had been bidding her siblings farewell beside the waiting carriage, gasped and hurried over to Raergo.
“Hey! I need to talk to you in private.”
“Yes, I actually had something I wanted to tell you as well.”
The two seemed almost like they had planned to meet, drawing curious stares from Zester and the others. Cassia turned back to them and offered a sheepish smile.
“There’s something I need to discuss privately with the Philosopher, regarding ancient magic stone translations. It won’t take long. Please wait a moment, Honey.”
After giving a small wave to Zester, she led Raergo aside. They didn’t go far. As soon as they were out of earshot, Cassia spoke with a bewildered expression.
“Where have you been all this time?”
“I had something I needed to make. Were you looking for me? Did you have more questions?”
“No, it’s not that… I just wanted to talk a little more.”
Because of the taboo, it was difficult to ask questions even if she had them. Cassia simply wanted to keep Raergo, who clearly knew something about her, close and try to figure him out. But since he vanished, that plan came to nothing.
“I also would’ve liked to speak with you a little longer, but the circumstances prevented it. Well, I’m sure if the opportunity arises, perhaps we can meet again.”
If he was staying in Havelyn, they were bound to meet again, but something about his tone felt like a farewell. Cassia frowned.
Then Raergo let out a quiet “Ah,” and handed her a large glass bottle filled with white pills. Cassia looked at it, puzzled.
“What is this?”
“A homemade contraceptive. I blended Gwilt (a rare medicinal herb that grows in the South) with various other herbs that help protect the body.”
“…Sorry?”
“In the old days, the southern natives used to just chew on raw Gwilt for contraception, but that can be harsh on the body. So I added Cabonia, which warms and strengthens the uterus, Garnir, which regulates the cycle and Baramangent, which relieves for cramps, as well as Linyo and Polcarium to help neutralize the strong properties of Gwilt. In other words, this is a perfect contraceptive that is very gentle with no harm to your body.”
She was stunned while Raergo rattled off a bunch of herb names that she had never heard of before then placed a palm-sized piece of parchment into her hand along with the glass bottle.
“I’m known as a pharmaceutical master around these parts so you can trust me and take these pills. Still, just in case you’re worried, I’ve written down the prescription here. Once you’re back in Greze, you can call a physician and have them check both the pills and the prescription. If there are no issues, take one pill every two weeks, two a month. This bottle should last you four years, minus the pregnancy period, which should be enough until you’re ready for your second child in five years time.”
“Wait, hold on, slow down. These are contraceptives? Is that what you’ve been doing these last four days?!”
“Well, you could say that.”
The more she learned, the more baffling this man became.
A philosopher who studied magic stones for years and also a pharmaceutical master?
Cassia frowned, unable to pin down his identity. Before she could think further, Raergo gently nudged her back toward the waiting group.
“Everyone is probably waiting for you. Hurry along now.”
Pushed out by Raergo, Cassia returned to the group where her family rushed to say goodbye. As she hugged them and kissed their cheeks in turn, her eyes kept drifting toward Raergo, who stood quietly at the end.
He smiled brightly and approached once she finished her goodbyes, offering his right hand. Cassia instinctively placed hers in his, and he brought it to his lips for a quick kiss. Then he turned to Zester.
“I should’ve introduced myself earlier, Baron, but unfortunately, I had some pressing matters. My name is Raergo, and I am currently assisting with magic stone research in Havelyn. If the opportunity arises, I’d love to see you again.”
“Ah, yes. A pleasure to meet you.”
Zester nodded and shook his hand, then blinked. For some reason, Raergo showed no sign of letting go of his firmly clasped hand. He was staring intently at Zester.
“Haha, if it’s not too much of an imposition, would it be alright if I greeted you in my family’s custom, Baron?”
Zester, confused, nodded, and Raergo suddenly embraced him.
Not only Cassia, who was standing next to them but the entire Ruberno family and Drian looked on in surprise.
“Uh, excuse me…”
Raergo, a head shorter than Zester, remained nestled in Zester’s arms for a while. Cassia felt that strange sense of déjà vu again as she looked into his languidly open silver eyes. A jolt went through her, and her head ached with a peculiar feeling.
Judging by Zester’s reaction, he too had never met Raergo before, yet for some reason, Raergo seemed to hold an inexplicable sense of familiarity not only for Cassia, but for Zester as well
As the hug ended, Raergo glanced at Cassia and gestured toward her with a silent ‘May I?’, seemingly asking if he could greet her the same way. As expected, Zester immediately frowned.
As if he’d expected that reaction, Raergo just smiled awkwardly and began to step back, but Cassia caught his arm.
In that moment, she figured out what that strange sense of familiarity she always felt with him reminded her of.
It was as if she were looking at her young brother Allen, at her husband, Zester, who needed so much looking after, and also, as if she were looking at her young son, Rael, whom she yearned to hold.
And so, Cassia hugged Raergo, wrapping her arms around the shoulders of the man who was much taller than her. He bent awkwardly but remained in her arms for quite a while.
“We’ll meeting again, right? I owe you a lot. You must come to Greze sometime.”
It was an affectionate farewell, filled with unconscious familiarity and a sense of longing.
Raergo’s silver eyes curved as he smiled.
“Yes, I will.”
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapters 47 – 49 - November 22, 2025
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 44-46 - November 14, 2025
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapters 42-43 - November 8, 2025