After waiting for an hour, Cassius's father came back to take him. Just as they had agreed, Nero helped cover for Cassius.
"I'm sorry, Cassius," Nero said. "I didn't think you would get lost in the library, and I was too engrossed in my next book to notice."
"No worries, Your Highness," the duke replied politely. "I'm sure Cassius doesn't mind, right?"
"Of course not," Cassius said with a smile, bowing his head slightly. "It was my pleasure to help you, Nero."
Cassius made sure to call Nero by name to show his father how close they were. His father seemed pleased, and so did Nero.
"Alright, we will be taking our leave, Your Highness," the duke said, turning to face the door, his hand on Cassius's back.
"Your Grace, wait," Nero called. The duke looked back. "I really suggest teaching your son to read. Reading is a wonderful gift to the world." Nero flashed the duke a bright smile.
'It's still surprising that Nero likes reading. It doesn't suit his personality at all.' Cassius thought.
"Agreed, Your Highness," the duke answered. "I was already planning on hiring a tutor to teach Cassius to read."
'That's obviously utter bullshit. In my first life, he did everything he could to stop me from reading. Is one word from the crown prince enough to change his mind?' He scoffed inwardly.
"That's good," Nero said, waving goodbye. "Also, I like your black shoes, Cassius. That color suits you well. That's my favorite brand."
"Thanks," Cassius replied, waving goodbye.
The duke and Cassius left the palace and boarded their carriage. As they traveled through the poisonous garden, Cassius noticed a carriage parked by the gate.
'That's the carriage Natalie, Nathan, and Lady Vanessa rode in? Have they been at the gate this whole time?'
The duke looked out the window and broke into laughter. "To think they are still at the gate. That's hilarious."
In his past life, Cassius had definitely seen them at his Awakening Ceremony, but in this life they were stuck at the gate. What had changed?
Cassius analyzed the carriage carefully. The wheel was broken, and his family stood by it as they watched the guards attempt repairs.
'Why is their carriage broken in this life?' Cassius pondered. 'Did I do something differently without realizing and inadvertently cause their carriage to break down? Or... is someone else interfering with the future?'
The possibility that there was another Regressor wasn't completely out of his mind. After all, if he could be a Regressor, and so could Kar, why not someone else? Maybe it's more common than he thought.
"Father, I think their carriage broke down," Cassius said.
"Really?" The duke yawned. "What a shame."
He clearly had no intention of letting them ride in the same carriage, despite heading for the same place.
They sat quietly until they arrived back at their estate. It was a peaceful ride without any issues.
Exhausted after such an eventful day, Cassius immediately went up to his room. He was so tired that he failed to notice the door was already open.
'I've received a different outcome from my past life. I wonder how differently things will unfold this time.'
Despite his exhaustion, Cassius noticed a shadowy figure in the corner of the room. Not to mention, his barrier suddenly activated.
[Barrier Activated.]
"Young Master," Anna stepped out of the corner.
"Anna, what are you doing here?" Cassius asked with a smile. He felt relieved to see her, especially now that he had confirmed the Elixinot was in the potion bullet rather than her cupcake.
'The barrier went up. Why?'
"Kar," Cassius whispered, "don't waste your energy. It's just Anna."
[Kid, have you learned nothing from your first life?]
'What does he mean?'
After reading Kar's message, Cassius glanced to the side and noticed a knife in Anna's hand.
"You fucking bastard," Anna said, smiling as she walked toward him. "Didn't I tell you to eat the cupcake?"
'Anna?'
Cassius froze, stunned by her words. Anna spoke in the same sweet voice she always did, but her voice was harsher than ever.
Young Master, don't let anyone look down on you for your lineage.
Young Master, you're perfect just the way you are.
Even if no one else is, I will always be on your side, Young Master.
The memories of her past kindness flooded back.
'What's happening? Why is she calling me a bastard? Why is she holding a knife?'
[Cassius, if you care so much about my energy, then I suggest you dodge now.]
Anna lunged forward. Caught off guard, Cassius stumbled backward, barely avoiding her attack.
"Why didn't you eat the fucking cupcake?!" Anna slashed her knife through the air. "Because of you, master will abandon me!"
'Master? What master? It's certainly not me.'
"I spent ten years taking care of an illegitimate child like you," Anna spat, her eyes filled with hatred. "And this is how you repay me?"
"Anna, what are you doing?" Cassius raised his hands. "Put the knife away. Let's talk about this. Who will abandon you?"
"Shut up, Young Master." Anna raised the bottle in her other hand. It seemed she was drunk. "There's nothing to talk about. Why didn't you eat the cupcake?"
"Why do you care so much about the cupcake?!" Cassius shouted before pausing. A terrible realization struck him - he'd assumed the Elixinot was only in the potion bullet. "...Elixinot?"
"What a complicated word you know, Young Master." Anna sneered, glancing at the window. "Even if you knew what it was, you should have eaten it anyway. Now, I have to kill a ten-year-old boy."
"Why?" A sharp pain pierced Cassius's heart, but it wasn't from Anna's magic missile - the barrier had blocked that.
'She's a mage? If not for the barrier, that shot would have killed me instantly.' Cassius stumbled back.
Anna launched fire arrows. Cassius barely dodged them as his bed burst into flames behind him.
[You're lucky she's not a very good mage, Cassius. With my help, you will be able to take care of her easily.]
'Take care of her?' Cassius thought, but he wasn't so innocent as to not realize what Kar meant.
[Mission: Point your hand at Anna.
Reward: Your first skill.]
'What will happen when I point at her?' Cassius hesitantly raised his palm. Deep down, a part of him knew what would probably happen.
A sudden light blinded him. 'Where did that come from?' He covered his eyes. Slowly, he put his arm down.
'Oh. The moon.' He stared at the moon in awe.
Through Anna's chest, Cassius could see the moon shining through his window. It was like Anna had become a window herself.
Anna sneered, looking down at the hole in her chest. "I hate you, Young Master." She glanced up at him, slowly raising her middle finger. "Go die in a ditch."
She fell forward. Perhaps Cassius could have caught her, but he was too stunned to move and she hit his shoes.
[Congratulations, Cassius. You've completed your first mission.]
He stood frozen, shocked beyond belief. All he had done was point at her and now there was a gaping hole in her chest, through which he could see his shoes. His red shoes…