Chapter 26:

Light is easy to love. -Beneath the mask, is something very ugly. Something very dark. So show me, as I wish to love the real you, my dear.

I was frozen in my place as he walked towards me.

Run...!

My heart was jumping out of my chest.

Run, you fool!

It's like his eyes had pierced me in my place as they stared at me. I felt dizzy with fear.

I'm in fuckin' so much danger right now...

Even with these thoughts, my body refused to move. I stayed still with my heart beating out of my chest until... I watched a breath-taking smile bloom on his face as he walked right past me. I still didn't move as I heard voices from behind me.

"Lord Villin! We haven't seen each other since-"

I didn't hear more. I squeaked like a little mouse and fled out of the room with my tail tucked in.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!

He saw me didn't he? Shit, he must have been able to tell I was scared, right? Fuck. Fuck, I need to get away. I quickly walked through the open corridor, my feet taking me as fast as they could without looking too suspicious. That man- no, that boy...

Alair Villin.

Or, the name given to him by his mother...

Alair Keir.

I turned around the corridor, my breath finally catching up to me.

I turned back paranoidly, making sure that I wasn't being followed. I didn't see any auburn hair, nor piercing silver eyes so I sighed in relief, and continued to walk slower.

...He looked younger than I imagined him to be.

Well, that's a given. There's still a few years for the book to start.

Although the cogs of the story have already begun to turn...

I can't believe I just met the main villain of this book. As expected, he gave a completely different feel from the rest of the main leads.

...He felt the most unreal. And absolutely terrifying.

He's a real psychopath; someone who doesn't feel any guilt or sorrow. They have superficial charm, a grandiose sense of self-worth, are manipulative and they... feel no fear.

What was his story again? Ah, yeah. It was tragic.

...That's a given for the villain, isn't it?

His mother was a noble who fell in love with a commoner and they ran away together. They got married and lived in a little cabin, where they gave birth to an ethereal little boy. Surviving was hard, but they managed; they had each other, and that's what mattered. Well, that was true for a few years until...

Bandits, was it?

Their little village, barely a village, was attacked by a group of ruthless bandits. Only the boy and his mother were home. He couldn't do anything as he watched it happen; he was just a little boy. His mother managed to get him to his senses- told him to run away. Run away, now. Keep running. The boy glanced at the door with teary eyes. His father had returned. There was a sound of a basket of fruits dropping as the man turned around to run away. The last thing his mother saw her lover abandoning her. Yet, she turned to her son and insisted, her voice screaming through her throat. Run. Don't you dare look back.

He ran, just like his pathetic father, into the forest. He kept running. He didn't know when it happened; when he'd crossed into the territory of the Forest of Death. But it was too late. The boy was lost in this dark desolate forest where nothing grew. He had no fruits to eat, nor any roots to chew on. It was just miles and miles of dead, rotting trees. The only living things other than him, were the dark fae that had been exiled. So he killed them and ate them.

Two years later, the 11-year-old boy walked out alive from the forest of death. His clothes were torn and worn out; his skin was grungy and dirty, a long time since their actual colour was seen, but his eyes? Bright and glowing. As if the last two years, the situations that would kill the hope of the most optimistic humans, were a lie. Amongst people, he survived on the streets by pickpocketing and stealing. It's where he earned his skills of sleight of hand.

Then one day, he saw his father.

He didn't run to him with relief. Or even anger. He stood and stared at the man unblinkingly and watched him from the side. He looked richer. Neater. That's when the boy decided what he needed to do. He needed power. But how?

He sat on the side of the road as he tried to think of ways. A nobleman interrupted his thoughts. "Little boy, my daughter is ill. Please take this and pray for her." The man gave the boy a gold coin.

That's when the game plan came together in his mind.

"Lady Eleonora."

A voice as smooth as dripping honey. The sweet scent of fresh flowers. I felt a breath by my ear. It was stimulating. It made my toes curl.

...Fuck.

My breath caught in my throat. It was a new voice. Which meant it could only be one person.

Alright. Act. Fuck off with the fear. This is fucking life and death. Get the villain away. Act like fucking Eleonora Sollea. I took a breath and turned around with an irritated look.

"What is it?"

A chiselled but young face. An angel? What do they say about Lucifer again? How fitting. Too ironic. He arched a dark eyebrow, and then gave me a brilliant smile with perfectly shaped lips. This is all he did but I was rambling in my thoughts now. I had to hide my shaking hands.

"I just wanted to make your acquaintance, my lady. My name is Alair." An easy-going manner. Pretending to ignore my attitude. Wanting to get closer.

...Let's see how far we go.

I gave him a nod, with no reply or smile in sight. But for some reason, this only made him smile wider. As if he expected this.

...Just how far is the reach of his information network already?

Though I suppose Nora must already be quite famous around as the mad dog. He didn't say anything so I furrowed my brows further in annoyance. Any other time I would have thought it was suicidal to treat an actual psychopath this way but I was trying to get rid of suspicion, and this just happens to be how Nora acts.

...Why does it feel like I'm digging my grave no matter what I do?

I felt a sweat going down my back. "Is something the matter?" I asked him impatiently.

"Oh," He tilted his head gently, and widened his eyes just slightly, as if getting back to his senses from a daze. "I apologize. I just thought you had very lovely eyes."

W-w-w-w-why is he putting moves on me?!

I already know that it's all a lie! This is a man who can't fall in love! He never even really loved the heroine, it was all just his obsession and need to feel in power. So what does he want from me?! And just how the fuck do I reply?! Do I snort and say, "You're not the one I want to hear that from?" "Why thank you, kind sir?" Wouldn't both of these would just fuel him further?!

As soon as I parted my trembling lips to speak, I felt a warmth on my shoulder. I felt a tall presence come forth and stand beside me. I tilted my head to see the side of Cassian's perfect face looking at Alair with a smile.

"Lord Villin, isn't it? I've heard a lot about you." For once, Cassian's arm wrapped around the back of my shoulder made feel comforted and safe; but it was only for a moment.

The main villain and one of the main leads are already meeting...?

"Please, just call me Alair, Lord Cassian," Alair gave back a refreshing smile, not in the least affected by Cassian's sudden entrance into our conversation.

Villin must be the name he was given when he bought the Noble title. He goes around asking people to call him by his first name to get closer to them; as if one person asks to be on first-name basis, the other is likely to politely request the same.

Cassian breezily accepted it, though. He responded with a smile with a brightness rivalling that of the sun.

"You're as refreshing as I'd heard. Please call me Cassian. A connection with you could only have benefits for Aldebaran."

"Oh, what an honour," The two shook hands in the most friendly manner but...

...What's this?

I thought having Cassian next to me would soothe me but what is this atmosphere? I feel like an unknown static electricity is making my hair rise...?

...Are they really smiling? How scary, these two.

"But let's save the conversation for later. Nora," Cassian turned towards me and I immediately turned on my heart eyes and gave him a huge smile. "I've been looking for you."

Oh, what perfect timing, dear main lead! Ah, you're just amazing! Let's go! Let's go immediately! Right away!

"Me, too." I smiled at him and hooked my arm around his and immediately turned around; trying my best to not look like I was fleeing. Cassian bid goodbye to Alair and I spared him a glance before turning around when-

"Lady Eleonora."

I felt a warm hand gently grab onto my fingers, making me jump. "Lord Alair," Cassian's voice was warning. A lady mustn't be touched so suddenly or casually when we aren't close acquaintances.

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to say," Alair gently tugged onto my hand despite Cassian's warning and my surprise and pulled me towards him. He looked at me for a moment, with uncertainty and a tinge of desperation. Then he leaned down gracefully and placed a kiss on the back of my hand.

My legs felt weak and, for a moment, I swear my heart almost choked itself. There was a sudden heat, making me jump. His lips were soft and warm. And he looked up. Just his eyes. Looking into mine. Watching my reaction. Just before the heat of his kiss left my skin, I could feel them form a smile. No, it was a smirk. I felt his breath hit me, as if it was a hidden laugh.

He stood up with an almost shy smile on his face. "I hope we meet again, Lady Eleonora."

I really didn't know what to say to that. For a moment, I was still in a daze. It wasn't my fault, really. I wasn't the heroine; I wasn't immune to the main characters of this book. Just now I got kissed by the hottest and most dangerous villain in this damn world. I felt like my heart was going to beat out of its chest.

I heard Cassian exhale a soft sigh from beside me. Then he spoke in his normal voice.

"...Yes, I do hope we all meet again. Now, if you may excuse us, Lord Alair."

Cassian put pressure behind my back and steered me away. We began to walk together in the hallway. I thought back to what had just happened. Those silver eyes... when they looked into mine. And that fucking smile. Although Cassian was right beside me, he wouldn't know of it. It felt like a little secret message just between the two of us.

I felt a shiver go down my spine. Before we turned around, he was looking at me earnestly; as if he really wanted us to meet again.

Though of course, it was all an act. All of this. Psychopaths are master manipulators with extreme superficial charm. Getting people under his thumb was like breathing for him. And I am the only one who knows of this.

...How fucking dangerous.

After all, he wasn't the main villain for no real reason.

...An organization is rising in the neighbouring kingdoms. No, I'm the only one who'd call it an organization. Everyone else knows it as...

The Church of Aletta.

In the two years that Crown Prince Azriel had locked himself away, the crime ran wild in the kingdoms. Kings, nobles, the underworld... everyone was involved in exploiting the people. Amongst these, kidnappings and ransoms were common.

Suddenly, a young priest with pure white hair walked into the slums. Whatever the people asked for, he provided. Healing stones, medicines, food... When a crippled with a baby asked 'why?', he gently smiled at her and only said, 'The Goddess Aletta has wished so.'

It began like that. It spread across the despairing citizens of the kingdom. The faith in the Goddess Aletta was born in their hearts. A new church was established, and the white-haired man became the face of it, Bishop Alezae. And the one who sat on a hidden throne behind and pulled the strings of this bishop?

Alair Keir.

In the two years the empire was without an emperor, Alair got together and persuaded beggers, street people with his plan. They began to steal from nobles, began to kidnap and get ransoms... but this money? They didn't keep for themselves. No, Alair had a bigger plan. One that would make him the most powerful person in the empire.

It was just two years, but that was more than enough for him. The money they earned, they invested in the people. The ones with the most despair. They gave them hope and faith, one so strong that in the future... one word from the bishop was all it would take for the citizens to throw everything away and turn the empire upside down. Of course, Aletta wasn't a real goddess. That was all bullshit. It was all lies but even then... in a few years, after the death of the emperor, this faith would become so strong that...

They'd go to war for this.

Just one word. He had the citizens under his finger.

The Church of Aletta... it was spreading rapidly across the empire. It wasn't exactly bad; they were helping the people, and the citizens were more hopeful than ever. The only problem was...

A psychopath has the control...

...Has he killed his father yet?

In the book, after he earns his money and his power, Alair returns back to his father. That man had gone on to become a rich shop owner. Where did he get the funds for the capital?

He had gone back to their cabin. In a secret compartment on the floor was his wife's jewellery. 'Money for Alair's future,' she'd said. The man sold it and started his shop.

Alair first visited the man's shop as a customer. The father couldn't recognize his son; he was a rich young man, with much different attire and hairstyle; not the shabby little boy he'd raised. So Alair kept coming and he became a regular customer. Soon enough, they were on friendly terms and the man invited Alair upstairs after closing for a drink.

That was a mistake.

"A-Alair?"

"Shh. I'm not going to do anything to you because you ran away. You did what you had to, to save yourself." Even if it meant abandoning your wife and little son.

His father sighs in relief.

"But."

The man's eyes widen. The boy continues.

"But the fact that you're breathing while she's not," he leaned in closer towards the trembling man. "It pisses me off."

He tilted his head, his silver eyes an ethereal glow in the moonlight coming through the window in the dark room.

"So let's make it stop."

He cut and stabbed in the exact places of his body where he had seen his mother get attacked. Despite his grand words, it was revenge. For his mother whose last sight was her lover abandoning her in the arms of her ruthless killers.

As the blade made the final cut, the villain was smiling. A tear fell down his cheek.

That was his last tear.

"Was he troubling you?" Cassian asked me, snapping me out of my thoughts and I frowned. Should I tell him? But what do I even say? "Should I have him punished for touching you without permission?"

At this, it became clear to me. I shook my head. Alair isn't someone you can take on alone, Cassian.

He was made to be defeated by all of the main characters together. You, Aurelia, Caeles and Iveren.

Besides...

As Cassian and I walked into an empty tearoom, I glanced behind me. Alair was still looking at me as my view changed to that of inside the room.

...That child is someone who has piqued the interest of a god.

Alair will go on to be The Favoured One of the God of Darkness. The Chosen Child of Zeki.

Just like the heroine is of the Goddess Astra.

Alair watched with a smile as Lady Eleonora and Lord Cassian entered the room together. Then he turned around, the smile vanishing from his face as he, too, moved into an empty room.

"Nox. Get here immediately." The ring on his finger glowed momentarily and within an instant, a cloaked man teleported into the room.

"Yes, milord."

"Show me what she's doing right now."

"Have you given her-" The cloaked stone-handler was interrupted by a glare.

"Don't ask useless questions. Of course I have."

Nox, the cloaked man held up his hands, palms facing forward and began to chant a spell. A blue glow formed in the air in front of them and continued to grow bigger until-

"Ugh!" Nox bent forward in pain. Alair raised an eyebrow at this.

"What is it?" He asked, reacting indifferently to this person's pain. Nox looked up with trembling eyes.

"It's a block!" Nox said, his voice high with surprise.

Alair raised his eyebrows. "Is that so? That's interesting." He tapped his fingers onto a table beside him. "So she has a blocking stone? How could that be. Even I'm having trouble finding a stone-handler who can carve that spell."

"S-she appears to have such a stone, milord. I cannot use any surveillance spell on her as long as she has it."

Alair regarded him quietly, the only sound in the room of his fingers tapping against the table. "Then steal it."

Nox's eyes widened. "Yes? Steal?"

Alair shrugged. "How easy. This way I don't have to keep searching for a stone-handler." Alair then promptly turned to leave.

"T-then what's to happen to her?"

Alair turned back half-way towards the man. He gave him a gentle smile, as if he was tired of his useless questions.

"Why would I care about what happens to her?"

Alair left the room and Nox stared at the shut door. Nearby, in another room;

"Ah, seriously," Cassian sighed as we both leaned against tables opposite from each other, and I faced him. He seemed very worn out. He must have been really pushing himself today. He looked at the door with an annoyed glare. "What's with that fucker?"

I blinked at this. Cassian continued to mumble, the words leaving his lips so casually. "Gives me a fucking bad feeling."

My hand that was holding my weight against the table slipped, making a sound and Cassian turned towards me. "...You okay?"

I didn't reply. Perhaps he was moody as he was sick, but even then he never let himself go like this in the book... he was always the perfect character who never lost himself in any situation. My arm almost slipped off the table with my weight, not just because I was shocked at Cassian suddenly cussing; but because a sudden surge of memories had begun to flow into my mind like a tsunami.

It was all Cassian.

But he was so, so different.

The usual elegant and gentle tinge was gone from his face as he had his brows furrowed in irritation. Even his eyes looked different. It was a memory from when he was a younger boy.

"What's that bastard's problem? Keeps trying to one up me like it's some competition." He ran a hand through his shorter hair as he unbuttoned his collar to breathe. "And that girl? I hate being touched- I really hate it! But they just keep getting closer! Tch." He sat on the couch and leaned back, in the most inelegant fashion.

"What about me? What about when I touch you?" It was Nora. I was seeing all this from her eyes. Nora moved closer and sat on the couch's armrest. She snaked an arm across his shoulder and Cassian's eyes turned up to regard her with silent disdain.

"...I hate it the most when you touch me like this. Like you want something." He muttered out but then could only sigh in defeat after seeing Nora's smile widen. "But you don't care, do you? I showed you this part of me so that you may know." As Cassian spoke, Nora reached out her fingers to his cheek but he abruptly turned his head away. "So that you may know that I am not who they think I am. I am not the kind and gentle boy that smiles at everyone. That's so fucking tiring... why do I have to do such things?"

The young boy shut his eyes in tired frustration. "You and Caeles... you sure have it easy. The younger ones. You don't have any need to act this way. You don't have a dukedom to carry."

It was the burden placed on him since birth. It was how he was raised. To be perfect. Anything less than perfection earned him punishment. He needs to be perfect.

But he was far from it.

Nora played with a lock of Cassian's silver hair. She twisted it around her finger as she gazed at his face silently. He continued to speak. "Why don't you leave, too? I am not who you thought I was. You must have fallen out of love with me now. It's why I showed you this side. So that you wouldn't be fooled by this lie."

Nora's lips finally parted. "I won't ever leave you." Her voice was younger. She leaned down towards Cassian's face, her hair gently brushing across his cheek. He slowly half opened his eyes.

"I am the only one in this world who knows and will love every dirty little thing about you, Cassian." His eyes watched as she smiled gently down at him from barely any distance. Any closer and she would have been out of focus. He listened quietly to the words she spoke.

"Everything of yours that others might hate or be disgusted about... every rotten imperfection... I know it all, and I will stay regardless." He could feel her breath on his lips as she whispered to him softly. She leaned down and softly placed her lips against his cheek. He finally pushed her away but she only chuckled, unfazed at his rejection. "Isn't this proof?"

"Only I can ever love the true you, Cassian."

I blinked. My eyes were blurry. I shook my head to clear my mind and sight and when I focused, Cassian was right in front of me. He was leaning against the table in a lax manner. Looking different from the usual graceful boy I've been seeing all this time.

"What's this?" Even his voice sounded different. A little deeper. Less than poised. I was looking at him with shock. He arched an eyebrow. "Looks like you've finally remembered?"

He tilted his head and loosened his cravat, unbuttoning the top of his shirt. And then he took a deep breath. "Fucking finally."

"Ca-Cassian..." I stammered out and when his amethyst eyes met mine, I felt my fingers going numb.

"Making me depend on you... saying you'll never leave..." He lazily pushed himself off the table and took his steps towards me. I felt myself subconsciously leaning back as he came closer. "Saying you love me, like a lie, tying me to you..."

"And then forgetting about it. Hey, does it make any sense? Tch." He placed his hand on the table beside my hip. His face was intimidatingly close to mine as he examined me. It was a nerve-wracking distance. I could feel my face heating up. He tilted his head. His lips parted.

"So how much do you remember, dear Nora?"

"...Just that... just... you..." How do I even explain this? I don't even fucking understand. The Cassian from the book was always the sweetest and gentlest main lead! He really was kindness personified! He was the most perfect character of them all!

...Unless?

'Only I can ever love the true you, Cassian.'

...Nora's words... did he take them to heart? Is that why he hid this entire side of his from the pure-hearted heroine? Because she was so different from him...?

My eyes met Cassian's again. This time I felt a sting in my chest.

What else has Nora told him?

Making him further believe that his true self would never be accepted by anyone just so he would become dependent on her...

That fucking manipulative bitch.

Seeing my silence, Cassian scoffed. His whispered words seemed desolate... and bitter.

"You'll always be there? What a joke. I should have known not to believe you. You've always tricked me."

"Cassian, no-"

"I share blame. I know that. I told you over and over that I'd never give myself to you. You knew that but you continued anyway. All these years... for all these years, how could I not depend on you? You were the only one who... who knows me. You are the only one I don't have to act with. The only one I don't have to worry about disappointing. I know it's selfish, but you wanted it anyway. Aren't you the one who made me this way? Hey, tell me. Aren't you?"

He fingers raised towards my cheek... gently brushing across my skin. I felt goose bumps on the back of my neck at his soft, familiar touch. "How do I stop so suddenly? How do you leave so suddenly? You said you wouldn't leave me..."

I bit my lip. I could feel it in my eyes... tears stinging. I didn't know why. It just seemed so pitiful. These two people. This boy who looked so lonely as he stood in front of me. The future was a different story. The present and past, however...

"I'm sorry..." These words were a whimper out of my lips. It wasn't my place to apologize. And I wasn't apologizing for Nora. These words came as consolation for the boy who was showing me such sad eyes. "I'm sorry..." I'm sorry that this happened to you. I'm sorry that you two met. I wish this wasn't your fate. Being manipulated like this... being your true self is worthless... "I'm sorry..."

Cassian furrowed his brows in a pained expression. Then he gave me a slight smile.

"Hey, this is new..." He murmured as his thumb brushed across the skin beneath my eye. It's where my mole was.

I could only look at his face and then nod timidly, not trusting myself to speak. Cassian gave a tired sigh. He was looking pale since we'd entered this room. I parted my lips and cleared my throat before I spoke so that my voice wouldn't tremble.

"Do you want to go home?"

Cassian slightly raised his eyebrows before letting go of my face and moving back. I felt his warmth leave and was left a little cold at this sudden distance.

"There's still time for the event to end. Can you wait a little longer? I'll take you home."

I shook my head at his invitation. "You should get home as soon as the event ends. You're not well."

Cassian tilted his head with a smile, and he watched me silently. Confused, I muttered out, "What is it?" He shook his head gently and spoke with a smile.

"It's nice to have you back, Nora."

At the meaning of his words, my fists clenched subconsciously and I looked down at them with surprise. Then I felt my breath catch in my throat. "Since when- since when have I been holding this?"

Cassian tilted his head in confusion as he fixed his cravat. "You've had it all this time. You didn't notice?"

No. No, I didn't notice. If I did, I would have probably tried to burn it to ashes. I looked around me anxiously. There was no one around except Cassian and I. I sighed in relief.

"Are you ready to go back out?" Cassian asked as he made his way to the door and looked back at me. I nodded and walked towards him. He furrowed his brow and used his chin to point at the table with confusion. "You're leaving that here?"

"Why would I need such a thing? But hey, aren't you even a little bit jealous?" I asked him with a playful smile and he sighed at me, opening his arm so I could hook my elbow through it. Of course, it was so that he wouldn't question me further about it.

We shut the door behind us. On one of the tables in the room, lay a beautiful, intricately painted playing card. It was...

The Queen of Hearts.

We both made our way back to the event and I sat again by my lonesome at a table. I watched Cassian, a glass of wine in my hand, as he socialized in a group; his smile back on his face and his tiredness gone from view.

To think all of this was a mask... the entire Cassian that I thought I knew from the book.

Just how many faces around me are lies? How scary this world is.

Hmm? Why is it scary?

Shouldn't I be used to this? Is it only this world?

I scoffed to myself in amusement as my thoughts carried me to my past life.

Smiling like turning on a switch. Being different amongst different people. All those fake... personas.

It's not like my own face has always been the truth anyway. It was a mask.

'I'm tricking you all,' It was a thought I once had as I sat amongst a group of my friends. Why? Why did I feel the need to act?

Ah, right. Because it was troublesome.

It's troublesome to have to explain your true self. It's troublesome to be judged.

So I just acted as the situation called for. Did what people wanted me to.

'Why aren't you smiling? Why are you silent?'

Because it's hard to smile genuinely. Because I don't know what to say to you.

How do I say such things? So I'd rather just smile. I'd rather just laugh at your joke and reply the way you want me to. But at some point, even that got bothersome.

I watched as a girl leaned in closer to Cassian, and he let out a little laugh as his group talked merrily.

Raised to be perfect... carrying a heavy burden... unable to complain even to your sibling who has it easier... suffering all alone.

I guess I understand you a little more now. Why you didn't let go of the only person in your world who wanted you unconditionally. Even I wouldn't let go of that fucking hand. The one link. The only acceptance of me as I am.

I tilted my head as I watched the girl wrap her fingers around Cassian's hand. She was a higher noble. Her father was an important connection to Aldebaran. Cassian wouldn't want to create a strain in the relationships of their fathers. He just continued to smile. I raised an eyebrow.

...Just because you saved me from Alair just now. Just because of that.

I pursed my lips as I thought of what Eleonora would have done. A possessive rage, huh? I don't really feel that way, though. What do I feel possessive about? Why do people feel possessive?

When something makes you feel good, maybe it's innate that you want to keep it to yourself without giving it out. Maybe it comes from the innate need to dominate? Mark territory? This is mine, so only I can get its benefits? It seems quite animalistic and irrational at this point. Huh, maybe I do know that feeling.

I downed the last of the wine in my glass and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, my eyes narrowing on the silver-haired boy politely pulling his hand away from the girl clinging onto him. Again, she refused to get the message. Standing up, I pushed my chair away, making sure it was loud enough to get me reverberate in my ears, so that I could be sure I was really doing this. I walked towards the group, like a predator nears its prey. I saw his amethyst eyes widen as they landed on me.

Favourite toys, favourite clothes...

To share my precious experiences with random people who I couldn't care less about, and who couldn't care less about me.

I was never someone who liked sharing my favourite songs anyway.

"Don't taint something of mine with those dirty hands of yours, you shitty scum."

I muttered through my teeth as I caught her hand right before her fingers could touch Cassian and bent it backwards. I glanced towards Cassian.

I will help you, just this once. I will become the Eleonora that you know.

Cassian watched me with shocked wide eyes but I noticed it. After all, I understand him the best in this world. It was just for a moment.

The flicker of a smirk on his lips.