Arielle's scream echoed all the way down to the first floor.
“DAD! THE MONSTER IS OUTSIDE ARIELLE'S ROOM!”
Within seconds, footsteps came running from every direction.
Doors flew open.
The servants came out of their rooms.
Several guards immediately headed upstairs.
And from the study, Arielle's father rose straight from his chair.
“Arielle!”
Arielle was still standing in the middle of the corridor, her body trembling. She hugged her bunny doll so tightly that its ears were bent.
The figure dressed in black was still standing in front of her.
Tall.
Silent.
Terrifying.
A monster.
Arielle didn't even dare blink.
“Dad!”
Her father reached the upper floor and hurried straight to her.
“What happened?”
Arielle pointed ahead with a trembling hand.
“That!”
Her dad turned around.
Then he fell silent.
Cassian was standing there.
The fifteen-year-old still looked as calm as ever.
There was no weapon raised.
No suspicious movement.
No angry expression.
There was only a storybook in his hand.
Arielle's father looked at the book.
Then he looked at Cassian.
“Cassian?”
Cassian lowered his head slightly.
“I'm sorry, Sir.”
Arielle hugged her dad tighter.
“Dad, the monster is outside Arielle's room!”
Her dad tried very hard not to laugh.
“He's not a monster.”
“But he's standing outside Arielle's room!”
“Because he's standing guard.”
Arielle fell silent.
“Standing guard?”
“Yes.”
Cassian raised the book in his hand.
“Miss left this in the reading room.”
Arielle stared at the book.
It really was her favorite storybook.
She'd been reading it before bed and forgotten to take it back.
Apparently, Cassian had retrieved it.
“Then why was Cassian standing there?”
“Because it is my duty to protect Miss's room.”
Arielle still watched him suspiciously.
“Why?”
“Because Miss is sleeping inside.”
The answer was so simple that Arielle had no idea how to argue with it.
Her dad then crouched in front of her.
“See? Cassian didn't do anything.”
Arielle looked at Cassian again.
Cassian held out the book.
“This belongs to Miss.”
Arielle took it hesitantly.
“Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
Cassian then stepped back.
Arielle continued staring at him.
For the first time, she began to realize something.
A monster wouldn't bring someone their storybook.
A monster probably wouldn't stand guard all night just to make sure someone was safe, either.
But Arielle wasn't ready to admit that yet.
She was still hugging her doll.
“Cassian's still scary.”
Her dad smiled.
Cassian only nodded.
“All right.”
Arielle scrunched up her nose.
“Why isn't Cassian mad?”
“Why should I be mad?”
“Because Arielle called Cassian a monster.”
Cassian looked at her for a few moments.
“If it makes Miss feel safer, it's all right.”
Arielle fell silent.
For some reason, that answer made her chest feel a little strange.
Her dad then patted her head.
“Now go back to sleep.”
Arielle nodded.
Before going into her room, she glanced back one more time.
Cassian was still standing in the corridor.
He didn't chase after her.
He didn't force her.
He didn't say anything.
He only made sure Arielle got inside safely.
The bedroom door closed.
The night grew quiet again.
And for the first time, Arielle fell asleep thinking about one small question.
If Cassian really was a monster...
why had he never hurt Arielle?
The next morning, Arielle woke up with the same thought still on her mind.
Cassian.
She went downstairs to the dining room carrying her bunny doll.
As soon as she arrived, she saw Cassian.
The boy was standing by the window as usual.
Arielle stopped.
Cassian turned toward her.
“Good morning, Miss.”
Arielle didn't answer.
She walked to her chair.
Sat down.
Then she secretly glanced over.
Cassian was still standing there.
Arielle glanced again.
Still there.
She began to feel strange.
Yesterday, she'd already told Cassian that he was scary.
Last night, she'd even screamed at him like she was possessed.
But Cassian hadn't gotten angry.
He hadn't complained to Dad.
He hadn't retaliated.
He'd even brought Arielle her book.
Arielle stabbed at the egg on her plate with her fork.
“Cassian.”
“Yes, Miss?”
“Don't you get tired of standing?”
“No.”
“Since earlier?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I am working.”
Arielle scrunched up her nose.
That answer again.
She stared at Cassian for a long while.
Then she asked,
“Are you always like this?”
“Like what?”
“Quiet.”
Cassian thought about it.
“Perhaps.”
Arielle almost laughed.
She quickly lowered her face.
Cassian wasn't just scary after all.
He was strange, too.
Very strange.
After breakfast, Arielle asked permission to play in the yard.
Dad allowed it.
Of course, Cassian went with her.
Arielle didn't protest as much anymore.
She just walked a little faster so Cassian wouldn't be too close.
The sun was quite hot that day.
Arielle brought a small ball and played in the yard with several servants.
Cassian stood not far from her.
He didn't bother her.
He didn't direct the game.
He only watched over her.
Arielle glanced at him several times.
Cassian was still there.
When Arielle's ball rolled too far away, Cassian retrieved it.
When Arielle wanted to pick a flower that was too high, Cassian helped her get it.
When Arielle was thirsty, Cassian called for a servant.
He did everything without saying much.
Arielle began to notice.
Cassian never touched her things without permission.
He never pulled her unless it was necessary.
He never scolded her for running.
He never deliberately frightened her.
He was simply always there.
Behind her.
Beside her.
Sometimes a few steps ahead when things were dangerous.
Arielle was getting confused.
What kind of monster worked like that?
Afternoon was approaching.
Arielle was playing tag with one of the servant's children in the backyard.
She ran while laughing.
“Arielle wins!”
The other child chased her.
“Not yet!”
“Arielle's fast!”
Arielle ran faster.
She didn't see a small rock in her path.
Her foot caught on it.
Her little body lost its balance.
“Aah!”
Everything happened very quickly.
Arielle fell.
Her knee hit the ground.
Her palm was scraped, too.
Pain shot through her immediately.
“Ow!”
Before anyone else could move, Cassian was already running.
He reached Arielle first.
“Miss!”
Arielle looked up.
Cassian knelt in front of her.
His face was still calm, but something had changed in his eyes.
He examined Arielle's knee.
“Does it hurt anywhere?”
Arielle held back her tears.
“My knee.”
Cassian looked at the wound, which was beginning to redden.
“Can you stand?”
Arielle tried.
As soon as her foot touched the ground, the pain made her wince.
“No.”
Cassian didn't ask anything else.
He held out his hand.
“Hold on to me.”
Arielle stared at that hand.
The hand that had caught her on the stairs yesterday.
The hand that had retrieved her ball earlier.
The hand that was waiting for her now.
Arielle finally took it.
Cassian helped Arielle stand.
But when Arielle winced again, Cassian immediately lifted her into his arms.
Arielle was startled.
“Cassian!”
“I'll carry you, Miss.”
“Arielle can walk.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you carrying me?”
“Because Miss's knee is injured.”
Arielle fell silent.
Cassian carried her inside the house.
Several servants followed them.
But Cassian only said,
“There's no need.”
He carried Arielle to the family room.
Arielle sat on the sofa.
Cassian fetched the first-aid kit.
He knelt in front of Arielle.
Arielle watched his face.
Cassian opened the kit.
“This might sting a little.”
Arielle immediately pulled her leg away.
“Arielle doesn't want it.”
Cassian stopped.
“It needs to be cleaned.”
“It'll hurt later.”
“Just for a moment.”
Arielle stared at the cotton in Cassian's hand.
Then she shook her head.
“No.”
Cassian was silent for a few seconds.
Then he said softly,
“If Miss wants, you can hold my hand.”
Arielle fell silent.
She looked at Cassian's hand.
Then she looked at his face.
“Can I?”
“You may.”
Arielle slowly took his hand.
Cassian began cleaning the wound.
He was right.
It hurt.
Arielle immediately winced.
“Ow!”
Her hand automatically tightened around Cassian's.
Cassian didn't pull away.
“Just a little longer.”
“Arielle hates this.”
“I know.”
“It stings.”
“I know.”
“Cassian is mean.”
Cassian paused.
Arielle immediately opened her eyes.
Cassian looked at her.
“Miss may say whatever she likes.”
Arielle fell silent.
Cassian went back to cleaning the wound.
This time, he did it more slowly.
He wasn't in a hurry.
When he finished, he placed a small bandage over Arielle's knee.
“Done.”
Arielle looked at her knee.
Then she looked at Cassian.
“Done?”
“Yes.”
“Doesn't it hurt anymore?”
“It should be better.”
Arielle nodded.
Cassian stood.
He put the first-aid kit away.
Arielle watched him.
“Cassian.”
“Yes?”
“Why did you run earlier?”
Cassian looked at her.
“Because Miss fell.”
“Why?”
“I had to help Miss.”
“Why did you have to?”
Cassian was silent for a moment.
Then he answered,
“Because it is my duty.”
Arielle immediately pouted.
Duty again.
But this time, she didn't feel as annoyed as before.
Instead, she watched Cassian put away the medical supplies.
Something had begun to change in her mind.
She remembered yesterday.
Cassian had brought her book.
Cassian had stood guard outside her room.
Cassian hadn't gotten angry when Arielle called him a monster.
Today, Cassian had run the fastest when Arielle fell.
He hadn't even laughed when Arielle cried.
He hadn't scolded her for being careless.
He hadn't said that Arielle was a troublesome little girl.
Not even once.
Arielle hugged her bunny doll.
Maybe...
Cassian really wasn't a monster.
The thought made Arielle go quiet.
Cassian closed the first-aid kit.
“I'll be gone for a moment.”
Arielle looked up.
“Where are you going?”
“I need to tell Sir that Miss has been taken care of.”
“Oh.”
Cassian took a step.
One step.
Two steps.
Arielle watched his back.
For some reason, the family room suddenly felt emptier.
Even though Cassian had only walked a few steps.
Arielle lowered her head.
She didn't know why she felt that way.
Yesterday, she had wanted Cassian to leave.
Yesterday, she'd even tried to run away from him.
But now...
why did Arielle feel uncomfortable when Cassian was actually about to leave?
Arielle stared at the hem of her own shirt.
Then she looked at Cassian.
Cassian was almost at the door.
Arielle opened her mouth.
“Cassian.”
Cassian stopped.
“Yes, Miss?”
Arielle didn't answer right away.
She didn't even know what she wanted to say.
In the end, she only said,
“Thank you.”
Cassian turned his head slightly.
“You're welcome.”
Then he continued walking.
Arielle watched him.
One step.
Two steps.
Her hand moved before she could think.
Her small body slid off the sofa.
Her leg still hurt a little, but she didn't care.
She chased after Cassian.
“Cassian.”
Cassian stopped again.
Arielle was already standing a few steps behind him.
Cassian waited.
“Miss?”
Arielle looked at him.
For a few seconds, no words came out.
She felt embarrassed.
A moment ago, she'd wanted Cassian to leave.
Now she wanted to call him back.
Arielle lowered her head.
Then she slowly walked closer.
Her hand rose.
Her little fingers reached for the hem of Cassian's clothes.
Cassian froze.
Arielle gripped the black fabric tightly.
She stared at the floor.
Her voice was very small.
Almost a whisper.
“Cassian, don't go.”
Cassian didn't move.
For the first time since he'd been assigned to protect Arielle, the fifteen-year-old truly didn't know how to respond.
The hand that had been about to open the door stopped in midair.
His gaze lowered to the small hand still clutching the hem of his clothes.
And for a few seconds, Cassian simply stood there in silence...