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chapter 09
It was nearly noon when Calix finally woke up.
He had never slept in this late before.
Startled, he quickly sat up and stared at his body with wide eyes.
He had suffered from a fever the night before, yet instead of aching, his body felt light—almost as if it could float.
It wasn’t my imagination.
Calix recalled Reina, who had caught him when he nearly fell down the stairs the previous night.
The Reina who never came no matter how long he waited had, ironically, appeared right when he was consumed by fever.
When he had a fever, no one was allowed to touch him.
Though his incurable illness wasn’t contagious, it had harmful effects on others.
Even knowing that, Calix had instinctively begged Reina not to leave.
He should have told her to go—but sleep had overtaken him.
And then something strange had happened.
Even in his hazy, half-conscious state, he had felt Reina’s touch.
As soon as her hand touched him, his body gradually began to relax.
As if by a miracle, the pain vanished, and he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
She touched me and didn’t get hurt… she even calmed my fever. Could it be…?
Calix slipped his hand into his collar and pulled out a necklace.
“Bomer.”
Looking at the small statue resting on his palm, he spoke.
“Could Reina be a ‘special person’?”
His eyes sparkled with hope.
“You said so, didn’t you? That a ‘special person’ would cure me. Look—I don’t hurt at all right now.”
As if to prove it, Calix swung his legs playfully from the bed.
“Right? Isn’t that true?”
Despite his urging, Bomer remained silent.
Its cheerful face simply gleamed in the sunlight.
“Bomer…”
Calix’s expression quickly fell.
He knew well that a wooden statue couldn’t come to life.
But Bomer wasn’t just any ordinary wooden figure.
The first time Calix had woken up after a severe fever, Bomer had spoken to him.
He thought it was a dream.
But the sensation of Bomer sitting on his shoulder and poking his cheek with a wooden sword had felt vivid and real.
—Calix. I have so many stories I want to tell you.
Bomer had reenacted battles from fairy tales, swinging his wooden sword bravely.
After finishing the tales, he even told him unknown stories about what happened afterward.
And at the end, he always encouraged Calix, saying he could become like him one day.
Even if it was all a dream or illusion, Calix didn’t mind.
To him, Bomer was a gift from the heavens—sent to comfort him through his painful fevers.
A kind friend who existed only for him.
Calix never told anyone about this secret friend.
It wasn’t because he feared being called insane due to his illness—but because he feared Bomer might be taken away.
“Are you not going to play with me anymore?”
At some point, Bomer had stopped speaking to him.
Why?
“Are you bored of me?”
If that were the case, there was nothing Calix could do.
Bomer, a hero, had endless stories to tell—but Calix had none.
His world consisted only of what he could see with his own eyes.
At best, it was just a small, square room.
A dull, uninteresting world.
It’s only natural Bomer got tired of me.
Even as he understood it, his nose stung with emotion.
Knock, knock.
Startled by the sound, Calix quickly tucked Bomer back into his clothes.
The door opened, and Reina walked in.
“You’re awake. I was about to wake you if you were still sleeping.”
She sat casually in a chair beside the bed, leaning comfortably against the backrest.
“How’s your body?”
Her tone was natural and relaxed, as if they had known each other for a long time.
“I’m fine.”
For some reason, that alone made Calix happy, and he fidgeted with his fingers.
“You must be hungry. Olivia will bring food up soon.”
Calix, who had been about to nod obediently, hesitated.
“I’m not hungry.”
He glanced at Reina as he continued.
“Can I eat later?”
He wanted to stay with her a little longer.
If Olivia came with the food, Reina might leave.
“Just a little longer…”
He murmured softly, lowering his head.
“I-if you’re busy…”
“I’m not busy.”
Thinking she would refuse, Calix clasped his hands tightly.
“But I am hungry.”
“…Huh?”
“I was planning to eat with you.”
Calix’s head shot up.
“Together!”
He spoke hastily, his voice gradually softening.
“Let’s eat together. I’ll eat too.”
“Alright.”
Reina agreed without hesitation.
She didn’t question his sudden change of attitude.
Her expressionless face merely looked slightly bored.
Calix bit his lip.
The thought of Bomer leaving him because he was boring suddenly resurfaced.
Right then, Olivia arrived, pulling him out of his thoughts.
She set up a table and chairs by the window, laid out the food for Reina and Calix, and then quietly left the room.
“….”
Though one should focus on food while eating, Calix was more aware of the silence.
He wanted Reina to want to stay with him.
But not knowing how, he merely picked at his food.
“Does it not suit your taste?”
Reina suddenly asked.
“No, it’s good.”
Calix quickly replied, spearing a piece of meat with his fork and putting it in his mouth.
He immediately regretted it.
Of all things, I picked meat…
Calix hated meat.
At the Ingersoll estate, his diet had been strictly controlled because of his weak body.
He mostly ate porridge that was easy to digest, and other foods were bland and unseasoned.
Especially boiled meat without spices—it always had a strong, unpleasant smell.
If he left food behind, he would be scolded, so he forced himself to eat it while holding his nose, often ending up sick.
He had eaten like that here too—but he didn’t want Reina to see him covering his nose.
Carefully, conscious of her gaze, he chewed the meat.
Then, his brows furrowed slightly.
The meat, braised in a sweet and savory sauce, burst with rich juices.
It was delicious.
Incredibly so.
Unable to believe it, Calix took another bite.
It was still delicious.
With a deeply serious expression, he chewed slowly.
Watching him, Reina smiled silently.
“Olivia is a good cook.”
Calix nodded vigorously.
“It smells good too. The food I used to eat always smelled bitter, like medicinal herbs.”
Finally having something to talk about, he grew excited and spoke faster.
“If I left even a little, they would get angry. They said it was good for my body, but I think my brother was just trying to make me suffer—”
Calix abruptly stopped.
Realizing he had mentioned his “brother” in front of Reina, he panicked.
“Th-that is…”
Reina didn’t press him and simply picked up a napkin.
“The fever you had yesterday didn’t seem ordinary.”
She gently wiped the sauce from the corner of his mouth.
“I need to know exactly what kind of illness it is so I can be prepared in the future.”
Calix swallowed hard.
Reina might be the only person who can help me.
He steadied himself and lifted his gaze—
But then he noticed her hand.
A bandage was wrapped around her palm.
“…Are you hurt?”
Reina followed his gaze to her hand.
It was newly wrapped by Maya, replacing the clumsy bandage she had put on earlier.
“It’s nothing.”
“Did you get hurt last night?”
When Reina nodded casually, Calix’s expression darkened.
He leaned back, avoiding her hand.
Bomer, who had told him about the “special person,” no longer responded.
And Reina—whom he thought might be that “special person”—had ended up injured too.
Where did I even find hope to believe in?
He felt relieved that he had stopped himself before making a bigger mistake.
If I carelessly tell her about my fever, Reina could be put in danger.
The Ingersoll family would never leave her alone.
“My fever… it’s fine. It happens sometimes.”
Calix turned his head toward the window, avoiding her gaze.
Seeing him suddenly shut down like a clam, Reina felt at a loss.
Though her face remained calm, she was growing anxious.
Earlier that day, she had run into Lucius at the capital’s marketplace.
Judging by his reaction, it didn’t seem like he had recognized her or come looking for her.
I can’t assume it was just a coincidence.
According to the original story, Lucius should be searching for Calix in the south by now.
Had the story changed, altering his actions as well?
Reina could feel it—her direct encounter with Lucius was approaching.
I need to ask Calix about the black mark.
Only then could she tell him she could help remove it.
But Calix clearly had no intention of opening up about himself or his illness.
After all, the moment he mentioned his “brother,” he became defensive.
Just as Reina was thinking of a way to break through his guard—
Calix’s eyes, fixed on the window, suddenly widened.
What is it?
Reina followed his gaze outside, then looked back at him.
His lips had parted slightly, and his eyes sparkled brightly.
A faint smile formed on Reina’s lips.
Found it.
A way to lower Calix’s guard.
