Cassius Vassandra.
He was chosen as the black faction's Queen in my previous life because he had one strong desire he wanted to change – the downfall of the Vassandra family.
Even though Cassius was adopted and was always treated as a scapegoat ready to be discarded, Cassius still wanted to protect his family.
He was a kind-hearted soul at heart.
That's why it was so hard for him to gain approval from the other members when he first joined our faction.
I flicked the lighter in my hand as I gazed toward the sky. Inhaling the cigarette in my mouth, my thoughts spun as the nicotine slowly spread through my blood cells.
Judging from the information Mccatti told me, it seems like Cassius failed to save his family even in this life. If he regressed back to the same time as mine, that means there was no chance for him to save his family at all.
Maybe that's also why he was spotted near my city, Vienna. He was trying to retrace his steps.
"I told you to stop smoking didn't I?"
"Haide."
Haide snatched away the cigarette in my fingers as he wrapped his arm around my waist. With a slight pout on his mouth, he crushed the cigarette and threw it into the trash can before he buried his face on my nape.
"The smell of your pheromone is a thousand times better than that bitter cigarette. I don't want your body to be covered by its smell."
"Haha, stop it Haide, it tickles."
His hair prickled my skin, making me feel ticklish. Patting my head, Haide smiled.
"Let's pack up, it's almost time for us to check out."
"It's time already?"
I had been standing on the balcony gathering my thoughts until I didn't realize it was time for us to leave.
"Let's go."
.
.
Cassius had always been a timid child.
Ever since he was born, there was no one that he could rely on. His parents left him in an orphanage, and when he grew up, Cassius' act of being reluctant to reach out to other people made him a target of bullying.
Because the orphanage couldn't keep track of every child and their problems, the constant bullying isolated him from the other children – which made his personality become even more timid.
But things started to change when he manifested as an alpha. Vassandra family, who noticed his trait, adopted him into the family, and from that day on, his life changed 180 degrees.
He was forced to be the family's lackey since he was young. Doing errands and cleaning up after the family – especially taking the blame for the oldest son's mess up – had become the daily norm for him.
But he was never allowed to be part of the family.
The family's loving bond and their secrets were only allowed for the children carrying the Vassandra blood. Even then, that didn't stop him to grow affection for his family members.
After all, they were the only people he could call family.
But misfortune always befell those who acted wrong. The police found out their hideout and soon the Vassandra family's downfall became the headline news.
Cassius managed to run as he was away when the police raid happened, but some of the leads from his own family members made it easy for the police to track him down.
He was a wanted person on the run.
Until the War of Throne happened and his status changed because of it.
"Yolan…"
In his previous life, Yolan breathed his last right after the white faction King's. That's why their wish to turn back time was granted by God Uola.
Cassius actually regressed back one month before the Vassandra family downfall, but at that point, there wasn't much he could do to cover up the crime of his family. All he could do was help the remaining family members escape safely.
So now, after reaching his goal, his priority had changed.
"I have to find Yolan in this life."
He wanted to make sure that person actually regressed back with his memory. He wanted to believe that at the last moment of his death, Yolan's consciousness was sent back to the past.
Limping toward the mansion of the Zylvar household, Cassius pressed on the gate's bell. It didn't take long before an old man – presumably a butler – came out.
From beyond the gate, he asked.
"What business do you have with the Zylvar family?"
"I'm searching for the madam in this house."
"Mr. Richie? May I ask what the problem is?" the butler asked, a slight caution in his eyes.
"Richie…?"
'Since when has the madam of this house changed?'
From the past Yolan had shared with him, Yolan had been the white faction King's partner until the War of Throne started.
"No, I mean Yolan, is he not here?"
Hearing the name, the butler's tense shoulder relaxed before he sighed.
"Mr. Yolan has long left the house. He isn't the madam of this house anymore."
"What?! Then where is he now?" Cassius grabbed the gate as a sense of urgency grew in his heart.
Why had the past changed?
What factor could trigger this change?
Could Yolan have successfully regressed?
He needed to find his King soon to know the answer.
"What's going on here?"
Before the butler could give him an answer, a man in a suit came out to the front gate. He was someone Cassius was familiar with – so familiar he made him sick just from his face alone.
"Master."
The butler confirmed the person's identity. Even without him introducing them, Cassius already knew what his name was.
"Why are you searching for Yolan?"
Cassius scoffed at him, "I'm an acquaintance. Tell me his new address, you must have known where he lives now right?"
Hearing the tone Cassius used, Keith frowned, "Tell me what business you have with Yolan first."
'What's this? Does he think I'm a thug aiming for Yolan's life or something?'
A scowl formed on Cassius face. After years of fighting this man alongside Yolan, he picked up a lot of things about this enemy of theirs – one of them was this defensive tone of his.
'He was trying to cover up Yolan's whereabouts.'
Cassius knew he wouldn't be able to cough up any information from this man anymore, so he intended to leave.
"Wait!"
But Keith opened the gate and grabbed his hand.
"Tell me what your relationship with Yolan is."
Cassius clicked his tongue. He always hated the demeaning attitude Keith had. Even now, when he was the one seeking an answer, that arrogant expression of his never left his face.
Slapping his hand away, Cassius answered, "I told you already, I'm an acquaintance. If you don't want to tell me his address, you have no right to ask more."
He turned his back toward him, walking away before he heard Keith mutter under his breath.
"I'll tell you."
Those three words made Cassius turn his head toward him. But the sight of Keith's face made Cassius widen his eyes.
"I'll tell you Yolan's address. In exchange, tell me what your relationship with Yolan is."
A glint of desperation was detected in his tone, then soon after, a mocking laugh came out of his lips.
"I want to know the other side of Yolan that I don't know of."
.
.
Stepping outside the hotel, I took Haide out for lunch. It wasn't a fancy meal, just a simple steak at a restaurant. The amount of food we bought was a different case though.
Unlike my portion of meal, which was one salad and a steak, Haide's food was triple the amount. Seeing him thoroughly enjoying his hearty meal always made me chuckle.
"What is it? You haven't finished your plate." Haide asked when he heard me laugh.
"Nothing, I'm just wondering where will these much food go inside your stomach."
He smiled at my reply, "I warned you before, didn't I? I'm a big eater, so you have to prepare your wallet if you take me out."
I scoffed at his words, flashing my black card at his face instead, "Eat as much as you want, I'll pay for it."
Haide chuckled before raising his hand, putting my card away. "It's nice seeing my boyfriend acting all high and mighty when he's treating me, but let me pay for you this time."
Raising his chin, he declared, "After all, I'm also loaded."
'How cheeky.'
A smile bloomed on my face. As we were both arrogant bastards, when it came to the talk of money, we never backed down from each other. It might seem like a show-off competition, but in fact, it was just a petty argument of pride between men.
"Sure, I'll let you pay this time."
I let out a defeated sigh as I put my card away. Haide grinned widely when he saw my gesture. This time, he was the one flashing his black card at me instead.
'This kid, is he taking revenge by mimicking my action just now?'
I side-eyed him as he asked for the bill and paid for our meals. With my stomach now full, I parted ways with Haide. I still had a lot to do to prepare for the upcoming events.
"You don't want me to accompany you?"
Haide asked with a dejected look, which made me pat his head.
"Don't worry, we'll go on a date again tomorrow, so just wait patiently okay?"
Though reluctant, Haide still nodded. Waving at him, I turned my heels toward the opposite direction. Once Haide was out of sight, the smile that kept hanging on my lips was gone – replaced by a focused gaze.
Rubbing Cecily on my waist, I rummaged through my coat's inner pockets and pulled the phone inside. It was an older type of phone that had been modified especially to contact the black market.
'A new house, a few bases, firearms… There are so many things to buy.'
I listed everything I needed in my head as I walked. Spotting an empty alley nearby, I was about to make a call when suddenly someone yanked my hand.
"Yolan!"
Surprise filled my heart when I heard a familiar voice. When I turned my head, the person I had seen for years in my past life was now standing in front of me. Though he looked younger now, the unmistakable blue eyes and blue locks confirmed his identity.
"I miss you."