Cassia smiled gracefully and looked at Leon, then turned to look at me.
“Your Highness, I apologize for being so rude with my sudden visit.”
“It is an honor to have you visit us at Aster Castle.
Please come in.”
We entered the reception room with Cassia.
“Bill Bill, sit next to me!”
Leon shouted as he rushed into the room as soon as the door opened.
“I apologize, but I would like to speak with Her Highness the Princess alone.”
Cassia looked at Leon, who was squirming on the sofa and smiling at me, and spoke to me softly.
“Do you really mean to speak to me alone, and not to His Highness the Duke?”
“Yes, exactly, Your Highness.”
'It seems like she really came for me?
Weren't they supposed to fall in love at first sight?'
Leon, who was kicking his legs, and Cassia, who was just staring at me, were completely ignoring each other.
'What is this situation?'
Confused by the incomprehensible situation, I approached Leon and said gently: “Leon, I would like to speak with Saint alone.
Can you go out for a walk?”
"I don't want to!
I'll stay with Bill Bill!"
I somehow felt a strange love in Leon's provocative words today.
“Leon, if you leave us for a while, I will let you do whatever you want.
Okay?”
Leon closed his mouth tightly, thought for a moment, then nodded reluctantly.
“You promised, Belle Belle!”
I was alarmed by his mischievous smile, but I had no choice.
Leon left the reception room with light steps, laughing.
I laughed unconsciously as I saw his funny back.
Everyone left, and Cassia and I were left alone in the room.
“Have you visited the Temple of Ruler Tia in Aster recently?
I heard that you stayed there for about a week.”
Cassia sat down and started asking me directly, without any formal introductions.
"Yes, this is correct."
Her calm smile disappeared, and a rather cold face appeared.
“And I heard that the guest room underwent a major renovation after your visit.”
“We in the family of the Duke of Astaire decided to take special care of the temple.”
“You probably didn't come to ask for the care of the Lianus Temple, did you?”
It was a light joke, but Cassia did not laugh.
Rather, she narrowed her eyes and asked me: “I will ask directly.
Where is the Holy Sword Issar?”
“I search for sacred things by the will of the ruler.”
“…I don’t want to lie to Saint.
Yes, I found Issar, completely by chance.
The sword has gone to its rightful owner.”
"Its rightful owner...the ruler has not given anyone the right to own Essar.
It is the ruler's property."
Cassia spoke firmly, leaving no room for discussion.
“May I ask why you collect sacred objects?”
I fiddled with my fingers and asked her.
I suddenly wondered if Cassia knew about the coming apocalypse.
“The will of the rulers cannot be understood by a petty person like me.
I just do what they want, and the time will come to use it.”
“You really don't know?”
I repeated my question.
Cassia closed her eyes and then raised them.
“Where is the holy sword?”
I was starting to feel annoyed by her investigative tone.
Was Cassia that cold?
It was completely different from her initial calm and gentle impression.
It was easy to answer where the sword was, but the problem was how to explain it to Cassia, who didn't seem to know what was going to happen to the world, and Leon and I didn't have a close relationship yet.
Most importantly, I sold that sword to Leon for 50 dollars.
“Hmm… I can’t explain, but the owner of the sword, or rather, not the owner, don’t frown like that.
Let’s say the tenant.
The tenant is someone I know, and he is in desperate need of the sword.
He is the most suitable person to use it.”
“Give back the sword.”
But Cassia was never convinced, and repeated her request firmly.
“This is nonsense.
I was the one who found it first...”
“Owner of the sword...”
“Okay, let's do this.
In the name of the princess, if the person wielding the sword is not suitable, I will return it to you no matter what.”
Cassia looked at me with suspicious eyes.
How can I make her trust me?
“If you want, I can write a contract in the name of the princess.”
“I am the one who will decide who will rent the sword.
Who is he?”
“I can't say that.”
From Cassia's point of view, I seem to be the thief of sacred things.
It was normal for her to look at me warily, but hating the heroine wasn't a good feeling.
"But I really promise.
Leave it to me now."
Cassia lowered her gaze and lost herf in thought.
She sighed several times, then opened her eyes firmly as if she had made a decision.
“I will make it clear.
If an Essar user does not conform to my will, he must be returned immediately.”
It was strange that she would use the ruler as an excuse and then demand that he be returned if he did not conform to her will, but I nodded, relieved that this hurdle had been crossed.
"Good."
If Cassia learns that Leon owns the sword, she will admit that it has gone to its rightful owner.
“I will trust you, Your Highness.
You must take responsibility for your words.”
Cassia repeated her affirmation several times, and then left Aster Castle with a kind and beautiful smile, different from the one she had shown with me, amidst a warm farewell from the people.
Leon was not among those who said goodbye to her.
I didn't ask the servants to bring it.
After she left, I headed to the library where Leon was.
He was just going out with Kalsen after a serious discussion.
Kalsen saw me first and nudged Leon with his elbow.
Leon frowned at Calsen.
“Leon!”
With my words, Leon's expression turned into a big smile.
“Bill bill!”
“I was bidding farewell to the saint and now I have returned.”
I didn't ask him why he didn't come out.
“I was sleepy and going to take a nap.
Did Saint leave okay?”
“Yes.
I will accompany you to the bedroom.”
I walked beside him, watching his expression carefully.
Leon looked like usual.
I restrained my desire to ask him what he thought of the saint.
“But why did the Saint come to our house?
Did she come to praise you for praying so hard for me?”
“Maybe?
Of course, that might be one of the reasons, but it was because of the sword I gave you.”
“Why?”
“Because it's Essar.”
“Aren’t you going to demand it back?
But I never told her who owned it, so keep it a secret, Leon.”
“E-E-E-E-Sar...what is this?”
Leon's lips trembled.
I looked at his pale face carefully.
'Did he not know that the sword was Issar?'
"Don't you know Issar?
The legendary holy sword used by Ruler Tia herf.
Didn't I tell you?
Didn't you realize it as soon as you saw it?
You really didn't know?"
"Ah… ah, you know?
But, I, I…"
“Hush, it's a secret, isn't it?
Don't tell anyone that you got it from me, and don't mention that you paid for it.
The person you transferred might be in danger.”
Leon nodded vigorously, eyes wide open.
I looked at him and realized that I was not a merchant.
If Leon didn't know that the sword was Issar and paid that great price...
'Looks like I need to renegotiate my expenses...'