Chapter 6
In fairy tales like Hansel and Gretel or stories about entering worlds hidden inside wardrobes, children are easily tempted by sweet things.
“I’ll tell the chef to make it every day.”
At my suggestion, Emil’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit.
“……”
The maid who had been listening to us also looked flustered.
“Our house has a big garden, and there are also white, beautiful horses. They eat carrots very well if you give them some.”
“What….”
“After lunch and studying, different desserts come out every day, and you can eat them with tea or juice. The library has a lot of books, and everyone is very kind.”
“……”
Emil said nothing. More precisely, he couldn’t.
Does Father… like that girl?
A faint anxiety began to spread through him.
He wanted to get close to her. But since his father had ordered him to do so, Emil couldn’t understand the intention behind it—and that made him uneasy.
‘Should I tell her?’
She was the first person in his life who had ever approached him and held his hand.
He had always been confined to a corner of the mansion, treated coldly and dismissed by everyone. But she didn’t care about his birth at all, and simply reached out to him warmly.
‘She said she liked me because I’m handsome… I guess I am handsome.’
She also said she liked him because he was good at studying. Emil had never imagined he was above average among children his age. The same went for his appearance.
If he became more handsome… or smarter… would she like him even more?
Because of the whispers around him, he had always thought of himself as something like a little demon.
No matter how much he longed for affection, what came back to him was always suspicion and contempt—the son of a villainess.
The only person he could have proper conversations with was his father, the Duke of Calixt.
But his father was always cold. Never gentle. Standing before him made Emil feel suffocated.
‘I want to get close… but Father told me to…’
A sudden fear struck him—what if he was doing something terrible to her?
“Emil Calixt.”
“…Yes.”
The Duke looked at Emil as if he were observing an object.
“Make Belcia Lancaster like you.”
Emil didn’t immediately understand what he had just heard.
“What… do you mean….”
“Make her develop affection for you.”
“How am I supposed to….”
“Do you think it’s difficult?”
“……”
“She already seems quite interested in you. How unusual.”
Emil couldn’t lift his head. The Duke gave a short laugh—clearly mockery.
The girl’s face flashed in his mind.
Soft ivory short hair, and deep red eyes like autumn leaves that appeared and disappeared.
‘She probably doesn’t know anything.’
About what kind of person the Duke was.
Emil slowly raised his gaze.
He had already suspected she might have some kind of purpose.
Most people avoided him, and those few who didn’t always had hidden motives disguised as kindness.
She might not be different—but…
…Even if she has another purpose, does it matter?
He didn’t want to lose the kindness directed only at him. In his silent, cold life, it felt too warm.
One Week After His Tenth Birthday
Barely a week after his tenth birthday, Emil received an invitation.
It was from the Calixt ducal house.
“Father, do you dislike me going to the ducal estate?”
His mother hesitated, but his father did not.
“I don’t dislike it.”
“Then?”
His father sent his mother a look that said, I don’t know how to explain this.
Emil already knew the reason.
“Because I dislike the Duke of Calixt.”
His mother smiled mischievously, clearly amused by his father’s discomfort.
“He’s a suspicious man.”
Silently, Emil agreed.
Suspicious. It suited the Duke of Calixt perfectly.
Even in his past life, Emil had felt uncomfortable around him.
Now, in this life, the Duke had also clearly disliked Emil becoming close to her.
Emil didn’t know why the invitation had suddenly changed—but for now, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“I’ll be back before sunset.”
Fortunately, his mother supported him.
“Genewart, I told you before, didn’t I? That child is still being left alone.”
She always remembered her promise to Robellin.
Even during Emil’s birthday banquet, she had intentionally made a lively event just to bring him out.
“Still, I can’t just visit the ducal estate privately.”
Though still worried about Emil, his father ultimately agreed.
“Then let’s do this—I’ll come pick you up at the Calixt estate when the sun sets.”
“I like it if Dad comes!”
As soon as permission was given, Emil returned to his room and wrote a reply.
Just as he was sealing the letter—
“Miss, I brought a snack.”
Isana entered with a small apple pie and milk.
“Isana, I want to send a reply to this invitation.”
“Oh my, I’ll have Ilena deliver it. It’s for the Calixt ducal estate, right?”
“Yes. I want it delivered before lunch if possible.”
“I’ll send it right away.”
After handing over the letter, Emil took a bite of the pie.
Sweet fruit filled his mouth.
As expected, sweets eased his stress. The cinnamon aroma calmed him as well.
Since his regression, he always felt like he was walking a tightrope alone. Even small comforts like this felt strangely reassuring.
‘Ah, right.’
Just as he was finishing the pie—
I can’t go empty-handed.
He immediately went to the kitchen.
“You said it’s in two days?”
“Yes. I’ll be visiting right after lunch.”
“Then it will be a meal here, and you’ll likely want desserts. I’ll prepare everything perfectly.”
The head chef rolled up his sleeves.
And two days later, the day of the visit finally arrived. It was slightly past noon when the carriage arrived at the ducal estate.
“Even if I lived as Korean before… I guess being Korean still matters.”
Belcia looked proudly at the three or four picnic boxes.
She had once lived as Korean, so naturally she should feed people well.
Especially children who would grow up big in the future.
Calixt Ducal Estate
The Calixt estate was truly grand.
Their own home and the Lucretius ducal estate were also luxurious, but they were bright and elegant, filled with natural light.
The Calixt estate was the opposite.
It was solemn and heavy, and even smiling felt inappropriate.
“He is inside.”
The butler who greeted her opened the doors.
Emil was already there, sitting on a large sofa.
“Emil, it’s been a week, hasn’t it?”
“…Yeah.”
A maid soon came in. The butler excused himself.
Now there were three people in the room.
“Where are the things I brought?”
The maid brightened.
“We’ve moved them to the kitchen. Everyone is very attentive because Lady Belcia prepared them.”
They were just desserts arranged on plates—nothing complicated.
But Emil looked slightly surprised.
“Thank you.”
“It is our honor. Today….”
Her gaze briefly flicked toward Emil, then away.
“The servants were very excited when they heard Lady Belcia was coming.”
Emil stiffened. He was not used to this kind of kindness.
“It’s not like I came because the young lord invited me.”
“Excuse me…? I thought the Duke invited you….”
“I was the one who insisted. I wanted to get close to the young lord.”
Emil became the center of attention.
“….”
“Emil agreed, didn’t you?”
“…Yes.”
The maid looked flustered.
She likely couldn’t understand why a noble young lady was trying so hard to befriend the son of a villainess.
But Belcia didn’t care.
She smiled gently.
‘By the time I leave, they’ll all misunderstand anyway.’
And she already had a plan for that.
Soon, the desserts were brought in.
Colorful macarons, cookies dusted with sugar, chocolate cake layered with apricot jam, and fragrant apple pie.
“Please give Emil the pie first.”
“Huh? Y-yes….”
The maid stuttered and complied.
Emil took a fork and carefully tasted the pie.
Watching him, she asked:
“Tastes good, right?”
Emil nodded.
“…I’ve only seen things like this in books.”
The maid looked uneasy.
But Belcia had to remain a carefree ten-year-old who trusted everything in this house.
“Does the Duke not like desserts?”
At her question, Emil paused.
“…He doesn’t.”
“And you?”
“Me?”
“Do you think you’ll come to like them?”
This time, Emil didn’t hesitate.
“I think… I already like them.”
His quiet voice settled deeply in her ears.
A strange sense of relief filled her.
Good.
Then, unexpectedly, the words slipped out.
“Then… do you want to come to my house?”
She spoke as calmly as possible.
“How about living together? We have a lot of things like this.”
