HBTSS 04

CHAPTER 04

Meanwhile, after receiving a letter the previous night, Callisto looked awkwardly at the small boy in front of him.

‘Black hair, green eyes, an eleven-year-old boy. Identity unknown.’

That was all the information he had about the boy.

Though he’d accepted him at Clemence’s request, Callisto still hadn’t figured out the boy’s background.

‘But if Clemence sent him, there must be a reason.’

He opened his mouth to speak to the boy standing before him.

“This is where you’ll be staying from now on. If there’s anything you’re uncomfortable with, let me know… If there’s something you want, just ask.”

“You kidnap me out of nowhere and expect me to believe that?”

Lennox glared at the man in front of him with clear suspicion.

He’d even had the one possession he carried taken from him, and now they acted like nothing happened.

The worst kind of villain.

“Just tell me what you really want.”

Kidnapping?

Callisto looked startled. There was no mention of anything like that in Clemence’s letter.

“There seems to have been a misunderstanding… We brought you here to look after you. You’re in need of an adult’s care right now.”

But despite the explanation, the suspicion in Lennox’s eyes only deepened.

‘This is… a bit of a mess.’

Callisto realized he might have botched this first interaction with the boy.

“Suddenly telling me to move out? What is this?”

Lisette was flustered at the large suitcase placed in front of her.

I kindly explained.

“I’m not planning to let anyone stay here for free. In other words, pack your bags.”

If the king of an empty castle had been thrown out, then the self-proclaimed queen had to follow. That’s only natural.

“F-For free?!”

“Would you like to work as a maid, then? I can offer you a job.”

At my words, Lisette’s face instantly twisted in fury.

“What?! How dare you—!”

She raised her hand to slap me, but Agathe caught her arm before she could.

“Let go of me! Agh!!”

“I figured you’d pull something like this. That’s why I asked you nicely to just pack your things.”

I shrugged and said calmly.

“Agathe.”

“Eeeek! I said let go!”

With just a glance from me, Agathe dragged Lisette out, just like she had with Arthur.

‘Ahh, that was satisfying.’

Right after, I summoned the servants to the hall.

“What happened while I was away?”

“It was… the same as always.”

“So Melin’s been eating those pathetic meals all this time.”

“……”

“I want to know exactly what ‘the same as always’ means. Speak up.”

The staff glanced nervously at one another until one, who had seen Arthur and Lisette being kicked out, finally spoke up.

After listening, I let out a bitter laugh.

“…So no one ever paid attention to Melin?”

What she ate, whether she bathed, where she slept—no one had cared.

‘…Even I, her own sister, didn’t care.’

In the original story, one of the keywords used to describe the heroine was naïve innocence.

Maybe Melin really had just smiled and lived without a care in the world.

‘I wish it were that simple.’

There was a strange dryness in my mouth.

“From now on, take proper care of Melin.”

I couldn’t say I was completely blameless either, so I refrained from harshly scolding the staff.

“If this happens again, you’ll be fired immediately.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Among the relieved faces, I looked at one person in particular.

The current head butler, Adler. He had taken over five years ago from the aging former butler.

“But the head butler is dismissed.”

He had long since become Arthur’s informant. I couldn’t allow one of Arthur’s men to stay.

Apparently unprepared for this, the butler turned pale.

“W-What?!”

“You were responsible for overseeing the household’s affairs.”

“T-This can’t be happening…”

I looked at his devastated face, and suddenly remembered something.

‘Didn’t the head butler have a daughter? Julia Grisel, I think.’

Maybe I should reach out to her.

Better to have someone familiar with our household than a complete stranger.

Just then, a familiar voice rang out.

“Sis, what’s going on?”

Melin appeared, clutching a stuffed cat, her eyes wide with curiosity at the unfamiliar scene.

“Oh—oh, nothing at all.”

It felt like I’d been caught with a secret. I quickly changed the subject.

“Melin, is there anyone here who’s been kind to you?”

She looked around the staff with sleepy eyes, then pointed at one person.

At the end of her finger stood a maid who looked timid and gentle, like a deer.

“She gave me bread when I was hungry. It didn’t even have black spots.”

‘Boiling… my blood is boiling.’

It should be a given that bread is mold-free. But the way she said it meant it wasn’t normal for her.

Regret surged in me.

‘Should’ve beaten that bastard a little harder before kicking him out.’

I asked the maid her name.

“My name is Lisa.”

“Lisa, from now on, you’re Melin’s personal maid.”

“Y-Yes, my lady.”

Lisa bowed shyly. I turned to Melin, who still looked puzzled.

“Melin, you won’t be seeing Uncle anymore.”

“Oh, okay…”

She nodded drowsily.

“Do you want to see him again?”

She stared at me for a moment, then shook her head.

“Mmm… not really.”

I turned to Agathe without hesitation.

“Agathe, make sure Uncle lives out his life peacefully in that place.”

“Yes, my lady.”

If even Melin, who liked almost everyone, said that, there was no need for further discussion.

Let him rot in the mines forever.

‘Honestly, I did him a favor saving his worthless life—he should be thanking me.’

Now that the thief who looted this house was gone, it was time for the true heir to rise.

For a minor noble without parents to inherit the title, the approval of the house they served was required.

Would Duke Dinero approve my succession?

Recalling the original story made me doubtful.

‘Let’s start with something easier first.’

The first step was tracking down the embezzled family funds that Arthur had hidden away.

Luckily, I’d already identified them five years ago, so it wasn’t hard.

It was all about slowly expanding my reach—starting with what I could already do.

A few days later.

I was making small investments using Arthur’s slush funds I had traced earlier.

“A letter has arrived.”

At Agathe’s words, I jumped to my feet.

‘Finally, a reply from Duke Dinero?’

It had been a week since I sent him the succession request.

But when I checked the sender, I was slightly disappointed.

It wasn’t from Duke Dinero—but from the Marquess of Skylar.

Clen, would it be all right if I visited tomorrow morning?
– Callisto Skylar

There was only one reason why he would want to meet me.

‘Lennox Euclid.’

Come to think of it, I hadn’t checked in on Lennox lately. I’d gotten too caught up in my own affairs.

‘Once I meet Callisto, I need to start defining the sponsorship plan in earnest.’

I immediately sent a reply.

The next morning, just as stated in the letter, Callisto arrived at the count’s residence.

“Call, it’s been a while.”

Silver-haired and blue-eyed, he wore glasses.

His intelligent, scholarly aura made it clear he came from the Skylar family, known for producing generations of brilliant minds.

“It really has, Clen. I didn’t expect you to come greet me yourself.”

“Well, it’s not every day you visit. It’s only polite.”

I shrugged in reply.

A soft smile curved on his lips.

“So, is the boy doing well?”

“His health is fine. It’ll take some time for him to open up to others, though.”

Once we reached the parlor and were alone, he spoke again.

“Clen, don’t you think it’s time you explained why you sent the last surviving member of House Euclid to our family?”

“…Did Lennox tell you?”

I was startled. I hadn’t expected him to figure out Lennox’s identity so quickly.

But Callisto shook his head.

“Lennox… doesn’t know he’s from House Euclid. That’s why he told me his real name.”