I was playing in Cassis's room. After the welcoming party, I spent a lot of time with Cassis.
Previously, I preferred not to run into each other this way or the other, but not now.
On the contrary, I don't know why we became impatient with each other.
No, technically not each other, Cassis alone, was picking on me.
I was enjoying a doll's play near the bed where he lay.
The dress the doll was wearing was not much different from what I actually wore. Moreover, even the jewelery that the doll wore was real.
My father...
I really like these expensive toys.
I laughed at the doll.
"Evelyn."
Then Cassis called me while looking out the window.
I flinched and raised my head, like I had been caught doing something I shouldn't have done.
Then he pointed to the vase placed by the window. As if it were a new realization now.
"The flowers withered in the vase."
"That's- you know."
Cassis added on when I replied bluntly and touched the doll again. The voice was very soft and muffled.
"There are lilacs out there. Can you break it for me?"
"....."
Do you mean a flower crown now?
"Um~ Let's tie our hair now."
I deliberately fiddled with the doll, pretending I didn't hear him.
Then Cassis breathed a long sigh and spoke to himself.
"The flower in the vase is dead. Will I die like that?"
"....."
Psh. I'm not going to listen this time, though.
I combed the doll's hair with my back turned, fearing that I would fall for his words again.
But I couldn't ignore what Cassis said.
"Looking at the lilacs blooming outside, I think I'll be able to live a little longer..."
"All I have to do is break the lilacs, right?"
I eventually wavered and rose from my position.
Okay. It's about a flower. What's the big deal? Let's just go.
Cassis shook his head with a very desolate smile.
"I'd like a nice color, please. Evelyn."
I have a strong conviction.
A strong conviction that Cassis is a guy that gets sulky easily and is a narrow-minded jerk.
I badmouthed Cassis, picking out lilacs and breaking them with gloved hands.
Fair, what's all that. If he wasn't sick, I would have just kicked him back and throw him all the way to Lake Emmel.
I was so irritated that I muttered inwardly.
His intentions were obvious, but the level of harassment was not high, making it difficult.
I'm more likely to be seen as a bad kid who doesn't care about sick kids.
"Be patient, you have to be patient. It's the male lead."
I controlled my mind by trying to meditate with magical spells.
He was a child who would go back to the capital with Elisha anyway.
Yeah, you just have to hold it in until then. It's just a kid's prank. I'll take care of it. Evelyn, you can do it!
I arrived at Cassis's room with an armful of beautiful lilacs that I had picked with a mental victory.
As soon as Cassis saw the lilacs, he apologized with a smile of remorse and drooping eyes.
"Ah, Evelyn. I must have been mistaken. I wanted lavenders, not lilacs, but I was confused because the colors were similar."
"....."
"Hey, Evelyn. What's wrong with your face? Are you angry because I bothered you? I'm so annoying, aren't I?"
Cassis tried to pretend to be weak again, his eyes drooping bitterly.
At the same time, a maid was taking care of the laundry.
I forced a smile.
Can't I just kill him now? Then he wouldn't have anything to do with me.
I pushed down the sudden urge to kill.
But now I was almost at the limit.
Looking at his expression, I felt like this was what he had planned for from the beginning.
"So you want me to break it again?"
I asked tenderly in a quivering voice.
And then Cassis felt my change. He spoke with great kindness.
"No, I can't bother you again. That's enough for me, Evelyn."
"Cassis."
I called him with an unnaturally raised smile.
He stared at me, asking me to speak.
"...No. I'm glad you're okay with lilacs."
I almost took the bait.
I quickly closed my mouth with my hand.
Cassis retorted without even knowing that he had almost been subjected to a tremendous amount of curses.
"You're so boring."
"Then I'll get going! See you later at dinner."
I walked out of Cassis's room, smiling to the last minute.
And as soon as I closed the door, my face became more ferocious than ever.
I gave up on understanding Cassis and his adult-like demeanor.
Come to think of it, I don't know why I should even understand?
What is it to a spiteful child? All he does is cause mischief!
I'm not going to let you look down on me! I'm a kid now. I can do these things too.
"Huhuhu. You touched someone you shouldn't have touched. I'm not letting you go."
During the whole walk to my room, I thought of some very evil pranks.
***
I waited for Cassis to come out of the room, and as soon as I saw him, I ran towards him and shouted.
"Cassis! Play with me!"
At my loud voice, the gaze of the servants turned to us.
Cassis looked at me being friendly all of a sudden and gave me a strange look.
I clasped his hand regardless of whether he did or not. Then I clapped our hands.
"Okay? Play with me."
"Hey, you! Didn't I tell you not to grab me?"
Cassis backed off in disgust when I pushed my face closer to his.
In fact, it wasn't that I forgot what he said and was just acting obliviously.
I did it on purpose.
I muttered with a sullen look, not missing the moment, as Cassis responded to the skinship like I expected.
"Oh, Cassis... I just wanted to play with you so badly. I washed my hands, too! It's not dirty at all!"
"It has nothing to do with being dirty."
Cassis answered curtly and released his hand from mine.
After a while I mumbled, with my eyes full of clear tears as I held them back.
"Hng. That's too much."
"Miss. Why are you crying?"
Just in time, Paul, who was watching this place, approached me and asked affectionately.
I purposely whimpered with my eyes raised to the ceiling. Just as if you're holding back your tears.
But my voice was tearful.
"Cassis says I'm dirty."
"When did I ever...!"
Cassis exclaimed in a fit of surprise. I didn't stop talking.
"I just held hands to play. But he said it's dirty..."
"Young master."
Paul called Cassis and gave him a pretty stern look.
Paul came as a servant of Cassis, but he was the one who raised Cassis from a young age.
That's why Cassis likes and relies on him the most.
Cassis was greatly agitated as I expected. His eyes shook nervously.
"No, I..."
"Apologize to the young miss."
"....."
"No, Paul. I'm just upset that I touched Cassis with my hands that I didn't wash. It's my fault."
I deliberately tilted my head to the side and murmured bitterly.
Paul looked at me pitifully and called Cassis again.
"Young master."
"I'm sorry. Evelyn."
Cassis mumbled with a big frown. The look on his face was filled with resentment.
I talked while clinging to Paul's arms.
"Paul. I'm really fine."
"You have heartache."
Paul comforted me, matching my eye level. I nodded affirmatively.
Cassis was already growling at me, unable to control his expression.
I hugged Paul and stuck out my tongue at Cassis, who glared at me while Paul wasn't looking.
"You..."
Cassis couldn't keep up.
I ignored him and nicely said to Paul.
"Paul will play with me, right?"
"Of course. Shall we play hide-and-seek like last time?"
"Wow! Exciting!"
I raised my hands with a big smile. Then I pulled Paul's hand and passed Cassis leisurely.
When I looked back at Cassis, who was left behind, he was biting his lower lip and staring at me in indignation.
I grinned and pressed down my eye with my finger to get him riled up.
Pfft. Why would you touch the sleeping lion's nose?*
Cassis went numb when he looked at my face.
***
After that, the full-fledged battle between Cassis and I began.
Cassis still made me run errands, pretending to be weak, pretending to be sick, trying all sorts of things.
Instead of making a face that I made like before, I helped him without a murmur of complaint, which made him upset.
It would feel weird if you work with a smile when they're trying to piss you off.
I squeaked, thinking of Cassis's expression, feeling impatient to get the reaction I wanted.
I was going to pay back as thoroughly as I had suffered from Cassis.
As a result of my observation of Cassis, he often pretended to be mature for some reason.
Maybe that's why. If you just stimulate that part, you'll be able show the desired response.
After all, a child is a child.
Somehow I felt bad about this as I was going against a child, but so far I felt so unfair.
It means that there are many things that can not be tolerated without paying back.
I ate well and saved my strength to win the battle against him.
If you're tired, you're likely to start acting like a child.
If that happens, I'll get caught up in Cassis's pace and give him the reaction he wants.
I've tried my best to stick to Cassis's weakness after that.
Cassis also acted pitifully, but I didn't budge.
A few days later.
Before I knew it, the tide of the war leaned toward me, not Cassis.
afterword
*Why would you touch the sleeping lion's nose/그러게 왜 잠자는 사자의 코털을 건들고 난리야 - actually i'm kinda confused here but i'm assuming it has something to do with like 'why would you aggrivate me' or wtv LMFAO i know 0 sayings so help a girl out
anyway give evelyn an oscar for her acting skills 10/10 immaculate