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Chapter : 05
The original Calisten was definitely crazy—but not quite the kind of crazy I knew.
In “Delilah: Mistress of the Grand Ducal House,” he was insane, yes, but he was someone who devoted himself entirely to the female lead, Delilah.
The problem was that because I had changed things, the original story had twisted. Just like I had only met Delilah this week, Calisten hadn’t met her yet either.
Instead of the heroine appearing and calming his madness, he had simply grown up as a madman.
He didn’t even enroll in the Academy and lived however he pleased.
Those childhood years we spent together were truly difficult. He was the kind of person who had to possess whatever he wanted.
And I… was one of the things he wanted.
Not love, not romantic feelings—but a pure desire to own.
“Did you miss me?”
“Hahaha. I really missed your voice.”
He was still wearing terrifying armor soaked in blood. It seemed like he had come straight from the battlefield—there was a strange smell of dirt and sun-dried air clinging to him.
And yet… he was still beautiful.
Perhaps because he was cruel and not entirely sane, he was lacking in personality—but made up for it with overwhelming looks.
Objectively speaking, there was probably no one more handsome than Calisten in this empire.
“I really missed you. I longed for you.”
That was exactly why I didn’t believe him.
His hair was neatly brushed back, not at all like someone who had just come from war. His jet-black hair still shone softly, smooth and glossy. And his blood-red eyes shimmered like rubies underwater.
Dangerous creatures were always the most dazzling.
Just like Calisten Edan Crofers.
“You know, I thought a lot while I was on the battlefield.”
“That’s not enough for you. People don’t change.”
“There’s nothing that changes more easily than people.”
“Not you.”
I said it with certainty, and he laughed.
He closed his eyes slightly and laughed out loud.
I couldn’t let my guard down seeing that expression. He was like a bundle of needles wrapped in cotton—harmless on the outside, but if you touched him carelessly, the needles would pierce through and hurt you badly.
“If it’s about when we were young, I’ll apologize.”
“What exactly are you apologizing for?”
“When you wouldn’t play with me, I released all your canaries. That.”
“Is that the only thing you remember?”
“Driving away the young nobles who wanted to be friends with you?”
“So you did things like that too.”
“Ah, so that’s not it?”
He didn’t love me.
He just had an overwhelming possessiveness and a clear line between what was his and what wasn’t.
After his mother died, he stopped trusting people. The only ones he opened up to were those from the Philia Marquis family—people he could rely on.
“I’ve changed now.”
Right after the war with Mervenia broke out, he left to fight the Viyaten Empire. Before that, he had been suppressing rebellions.
In the original story, he was supposed to be obsessed with Delilah during four years at the Academy.
Instead, from the age of sixteen, he had spent four straight years on the battlefield.
“I won’t do anything you hate or fear anymore.”
“Please do that.”
Considering he had barged into my carriage without permission, he had no right to say that.
I stared at him coldly, and he smiled gently.
“I really want to have you.”
“Didn’t you just say you’d be good?”
“Yeah. I’m saying it nicely.”
I frowned without realizing it, and he smiled brightly.
“So I’ll try to make you want to give yourself to me.”
“Did you forget I’m married?”
At that, he smiled even more beautifully.
“But you haven’t had your first night yet, right? Then annulment is easy.”
“……”
“And the Briseis I know would never allow her husband to take a mistress.”
I stayed silent, and he seemed to take that as confirmation.
“If you come to my side, I’ll never do that.”
“You’re the Crown Prince. You might become Emperor. If you do, will you not take an Empress?”
“Here.”
He placed something cold into my hand.
When I opened my palm, it was a key.
“What is this?”
“The key to my chastity belt.”
“…What?”
“I don’t want anyone but you. And even on the battlefield, I’ve never taken it off. I’ve kept it hidden in the Imperial Palace this whole time.”
Without thinking, my gaze dropped downward.
He shifted slightly—and I heard a faint metallic sound.
“The one I wear hurts if it expands.”
I knew what a male chastity belt was—but seeing someone actually wear one was shocking.
“Every time I think of you, it always hurts.”
“Get out of the carriage right now.”
“Hahaha.”
He laughed and grabbed my hand, closing my fingers around the key.
“There’s only one key. If you throw it away, I’ll wear this forever.”
“Why are you giving this to me? Take it back.”
“Because you’re the owner.”
“I’m married.”
“But you’ll annul it soon. Or divorce.”
That was the problem—he knew me too well.
“I’ll make sure you never have to worry about things like that.”
“…Cal.”
“I thought about it a lot. What I lack compared to the Grand Duke of Mays… what made you feel so at ease with him.”
“……”
“Even if the Grand Duke was fake, I’m real. I’ll become the real one you want. I won’t let you suffer because of another woman. I won’t even give you a reason to doubt.”
The key in my hand felt unbearably cold.
He was still holding my hand.
“Bri.”
“…Yeah.”
“Just tell me you’re glad I came back.”
“Go.”
“Hahaha.”
He smiled as if he had expected that answer.
“I’m really happy to see you again.”
“……”
“It hurts.”
For a moment, I realized what he meant—and my face burned.
“Please… just go.”
“Yeah. Good night, Bri. I’m really happy to see you again after coming back.”
With that, he stepped out of the carriage.
As soon as he got off, I shouted at the coachman to head to the Grand Duke’s residence.
Only then did I finally make it back to the Mays Grand Duke’s estate and return to my room.
❖ ❖ ❖
That day, Damian and Delilah did not return to the estate.
Because of that—or perhaps because she couldn’t sleep—Briseis stayed awake all night.
Her bruised body ached even more from the sleepless night.
Morning came as she waited, and she had to prepare for the Academy.
Whether they returned or not, she now wanted to remove them from her life entirely.
Still, meeting Calisten yesterday—whether it was luck or misfortune—reminded her of annulment.
Everyone in the empire knew Briseis and Damian were married.
But if they hadn’t consummated the marriage, divorce was possible.
Annulment was also possible.
The problem was the Philia Marquis family.
They had used their daughter as a bargaining tool for power.
If she broke the engagement, she would likely be traded again—this time as damaged goods.
Someone already married would be seen as flawed.
She might even be sold off to an old man past sixty.
That was why she clung to the Academy.
Even if she cut ties with her family, she needed a way to survive.
At the same time, she thought it might be better to find someone to marry right after breaking off the engagement.
At least someone she chose would be better than living with Damian.
“How would you like your hair done?”
Ella asked carefully.
Thanks to Ella—who cared for her like a real sister—Briseis managed to steady herself.
“Just brush it.”
“Pardon? Ah… yes.”
Normally, Briseis would have tied her hair neatly—just the way Damian liked.
But now, she didn’t care.
Still, leaving her hair down felt unfamiliar.
Part of her still remembered his words.
‘Bri, your neckline is truly beautiful. That’s why I always look at you when you tie your hair up.’
Remembering that, Briseis bit her lip and looked at herself in the mirror.
Then, without caring much for appearances, she headed to the Academy.
❖ ❖ ❖
At the Academy, neither Damian nor Delilah were present.
It was almost time for homeroom.
Even though they had forced themselves to attend yesterday.
—Slide.
“We have a visiting student today.”
The professor of Class 1 said, looking toward the door.
Soon, someone walked in.
Briseis unconsciously opened her mouth in shock as she stared at him.
“Introduce yourself. Calisten Edan Crofers.”
Calisten looked straight at Briseis—
and smiled in a strange, knowing way.
