On the rge bed covered with white sheets, a bck-haired boy lies silently. His eyelids tremble slightly

  Cassius opens his eyes

  The familiar ceiling es into view - the intricate patterns on the white-painted surface, the soft light filtering through the sheer curtains. Everything is familiar

  This is his room

  His heartbeat is still pounding, his breathing rapid. He is safe

  'But… where is Nana?'

  Immediately, Cassius pushes himself up. His whole body still aches, but he doesn’t care. He o find Lana

  The st image in his memory - Lana, covered in blood, her eyes filled with panic yet still f a smile at him. She held him, her voice trembling but still reassuring. She had protected him with her life

  But now, she is not here

  Just as Cassius is about to get out of bed, a gentle has on his shoulder, holding him back

  “Don’t rush, Cassius. You’re still weak, rest a little longer” A deep, warm voice speaks

  Cassius turns his head

  It's Celeste

  She remains as posed as ever - her long white hair casg down, her deep silver eyes steady. Looking at her, Cassius gs to the faint warmth of familiarity

  He opens his mouth, his voice hoarse

  “Where is Nana?”

  Celeste is silent for a moment

  Just a brief pause, but enough for Cassius to sehat something is wrong

  “When I arrived…” Celeste speaks slowly, her gaze unreadable “Lana didn’t make it.”

  The world before Cassius crumbles

  “No…”

  He shakes his head

  It ’t be

  There’s no way Nana…

  “No! That’s impossible!”

  Celeste gently tightens her grip on his hand, but Cassius feels no warmth

  “Cassius…”

  “You’re lying!”

  Cassius shouts, shoving her hand away. He pushes himself up, intending to run and find Lana - he has to see her with his own eyes, make sure she is okay

  But his body is too weak

  Celeste holds him back, ge firm

  Cassius still struggles, his breaths broken, his eyes drowning in despair

  “Why…” His voice shakes

  He ches his fists, his nails digging into his palms

  “It’s because of me…”

  Celeste watches him in silence

  “It’s because of me that she died…”

  His breathing grows med

  “Those assassins were after me… If I hadn’t been there…”

  “Nana wouldn’t have died”

  He lowers his head, tears streaming down his trembling hands

  Guilt tightens around his heart, squeezing so hard it feels as if it will tear his chest apart

  He was saved

  But the price was Nana’s life

  She had protected him with everything she had

  And he could do nothing - owerless, useless

  Celeste watches him silently. After a moment, she reaches out, gently brushing his hair, her touch soft and f

  “Cassius, this is not your fault”

  She speaks, her voice as warm and steady as a whisper in a storm

  “Everyone in this world needs a bit of luck”

  “No one defy fate. We all need a little luck to keep living, but… sometimes, there are those who don’t have that luck”

  Her fingers wipe away the tear rolling down his cheek, as delicate as if toug fragile crystal

  “Lana chose to stay by your side, Cassius. No one forced her. No one made her protect you. That was her decision, not your fault”

  No matter what Celeste says, Cassius tinues g in her arms

  —

  In a small church, a carriage bearing the symbol of aops in front of the gate. The door opens, and Duchess Eclipse steps out, maintaining her usual cold demeanor. Following behind her is Cassius, his eyes swollen - evidence of endless g

  They are dressed in bck. They have e to bid farewell to Lana

  As they step into the church, a man with disheveled silver hair and tired but resolute eyes rushes forward. He bows respectfully

  "Greetings, Yrace… It is an honor to have you here." His voice trembles.

  Celeste gives a slight nod and is about to ast him, but Cassius slowly steps forward, standing in front of Lawson.

  Cassius looks up at Lawsohe man before him looks gaunt, dark circles under his eyes from ck of sleep, his thinning silver hair a tangled mess. Seeing him like this, Cassius ot help but think of Lana

  They resemble each other

  He ches his fists, his voice hoarse as he speaks

  "Hello, sir… I am Cassius"

  Lawson freezes for a moment. He lowers himself slightly, the boy in front of him

  After a while, he slowly reaches out, pg a gentle hand on Cassius’s head, stroking it lightly

  "Cassius…" He says his name, his voice rough with grief

  Cassius lowers his head, unsure of what to say. He has so much he wants to express - he wants to apologize, to say that Lana should not have died because of him, but every time he tries to speak, his throat tightens

  In the end, it is Lawson who breaks the silence

  "You came" His voice is slow, but there is an unmistakable tremble "That is enough."

  Cassius ches his fists tighter

  "Lana protected me… but I couldn’t protect her" His voice shakes

  Lawson watches him for a moment, then sighs

  "Lana… she was a very timid child" He gives a small, sorrowful smile "Even a little mouse could terrify her"

  Cassius presses his lips together

  "If she chose to protect you, it means you were very important to her" Lawson looks directly into Cassius’s eyes "Not because you forced her to, not because you were at fault"

  Cassius's chest tightens. He lowers his voice, whispering

  "I miss her"

  Lawson slowly nods

  "...So do I"

  —

  The ceremony takes p silence, with only quiet sobs eg through the somber space of the church

  A simple wooden coffis at the ter, surrounded by pure white flowers. One by one, people step fently toug the lid, their final goodbyes to Lana

  Not far away, Lana's mother buries her fa her hands, tears streaming endlessly onto her trembling fingers. Beside her, Lana’s younger brother silently ches his small fists, his eyes red fr too much

  Cassius stands beside Celeste, his gaze fixed on the coffin. His heart feels unbearably heavy, waves of emotion crashing against his chest. He wants to step forward. He wants to pce his hand on the coffin, to touch the cold wood, to say goodbye

  But his feet refuse to move

  He fears that if he touches it, he will have to face the harsh reality that Lana is truly gohat he will never hear her voice again. No one will call him "Cassa" in that gentle, loving tone anymore. No one will hold him when he has nightmares, no one will softly pat his head and tell him that everything will be okay

  Celeste watches him quietly. She does not rush him, nor does she push him. But after a moment, she gently pces a hand on his back, guiding him forward

  Cassius slowly takes a step, eaent feeling unbearably heavy. When he finally stands before the coffin, he reaches out. His trembling fingers lightly touch the cold wooden surface

  "Nana…"

  His voice chokes. A single call, but no one answers

  "...I’m sorry"

  Tears fall, nding onto the smooth wood. Tears ret, of pain, of an irrepceable loss

  Celeste watches silently, her expression calm as ever. After a while, she speaks softly

  "It’s time to go, Cassius"

  Cassius does not respond. He remains there, staring at the coffin, as if trying to etch this moment into his memory forever

  Finally, he slowly turns away, his small shoulders trembling slightly. Celeste takes his hand, her grip steady and warm against the cold air

  They leave the chur absolute silence

  Outside, the sky remains gray. A light breeze drifts past, carrying the chill of a sorrowful day

  Cassius gnces bae st time

  The coffin still rests there, the white flowers still carrying their faint fragrance

  And Lana will never open her eyes again