Chapter 48
“What do you mean by that?”
“Why didn’t you just say I did it and step aside?”
I asked because I genuinely couldn’t understand. Then, in a small voice, I added,
“You want to become the Duke…”
No matter how different things were in this life compared to the last, Calista’s goal couldn’t have changed.
What she desired was the Duchy of Luperne. It was something that should have rightfully been promised to her from birth.
If she had been arrested in the imperial palace for harming a prince using magic, and that fact reached her father or the elder council, the hard-won title of Little Duke would surely be taken away again. It was as clear as day.
Even if she cared about me, could that really be enough to justify standing between me and the Empress?
“You were worried about me.”
Calista said, still not removing her hand from my head.
“You’re right. I believe that position should rightfully be mine.”
She spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Then…”
“But somehow…”
Her hand, which had been stroking my hair, moved down to gently touch my cheek.
“My dreams… have grown a little.”
That was the end of her explanation. Even when she saw the confused look on my face, she didn’t speak again. She just gave a faint, unreadable smile and went back to stroking my hair.
The warmth that radiated from her hand was real. Just like when she blocked my path back in the palace.
Those blue eyes, which I once thought resembled ice, only looked soft when they gazed at me.
It was different from my previous life. Calista genuinely cared for me—to the extent of putting herself in danger.
Once again, a surge of emotion rose up my throat.
When Calista was about to be arrested earlier, I had felt anxious and scared. She had tried to sacrifice herself for me.
And I… I had wanted to step forward too.
I had thought about confessing that it was my doing, even if it meant being imprisoned somewhere in the imperial palace again like in my past life.
That was when I realized something.
It wasn’t just Calista who cared about me.
At some point, Calista had become precious to me too.
As I accepted that fact, all the tension in my body melted away.
Fwump—
I leaned my head on Calista’s shoulder.
Her hand, which had been resting on my head, trembled slightly, then slowly wrapped around my shoulder.
We stayed like that for a long time, not looking at each other.
‘I’ll save money and leave the Duke’s estate.’
That plan, which had once seemed almost within reach, was now fading—vanishing from my mind altogether.
*
By the time we arrived at the mansion, dusk had already settled in.
Just as I was about to return to my room, Calista beckoned me over and had me sit on the reception room sofa.
“Yes?”
“I didn’t get the chance to ask earlier.”
“…?”
“Do you know the second prince?”
At her question, my eyes darted nervously around.
How should I answer this appropriately?
I hadn’t reported to Calista when I first met Killian. She may have heard about the second meeting, but she never asked me about him.
I didn’t want to reveal everything.
If I told her that Killian had been chased by Gale in the imperial city, I might also have to talk about the Empress and possibly even his origins. That felt like a betrayal of Killian, who had treated me as a friend.
So what answer could I give to avoid further questions?
“Are you trying to figure out what to say so I won’t ask more?”
Gasp. She caught me.
Calista sighed softly and continued speaking, frowning as if something was really bothering her.
“They say the two of you are close, according to the Count’s household.”
“….”
“And earlier, it looked like he stepped in for you. Even though no one asked him to.”
Her frown deepened with every word.
“That second prince boy… don’t tell me he—”
“We’re just friends.”
I quickly cut her off and replied.
It wasn’t a lie, but my heart still pounded. Thinking of Killian made me nervous, and Calista’s expression kept darkening.
She stopped talking and stared at me. I blinked innocently, as purely as I could.
“…Friends?”
“Yes.”
“Just… just friends, really?”
The dark look on her face began to brighten again.
When I nodded vigorously, she gave me a beaming smile.
“I see. Your. Friend. Did you a favor, huh?”
She stressed the word “friend” unnecessarily as she said it. I nodded enthusiastically once more.
“I’ll thank him properly later.”
“No need.”
Calista said softly. When I looked up at her, puzzled, she repeated herself.
“Between friends, don’t think of that as a debt. Starting a relationship with guilt like that might later become…”
“Yes?”
Her eyes shifted, as if in deep thought. She frowned even more seriously than before.
Calista then said quietly,
“I’ll repay the favor myself.”
“But…”
She didn’t elaborate and simply gestured for me to return to my room.
“I’ll make sure that boy never gets a chance to gloat over this. I’ll repay him so thoroughly he’ll never feel owed again.”
She muttered something incomprehensible to the end, tapping the sofa armrest as she did.
*
“When greeting His Majesty, place your right hand over your chest, bow at a 45-degree angle, and maintain eye contact after.”
“I know. You told me yesterday.”
“If he asks whether you lack anything, humbly say that each day is fulfilling thanks to His Majesty’s grace.”
“You already said that too.”
“First, put this outfit on… sniffle!”
When Nell suddenly burst into tears, Killian sighed. This was the fourth time this week.
“I’m just overwhelmed with emotion! I thought His Majesty had completely forgotten you…”
She loudly blew her nose, then smoothed the wrinkles on Killian’s shirt.
“It’s just a five-minute greeting.”
“Five minutes with His Majesty is an enormous honor. The Empress’s interference has already lessened, hasn’t it?”
This time, Killian didn’t argue. Nell had a point.
Ever since he had taken the blame for the golden statue incident instead of the Luperne sisters, the Emperor’s attitude toward Killian had changed.
And as the Emperor’s attitude shifted, so did everyone else’s in the palace.
The Empress could no longer confine him to the Meyard Palace. She feared what he might say during his daily meetings with the Emperor.
Even the servants, who hadn’t known of his existence before, now treated him with the utmost respect. The improvement in palace life was inevitable.
Just a few days ago, invitations from nobles had begun arriving directly for him. It was a drastic change, hard to adjust to.
“Let’s review one more time. Earlier I said—”
Bang!
Right as Nell was about to continue, the door to Killian’s room burst open.
“What’s taking you so long to get ready? You’re not some girl, are you?”
Turning his head, Killian saw Klein standing crookedly by the open door.
His eyes were full of contempt, as if he were annoyed by everything in the world—and they were locked onto Killian.
“First Prince.”
Nell’s face turned pale.
“What brings you here?”
She asked, but Klein didn’t even glance at her. He merely raised an eyebrow.
Killian’s gaze grew cold.
“Didn’t you hear the nanny’s words, brother?”
“A prince doesn’t owe an answer to the lower ranks.”
“Then I’ll ask. What’s the matter?”
Perhaps annoyed that Killian wasn’t backing down, Klein scowled.
“Father ordered us to greet him together.”
He spat the words, leaning lazily on the doorframe with an expression that made it clear he hated being here.
“He wants to see his sons getting along, holding hands and smiling.”
It was true. Since growing closer to Killian, the Emperor had been trying to force a bond between his two sons.
Given the personalities of the Empress and Klein, it was hopeless—but the Emperor could be surprisingly optimistic.
Or maybe he just wanted to believe they were true brothers since the Empress had technically raised Killian.
“I’ll be there shortly. Please wait in the parlor.”
“Don’t you know how to greet your elder brother?”
Klein stepped further into the room. Killian nodded without averting his eyes.
“Greetings, brother.”
“Do it properly.”
Klein pulled the dagger from his waist, still in its sheath. Before Nell could scream, he tapped Killian on the head with the hilt.
“Lower your head more. Like this—like this.”
He pressed down with the dagger. As Killian’s head was forced lower, a crooked smile crept across Klein’s face.
Just as Killian’s head was about to reach Klein’s waist, a glint of light flashed in Killian’s eyes.
“Barrier.”
With a whisper, white light burst from his palm. It instantly enveloped him and repelled Klein’s dagger.
“What the—?!”
Startled, Klein stumbled back a few steps.
“Sorry, brother. I’m still practicing, so my control’s not great.”
Killian replied in a dry tone to the pale-faced Klein.
Clenching his fist, he looked away and began adjusting his clothes.
“…You look pathetic.”
Klein recovered some of his wounded pride and sneered.
He forced a smile and looked Killian up and down with disdain.
He seemed pleased to have found another angle to criticize.
“Fixing your outfit when you look like a beggar?”
“What did you say?”
“I heard Father gifted you a sword and some books, but you still dress like trash.”
“….”
“Do you know? That outfit was something the second son of Marquis Luseik outgrew. Mother had a maid pass it to you. It’s outdated and worn.”
The tension seemed to have eased, and Klein began critiquing Killian from head to toe.
“The shoes are from some unheard-of merchant group, the shirt looks cheap, and… oh, you’re trying to cover it all up with that pathetic old uniform.”
He shook his head in mock disapproval.
“You’re not a prince—you’re a beggar wearing someone else’s castoffs.”
