Chapter 5
In the original story, Calisten was a madman—but he was quite different from the kind of madman I knew.
In <Delilah: The Master of the Grand Duke’s House>, he was indeed insane, but he was devoted to the heroine, Delilah.
The problem was that because I had changed, the original story had been distorted. Just as I had only met Delilah for the first time this week, Calisten had not yet met her either.
Rather than the heroine appearing and suppressing his madness, he simply grew up as a madman.
He didn’t even enter the academy and lived entirely as he pleased.
Growing up together in childhood was truly difficult. He was the kind of person who had to have whatever he wanted.
And one of the things he wanted… was me.
Not out of love or romantic affection, but a kind of possessive desire to truly own something.
“Did you miss me?”
“Ha ha ha. I really missed your voice.”
He was still wearing blood-stained, intimidating armor. It seemed he had come straight from the battlefield, carrying a faint scent of earth and sun-dried air.
And yet, he was still beautiful.
Perhaps because of his cruelty and lack of sanity, his outward appearance compensated for what his personality lacked.
Objectively speaking, there was no one in this empire more handsome than Calisten.
“I really missed you. I longed for you.”
But that only made me trust his words even less.
His hair was neatly combed back, unlike someone who had just come from a battlefield. His jet-black hair still looked glossy and soft. His crimson eyes shimmered like rubies glinting in water.
The more dangerous a creature was, the more dazzlingly beautiful it tended to be.
Just like Calisten Ethan Krophus.
“You know, I thought a lot while I was on the battlefield.”
“You thinking a lot won’t change anything. People don’t change.”
“People are the ones who change the easiest.”
“You’re not one of them.”
When I said that with certainty, he laughed. He closed his eyes and laughed out loud. I couldn’t let my guard down at a sight like this. He was like a bundle of needles wrapped in cotton—someone who could cause serious injury if touched carelessly.
“If we’re talking about childhood, then I’ll apologize.”
“What are you apologizing for?”
“When you wouldn’t play with me, I sent away all your canaries. That.”
“That’s all you can think of?”
“Chasing away the young nobles who said they wanted to be your friends?”
“You did that too?”
“Oh… that’s not it?”
He didn’t love me. He simply had an excessively strong possessive streak and a very clear distinction between “his people” and “others.”
Ever since his mother passed away, he had not been able to trust people. Because of that, he only opened his heart to the people of the Philia Marquis House, whom he could trust.
“I’ve changed now.”
He went to war with the Viaten Empire right after the war with Mervenia broke out. Before that, he had gone to suppress Sotan.
In the original story, he was supposed to be completely obsessed with Delilah for four years at the academy…
But instead, from the age of sixteen, he had lived entirely on the battlefield for four years.
“I won’t do the things you hate or fear anymore.”
“Please do.”
Since I felt it was not something he had the right to say after barging into the carriage I was riding without permission, I stared at him. Then he gave a kind, pleasant smile.
“I really want to have you.”
“Didn’t you just say you’d become a better person?”
“Yeah. I’m speaking nicely, aren’t I?”
I couldn’t help frowning, and he smiled brightly.
“So I’ll work hard to make you want to come to me.”
“Did you forget I’m married?”
At that, he smiled even more enchantingly.
“But you haven’t had your wedding night yet, right? That makes annulment easy.”
“……”
“And knowing you, Briseis, you’re not someone who would allow your husband to take a mistress.”
When his words made me fall silent, he seemed to realize he was right and continued with a smile.
“If you come to my side, I’ll never do such a thing.”
“You’re the crown prince, someone who may become emperor someday. If you become emperor, wouldn’t you take an empress?”
“Here.”
As if interrogating me, he placed something metallic in my hand. When I opened my palm, it was a key.
“What is this?”
“The key to my chastity device.”
“…What?”
“I don’t want anyone but you. And I’ve never taken it off even once on the battlefield. I’ve been keeping it hidden in the imperial palace all along.”
Wondering if he was telling the truth, my eyes unconsciously drifted downward. He shifted slightly, and a faint metallic sound rang out.
“If it expands, it hurts.”
I knew what a male chastity device looked like, but the fact that he actually wore one made me stare at him in disbelief.
“I always feel pain whenever I think of you.”
“Get off the carriage right now.”
“Hahaha.”
He laughed at my words, then firmly grasped my hand holding the key and curled it into a fist.
“There’s only one key. If you throw it away, I’ll keep wearing this forever.”
“Why are you giving this to me? Take it back.”
“Because you’re its owner.”
“I’m married.”
“But you’ll annul the marriage soon. Or divorce.”
This was exactly why it was a problem—he knew me too well.
“I’ll make sure you never have to worry about that.”
“…Cal.”
“I’ve thought a lot during this time. What am I lacking compared to the Maze Grand Duke? What about him makes you feel so at ease?”
“……”
“The Grand Duke may have been fake, but I’m real. I’ll become the real thing you want. I won’t let you suffer because of other women. I’ll make sure you never even have a reason to doubt.”
The key in my hand felt extremely cold. He was still holding my hand that held the key.
“Bri.”
“…Yeah.”
“Just tell me one thing—glad you’re back.”
“Leave.”
“Hahaha.”
As if he had already expected my answer, he laughed and met my eyes.
“I’m really happy to see you again.”
“……”
“It hurts.”
For a moment, I felt like I understood what he meant by “it hurts,” and my face grew hot.
“Please, just leave.”
“Alright. Good night, Bri. I’m really happy to see you again after coming back.”
After saying that, he got off the carriage.
As soon as he stepped down, he shouted to the coachman to head to the Grand Duke’s estate.
I barely managed to arrive at the Maze Grand Duke’s residence and return to my room.
❖ ❖ ❖
Damian and Delilah did not return to the Grand Duke’s residence that day.
Briseis couldn’t sleep because they hadn’t come back.
Having stayed awake all night, the bruises across her body felt even more painful.
After waiting through the night, morning came, and she had to prepare to go to the academy. In truth, whether they returned or not, she now wanted to cut them out of her life.
Meeting Calisten yesterday—she couldn’t tell whether it was fortunate or unfortunate—but luckily, it made her think of annulment.
However, there was no one in the empire who didn’t know that Briseis and Damian were married.
Even so, if the marriage had not been consummated, they could divorce. Annulment was also possible.
But the problem lay with the Philia Marquis House. It was a family that had used their daughter as a bargaining chip because they were interested in the title of Grand Duke.
If she broke off her engagement with Damian, she would likely be sold off again, this time with blemishes. Since she had already been married once, they would assume she was defective.
She might even be sold to someone over sixty.
That was why she was so fixated on the academy.
She needed to secure a way to survive, even if it meant cutting ties with her family.
At the same time, she thought it might be better to find someone to marry at the same time as annulling the engagement. At least someone she chose herself would be better than living with Damian.
“How would you like your hair done?”
Ella spoke cautiously, gauging Briseis’s mood. Briseis regained her composure thanks to Ella, who cherished her like a real sister.
“Just brush it.”
“P-pardon? Ah… yes.”
Normally, Briseis would have tied it neatly. That was the tidy, feminine style Damian preferred.
But now, Briseis had no interest in such things.
Even so, she felt awkward with her hair down and wasn’t sure if it was really alright. In the back of her mind, Damian’s words still lingered.
“Bri’s neckline is truly beautiful. That’s why I always find myself looking whenever you tie your hair up high.”
Remembering those words, Briseis bit her lip as if mocking herself and looked at the mirror.
With less care than usual, she headed to the academy.
❖ ❖ ❖
At the academy as well, Damian and Delilah were nowhere to be seen. It was almost time for homeroom.
They had even attended the academy despite their exhaustion the day before.
Creak.
“There is a guest student today.”
The professor in charge of Class 1 said this and looked toward the door.
Soon, someone entered through it.
Briseis opened her mouth slightly and stared in shock.
“Please greet him. This is Calisten Ethan Krophus.”
Calisten looked at Briseis, a faint, meaningful smile forming on his lips.
