chepter 06
Dad had prepared an incredibly lavish banquet for the family of a close friend he hadn’t seen in a long time.
The chefs of the marquis’ house had clearly outdone themselves, and today’s meal was truly the best.
From a warm soup simmered for hours with vegetables and carefully prepared chicken, to white fish seasoned with herbs, tender filet steak that melted in your mouth, fresh salads, soft bread with jam, and a variety of other luxurious dishes—the table was filled to the brim.
I was nervous and anxious because of Calix, but setting that aside, I felt proud just being able to eat delicious food and watch my favorite person. Truly, a successful fan moment.
I chewed my food while listening carefully to the conversation between Dad and Garen.
“Has the landslide calmed down much?”
“To some extent. Luckily, the damage to the locals wasn’t severe. I was worried we might not be able to attend the blessing ceremony this year either, but thanks to your help, that worry is gone.”
The blessing ceremony was something to be received at age ten.
Calix was twelve this year. When he turned ten, a massive landslide occurred in the North, preventing him from attending the ceremony. Unlike ordinary nobles, grand nobles of count rank or higher had to receive their blessings at the capital’s temple.
I set down my fork and glanced at Calix.
His face looked as cold as ice, unchanged from before.
“Maybe it was better that Calix didn’t receive the blessing ceremony.”
Like in the side story, at twelve, he received the goddess’ blessing, becoming a blessed one with incredible powers, worthy of the protagonist’s son.
Calix’s blessing ability was Replication.
He could replicate the abilities of other blessed ones and use them as his own. Moreover, whether he replicated just one power or thousands, he could use them all perfectly, making him the world’s strongest blessed one—able to completely overshadow any other.
“If only he hadn’t gone berserk, would Calix’s life have been different?”
I drifted into thought.
In the original story, after the blessing ceremony, Calix’s powers suddenly went out of control at the royal banquet.
Unable to control his abilities at that age, he replicated all the powers of the blessed ones present in the palace, revealing his blessing.
“Replication! Does that mean he can use the blessing powers of everyone here?”
“Such an absurd power… This must be evil black magic!”
Even though Calix using replication didn’t steal or harm others’ powers, many nobles, including the emperor, believed their abilities had been taken.
“They called him a thief.”
From that moment, Calix’s distrust of people deepened.
Nobles admired his incredible abilities but were also afraid of him.
Because of that incident, Calix was manipulated and used by the royal family until he became an adult.
Thinking about Calix’s side story, a pang of sadness struck me.
It was also related to my own life, and aside from my favorite, I didn’t care to be involved with Calix…
Even now, he was only a twelve-year-old boy.
“Somehow… it feels a little sad.”
Was it just my imagination?
Thinking about all the events he would face while being used by the royal family after the blessing ceremony, I felt anew how cruel the original story was.
As I watched him with pity, perhaps sensing my gaze, Calix suddenly turned his head sharply.
“S-scary.”
His red eyes pierced me like arrows.
The terrifying aura felt like it could kill a hundred people with just a glance, and cold sweat formed on my forehead.
Unable to meet his gaze, I quickly turned my head away.
The banquet, which had swung between heavenly bliss and Calix’s hellish presence, ended in an instant.
“Do you have a moment? I have something to discuss.”
“Of course. Madam, would it be alright if I step out for a while?”
“Certainly. You two go ahead and talk freely.”
Dad and Garen went to the study to discuss additional aid for the North, and I moved to the sitting room with Lavina and Calix.
The sitting room had light after-dinner tea to aid digestion and cute, dainty sweets arranged neatly.
‘I need to create a chance to speak with Lavina alone to discuss Olga’s matters.’
Even just moving closer to Lavina, Calix glared at me as if he wanted to kill me.
I lowered my head and sipped my milk, too scared to meet his eyes.
Seeing me like that, Lavina spoke with concern:
“Lyla, are you alright? You don’t look well.”
“No, I’m fine. Maybe just a little tired. Thank you for worrying about me.”
My favorite person was worried about me.
Was there any other fan in the world as successful as me?
Calix’s gaze became even sharper, but I pretended not to notice and laughed softly.
“Oh my. Calix, take Lyla to her room. It’s best to rest early.”
“….”
And soon, I felt like crying.
With a thud, Calix impatiently put down his teacup, showing his displeasure.
“Calix.”
Lavina scolded him mildly but firmly.
Sighing, I thought, Looks like I’ll end up alone with Calix after all.
It seemed better to retreat for a moment and approach Lavina when Calix’s guard was down.
I quickly waved my hands and spoke hurriedly:
“I’m fine! I ate too much dinner anyway, so I’ll take a walk in the garden to digest.”
I had just said that randomly.
Lavina paused and looked at me with a longing gaze.
“…?”
She looked lonelier than anyone else.
“She’s just like Sierra. Even Sierra used to overeat and go for walks to digest with me. Mother and daughter really are alike.”
Her face was a complex mix of nostalgia and sadness as she fiddled with her teacup.
The sudden shift in mood caught me off guard.
‘Seeing that expression makes me sad too. Lyla’s mother must have been really close to her.’
In the original story, Lyla’s mother hardly appeared.
But if Lavina missed her that much, she must have been a really good person.
‘…I wonder who Lyla’s mother really was.’
Feeling the heavy mood, I quietly stood up.
Tactically, I needed to retreat to loosen Calix’s guard.
“I’ll go to the garden.”
As I left, even the cold Calix seemed a bit softer in expression.
I bowed properly to Lavina, who still looked sad, and left the sitting room.
I hurried toward the garden.
A warm spring breeze brushed against my face.
Sitting on a white chair, I calmed my racing heart and shouted inwardly:
“Eeeeek!”
I was meeting my favorite in person. Was this possible?
Talking and eating together…
“I’m truly a successful fan.”
My heart’s excitement wouldn’t settle.
‘We’re still just friends’ daughters, nothing more. But if I behave well, will Lavina like me?’
Thinking about Lavina liking me made my head spin.
My favorite person was just like in the books: kind and beautiful.
But every time I met Calix’s eyes, an inexplicable anxiety made me feel suffocated.
‘This is strange. Is there something I don’t know? Why does my mind go blank whenever I see Calix?’
Rustle—
I paused and turned toward the sound.
‘Could it be… Calix?’
Meow—
“Oh… it’s the cat.”
I let out a sigh of relief. It was the same cat from yesterday.
Today, it didn’t run away.
I picked up the cat, which rubbed against my legs.
Despite its large size, the gentle cat felt strangely familiar.
Its light green eyes, reminiscent of summer leaves, looked intelligent.
“I want to give you a name, is that alright? Hmm… since your markings are strong, how about Ceylon? Pretty, right?”
The cat meowed, as if it liked the name.
“Ceylon, you know…”
Ceylon’s fur was incredibly soft. The more I touched it, the better I felt.
Perhaps that’s why I unconsciously whispered my heart:
“To be honest, I’m a little scared.”
Ceylon nudged its head against my hand, feeling my touch.
“The Duchess is so kind. But I feel like Calix really hates me.”
I whispered quietly, as if confessing, while Ceylon sat in front of me.
Suddenly, Ceylon perked up its ears and disappeared somewhere.
“He’s gone.”
I watched Ceylon’s retreating figure with regret.
Suddenly, the spring breeze shifted, and the air subtly changed.
“You.”
Startled.
A sharp voice behind me made goosebumps rise all over, and my body froze.
“What are you scheming?”
Summoning strength, I slowly turned my head.
A beautiful young boy, backlit by the moon, glared at me coldly.
“….”
The wind tousled his black hair slightly.
His pale, youthful face was perfectly sculpted, with ruby-red eyes shining nobly.
Calix looked unrealistically beautiful, and I could only stare dumbly.
The protagonist’s son really is different.
How could someone inherit only the best traits of Lavina and Garen?
I was certain he was the incarnation of a god of beauty.
“My mother may let herself be deceived, but I won’t. What are you planning this time?”
Calix spoke in a chilling tone.
“W-What do you mean?”
I timidly replied to his accusation, even though I hadn’t done anything.
“Think about everything you’ve done so far.”
“What have I done?”
“Hah! You expect me to tell you now?”
“I just can’t remember. Please tell me.”
The short side story didn’t detail what mischief young Lyla had caused.
“You really don’t remember?”
Calix narrowed his eyes and glared suspiciously.
I clamped my mouth shut and simply nodded obediently.
“You insulted our mother’s origins, commented on the knight’s hand, saying it wasn’t noble. Don’t you remember?”
Oh no.
Hearing Calix’s words made my vision go dark.chepter
