After dinner, late in the evening, Drian arrived. Cassia was so furious at her father’s audacity for inviting Drian while his daughter and son-in-law were staying that she didn’t even consider going out to see him. She only headed out when her father sent someone to call her.
A maid came to her room to say that the Count had something to discuss regarding the magic stones. Still trembling with anger, Cassia got up, deciding to give him a piece of her mind. and followed the maid. Left alone, Zester decided to step outside the castle for some fresh air.
The garden within the castle, even in winter with most of the flowering trees bare, was well-maintained and perfect for a scenic walk. He had originally promised to come here with Cassia once the sun was up.
As Zester strolled past wooden swings, slides, and small pavilions, a faint smile touched his lips. He could almost picture Cassia’s childhood, spent here in this very place.
He was about five minutes into his walk across the wide garden when he sensed some unfamiliar presences. In a corner of the garden, where a tree stump had been artfully fashioned into a bench, sat two familiar faces, Estella and Allen. Despite the chilly weather, both were out without coats.
He hesitated, hearing their quiet conversation, but recalling what had happened earlier that day, he decided to approach them.
The two looked startled when they saw him. Zester smiled awkwardly, and they eyed him with wary eyes, like stray kittens by the roadside.
“It’s cold out here…”
Seeing them without outerwear or attendants, Zester mumbled, worried.
“Why are you here?”
Allen asked sharply. His voice was defensive, and his eyes were swollen. He had probably cried even more after Cassia left.
“Cassia told me the Ruberno Castle garden was beautiful, so I thought I’d take a walk. But it’s really cold. You should’ve at least worn your coats.”
“Don’t worry about us!”
“Hey, Allen.”
Allen’s attitude was still prickly. Estella pouted and jabbed him in the side.
“We promised to apologize, idiot.”
Estella muttered and hesitantly met Zester’s gaze.
“Baron, we’re sorry about this afternoon. It’s not that we hate you; we just made a mistake because we were worried about our sister.”
Zester had been about to apologize for causing a fight between Cassia and her siblings, so to receive an apology instead made his eyes go wide. He hurried over, knelt to meet their eye level, and shook his head.
“There’s no need to apologize. In fact, I came to apologize to you. I’m the one who’s sorry for making things uncomfortable between you siblings after such a long time apart.”
Estella stared at him silently.
She had felt it from their first meeting, but Zester really was foolishly kind. This was a situation where he had every right to complain and blame them for their rude remarks.
Allen, who was quicker to read people, had already figured out Zester’s personality but his pride made it difficult to offer a warm apology like Estella. To him, Zester still felt like the thief who had stolen his beloved eldest sister.
Sniffle.
Allen sniffed, his nose running in the cold.
Zester felt worried looking at the two children who were sitting side-by-side, so he took off his coat. His large leather coat easily wrapped around the two small children. Once it was draped over their shoulders, he tied the sleeves tightly to block the wind.
At the rather gentle gesture, Estella and Allen looked up at Zester with wide eyes. Their gaze was so clear and cute that it made Zester laugh.
“Is elder sister still angry?”
Allen asked hesitantly.
“No, she’s fine now. I made sure to explain things clearly so you don’t need to worry.”
“What did she say?”
“Well… nothing much. I told her you two didn’t mean anything bad, so really, don’t worry.”
Zester plopped down on the ground, smiling to reassure them. With his original personality, he never would have dared be this affectionate. He had changed quite a bit since meeting Cassia.
“Achoo!”
Allen’s sneeze cut through the still night air.
“Are you catching a cold? Should we head inside?”
“Yes, it would be best to head in now.”
“I won’t catch a cold from something like this, Sis! Don’t treat me like I’m a weak child!”
“But you are a weak child, idiot. You’re always sick.”
Allen pouted, annoyed at being treated like a weakling in front of Zester.
“Ask the Baron to teach you how to get stronger. Didn’t you say you wanted to grow bigger?”
“When did I say that?!”
“You did! Haha!”
Estella giggled, pinching Allen’s reddened cheeks.
“I’m just worried because our Allen is so small and his body is weak too. Apparently, he’s the smallest in his age group.”
“Ack…”
Watching the two bicker, Zester saw a glimpse of Cassia. Aside for the fact that they both had the deep blonde hair of the Countess, their delicate builds and striking features were unmistakably similar. It was like seeing a young Cassia.
“To grow stronger, you need to exercise. That’s how you get taller and healthier.”
“Allen absolutely hates exercising!”
“Sister Estella!”
“Even if it’s hard, it is important to train your body diligently. That way, you won’t get sick from minor things…”
“That’s right. A man needs to be at least this big. If you keep growing just like this, you’re not going to look very good.”
As Estella pointed at Zester’s own shoulders and nodded, Zester scratched his head awkwardly.
“Baron, you can lift big sister easily, right?”
“Huh?”
Caught off guard by the odd question, Zester blinked, then nodded.
“Of course. Cassia’s very small. I can probably lift five of her.”
“Wow, really?”
Allen asked in surprise, glancing at Zester’s broad shoulders.
“No way…”
“It’s true.”
“Then try carrying me!”
Allen, now fired up, wriggled out of the coat and stood. Seeing the fighting spirit in his eyes, Zester chuckled and stood up as well.
“Whoa!”
Zester exclaimed in surprise as he lifted the arm Allen was clinging to. Good heavens. Does this child even eat?
Considering the tables had been laden with enough food to make his legs buckle, Allen should have weighed much more, but little Allen was indeed too small and thin for a nine-year-old.
The entire Ruberno family was worryingly slightly.
Finding it rather fun to be dangling from Zester’s arm, Allen’s lips twitched, on the verge of a smile. Seeing the boy looking unsteady, Zester gently shifted him to sit on his forearm and held him securely.
“Woow.”
Estella gasped with envy, still bundled in Zester’s coat. Zester looked down at her and had barely extended his remaining left arm in invitation before Estella immediately hopped forward to be lifted too.
Even with one child on each arm, Zester carried them easily. Giddy from their new high vantage point, the siblings gasped in delight.
“Hehe. Baron, please speak comfortably with us.”
Estella said, her face bright with joy as she kicked her feet.
“Oh… can I?”
“Of course! We’re way younger than you.”
It seemed Estella had decided to fully accept Zester. Allen, watching this warm exchange, pouted.
“W-well… I haven’t fully accepted you yet! If you don’t treat our big sister well…”
“I promise.”
Zester replied as if he had been waiting for it and his eyes filled with determination. Allen blinked, startled by his serious expression.
“I’ll do everything I can to make sure Cassia is happy in Greze. I know I lack much and you can’t trust me but I’ll keep trying…”
His smile felt reassuring.
“Please look kindly upon me.”
***
The second-floor reception room offered a full view of the garden. Drian, sitting across from Cassia and watching her gaze out the window with a satisfied smile, followed her line of sight.
He saw Estella and Allen being carried on Zester’s arms. He hadn’t expected it, but it seemed they had gotten quite close.
“They seem to like him.”
At Drian’s murmur, Cassia, whose eyes were still fixed on them, replied in a voice tinged with laughter.
“It’s impossible not to.”
‘…Really now?’
Drian was surprised by her reply which overflowed with conviction. They hadn’t seemed this close during their last visit to Greze, but now? Something about the scene stirred something in Drian and he wrinkled his nose.
Cassia watched the scene outside the window for another moment then she turned her head and her expression instantly hardened.
Unlike the warm scene outside, the atmosphere inside the receiving room was ice-cold as if doused in cold water.
Seated beside Cassia was the Count of Ruberno. Across from them sat Drian and a mysterious man of unknown origin, the so-called ‘Philosopher’.
“I don’t think this meeting requires my presence, Father.”
“You haven’t even shown your face. If I hadn’t called you like this, would you have avoided me altogether?”
“I’m glad you’re aware. And Ian, you came to the castle knowing my husband and I were here? Was that on purpose?”
“Well, rather than on purpose…”
As Drian trailed off hesitantly, the unfamiliar man next to him interjected.
“I realize this visit goes against noble manners. Viscount Havelyn had suggested I come later, but in my urgency, I came now. I sincerely apologize, Baroness Greze.”
The man introduced himself as Raergo, the ‘Philosopher.’ His long, tied-back blue-silver hair gave him a mystical air, and his near-white irises were especially peculiar. He certainly looked like someone you could spin tales about. Cassia scoffed internally.
“It sounds like you came specifically because you knew I was here.”
“You are absolutely right. I was told you can read ancient language. I’m very familiar with analyzing the contents of magic stones, but interpreting the literal script has been difficult.”
‘What an utterly unconvincing excuse.’
So, he’s planning to scam not only Havelyn, but Ruberno, and now the lord and lady of Greze, who just happen to be visiting. Cassia sneered internally.
Raergo claimed to be the last heir of a ‘Philosopher family’ that had dedicated generations to studying magic stones. He was clearly a fraud.
He came to Havelyn claiming to know how to operate high-grade magic stones, but in the future Cassia knew, no one would succeed at that, not even within the next decade.
“If I may ask, what compensation has Viscount Havelyn promised for your assistance with the magic stone research?”
“Don’t worry about that. Do you think I’d mistreat someone who came all this way to help?”
‘No, I’m worried about the opposite, dummy’.
Cassia muttered to herself and bit back a bitter smile then leaned into her seat.
“That’s not the point. This might be rude of me but I’m curious if you properly verified whether he actually has the ability to contribute to your magic stone research. Anyone can claim to be from a philosopher family or say they’re a mage.”
“Sia, what are you trying to say?”
“Yes, Sia, why are you being like this?”
Both the Count and Drian, desperate for any hope of success with the magic stones, snapped at her. Cassia scoffed again.
“It’s fine. It’s only natural to be skeptical. But how should I prove myself? Perhaps if I share an experience using a high-grade magic stone?”
Raergo gave a curious smile as he looked at Cassia. Fraud or not, his pale eyes shimmered with strange charisma.
“I once brought someone back from the dead.”
“The dead? Are you saying there is a magic stone that can encroach even upon the authority of the gods?”
“No, of course not. Resurrection is firmly within the domain of the gods. I merely…”
He paused, then smiled.
“…turned back time for that person, to the time before they died.”
At those words, Cassia’s face froze in shock.
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapters 47 – 49 - November 22, 2025
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