Chapter 09
Calix recalled Laila from his childhood and immediately shook his head.
“Hi. I’m Calix. You’re Laila, right?”
He thought her golden hair, like stars melted into the dawn, and her clear blue eyes, as if holding the sea, were beautiful.
Was it because she lived in the capital?
Her pale face, tiny hands and feet were rather cute.
He had once wondered if she might be a forest spirit living deep in the Monstalis Mountains, as his mother had told him.
That much, Calix truly wanted to be friends with this girl.
But what Laila said back then shattered a young boy’s hopes completely:
“What’s that on you? That kind of beggar is my fiancé?”
(What’s with those clothes? That beggar is my fiancé?)
Shocked by her words, Calix straightened his clothes.
Despite frequent monster attacks and their strained relations with the royal family, the duke’s household was gradually struggling financially.
Even so, when it came to meeting his fiancée, his family had carefully prepared fine fabrics for him.
“I’m not a beggar. Really! My name is Calix.”
“Don’t insist! You beggar! Don’t talk to me! Gross!”
Calix felt wounded in his heart.
Still, recalling how his father treated his mother with such care, he tried to be polite to Laila.
Time and again, he tried—but Laila always ignored him and looked down on him.
He could endure that much.
“This witch! Disgusting! Scary! A witch like that should disappear from this world!”
But…
When Laila spilled water on his mother and laughed at the scarred hands of his mother, Calix could no longer forgive her.
His mother and father were his heroes.
Even if blood flowed from monster attacks, they never neglected themselves and always tried to protect every single villager.
They were kind and just parents who could not be treated disrespectfully by a pampered child from the capital.
Thinking of the humiliation of his loved ones, Calix’s eyes filled with deep disgust.
“If it weren’t for the blessing ceremony, I wouldn’t have even come to the capital.”
His eyes darkened like a night sky as he recalled the unforgettable moment.
“I won’t be fooled.”
He didn’t know what cruel act Laila might try on his mother, but this time, he swore he would not let that spoiled brat of a girl go.
Calix’s gaze grew even colder.
The sun was slowly lifting its head, brightening the sky. It seemed dawn was just beginning.
Perhaps because of the joy of meeting his favorite, Lavina, or because of his plan to foil Olga, I woke up early.
I curled up in my blanket and reflected on stories that didn’t appear in the original work.
‘I was planning to maintain the engagement with Calix for a while and break it when the time was right, but I need to revise that plan entirely.’
Calix’s feelings toward me had grown close to hatred and disgust. If I wasn’t careful, my entire plan could fail.
It seemed much more advantageous to make Calix an ally.
‘Good thing Calix is still young.’
Determined, I rolled over in bed.
‘I’ll apologize again, give him gifts that boys his age like, and most importantly, do my best to make sure Calix doesn’t go berserk at the upcoming royal banquet.’
Including the blessing ceremony, there was about a month.
Once the ceremony ended, the Tracia dukes would quickly return to the north.
Autumn was mating season for monsters.
Monsters that had given birth would concentrate their attacks on villages, so the dukes needed thorough preparation.
The north was still in the worst condition after a landslide two years ago; any lapse in vigilance could result in massive casualties.
I recalled the side stories.
At the royal banquet after the blessing ceremony, Calix’s abilities would run out of control, leaving the Tracia dukes and him trapped by the royal family.
The royal family would hold the Tracia duke accountable and publicly announce Calix’s powers. At the same time, his abilities would be restricted solely to the royal court.
In the original story, nobles mocked Calix, calling him a thief who stole blessing powers.
‘They could’ve just said they were envious. Calling him a thief was too much!’
Thinking of how nobles tormented Calix, I shook my head. His abilities were indeed extraordinary and feared.
‘And he’s still just a child.’
After the restriction on Calix’s powers was lifted, the Tracia dukes rushed north, but many casualties occurred due to monster attacks.
Calix blamed himself and developed severe trauma.
Recalling this in the story made my chest ache as if I had swallowed thorns.
‘I have to help Calix.’
If Calix suffered, my beloved Lavina would also be in pain—perhaps even more.
‘I won’t allow it.’
Knowing the original story, there had to be something I could do to help.
Just as I was gathering my resolve, a sound came from the window.
I turned my head slowly, like a broken machine.
“Ah!”
I was speechless at the unexpected visitor.
In the neat and orderly study of James Brillston, Marquis, only the sound of pages turning could be heard.
“This year’s gem shipment still has room, so there’s no need to rush. Send a letter to the Allamanda guild branch conveying my instructions.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Baron Finn bowed.
After double-checking the orders, he gathered some documents and left the study.
Exhausted, James tilted his neck and pressed his tired eyes.
When he finished the last document and looked at the clock, it was late dawn.
‘Lara must be sleeping. I couldn’t even hold her today.’
Thinking of the precious treasure left by his beloved Sierra, he felt his blood boil with fear of almost losing his daughter.
“….”
As he calmed his emotions, he heard a familiar voice by the window leading to the balcony.
“James.”
Startled, he nearly spilled his ink.
It wasn’t the refined lady he had seen earlier, but Lavina Tracia, in casual clothes with a robe.
An excellent swordsman and close friend, Lavina often showed up like this in urgent situations.
“Lavina? Why are you here at this hour? I thought you had returned.”
James smiled faintly, thinking once again that the marquis’ knights hadn’t noticed Lavina’s stealth.
But Lavina didn’t look well.
“…Is something wrong?”
“I may be worrying over nothing.”
Seeing her hesitate, James felt unease. She was never one to stall like this.
“Laila is in danger.”
“What?”
James felt his heart drop.
His daughter had collapsed several times from serious incidents and was only now stabilizing.
“Laila’s maid, Olga, seems to be a dark magician. She appears to have used mind-control magic.”
James’ face twisted in anger.
He looked like he could collapse at any moment.
“A dark magician… on my daughter?”
“If that’s their goal, there’s only one thing they want: your wealth, power, and influence.”
James gritted his teeth, his eyes darkening.
“For something so petty…”
Lavina blinked and spoke gravely.
“It’s not certain yet. I plan to secretly stay by Laila’s side.”
James glared at Lavina, eyes bloodshot.
“Why go to such lengths for something I could handle immediately?”
Lavina spoke solemnly:
“I need to confirm if this maid, Olga, is really a dark magician. If we let her go now, I can’t guarantee what harm she might do to Laila.”
James slammed the desk in frustration.
“Tell me… how I can help.”
“I’ll send a signal. Prepare the knights in advance. Everything must be done discreetly.”
At her words, James staggered, lips twisted.
His eyes, the same blue as Laila’s, were filled only with hostility.
Olga returned from vacation and resumed her role as Laila’s personal maid.
I immediately paid attention to her unusually sharp tone.
“From today, I’ll be serving the young lady again. Jessie, you can step out.”
“Yes…”
Perhaps having grown attached in the past few days, Jessie reluctantly bowed and left.
Olga clung to me with a satisfied expression.
“Since the accident, we haven’t spent much time together, so I missed you, young lady.”
I suppose so. With no one to vent her stress on, she must have been terribly bored.
Olga was unusually talkative, as if determined to extract something.
“How was your meeting with the duchess?”
I, a little nervous, covered my face with my hand.
“Of course…”
