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Chapter 64
A piece of paper, stamped clearly with the emperor’s seal, fluttered in the air.
“It worked.”
“Of course. Who do you think I am that I’d fail?”
“Right… almost forgot who Calliope Verdi is.”
Lerazie snickered.
Since they had crossed paths not far from the palace, the two quickly arrived at the Seventh Prince’s residence.
Just then, Arsen, who had been waiting for them alongside Aegis, peeked out and shouted:
“Viscount Verdi…!”
“You’re already here, you adorable little prince?”
Calliope immediately abandoned Lerazie, who had been walking with her, and practically ran toward Arsen.
“How have you been?”
“Good!”
Arsen nodded and shyly held Calliope’s hand.
“Oh my.”
“Hehe.”
Arsen smiled brightly.
The child’s hands were soft, warm, and tender. Calliope held them and smiled back.
“Look at this kid.”
Lerazie squinted his eyes and muttered in dissatisfaction.
“This little thing is already charming everyone.”
“You can’t say that about a child!”
“Ugh!”
Calliope slapped Lerazie’s back relentlessly. After a few swats, he dodged quickly and said:
“You’re gonna kill someone! Why are your hands so strong?”
“They’re only strong for you!”
Calliope glared fiercely. But when Arsen lightly tugged her hand, she quickly changed her expression.
“H-Hey, you’re not angry at me, are you?”
“Oh, of course not! There’s only one person who makes me angry in this world, so don’t worry about it, Your Highness.”
When she said “the person who makes me angry,” Calliope glared pointedly at Lerazie and then smiled warmly at Arsen again.
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Wow, unbelievable.”
Lerazie stuck out his tongue at the way her expression flipped like a coin.
Ignoring him, Calliope held Arsen’s hand and happily swung it back and forth as they walked ahead.
“Oh! The chef even made a delicious pie for us to share with the Viscount!”
“Oh my, how wonderful!”
“The chef belongs to the Seventh Prince’s residence, you know?”
Lerazie tried to interject beside Calliope, but she lightly ignored him.
“And Aegis said I have a new attendant now!”
“That’s wonderful news.”
“Yes! I’m really, really happy!”
Arsen looked up at Calliope and smiled brightly.
Then, as if recalling something, his expression suddenly became somber.
“I hope you don’t leave this time…”
“Your Highness?”
“Come on, why is everyone walking so slowly? Apple pies taste best when eaten warm.”
Lerazie scooped up Arsen and began walking briskly.
“Good grief, all of a sudden…”
Calliope grumbled but eventually couldn’t help but giggle.
“Wow! Higher, please, big brother!”
Arsen was so excited. The sadness from earlier had vanished completely.
“That’s fine then.”
Calliope glanced between Lerazie’s back and Arsen, who was laughing gleefully, and shrugged casually.
“Come on, Viscount, hurry!”
Arsen saw her and waved one arm enthusiastically.
“If we’re late, the apple pie will get cold!”
“That would be a problem.”
Calliope laughed and quickly joined Lerazie’s side. The three of them walking side by side looked just like a family.
“Ah, this pie is really good.”
As the fresh, fragrant apple filled her mouth, Calliope’s face softened instinctively.
In an instant, the pie disappeared. She opened her mouth again.
“What’s this?”
Munching the pie, Calliope looked at Lerazie. He was checking a special clause in the contract she had given him.
“What is it?”
She asked with her eyes, and Lerazie pointed to a part of the contract with his finger.
“The groom’s training.”
Ah, that’s right.
Calliope swallowed the pie and replied:
“It’s hard to move around in the palace. There are too many eyes watching. Did I misunderstand?”
“You don’t mean…”
No, that can’t be.
Even someone like Calliope Verdi wouldn’t know that secret.
Lerazie kept his mouth shut, and Calliope took it as a confirmation.
“I’ll give you a nice room in the mansion. We can redo the interior, so tell Agnes beforehand if you want a particular style.”
Even after Calliope finished explaining, Lerazie still looked uneasy.
“You don’t like it?”
“No, it’s not that.”
He roughly wiped his face with his palm and looked away.
Following his gaze, Calliope also looked and let out a short sigh.
Arsen’s round eyes were wide open.
“Big brother, what about me…?”
Calliope realized her mistake.
She could see Lerazie’s conflicted expression, and Arsen felt it too.
Slowly, moisture began to gather under the child’s eyes. Arsen asked softly, his eyes glistening.
“Am I going to be left here alone?”
“No.”
“No!”
Calliope and Lerazie answered in unison, as if by agreement. They looked at each other.
Lerazie spoke first.
“Do we have another room?”
“There are plenty of rooms.”
Calliope leaned slightly toward Lerazie and whispered in his ear:
“But is there a way?”
She had answered impulsively because she felt sorry for Arsen, but there was no perfect solution yet.
Lerazie calmly replied:
“If there isn’t, we’ll make one.”
Then he took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped Arsen’s eyes.
“I’ll never leave the palace alone. So don’t worry.”
“Really?”
Arsen blinked at his moist eyes.
Lerazie smiled and ruffled the child’s hair.
“Of course it’s real.”
At his smile, Arsen’s face brightened.
Seeing that, Calliope couldn’t just stand by.
“I’ll decorate Your Highness’s room in the Verdi mansion beautifully. You can look forward to it.”
“Wow…!”
The child’s golden eyes sparkled like stars.
It was the pure, innocent gaze unique to children.
Seeing that, Calliope’s resolve solidified.
“Right. If there’s no way, then we’ll make one.”
She turned her head, noticing that Lerazie had been looking at her. Their gazes met in the air.
“…Thank you.”
Calliope flinched slightly at his words.
It was the first time Lerazie had thanked her so sincerely.
But she didn’t show surprise and responded gracefully.
“For what?”
“For promising to make the interior look amazing.”
Calliope laughed at his joke and replied jokingly:
“I’ll take it all back later.”
“Fine by me.”
Soft smiles appeared on their faces, the first warm smiles they had shared with each other.
The three of them spread a blanket on the lawn near the prince’s residence as if on a picnic and spent time together.
Arsen was happy.
He was playing with his favorite big brother and the Viscount whom his brother liked.
It was something he had only dreamed of.
Even better, the Viscount had told him he could call her by name.
Overjoyed, Arsen decided he could respond in kind.
“Calliope, will you marry my big brother later?”
“Hmm…”
Calliope put a finger to her chin and pretended to think carefully.
Arsen clasped his hands together, waiting for her answer.
Calliope glanced at Lerazie.
Although she pretended to look away, she could still sense him paying attention.
‘Even if you pretend not to hear, I can see everything.’
Calliope smiled inwardly and deliberately answered teasingly.
“For now? Well, maybe I’ll change my mind later.”
“What are you talking about?”
Lerazie quickly reacted.
“The ink on the contract isn’t even dry yet, and you’re already thinking about breaking it off?”
“Big brother, what does ‘breaking it off’ mean?”
Arsen’s question left Lerazie momentarily speechless, and he just opened his mouth, stunned.
