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Chapter 62
Slowly, Callie’s lips parted.
‘Wait… who just spoke?’
Her eyes widened, blinking rapidly. She glanced around, but the garden still held only her and Leonhardt.
“Um, Leon.”
“Yeah?”
“Didn’t you hear something?”
“No. Nothing.”
Then, the voice came again.
— How have you been?
This time it was a little higher-pitched. On a hunch, she stared up at the stars.
At that moment, the stars twinkled. With her mouth still open in awe, she finally answered after a pause.
“Ah… hello.”
“…?”
Leonhardt looked at her, puzzled. Before she could explain, the stars replied.
— The atmosphere feels different, doesn’t it?
— Nah, she’s always been like that! Adorable, right?
— Was she? It’s been so long I got confused.
From the depths of Callie’s recovered memories, she recalled the playful conversations the stars used to have. It didn’t feel strange — it was familiar, even comforting.
She smiled softly.
“Actually, a lot has happened since then.”
— Ah, really? We thought so. You never talked to us anymore — we were getting lonely.
— No, you dummy. The kids who used to talk to us disappeared, remember?
“There’s that too.”
Then Leonhardt gently squeezed her hand.
Ah… right. To him, it must look like I’m just talking to myself.
Callie quickly turned her head and met his eyes.
“The stars responded.”
“How curious. How do you read the future? Do the stars tell you?”
“Yes.”
The stars chuckled quietly.
— Child, your wish came true.
— The one beside you, isn’t that the same boy you met before?
“How did you know? Yes, it’s him.”
— But there’s a terrible dark magic on him.
Callie’s expression dimmed, and she nodded.
— It’s truly dreadful.
“How can this curse be broken?”
— It’ll take a long time.
One of the stars began to shine brightly — dazzlingly so. In that instant, Callie understood.
The star was about to reveal the future.
While the star flared, she turned to Leonhardt, who seemed bored of waiting.
“When a star shines so brightly it hurts your eyes, that means it’s showing the future.”
“Oh… that’s fascinating. But only you can hear it?”
“Yes. It’s always been that way. I’ve always spoken to the stars alone. They never let anyone else hear.”
“Because it’s about the future?”
“Right. But… with Rita, I could hear them together.”
Because they had to stop Michaela. Ever since she disappeared, Callie and Rita had always heard the stars’ voices together.
The star’s glow slowly faded, returning to its usual brightness.
— Danger is coming.
— You must be careful.
— Someone was listening.
The stars began to speak over one another. Callie strained to catch every word.
— It’s hard. Hard to say.
— ‘That thing’ wants to get rid of all who stand in its way.
— Be careful. ‘That thing’ will target you.
“What is it?”
— ‘That thing’ hates you.
— ‘That thing’ will come for you someday.
— ‘That thing’ is greedy.
— ‘That thing’ is a black mass that should not exist.
Callie couldn’t quite grasp what they meant. What was “that thing”?
When the stars fell silent, they became nothing more than ordinary stars again.
The prophecy had ended. And when it did, the stars would not speak again — not for a while.
“Leon, the prophecy’s over.”
“What did they say?”
“It’s… complicated. Let’s go inside first?”
Callie stood up and reached her hand out to him. He chuckled lightly and took her small hand.
“They said danger is coming… but I’m not sure if it’s for me, or for you.”
“Danger?”
Leonhardt’s voice deepened. His grip tightened.
Callie repeated the stars’ words word-for-word. Leonhardt listened in silence, deep in thought.
“What do you think ‘that thing’ is?”
“…”
“They said it’s a black mass that shouldn’t exist…”
“Could it be… the witch?”
As they quietly entered the mansion, Leonhardt gave his answer.
“The witch… Michaela?”
“Just my guess.”
“Hmm…”
“Arthur Spencer killed the witch. But now it turns out she’s still alive.”
As they walked toward the bedroom, Leonhardt rubbed his chin.
“Anyway…”
His voice echoed softly down the silent hallway. Opening the door, he gently nudged Callie inside.
She took off her shawl and hung it over a chair by the window.
“Since danger’s coming, I can’t let my adorable little squirrel go wandering around outside.”
“There’s no squirrel anymore.”
“I’d still like to see her sometimes.”
“Do you know how inconvenient that was?”
Her lips jutted out in a small pout. She was about to return to her room to change into her nightclothes when Leonhardt came up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Where are you going?”
“T-To change…”
“Change here.”
“You’ll see me!”
“We’re married — so what?”
“Ugh…”
What am I supposed to do with this shameless man…
Callie lowered her head and sneaked her hand down to pinch his hand. But he didn’t even flinch.
“L-later!”
“When later? Hm?”
“Someday!”
She threw off his arms with all her strength and ran for the door to her room. Contrary to her expectations, he didn’t chase her.
When she glanced back, he was clutching his stomach, laughing.
That smug expression made her glare — but she ended up laughing too.
“Honestly… there’s no helping you.”
She hurried off to change.
Someday… we’ll spend our first night together, right?
He had once whispered to her — asking to hold her. Just the memory made her cheeks burn.
It was natural, but she wasn’t ready yet. And Leonhardt knew that. He never crossed the line.
When I’m truly ready… I’ll tell him first.
Her lips curved up, and her heart fluttered wildly.
Callie’s steps felt light as air.
Leonhardt stared at the invitation in his hand.
It was for the emperor’s birthday — every noble in the empire was invited.
He had always hated such things. Even when summoned by the emperor himself, he went only out of obligation.
“What will you do, sir?”
“What else?”
He tossed the invitation onto his desk and leaned back with a sigh.
“If I don’t go, he’ll make my life miserable again. So I’ll have to.”
“And the Grand Duchess?”
“The invitation was addressed only to me. So I’ll go alone.”
Then he paused.
“No.”
Something crossed his mind. He sat up and rested his chin on his hand, staring at the golden envelope he’d thrown.
“They’ll probably try to stick some woman on me.”
“The emperor, you mean?”
“No.”
Einz looked confused. Leonhardt shrugged and let out a dry laugh.
“The emperor knows about the curse on our family. I mean those filthy nobles. You know how the stinking women always throw themselves at me.”
With a cold, derisive look, he spun his chair toward the tall window. The curtain was drawn back, revealing the garden.
Out there, Callie walked among the flowers. Her fluttering red hair looked radiant.
Without realizing it, Leonhardt smiled faintly.
“I’ll take Callie with me.”
“To the ball, sir?”
“Yes. I should.”
Resting an arm on the chair’s armrest, he propped his chin.
Callie bent down to smell a flower, smiling brightly — as lovely as the blossoms around her.
“I’ll introduce her as my wife.”
“Recognition from both the temple and the crown would be fitting.”
“Exactly.”
Turning his chair back around, Leonhardt nodded.
“Bring Callie here.”
“At once, sir.”
The emperor knew about the Spencer curse — that every duke of the line could only wed a cursed bride. So he had left the matter alone.
Still, Leonhardt felt uneasy about it. Their marriage was known only within the ducal estate.
He wanted the entire empire to know — that his wife was this beautiful, this precious.
In truth, he simply wanted to show her off.
And give her the right to stand proudly as my wife.
After all, she was the Grand Duchess.
A knock interrupted his thoughts. The door opened, and Callie entered.
“You called for me?”
“Sorry to interrupt your walk.”
“No, it’s fine. Ah — you could see me? Through the window?”
“I could.”
He patted his thigh. She pretended not to notice and sat on the sofa instead. He clicked his tongue and sat right next to her.
“You never listen to me anymore.”
“As if I ever did… So, what’s this about?”
“Ah, right.”
Leonhardt stood, grabbed the invitation from his desk, and handed it to her.
She quickly scanned it.
“This is…”
“I want to go together.”
“With me…?”
“Of course.”
He explained his reasoning, and Callie nodded slowly.
It made sense — and it reminded her of something from the original story.
Originally, Callie was the cursed bride — destined to live like a mayfly, a fleeting existence.
Now that she and Leonhardt had confirmed their feelings for each other, she wanted to be called his wife — truly.
So she agreed with him.
“It’s in a week?”
“Yeah.”
He smiled softly.
“I’ll make sure you’re the most beautiful one there.”
He gently brushed her hair with his hand.
“More beautiful than anyone.”
And in that moment, Leonhardt looked truly happy.
