Chapter 11
“It’s a shame. I liked you better yesterday when you seemed more human…”
I muttered to myself, but his red pupils locked onto mine, dilated wide.
“…What?”
Today I learned a secret about Macaron’s body. Macaron has incredibly sharp hearing.
Within moments, Macaron’s face froze into an absurd expression, and he leaned against the railing like a picture.
“So you’re saying I’ve looked like a monster all this time?”
His voice was raised, clearly annoyed. Behind his calm expression, a fierce gaze shot at me. If this had been our first meeting, it would have been scary—but now…? It was actually funny. Maybe because it overlapped with his demeanor from yesterday. I was now comfortable enough to let my true feelings slip out.
“You have sharp ears.”
“What did you say…?”
“Nothing. But why are you so angry?”
“…”
“Aren’t you here to apologize?”
He let out a deflated laugh, clenching his teeth.
“I’m not angry.”
“Then what is it?”
“I’m apologizing.”
Apologizing with that posture and expression? Folding my arms, I watched as he straightened up. Well, I didn’t expect to receive an apology from him. After all, Macaron was also a victim in this matter.
“How’s Kai doing?”
At the mention of Kai, Macaron’s expression stiffened slightly. Knowing how protective Macaron usually was of Kai, I thought he might be defending him. Since Kai had come all the way here despite usually avoiding contact because of the epidemic, maybe Macaron was apologizing on his behalf to put this matter to rest. But…
“That kid deserves to be scolded.”
His face flushed red, though his tone remained even. He seemed genuinely angry. I thought the instructor was quite different from me, but in this aspect, I felt a kinship. Still,
“You didn’t give him a harsh punishment, did you?”
“He doesn’t need it.”
“…!”
“He’s probably having a hard time with the antidote right now.”
Just as he said, the lab’s lights, visible through the hallway, had been on all night. It was clear that Kai was busy manufacturing the antidote for Coral there. I felt a bit sorry but also amused imagining Kai sweating over it. Coral still had seizures just by seeing Kai. People say you get back what you give… I never thought it would come true so literally.
For a whole week, Kai was trapped in the stuffy lab, unable to escape.
“I’m ashamed that my brother is my brother”—those words pierced him like a dagger and still haunted Kai.
‘Coral used to hate mushrooms, so when did she start liking them?’
When Coral ate the soup containing the ice-spike medicine, Kai almost stopped breathing. When Dad ate the soup with the “sweet fool” medicine, Kai nearly racked his brain. The plan to break up stepmom and Dad went completely wrong. Even worse, Coral turned into a fierce kitten with claws out, but only towards Kai. Just thinking about Coral almost made Kai cry. All he could do now was hide away, out of Coral’s sight, and work on the antidote.
Seven days had already passed, and despite his desperate focus in the lab, no progress was seen in making the antidote. Kai’s anxiety gradually grew.
‘Does Dad know I drugged him?’
No way.
‘If Dad knew, he wouldn’t have stayed silent until now.’
‘But Dad’s effects seem to have worn off… why hasn’t Coral’s?’
‘Should I pretend I don’t know and ask Dad for help?’
But Kai didn’t have the courage to face Macaron.
‘How disappointed would Dad be if he found out I drugged him? What would Coral think of me?’
Kai even had to quietly handle adding the antidote to the soup Coral ate. After thinking it over, Kai decided to sneak into Macaron’s lab today, hoping for a chance. He barely got in, but with Dad possibly coming at any moment, Kai’s little heart was pounding.
Frantically, Kai flipped through countless pharmaceutical documents on the table. But… nowhere was anything about the antidote.
With every tick of the clock, Kai’s heart pounded harder. When he opened the last booklet, a piece of paper suddenly dropped to the floor.
Kai quickly picked it up and unfolded it. But it was an odd document that you’d never expect among pharmaceutical papers.
He tried to put it back but stopped, surprised, and unfolded it again.
‘Wait, a marriage contract? Do they even make contracts when you get married?’
Out of curiosity, Kai read through it and froze at one passage.
“Mrs. Calypso and Mr. Macaron’s contract marriage ends after one year.”
Could it be…
‘Dad’s marriage is a contract marriage?’
Kai’s hand trembled slightly as he held the paper.
Several days later, Kai entered the west annex like a criminal, head hanging low. His cheeks were thinner than before, shoulders slumped, eyes sunken. Even Macaron felt a bit soft-hearted seeing him like that.
‘That kid must be going through a lot.’
But Macaron spoke sharply, contrary to his thoughts.
“What’s the matter?”
“I…”
Kai clenched his fists tightly with eyes closed, silent for a long time. Macaron watched him quietly.
‘He must have come because he couldn’t make the antidote.’
Then…
“I did it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m the one who drugged him.”
“…!”
Kai’s face drooped in utter gloom, and he bowed his head deeply. Macaron was silent for a moment, surprised by the unexpected confession.
‘Why the sudden change of heart?’
After a moment, Kai opened his mouth again, stammering.
“…I won’t do it again. And I’ll be good to Mom.”
It was a completely different attitude from before, when he was desperate to chase out his stepmom.
‘Could it be because of the antidote?’
If so, Macaron planned to let him struggle a little longer.
“I’ll let it slide this time since you were honest, but… you have to take responsibility.”
“Yes.”
“You will make Coral’s antidote.”
Kai slowly raised his head and spoke.
“I already made it all. I gave it to Coral today.”
Macaron felt as if he had been struck in the back of the head by such unexpected words.
‘Then why did he come to confess today? Is Kai truly remorseful? Has he really begun to open his heart to Calypso?’
Not long ago, Kai had said Calypso was unacceptable and that he wouldn’t marry her.
‘Why the sudden change of mind?’
Macaron was curious about what had turned Kai’s heart.
“What made you change your mind so suddenly?”
Kai, apparently stressed from the incident, reddened his eyes.
“Just… because.”
Kai swallowed feelings he couldn’t say to Dad. Over the past few days, Kai had wrestled with the biggest problem in his ten years of life. For a boy who barely answered and always avoided others, his stepmom had approached first, smiling warmly. Kai had tried to convince himself that all her kindness was fake and a performance, but he knew that smile and kindness couldn’t be faked. And the day he found the contract marriage documents… he realized everything was real. Kai knew it was already too late.
‘If she finds out I drugged Dad, she’ll hate me, right?’
The thought of that warm gaze turning to hatred was too painful. Kai’s face stiffened and lowered.
After Kai left, Macaron couldn’t sleep, lost in thought. Too many things were changing because of her.
‘Did she turn Kai’s heart this time as well?’
Macaron recalled Calypso’s past deeds and unknowingly smiled.
The mansion’s afternoon was peaceful as if nothing had happened. Coral seemed to have recovered properly and was meeting with Kai. Though they still looked awkward, Kai was coming to see Coral every day, doing his best. Evidence of Kai was growing in Coral’s room daily—100 flowers, endless large sheets of stationery, silk sold only once a year to a single customer… It seemed silk had shaken Coral’s heart, but Coral showed no sign of it in front of Kai.
‘Whose daughter is she to be so pretty?’
Watching Coral sometimes felt like watching an excellent trainer.
Maybe because of that incident, Kai would avoid eye contact whenever we accidentally met and run away. Otherwise, things were mostly calm.
A month passed, and today, after finishing makeup, I headed out alone as usual. Since morning, Macaron had come to the east annex. The handsome face I had seen too often lately was busy working again.
‘He could’ve just knocked…’
He looked a little tired, no matter how long he had waited. Still, he was ridiculously handsome. Unlike before, when he wore the look of “I’m the best in the world,” recently his face often showed a reddish tint. Today was no different. But looking closer, Macaron’s expression was strangely different today. He stared blankly at me as if about to say something and finally spoke after a pause.
“Kai says… he wants to learn swordsmanship.”
“I see.”
I answered calmly, and his pupils noticeably dilated.
“How did that happen?”
Seeing his usual confident face now showing signs of embarrassment was entertaining. The secret was simple… Coral had several older brothers she liked. One of them, Nether, was good at swordsmanship, so I told Kai to say that in front of her.
I smiled at Macaron, who seemed eager to tease me.
“That’s a trade secret.”
Well, even without teasing, I wasn’t going to tell him—for Kai’s privacy. Macaron chuckled quietly at my words, then quickly stiffened, embarrassed.
“Do you have anyone in mind as Kai’s instructor?”
“Yes, I do.”
Macaron looked slightly worried.
“Most schedules will probably be full after the new year. If it’s difficult, we can move it to next year, or I can help find someone.”
Still awkward about facing me directly, Macaron’s eyes often avoided mine. But his considerate way of speaking made it seem like he accepted me as part of his circle.
It was clear his sensitivity came from wanting to protect his people. Talking about the most sensitive issue—Kai—with me was significant.
‘Did Kai’s drug incident have a big impact?’
Maybe I was imagining it, but it felt… good.
‘Maybe I’m starting to earn some trust.’
If he used to be a cat sharpening his claws, now he was more like a relaxed puppy. Looking at him, I shared the conclusion I had long considered.
“How about inviting Duke Shupen Knight?”
Shupen was the heir of the Knight family, renowned for swordsmanship. He graduated top of his academy class through an elite course, led the royal knights, and fought on countless battlefields. His reputation was as flashy as his record: the Mad Swordmaster of the Battlefield, the Empire’s only Sword Master, the Casanova of the Century, and the Empire’s F2.
Of course, I wasn’t hiring him just because he was one of the empire’s three most handsome men. But somehow, after I mentioned Shupen Knight’s name, Macaron’s expression darkened.
‘Do they not get along well?’
He frowned and double-checked.
“Shupen… you mean the head of the Knight family?”
