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Chapter 8
At that moment, the tailor clapped his hands.
“It’s all finished. I’ll make it beautifully and send it to the manor. Since Lord Callisto is so handsome, inspiration just keeps flowing.”
“Right? You don’t get to see such a pretty child easily.”
Even though they weren’t praising me, I still felt oddly proud and ended up acting smug.
Callisto looked at me with an exasperated expression, but I didn’t care. What’s wrong with calling a pretty kid pretty?
“Haha. You two really get along well.”
“That’s right. His lordship’s father has always been worried because the young master seemed lonely, but this is wonderful.”
“Indeed. Now that he has a younger sibling-like figure, the young master seems happier. Perhaps my wife and I should consider a second child as well.”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
The tailor and Elsie chatted back and forth. To them, it seemed like I was struggling to find a place to belong, even if my intentions were simply survival. They appeared to think I had finally found emotional attachment.
In truth, the original Etienne had lost his mother at a young age and had remained distant from the Earl of Winyates, so it was understandable they would think that way.
Since I didn’t really care, I didn’t bother correcting their misunderstanding. However, Callisto suddenly flared up beside me.
“I’m not little! There’s not even much of an age gap!”
“Yes, yes, Lord Callisto.”
Elsie soothed him as if appeasing a child. Watching that, I quietly sighed.
It seemed I would need to get closer to Callisto. Just saying I liked him made him react so sharply—avoiding a “death ending” still felt far away.
Time passed smoothly.
Callisto and I continued bickering every day, maintaining a sort of uneasy peace. The adults, unaware of my frantic efforts to avoid death flags, seemed to think we got along very well. The Earl of Winyates, in particular, looked noticeably relieved.
Then one day, a banquet was held at the Winyates estate.
I was extremely nervous beforehand. It was an important event even in the original story.
At this banquet, nobles would whisper rumors, and Etienne would discover that Callisto was the Earl’s illegitimate child. In addition, another key event in Callisto’s life would occur.
Of course, Etienne had already been bullying Callisto before this day. However, prior to this, it was more like jealousy toward a child who stole the Earl’s attention. After the banquet, however, the bullying escalated into torture and abuse. He would even treat Callisto like a servant.
So not only me, but Callisto—who likely remembered the future to some extent—had been anxious these past few days.
While Elsie was dressing Callisto up, I glanced at him sitting in front of the mirror.
He had been cute when he first arrived, but recently he had become truly adorable, like a little angel.
The biggest change was the round fullness in his cheeks.
When he first arrived, Callisto had been unnaturally thin for a child. But thanks to proper meals and regular walks, he had filled out. He also seemed to have grown a little taller.
He looked like he had gone from about four or five years old to roughly five and a half.
“In the original, it took a few more years for him to gain weight and grow…”
The original story had definitely changed somewhat. That was probably because my attitude toward him had changed—I had started talking to him when I hadn’t before.
Recently, I felt like my relationship with Callisto had improved. Maybe I could actually avoid the death ending if things continued this way.
As I watched him hopefully, Callisto asked irritably,
“What are you looking at?”
“You.”
“Don’t look. You’ll wear me out.”
“What a brat…”
I immediately took back my earlier thought. We didn’t seem to be getting along that well after all.
“We’re done. You look wonderful, Lord Callisto.”
“Really, Elsie?”
Callisto looked down at his outfit with some anxiety, then glanced at me and muttered quietly,
“How do I look…?”
He wants my approval, huh?
It was obvious from his expression, and it was kind of cute.
“Hm, let’s see. Stand up straight.”
Even though he already looked adorable, I felt like teasing him a little.
Callisto stood at attention nervously in front of me. I deliberately looked him over from top to bottom with a serious expression.
He was wearing clothes that the tailor had prepared with great confidence.
Among them, a warm amber robe suited to his golden eyes looked especially elegant.
He wore a neatly fitted shirt on his small frame, black trousers, and white long socks. His polished black shoes gleamed under the light.
But the most important thing was something else.
“He’s really pretty. As expected, fashion’s completion is the face!”
“Fashion’s… what?”
Callisto repeated with a disgusted expression.
No matter how perfect the clothes were, they meant nothing without a good face. In that sense, Callisto was perfect.
If he had looked like a cute village boy at first, now he looked like a small, beautiful young prince.
Well, he actually was a prince.
I clapped my hands in excitement.
“Today, you’ll be the star of the banquet. There won’t be anyone prettier than you.”
“Stop saying things like that.”
Callisto’s face turned red as he complained. I smiled and poked his cheek.
“What, am I wrong? You know you’re pretty, don’t you?”
“…Who said I wasn’t? I just told you to stop saying it.”
Of course. There was no way this clever child didn’t know how pretty he was.
I felt delighted and excited, already imagining showing him off at the banquet.
“Sir. We should head down now. It looks like everyone has arrived.”
Elsie called me with a smile. I took Callisto’s hand and replied.
“Okay, I’ll go now.”
Callisto flinched and tried to pull his hand away, but I didn’t let go. Eventually, he gave up and followed me.
Soon we arrived at the banquet hall.
Standing in front of the doors, I felt his small hand trembling slightly, so I tightened my grip.
Callisto looked up at me. When our eyes met, I was slightly startled—his eyes were shaking greatly. He looked very anxious.
“Callisto? What’s wrong?”
He silently looked at me, then lowered his head. His weak voice came out.
“Do I… really have to go to the banquet?”
“Why suddenly?”
I pretended to be confused, but I already knew the reason.
He was afraid of what would happen today.
Up until now, he had gotten along with me, but he feared I would change the moment I learned he was the Earl’s illegitimate child.
At first, I had even considered skipping the banquet. The nobles would surely gossip about his background, and it would hurt him.
But there was another reason I couldn’t avoid it.
Something important was going to happen at this banquet—something that would significantly change Callisto’s future.
If it didn’t happen, everything going forward would change.
What should I do?
After a moment of thought, I knelt down to his eye level and cupped his cheeks as he tried to pull back.
“Callisto. I’ll stay by your side the whole time, so don’t worry. Nothing bad will happen.”
It was meant to comfort him, but it was also the truth.
After today, I wouldn’t treat him any differently. And this was also a chance to show him that I was different from the Etienne in his visions of the future.
“So don’t be scared, Calli. Trust me.”
Callisto’s eyes shook violently.
“Trust you?”
“Yes.”
I knew better than anyone how hard it was for him to trust “Etienne.” He had been seeing dreams of the future all along. Since everything except matters involving me had come true, it was difficult for him to simply dismiss my words.
But we had built some level of bond during this time. Couldn’t he trust me at least once?
I looked at him with hope.
However, Callisto still looked confused.
It seemed it was still too much. I felt a little disappointed, but tried to lighten the mood.
“And there’s nothing to be nervous about. Everyone will be shocked when they see you. If anyone dislikes you, they’re just jealous because you’re so pretty.”
Callisto looked at me like I was ridiculous.
His anxious expression faded, replaced with annoyance. That was more like him.
I smiled and added,
“Seriously. You’re the prettiest one here.”
Callisto clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“No. Not me…”
“Huh?”
What do you mean, “not you”?
Before I could argue again, Callisto looked away toward the banquet hall door and muttered,
“You’re the…”
His voice was too soft to hear properly.
I tilted my head.
“Hm? What did you say?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“What? You did! Hey, stop ignoring me again!”
“Be quiet! Andrew, open the door.”
“Yes, Lord Callisto.”
Before I could ask again, he cut me off.
I frowned but looked forward.
Callisto tightened his grip on my hand.
The footman opened the tightly closed doors.
The banquet hall unfolded before our eyes.
