LVSMLA 32

Chapter 32

Calisto had been sulking at me for quite some time. Even my father had started to notice.

“Did something happen between you and Calisto, Etienne?”

Sitting on the long sofa in the study, I closed my book awkwardly.

In truth, Calisto’s sulking was very obvious—but at night, he still came to sleep in my bed. He could have stayed in his own room, but instead he insisted on coming to me and turning his back on me while sleeping. Every time I saw his small head like that, I had to hold back my laughter.

Still, I couldn’t ignore him forever, so I was thinking about how to cheer him up.

“Well… Calisto is a little upset with me.”

“Hmm? Why? You two always got along so well.”

“We got along too well. That’s the problem.”

My father looked confused at my sigh. I gave an awkward smile and explained.

“…He said he wants to marry me. He said he would awaken as an Omega for me.”

“What? Hahaha—Calisto?”

Even my father seemed surprised. Of course he was—I had been speechless too when I first heard it.

Feeling embarrassed that the child I had raised like a son had proposed to me, I avoided his gaze while my father laughed loudly.

But after laughing for a while, my father suddenly said something unexpected.

“If both of you agree, it wouldn’t be impossible. Calisto is quite a rare child. If he awakens as an Alpha, it might even be a good match.”

“Pardon? Father, what are you saying?”

I jumped up in shock. Why was he seriously considering a child’s proposal? And more importantly, Calisto was officially… my half-brother.

My father noticed my reaction and stopped smiling. He cleared his throat and sat down across from me.

“Etienne. There’s something I need to tell you. Something I should have told you a long time ago.”

“Pardon?”

My father looked at me seriously. I straightened my posture.

“I heard you learned about Calisto from other nobles.”

“Ah…”

He was referring to the rumor that Calisto was not just a ward, but my father’s illegitimate son.

At that time, I already knew the truth, but the original Etienne had been deeply hurt by it.

“I’m sorry you had to hear it from others. I thought you were still too young, so I delayed telling you. I didn’t think about how much it would hurt you.”

His apology was unexpected. In the original story, this never happened. The father loved his son but never confessed or apologized, and Etienne had resented him for a long time.

I swallowed dryly, surprised.

My father continued, regret evident in his voice.

“I treated you too much like a child even though you’ve grown. I’m sorry I didn’t trust you sooner.”

“Father…”

But he wasn’t finished.

He took a breath and looked at me firmly.

“Etienne, I believe you are now old enough to take responsibility for your actions. There is something you must know about Calisto.”

“…Yes.”

“Do you remember the disappearance of the Second Prince seven years ago?”

Of course I remembered.

According to the original story, Princess Marie Louise was killed by assassins sent by the Empress after giving birth to Prince Calisto. The nurse fled with the baby, protected by a royal guard. That incident was known as the “Second Prince Disappearance Incident.”

The Empress framed another consort for it, and despite suspicions, the case was buried due to the powerful Harrington family backing her. In the end, that consort was executed.

The Emperor had been searching for Calisto ever since. But as long as the Empress still held power, bringing the child back would endanger him.

So Calisto had to stay hidden in the count’s household until he gained enough power. His identity had to remain secret.

That was why my father never told me when I was young.

If I had spoken carelessly, both Calisto and our family would have been in danger.

“…I remember.”

But now, my father was about to reveal the truth.

“Calisto has no blood relation to you, Etienne. On his body, there is a royal mark that appears under sunlight. You understand what this means.”

I closed my eyes tightly.

My father had trusted me with this secret, despite the risk. It meant I was now recognized as a proper heir of the Winyeats family.

I could no longer remain a child. I had to protect Calisto’s secret now.

* * *

When I returned to my room, Calisto was already buried in bed, only his eyes visible.

“Why are you so late? I was waiting. Hurry up.”

“….”

He was still sulking, yet acting like my fiancé already. He tapped the empty space beside him.

“Lie down here quickly.”

I wanted to tease him. I sighed dramatically.

“I don’t want to. I’ll sleep separately today.”

“What? Why?”

He suddenly sat up, clearly panicked. I struggled not to laugh.

“You always turn your back when you sleep. I feel lonely.”

His golden eyes wavered.

“…Were you lonely?”

“Of course. I almost cry every day.”

“What? No crying!”

He flailed his small arms like a baby bird. I tilted my head.

“So you won’t turn your back anymore?”

“If I don’t turn, you won’t cry?”

“Calisto, answer properly first.”

“….”

After a long silence, he finally nodded.

“Fine. Just this once.”

“Good, good.”

As soon as I lay down, he rolled into my arms. I quickly kissed his cheek.

“You’re not sulking anymore?”

“I’m not sulking.”

“Then what is it?”

“I got heartbroken because of you.”

“…Ah.”

So that’s it. My little kid was heartbroken.

I asked carefully.

“So… are you better now?”

“How can a wound heal so easily? Is love that simple for you?”

“Uh… no, it’s not that easy…”

Then he said seriously,

“I thought about it a lot.”

A seven-year-old saying he “thought seriously.”

I nodded seriously.

“…I see. You thought about it.”

“I’m being serious.”

“I know, Cal…”

He narrowed his eyes at me. I quickly corrected myself.

“…Cal.”

He sighed deeply.

“You don’t take me seriously because I’m a child.”

“That’s not true!”

Then he suddenly argued again.

“You said marriage is between people who love each other!”

“You said you loved me first!”

“…When did I—”

I stopped.

I remembered.

I had said it many times. Especially when putting him to sleep… kissing his forehead.

But if we continued arguing about this, I would definitely lose. After all, how could I not say I loved a child I had raised?

And honestly…

I had no idea how I ended up losing an argument to a seven-year-old.