"Huh?"
Gareth stopped the moment he stepped out of the library, catching sight of Cassian almost skipping as he walked, humming to himself. Gareth's brows furrowed as his gaze followed the other man.
"He…" he trailed off, recalling how dejected Cassian had looked the night before. But now, he seemed completely back to his usual self.
Just then, Cassian's skipping halted as he noticed Gareth. The moment their eyes met, Cassian smirked.
"Hey!" Cassian stopped right in front of him, chin tilted up, eyes looking down at Gareth as if deliberately trying to make him feel smaller. "Have you heard?"
"Huh?"
Cassian laughed. "That my boo and I are going on a date!"
"…"
"Just Lizzie and me," Cassian raised a finger, pointing at himself, then gesturing vaguely toward Gareth. "So if I were you, I'd stay out of her sight—or better yet, disappear from this place. You're not needed!"
With that, he resumed his steps, skipping and humming without a care in the world.
"Should I get her flowers? Or cook her favorite dish?" Cassian sang loudly. "Though I don't even know what she likes, she definitely likes me~."
Gareth watched him go and shook his head, sighing heavily as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Isn't it obvious I'm already staying out of her sight?" he muttered to himself, his eyes fixed on Cassian's retreating figure. "I envy him… in a way."
As Cassian reached the entryway, Elias—who had been descending the stairs—paused upon spotting him. He narrowed his eyes, studying the delusional man heading outside.
"He looks…" Elias thought for a moment before finishing, "…happy."
*
*
*
"Of course, he is happy."
Back in Lynsandra's study, she stood by one window while Virgo stood near the other. From there, they could clearly see Cassian outside, happily picking flowers beneath the morning sun. In that moment, he truly did look sparkly—charmingly so.
No wonder the entire world adored that face.
She chuckled, folding her arms beneath her chest. "Even I would be happy if my neck were already on the chopping block and somehow still intact."
"He received a very lenient punishment," Virgo hummed, sliding his gaze toward her. "Luna, if you'll allow me to speak freely—you let him off far too easily. While I vaguely understand your reasoning, I fear Cassian Clark may place you in a more difficult predicament in the future."
He paused, looking back out the window. "I do believe it was an honest mistake. But that only makes it worse. Cassian Clark is catastrophically naive, and having him around is like carrying a ticking time bomb."
It wasn't as though Virgo hadn't noticed this during the selection. If not for Lynsandra's explicit instruction to ensure Cassian's inclusion, only four men would have made it into the harem.
"…"
Lynsandra remained silent, tilting her head slightly as though Cassian were something to be studied. Yet her expression held neither confusion nor interest.
Whatever was passing through her mind, only she knew.
"Virgo," she spoke after a moment. "Tell Julian I'll be dropping by his office."
"The human?"
"My human," Lynsandra corrected, casting him a sidelong glance with a brief smirk. "Be gentle with him."
Virgo chuckled and lowered his head. Without another word, he turned and left the room.
Once the door clicked shut, Lynsandra shifted her attention back to Cassian. He looked genuinely happy.
"He looks like him," she whispered. "Especially when he smiles like that."
Her eyelids drooped as an image of Victor overlapped with Cassian; the version of Victor from before he had everything. Back when they were still on the same page. Before they both changed.
The memory didn't reach her heart, but it left a bitter taste in her mouth.
"A three-year relationship, and I never once saw the little brother he doted on so much," she murmured, chuckling as she turned away from the window. "Who would have thought that same little brother would end up in a harem I created out of spite?"
During the three years she had spent with Victor, Lynsandra had known about Cassian. Victor adored his younger brother, the one he sent abroad to study. He had acted as Cassian's parent, and that was something she once understood.
If anything, she had even admired that trait.
That was why she worked hard to support Victor—not only emotionally, but financially. Studying abroad was expensive. They had nothing back then. Victor covered Cassian's expenses, and she covered both of them.
Oh, how she wished she could turn back time, just so she could wring sense out of her younger self.
*****
Meanwhile, Cassian happily picked flowers, his phone connected and resting nearby.
"Really?" came a surprised voice from the phone.
Cassian nodded, giving the basket of flowers — where the phone was — an innocent glance. "But just so you know, brother, I'm planning to take my boo somewhere else. We won't stay long. We're only going because I said I would—even though I don't want to."
"It's alright," Victor chuckled. "Just having you and the princess there, even for a moment, would be an honor."
He paused. "Cassian… is everything alright there?"
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"I heard there were… more people around," Victor hinted carefully, referring to the harem Lynsandra had created for the final trial.
It would be wonderful if Cassian became Alpha King through marriage, but Victor wasn't foolish enough to think the other members had joined for no reason. And knowing Cassian's personality, it worried him as a big brother.
Cassian frowned and picked up his phone, switching it from speaker to normal mode.
"Victor," he said seriously, "I know you're business-minded and have responsibilities toward our pack. But I told you before. I didn't join the harem because I needed the Royal Pack. My boo and I are in love. Nothing else matters."
He continued earnestly, "I don't care if I become Alpha King or work myself to the bone to provide for her. Love will keep us alive. So don't use my marriage as a business tool, okay?"
Victor smiled softly at his brother's words.
"I know, I know," he said, shaking his head. "As long as you're fine, I'm at ease."
"Anyway," Victor added with excitement, "I'm eager to finally meet Her Royal Highness. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Mhm."
And in the blink of an eye, tomorrow arrived—and the business launch was just about to begin.