Chapter 52: Cassie
I walked back to my room, the blunt training sword held loosely in my hand. A sigh of relief, a mixture of exhaustion and the release of stress, escaped my lips. I pushed open my door and, without bothering to put the sword away, simply let it clatter gently to the floor beside my bed. With a soft thud, I jumped onto the mattress, my body sinking into the plush comfort. The silence of my room, after the exertion of training, felt like a balm.
Just as I was beginning to drift, a soft knock sounded at my door.
"Young Master Kai? It’s Cassie. I have your tea."
My eyes fluttered open. Cassie. I recognized her voice. She was one of the manor maids, a young woman with kind eyes and a perpetually gentle demeanor. She had been occasionally bringing me tea since Evelina had been in a coma, a small, thoughtful gesture that had subtly chipped away at my guardedness. She was super kind, always quiet and efficient, and she had become noticeably more caring, more attentive, ever since Lord Sapphire’s death. Her presence was a small, comforting constant in the chaotic uncertainty of my new life.
"Come in, Cassie," I called out, my voice a little muffled by the pillow.
The door opened softly, and Cassie entered, carrying a small silver tray with a steaming teacup and a plate of biscuits. She moved with a quiet grace, her simple maid’s uniform neat and uncreased. She placed the tray gently on my bedside table, the warm scent of herbal tea filling the air.
"Thank you, Cassie," I murmured, pushing myself up to a sitting position.
She offered a small, polite smile. Her gaze, however, lingered on the blunt training sword lying on the floor beside my bed. "Still training hard for the Academy, Young Master?" she asked, her voice soft.
"Trying to," I admitted, reaching for the teacup. The warmth of the ceramic felt good in my hands.
She hesitated for a moment, then her gaze met mine, – a mixture of hope and a touch of nervousness. "Young Master... if I may be so bold. Are you... are you truly still going to the Sword Knight Academy?"
My brow furrowed. "Why do you ask, Cassie? Is there a problem?" My mind immediately jumped to potential complications, new threats, something Herald might have done.
She shook her head quickly. "Oh, no, Young Master! Nothing like that! It’s just... I also plan on going."
I almost choked on my tea. "You... you plan on going?" I stared at her, utterly surprised. Cassie? A maid? Going to the Sword Knight Academy? She didn’t look like the sword-fighting type at all. She was slight, graceful, her hands soft from years of domestic work. The idea was so out of place, so utterly unexpected, that I almost laughed.