Chapter 24
Calix’s appearance completely changed the atmosphere.
Ignoring Cedric without effort, he took Luise with him and headed toward the ducal carriage.
“Calix, wait!”
At Luise’s urgent call, Calix turned his head.
“Emil and Anna must come too.”
“Why?”
“They were hurt while trying to help me.”
“So?”
Calix truly looked like he did not understand.
“Isn’t that their job?”
Their job.
At those words, Luise realized once again that there was an unbridgeable gap between herself and Calix.
She shook her head firmly.
“No. Their job is to serve me. Not to get hurt instead of me.”
Seeing no point in arguing further, Calix gestured to a knight.
“Let’s go.”
Only then did Luise quietly follow him to the carriage.
After helping her inside, Calix gave the knight some instructions and brought a small bag.
Inside were medicine and bandages for simple first aid.
“Where are you hurt?”
When Luise looked confused, Calix said nothing and pressed alcohol-soaked cotton to her cheek.
“Ah!”
She cried out without realizing it. It stung so badly that tears welled up.
“Why did you endure earlier if this makes you cry?”
Calix sighed and continued.
“Wouldn’t it have been easier to just do what your brother wanted and let it pass?”
“He said he would kill Emil.”
“So what?”
It was an answer fitting blue blood that valued a servant’s life less than a fly’s.
Luise let out a hollow laugh.
Why did I ever fall in love with a man like this?
Wouldn’t it have been better to love someone warmer, more human?
Then at least, I wouldn’t have died so lonely.
It was a pointless thought, yet a bitter smile formed.
Still, this life would be different.
“I can’t let Emil die.”
“Then what will you do?”
“I’ll find a way.”
“What condition did your brother give you?”
Even without explanation, Calix seemed to already know what kind of conversation she had with Cedric.
Luise hated that about him.
I know nothing, yet he sees right through me.
It was deeply unpleasant.
“He told me to bring Erika. He said he would marry her.”
Calix frowned, as if to say that she could just bring her.
Luise spoke with clear exhaustion.
“If Erika gets involved with my brother, what kind of life do you think she’ll have?”
She already knew the answer.
She knew how miserable Erika’s life would become.
“Of course, you wouldn’t care.”
She spoke sharply without meaning to.
Calix approached her calmly, as if truly uninterested.
“Luise.”
“What.”
At her irritated reply, Calix crossed his arms and looked at her.
“You were the one who made a fuss just from me talking about other women.”
He calmly pointed out her past behavior.
“You said you hated it when I paid attention to other women.”
“That’s…”
“You told me not to even mention them or care about them. And now that I don’t, you’re unhappy?”
Luise pressed her lips together.
It was true. She really had been like that.
From Calix’s perspective, this was his way of keeping peace with her.
Once she realized that, she had nothing to say.
In the end, she nodded quietly.
“I’m sorry for getting emotional. I was angry because it felt like you didn’t see Emil and Anna as people.”
And without realizing it, she took that anger out on Erika too.
“Nobles who care that much about their servants are rare, Luise.”
“Then I’m that rare noble. So you’ll have to deal with it, Calix.”
If you can’t, we can break the engagement—
That was what she meant, but Calix did not know.
Seeing her unexpectedly firm attitude, he spoke without expression.
“Let’s stop, Luise.”
He clearly did not want to argue about this anymore.
“More importantly, there’s something I want to ask. What is this scandal with Prince Franz?”
Luise hesitated, then looked puzzled.
“Do you believe that?”
You, of all people?
At that unspoken meaning, Calix’s lips twisted slightly.
He replied in an elegant, gentle tone.
“Of course not.”
He dismissed her worry immediately, as if it were nonsense.
“But it’s true that this will damage my reputation.”
“That won’t happen.”
Luise shook her head as if it were ridiculous.
“As always, I’ll be the only one people point fingers at.”
Her confidence that this would never stain Calix’s name made him feel a strange sense of discomfort.
The Luise he knew was not like this.
Unaware of his thoughts, Luise added one last thing.
“No one will mock you over something like this, Calix.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because of what I’ve experienced so far.”
The more he listened, the more questions grew.
She did not seem to have lived enough to make such judgments.
“So what is it then? Do you really have something with Prince Franz?”
“You said you don’t believe it.”
Instead of answering clearly, Luise asked with a mocking smile.
Calix smiled back just as elegantly.
“I don’t.”
Even so, he did not look pleased.
“But shouldn’t I know the situation to take action?”
“There’s no need. I’ll handle this myself.”
“How?”
Calix looked at her indifferently, clearly not expecting much.
“You’re going to visit Prince Franz yourself?”
“Why do you keep talking only about Prince Franz? Erika is involved too.”
“Oh? Then are you going to sell out that precious friend of yours?”
He knew she wouldn’t.
And he was right. Luise had no intention of betraying Erika.
But—
“I’ll ask Erika for help.”
“To explain that there’s nothing between you?”
Luise stayed silent, and Calix sighed.
“Do you really think that will work? Do you think this will end with just an explanation?”
“No. But I still have to do what I can.”
Only then would she have no regrets.
But Calix thought differently.
“You’re still too young, Luise.”
He said while packing away the medical supplies.
“You don’t know the world well enough.”
As always, he treated her like a child.
This time, Luise did not even sigh.
Yes. That’s just how you are.
That was all she felt.
At the same time, a small stubborn thought arose.
Even if this is resolved safely, will you still see me as a child?
“You said I don’t know the world, right?”
So she spoke without thinking.
“You don’t know me well enough, Calix.”
Calix lifted his head. Luise met his eyes.
“You don’t know what kind of person I am.”
So this time—
I’ll let you know.
With an unchanged expression, Luise made that vow to herself.
A little later, the knight returned with Emil and Anna.
Both had already received treatment.
It was probably because Calix had taken care of it.
“Thank you, Calix.”
He only nodded.
“Be careful for a while, Luise.”
It sounded more like a warning than concern.
Don’t cause more trouble.
“There’s nothing I need to be careful about.”
Luise answered firmly.
“I have nothing to lose.”
Calix looked at her with his usual unreadable expression, then nodded.
“Alright.”
Because his face was always like a mask, Luise could rarely read him.
But now, at least one thing was clear.
Calix was not in a good mood.
