Episode 26
“Ah, did I forget to mention it?”
Her tone had completely changed from earlier. But no one pointed it out.
The Roman family was no longer the heir’s family—they were now just criminals who had tried to harm the successor.
“I didn’t suspect an innocent person. Because the culprit pointed you out as the one who ordered it.”
“W-what…?”
Smoke puffed from Calliope’s fingertips, and a messenger bird with purple feathers appeared.
Calliope untied the paper from the bird’s leg and unfolded it for everyone to see.
“A written confession.”
Agnes quickly took it and began showing it to the others, one by one.
Watching this, Calliope whispered softly to Lerazie.
“Good work.”
“Whatever. As soon as I tapped the table in the rhythm you taught me, they thought they were caught and spilled everything.”
Calliope’s lips curled. It had been worth remembering the pattern and rhythm used when the masked man had tapped on the annex window.
Meanwhile, Gilbert’s face had drained of all color.
‘How did it come to this? Where did it go wrong?!’
He needed to think of a way out—but his mind went blank, unable to form a single thought.
Calliope lifted her chin arrogantly and gave an order.
“Inform the constables that the Roman family is now in custody.”
“Yes, Lady Calliope!”
“No! It wasn’t me!”
“Take them away.”
Just as the soldiers were about to drag them away amid the commotion—
“Seems chaos erupted the moment I left for a bit.”
At the familiar voice, Calliope turned her head sharply. Archibald Verdi, who had been missing for several days, stood at the entrance.
“Grandfather!”
Calliope, momentarily forgetting the situation, called out joyfully. She had been secretly worried since Archibald had left without a word.
“Welcome back, Count.”
“Welcome, sir.”
The household staff, including Harold, all bowed deeply.
Archibald gave them a slight nod and turned to look at Calliope.
A moment later, Archibald’s sharp eyes gleamed fiercely.
“You truly are out of your mind.”
Gilbert began trembling.
“F-Father…”
“Unable to win by skill, you resorted to such vile tricks?”
Archibald’s voice was laced with fury. His trembling beard reflected the despair in his heart.
“I always knew you were a fool, but I never imagined you were this low.”
As the air grew colder with tension, Gilbert realized his fate was about to be sealed.
“I—I was wrong!”
He quickly fell to his knees and began begging with both hands clasped.
“I lost my mind for a moment. I was too greedy for the title…”
“So you tried to harm your young niece, as her uncle?!”
“No! That wasn’t it!”
When Archibald finally raised his voice in a full-blown yell, Gilbert grabbed his father’s pants and began bawling.
“Uwaaaah…! I never really meant to kill her! I just wanted to scare her! But that bastard took the money and got other ideas—!”
“Silence!”
Archibald kicked Gilbert off coldly. The force of it knocked Gilbert onto his back.
“And you call that an excuse? You’d cover such a serious crime with that pathetic reason?”
Lying on the ground, Gilbert blinked in disbelief. Then suddenly, his face twisted in a grotesque expression.
He began resisting the soldiers who were trying to restrain him, shouting furiously.
“Was abandoning me once not enough for you?!”
“What…?”
“You’ve always hated me! You always looked down on me! Do you know how painful that was?! I spent my life desperately trying to win your approval! And now you cast me away like this!”
“Uncle!”
Calliope couldn’t bear it anymore and shouted. His pitiful blame-shifting and utter lack of remorse were appalling.
But Gilbert’s tantrum only escalated.
“Why did you even bother to have me if this was how it’d end?! Am I really your child?!”
Archibald silently watched his son spew what bordered on utter filth.
‘What kind of person says such things…?’
Calliope, unable to bear it any longer, was about to use magic to shut Gilbert’s mouth when she noticed something.
‘…Grandfather?’
Calliope keenly sensed the subtle change in Archibald’s demeanor.
‘His fingers… are trembling?’
She studied him closely. Archibald’s face was cold and firm—others would see only stern indifference, no pity.
But slowly, new emotions appeared beneath his expression of rage.
His deep eyes churned with complex emotions—sorrow, regret, and the guilt of a father who had caused such a mess.
‘Grandfather…’
Gilbert may have been a disgraceful uncle to her, but to Archibald, he was still his son. His only son, after having lost his firstborn.
Calliope clenched her fist tightly. Seeing her grandfather weakened like that brought her no joy.
Then Archibald finally broke the silence.
“If you’ve committed a crime, you must pay the price. That’s how the world works.”
He quietly raised a hand, signaling the soldiers. That’s when Calliope stepped forward.
“Wait, Grandfather.”
She walked firmly and stood in front of Gilbert.
“I don’t think Uncle really meant to harm me.”
“Calliope? What are you saying?”
“It’s natural to want something good when you see it, right? He must have lost control for a moment.”
Startled by her sudden defense, Gilbert’s eyes rolled. Then, sensing this was his final chance, he shouted.
“Yes! That’s right, Father! I really must’ve lost my mind for a moment. Please forgive me just once! I swear it will never happen again!”
“……”
“Please, think of my son—Nicolas! He’s your grandson too! Surely, you don’t want your innocent grandson to grow up penniless and scorned without his father, right?”
Archibald stared down at Gilbert for a long while—his son, who even while begging, tried to use his own child as leverage.
“Grandfather, I’ll take care of this matter myself.”
Calliope responded crisply, offering a soft smile. It was a warm, comforting smile—perhaps even to soothe Archibald.
“You truly are…”
Archibald opened his mouth to say something, then closed it and nodded.
“Then I’ll leave Gilbert’s punishment entirely in your hands. I’ll see you in my office later.”
“Of course.”
“Are you leaving, Margrave?”
Lerazie called out to Archibald, who had turned away.
“If it’s not too bold, I’d love to share tea with you. What do you say?”
“Of course, Seventh Prince. Let us go together.”
Archibald nodded and exited the hall. As Lerazie followed, he winked at Calliope.
‘I’ve set the stage. Time to finish the ritual properly.’
Calliope saw exactly what he was thinking and gave a small shake of her head with a smirk.
But when she straightened her posture again, her gaze had turned cold—like a frozen glacier.
“Ooh! Calliope, thank you! This kindness—”
“Shut up.”
“W-what?”
“I didn’t spare you for your sake. So shut that mouth.”
Calliope’s sharp words cut like a blade. After glancing slowly around the room, she fixed her gaze again on the Roman family.
“Let’s decide your punishment.”
“W-who do you think you are—!”
“If you want to be dragged off by the constables right now, then by all means, keep talking.”
Calliope had even dropped the honorifics. Her aura was icy and severe.
