HBTSS 07

CHAPTER 07

“Why on earth?!”

I fumed in front of the letter.

“Why won’t he accept the sponsorship?!”

Callisto, standing in front of me, looked at the letter with an awkward expression. I glared at him.

“Callisto, could it be… did he reject it because you scared him off? No, wait…”

That couldn’t be. Of all the people I knew, Callisto was the most rational.

“Then why did he refuse? Even though I’m offering him support!”

Was it because of the abduction?

But if I hadn’t taken him in then, Lennox would’ve been in serious danger.

While I was drowning in a storm of thoughts, Callisto finally spoke up.

“He left a message.”

“What message?”

“…He said to stop with the shallow charity and offer a proper price instead.”

What? Shallow charity? My face flushed with heat.

“Excuse me, what did you just say?”

When I leapt up, furious, Callisto quickly clarified, startled.

“I’m just repeating what he said. Not my words. But, Clenn—”

Then, looking at me again, Callisto’s gaze turned oddly reverent.

“I didn’t know you had it in you to set a condition like that…”

He looked… oddly moved.

The condition I’d written was: “If someone in need appears, you must not turn away. You must help them.”

‘So why does that look on his face annoy me so much?’

I read the meaning behind that gaze and snapped.

“What kind of person do you think I am?!”

“Haha, no need to be so angry.”

Callisto chuckled lightly.

“I just thought Clenn had a colder heart than most people, that’s all.”

…Okay, fair point.

“So, Lennox really said that?”

Some kid, barely Melin’s age, had the nerve to call my support a shallow act of charity?

A chill ran down my spine.

“Don’t tell me… does he know what our family did?”

In the original novel, it said his memories didn’t return until later.

“There’s no way. He doesn’t even know you’re the sponsor—how could he say that knowingly?”

Callisto shook his head. And he was right. At this point, Lennox shouldn’t have any special information.

Callisto lifted his teacup, clearly thinking hard. I sipped my own tea to moisten my dry mouth.

‘It feels like a storm just passed… and another one is coming right behind it.’

But to block the storm ahead, I first needed to clean up the damage left by the last one.

We sat across from each other in silence, sipping tea with heavy expressions. Then Callisto finally spoke again.

“…For him to reject a sponsorship and be so suspicious of it, life must have been truly harsh. He’s a pitiful child.”

At those words, I groaned inwardly.

‘A price… fine, a price it is…’

Should I be proud or sad that Lennox had already learned that there’s no such thing as a free lunch?

Unable to settle on a feeling, I finally opened my mouth.

“…Then ask Lennox what kind of compensation he wants.”

No matter what, I had to seal this sponsorship contract. After all, I was the one in the weaker position here.

“Alright, I’ll pass on your question when I get a reply.”

Just as our conversation ended and I was about to go home, I opened the door—and froze as I locked eyes with the boy standing there.

‘Lennox?!’

Of all the people to be here, why him?!

Barely managing to compose my shocked expression, I met his gaze.

His bright green eyes, as clear as morning dew, stared straight at me.

My first thoughts upon seeing him were: “I’m doomed.” and “He’s insanely good-looking.”

I thought I’d seen all the top-tier faces back at the academy, but clearly, I was wrong.

Now that he’d been cleaned up, Lennox’s beauty was on another level.

‘But what do I do now?!’

Thank goodness I was wearing a mask and my face was covered.

Still, if I tried to avoid him now, I’d look even more suspicious.

As I stood frozen, Callisto seemed to notice something strange. He got up from the sofa and came over. When he saw Lennox, his face stiffened with awkward surprise.

“Young Marquess, who is this child?”

I acted quickly.

“Judging by his appearance, he doesn’t look like one of the house’s children. He’s probably a servant. And yet, after seeing someone of higher status, he just stands there without even greeting them?”

I let out a soft, scoffing laugh.

“Where did he learn such manners, I wonder.”

Damn it. I’m scared to death right now.

Knowing full well that this boy would one day become the strongest character in the world, I still had to talk down to him. My vision darkened.

‘Still… he needs to understand what powerlessness feels like if he’s ever going to accept support, right…?’

Trying to justify myself, I adopted a noble’s cold and haughty tone.

“Did you not hear me? Lower your gaze.”

“…Yes, my apologies.”

Realizing my status, Lennox lowered his eyes immediately. Unlike ordinary kids, who would’ve shown fear, his face was unreadably calm.

‘Phew, at least I’m off his radar for now.’

It was lucky I had the mask on. But in the novel, Lennox was said to have keen observation skills — sharper than an eagle.

‘There’s no benefit to staying in his line of sight any longer than necessary…’

At least, that’s what I thought until the next moment.

“Ren, what brings you here?”

Callisto asked.

Since Lennox was still publicly labeled a traitor, we had agreed to use the alias “Ren.”

He couldn’t tell the real reason he was hiding, so we’d explained it away by saying there was a bounty on his head.

Which was convincing — in the slums, most kids had bounties. In a world where not stealing meant starving, who cared about having a price on their head?

‘Come to think of it, Lennox’s nickname was Ren anyway.’

I hadn’t planned it, but it worked out.

“The young marquess told me to reconsider… but I think it’s better to decline.”

His quiet voice didn’t suit his age — but it rang loud and clear in my ears.

‘So… he came here to reject the sponsorship in person?’

Seeing Callisto glance anxiously at me confirmed it. Lennox was here to say no.

And I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Oh, is this the bold little boy the young marquess mentioned?”

So much for keeping a low profile.

Callisto looked at me in shock, as if asking what on earth I was doing.

‘Fine, I’ll handle this myself.’

I ignored his gaze.

There was no way a gentle nerd like Callisto could handle a wild beast like Lennox.

‘So I’ll take over.’

Besides, I was wearing a mask — he couldn’t see my face.

“My name is Rose. I’m the agent handling this sponsorship. Come inside.”

I opened the door to the drawing room and gestured at Lennox. Callisto looked at me awkwardly but, under my firm stare, he plastered on a fake smile and followed my lead.

“Yes, Ren. She’s a professional I invited to help with this sponsorship. She supports many children…”

“Since you turned down the offer, the young marquess invited me here to speak with you. Isn’t that right?”

“Y-Yes. Please… take good care of it.”

His awkward acting made me sigh.

‘Is he a person or a robot?’

He was so stiff and obvious with his lie.

I decided it would be better to get him out of the room as soon as possible.

“Then, young marquess, I’ll speak with Ren alone for a bit.”

I smiled and casually took the sponsorship contract from Callisto’s hands. He hesitated a moment, then wisely closed the door behind him.

Now alone in the drawing room, Lennox sat across from me, still calm.

But to me, that small face felt like an impenetrable fortress. The pressure was immense.

‘I thought I’d met all types of people in my past life…’

But this boy was different.

At just 11 years old, his face was detached, and his eyes devoid of emotion.

‘No matter what, I’ll make him sign this contract today.’

And part of me, the former queen of sales, felt a strange sense of challenge ignite.

This face… awakened my competitive spirit.