My Arrogant and Insolent Shadow - Chapter 37

The intricate emblem carved into the antique box immediately drew Yurisiel’s eyes.

Elegant script, resembling ancient lettering, was engraved across the lid, and above it, the crest of House Lisiansus gleamed in fine detail.

As she opened the box, Yurisiel gasped quietly.

Inside lay a silk dress with perfect shaping, trimmed with fine lace and adorned with delicate gemstones. It felt as if it had been made just for her.

Yurisiel couldn’t look away.

She had never seen a dress this beautiful in her life.

For noble young ladies, it might be just another dress among dozens in their wardrobes, but in the world Yurisiel came from, this was something she could never even imagine.

A memory flashed through her mind, Cassian’s face, when he casually asked, “Perhaps?”

He had said it when she confidently assumed the banquet had nothing to do with her.

It was clear now. From that moment, Cassian had already planned to bring her to the banquet.

The awe she felt at first quickly faded.

Even looking at the dress brought Cassian to mind, and just thinking about him gave her a headache.

To others, this might seem like a dream, wearing a stunning gown and attending a grand banquet. They might even envy her. But the reality was different.

Wearing something noble didn’t make her noble. Standing among them wouldn’t change who she was. If anything, it would make her feel even more out of place.

She didn’t belong here. Not as a noble, not as a servant. She was just an outsider, someone that didn’t quite fit anywhere.

Would she become a joke again tonight?

Sometimes, it seemed like Cassian cared about her. But then he would throw her into overwhelming situations like this, and she felt like she was right back where she started.

She could never understand what he was really thinking.

Letting out a quiet sigh, Yurisiel carefully slipped into the dress. No matter how she felt, there was no avoiding the banquet tonight.

Fortunately, the dress fit perfectly. Not a single adjustment was needed.

It must have been the steward, who had fussed over her maid uniform not long ago, that arranged this as well.

Looking at her reflection, flawless in the mirror, made the upcoming night feel even more terrifying.

Who would be there? Would she know anyone?

Of course not. She had never imagined attending such a banquet, especially not wearing something like this, so she hadn’t cared at all about who might attend.

And really, this was a banquet at the estate of a high lord. Naturally, powerful and noble guests would be present.

There would be nobles from nearby lands, even lords from other towns, people Yurisiel could never normally speak to.

After tonight, she would probably never see them again.

That thought should have brought some comfort, but instead, her chest felt as tight as the corset wrapped around it.

The beautiful weather, the peaceful season, none of it mattered. She felt like she was sitting in the center of a storm, calm for now, but surrounded by chaos ready to strike at any moment.

Just one step, and it could all collapse.

Night arrived, just as it always did. Just like her.

Below the staircase, a grand orchestra stood waiting, one that seemed specially hired for the evening.

Cassian walked down the stairs slowly, listening to the music that marked the start of the banquet. But at the last step, he stopped.

He had spotted Yurisiel approaching from the opposite side.

Her long red hair flowed behind her, revealing her pale neck, and below that, the elegant silhouette of the dress completed the image.

Even without a tiara or jewelry, she outshone everyone in the room. She sparkled, more naturally and gracefully than the noblewomen weighed down by their wealth.

Since giving the order to send her the dress, Cassian had imagined, now and then, what she might look like in it.

Every time, he pictured her beautiful and radiant.

And now, standing in front of him, she was exactly that.

Even in her plain maid uniform, she had always drawn his eye. It was no surprise that in a proper gown, she looked this stunning.

And it wasn’t just him. Everyone in the room had turned to look at her.

Cassian narrowed his eyes slightly, then stepped off the last stair and walked toward the center of the room, making his presence known.

Naturally, everyone’s attention shifted from her to him.

No matter how striking she was, no one could compete with the heir of House Blanchet.

Even the orchestra paused briefly at his arrival, the music cutting off for a moment before resuming.

Guests watched him in silence, lowering their heads as he passed.

Even the lord of Bronze, who had never bowed to anyone, and the lords of Alphonse and nearby estates, found themselves glancing at each other, unsettled by the weight of Cassian’s presence.

“Wasn’t he supposed to be terminally ill?”

“If not, there’s no reason the heir of Blanchet would be staying in a place like Alphonse.”

“He doesn’t look sick at all.”

“I looked him in the eyes earlier, and I almost froze.”

Whispers passed through the hall, barely spoken, but impossible to ignore.

The nobles had assumed he was just a young, sheltered heir. But now, they were overwhelmed by the sheer pressure he gave off.

Still, none of them wanted to miss the chance to approach him.

Smiling politely, they began to gather near, hoping to say even a few words to the heir of Blanchet.

Before long, Cassian was surrounded in a perfect circle of eager nobles.

From across the room, the lord of Alphonse scowled.

This was not the outcome he had wanted.

He had offered Cassian a place to stay, hoping it would lead to a connection, maybe a small political gain or a path to the central court.

But the Duke of Blanchet had sent no word, only money, and that, as if to make it clear they owed nothing.

It was a generous amount, yes, but to a man consumed by ambition, it wasn’t enough.

And now the heir had even given an outrageous order to arrange a match for him.

“With the young lady of House Bilrod, of all people?”

At that moment, the lord of Alphonse finally understood.

Cassian had realized the truth.

He knew that Yurisiel was not the daughter of House Bilrod.

“Damn it.”

The lord muttered under his breath.

He had been careless. He assumed the heir would soon discard that girl, so he let her stay without much thought. That misjudgment was coming back to destroy him.

What started as a greedy attempt to gain something had now turned into a path toward ruin. His thoughts blurred with rising panic.

At first, when he had learned the truth, he even came up with a bold plan.

“If I just kill the heir, wouldn’t that solve everything?”

The boy was terminal anyway. It wouldn’t be strange if he died. It would just happen a little sooner than expected.

A dead man tells no tales. If Cassian died, then the lie—the fact that the lord had deceived House Blanchet—would be buried with him forever.

But even trying to kill Cassian wasn’t possible.

Blanchet wasn’t a weak family. His room was guarded by knights who moved like shadows. No one could enter or leave without their notice.

Trying to harm the heir without being seen was nearly suicidal.

After several sleepless nights, the lord gave up on the idea and changed his approach. He decided to please Cassian instead.

For the past few days, the heir of Blanchet seemed willing to let the matter go. That girl clearly had his attention.

The lord had breathed a sigh of relief, pretending not to notice that Cassian already knew the truth. He thought it would end quietly.

But then came the commands.

It was bad enough that Cassian had ordered him to arrange meetings between young nobles. Now he wanted a full banquet as well?

The lord could no longer hide his growing frustration.

Since when did someone like him care about the petty love affairs of lesser people?

It was clearly a warning, disguised as an order. Cassian was making it known, he knew about the lie. He knew the girl wasn’t really from the Bilrod family.

And now, he was reminding the lord of that, in the most humiliating way.

“That brat, still wet behind the ears, is yanking my leash…”

Furious, the lord smashed furniture across his room.

But in the end, nothing changed. He still had no choice but to submit.

The Blanchet name was simply too powerful. And with Yurisiel’s false identity exposed, the only thing he could cling to was Cassian’s mercy.

That was why, once again, the lord followed the heir’s suggestion as if it had been his own idea.

Even knowing how expensive it would be to host a proper banquet.

The situation was already dire. A poor harvest had wrecked the year’s finances, and there were budget issues everywhere. But the lord pushed forward anyway.

And through it all, Cassian made things worse.

On such an important night, he brought that low-born girl into the ballroom.

And not just quietly—he dressed her in something so striking, it made her look like the star of the night.

Already beautiful, the girl stood out even more in the gown, as if the entire party revolved around her.

Maybe that was why the arrogant heir of Blanchet kept her so close.

The thought made the lord grit his teeth, yet in a way, it was also a relief.

If that girl hadn’t pleased Cassian, the punishment for deceiving House Blanchet would have already come.

As the lord watched Yurisiel, the image of Jane came to mind.

They said she was wasting her beauty, living alone without a husband. What a shame.

Not long ago, just before dawn, he had run into Jane on a quiet garden path. No one else had been around.

When he approached her, she looked terrified.

Bathed in moonlight, she was stunning. Her beauty drew him in, and he couldn’t help but wonder what sweetness was hidden under that dress.

The temptation became too much. He stepped toward her.

Jane’s face turned pale, frozen with fear.

Then, behind him, he heard the sound of someone scoffing.

When he turned around, Cassian was standing there.

His expression was cold, his sharp eyes gleaming, and a mocking smile played on his lips.

That night, the lord had run back to his room, not even understanding what he was doing.

Ever since realizing Cassian had him by the throat, the boy had become something else entirely. Terrifying in a quiet, controlled way.

Of course, he told himself it was all just imagination.

He spent the next day cursing Cassian in silence, trying to shake off the unease.

Then, as if to remind him again, a gift arrived.

A single name was embroidered neatly on the box.

Cassian de Blanchet.

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