Chapter 48
“…?!”
Out of nowhere, a small child came running toward Lerazier, and Calliope’s eyes widened in disbelief.
And she wasn’t the only one surprised.
“Arsène?”
When Lerazier asked, the boy clinging tightly to him nodded vigorously.
“I missed you, Brother!”
Then he buried his face deep into Lerazier’s chest.
Calliope’s sharp eyes quickly swept over the child.
Luxurious clothes. The way he called him “Brother.” And above all, the same golden eyes identical to Lerazier’s.
It wasn’t difficult to guess who he was.
So this must be the Ninth Prince, Arsène Dion Arenfrit.
Compared to the other princes, he was far too young to have even debuted in society, which explained why so little was known about him.
“Wait, Arsène…!”
Meanwhile, Lerazier was breaking into a sweat, flustered by the little brother clinging to him.
“You shouldn’t be here. Didn’t I tell you to stay with Aegis? Don’t tell me that brat brought you here?”
“….”
Arsène pressed his lips tightly shut, and Calliope let out a sigh beside him.
That’s not it, you idiot.
Honestly, even scolding him would’ve been gentler.
She glanced at Lerazier with an exasperated face.
“Brother… did you not want to see me?”
As expected, tears began welling up in Arsène’s big eyes.
“No! Of course not! How could I not want to see you? Of course I missed you!”
Lerazier’s rare flustered look made Calliope’s lips twitch upward.
“Ah, damn it. If I see that bastard Aegis, I’ll wring his neck—”
“Uwaahh!”
“No, Arsène! That wasn’t about you—”
“Your Highness.”
Unable to watch Lerazier’s panicked rambling any longer, Calliope finally stepped in.
“Who…?”
Arsène looked at her with teary, curious eyes.
Goodness, how adorable.
Calliope greeted him with a dazzling smile.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I am Calliope Verdi, heir to the House of Verdi.”
Arsène’s eyes widened.
“I know you! You’re the amazing magician! I saw you in the newspaper…!”
“Oh my!”
Calliope’s face brightened with delight.
“It makes me truly happy that Your Highness knows of me.”
“Yeah! Every time I visit Brother Lerazier’s palace, I see you in the papers!”
“…Excuse me?”
“Ahem!”
Lerazier quickly cut in.
“Ah! This isn’t the time. Arsène, I’ll take you back to your palace right now.”
And with that, he swept the boy into his arms.
“Waaah! Airplane ride!”
As his body floated like he was flying, Arsène was so excited he completely forgot whatever he’d been about to say.
Lerazier looked back at Calliope.
“I’ll have to take Arsène back first.”
“Go ahead. We still have a bit of time left.”
Just as he adjusted Arsène in his arms and turned to leave, the boy stretched his arms toward Calliope.
“Lady Verdi, come too!”
“Wait, Arsène, that’s not possible—”
“Why not? Then I won’t go either!”
Lerazier hastily tried to stop him, but Arsène’s golden eyes sparkled as he looked at Calliope.
You’ll come, right? You’ll come with me, won’t you?
His expression seemed to plead, and Calliope chuckled softly before nodding.
“Of course, Your Highness.”
“Yay!”
Arsène cheered at her ready agreement.
“Unbelievable…”
Lerazier rubbed his forehead with a troubled look, but he didn’t argue further.
So the three of them headed together to the Ninth Prince’s palace.
“I was playing hide-and-seek with Aegis, but then a grasshopper appeared…”
Arsène chattered on and on. Lerazier listened patiently, answering every question with genuine sincerity.
“Brother! I want a piggyback ride!”
When Arsène stretched out his arms, Lerazier wordlessly lifted him and set him onto his shoulders.
“Waaah! This is fun!”
“Hold on tight—it’s dangerous.”
…That’s unexpected.
Calliope was quietly surprised. He was brusque on the surface, but gave the boy everything he wanted and even looked after him carefully.
Before long, they reached the Ninth Prince’s palace.
“Your Highness Arsène!”
Aegis, who had been desperately searching for him, came running over.
“Don’t tell me you went all the way to the banquet hall?”
“Not inside, I found him nearby. How did you lose him?”
“He wanted to play hide-and-seek, and while I was the seeker…”
Before he even finished, Lerazier raised a brow at Arsène.
Caught, the boy lowered his gaze and fidgeted with his fingers.
“Arsène.”
At his brother’s firm tone, Arsène flinched and mumbled,
“…S-sorry, Aegis.”
“Oh, it’s quite alright. His Highness must have missed you so much. Please don’t worry, Prince.”
Relieved, Arsène climbed down from Lerazier’s shoulders and quickly grabbed Aegis’s hand. Then he looked back at Lerazier and asked timidly,
“Brother, you’ll play with me later, right?”
“Of course. But listen to Aegis in the meantime, and don’t cause trouble.”
Arsène’s face lit up instantly. Re-energized, he turned to Calliope as well.
“And Lady Verdi, you have to come too! Promise, okay?”
“Arsène, that’s rude behavior—”
“Oh my! Are you inviting me?”
“Yup! I’ll invite you! So you must come, alright?”
Lerazier tried to restrain him, but this time Calliope beat him to it.
Since when do you care so much about manners?
She shot him a glare, then promised Arsène, ignoring whatever Lerazier might say.
“Of course. I’ll make sure to visit.”
She waved until Arsène, hand in hand with Aegis, disappeared into the palace.
The moment they were out of sight, Lerazier turned to her.
“Hey. You can’t just do everything the kid asks.”
“Weren’t you the one doing everything he asked for?”
“Me? What nonsense.”
He looked at her in disbelief.
“I’m a strict and fearsome older brother, giving him thorough, disciplined educa—”
“Yes, yes, I know. Let’s go before we’re late.”
Not wanting to hear more nonsense, Calliope cut him off and strode ahead.
“No, seriously—!”
Lerazier trailed after her, grumbling protests that naturally fell on deaf ears.
Before entering the hall after dropping off Arsène, Calliope glanced at him.
“Brace yourself. From the moment we walk in, everyone will be talking about us. Honestly, they probably already are.”
“No worries. Being gossiped about is my specialty.”
“Oh, what a brag.”
She smacked him lightly on the back. When he yelped dramatically, she hit him again.
“And what about you?”
“Me?”
“What are you prepared for?”
“Hm…”
Tilting her head in thought, Calliope curved her lips into a sly smile.
“To crush them all?”
“Confident. I like it.”
The two chuckled together, then stood side by side before the grand doors of the banquet hall.
At Calliope’s signal, the two guards pushed the doors open.
Since she always kept her gaze slightly raised, the first thing that entered her vision through the widening crack was the line of chandeliers hanging across the hall’s ceiling.
Arm in arm with Lerazier, she strode slowly into the banquet hall, basking in the flood of eyes that instantly turned their way.
Lerazier tilted his head and murmured,
“You look good. Definitely born for the stage, aren’t you?”
“Mm. Being in the spotlight is always fun. It’s always fresh, always thrilling.”
As she savored the glittering light pouring down from above and reminded herself of tonight’s plan—
“Calliope Verdi.”
“…Hm?”
Turning her head absentmindedly, Calliope’s eyes widened in shock.
