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Chapter 9
I almost laughed because he looked shy. Still, since a sensitive seven-year-old could suddenly start screaming at any moment, I held it in. Instead, I brought a sliced piece to my own mouth and took a bite.
A rich, sweet aroma filled my mouth. I nodded seriously.
“It really is good.”
“Right?”
Callisto’s eyes sparkled. He had just said he was full, yet he licked his lips as if savoring the taste. He reminded me of a black kitten from my previous life that used to live near my studio apartment. It had been wary of people and very sensitive. It would hiss and raise its claws, but after I kept bringing it food, it gradually softened. The kitten had loved Churu the most. Once I realized that, I kept offering it, and eventually won it over.
I picked up two pieces of lamb at once and held them near Callisto’s mouth. Just moments ago he had refused, but now he opened his mouth without hesitation. His thin cheeks puffed out like a squirrel stuffing acorns.
Watching him chew diligently, I muttered to myself,
“It’d be nice if your cheeks stayed that plump even when you’re not eating anything.”
Callisto narrowed his eyes and shot back,
“Why? Trying to fatten me up so you can eat me?”
I burst out laughing. Even though he was clearly picking a fight, my laughter made his eyes widen.
As I gently patted his head, I thought, You’re getting better, aren’t you?
He looked much better like this—like a prickly little kitten—than when he was curled up crying alone. From now on, no matter how troublesome he got, I decided I would treat him kindly.
“I won’t eat you, so eat as much as you want. I don’t really like this anyway.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. If you don’t eat it, it’ll all go to waste. You shouldn’t waste food.”
“Then… should I eat it for you?”
“Go ahead, go ahead.”
Callisto happily opened his mouth again, now completely expecting to be fed. I found it ridiculous but still placed another piece of lamb into his mouth.
After chewing until his cheeks bulged and swallowing, he asked,
“Then what do you like?”
“Me? I like…”
Ramen, hamburgers, fried chicken…
Thinking of foods I could no longer eat made me a little sad. Still, I tried to describe them vaguely.
“Spicy noodles, black bread with meat in between, and fried chicken…”
“Dishes like that exist?”
“Of course they do. Well… probably. I’ll make them for you later.”
“You? Personally?”
“Yeah. I’m good at cooking.”
After all, I had lived alone for eight years. It wouldn’t taste exactly the same as modern food, but I could probably make something similar.
As I thought over recipes, Callisto stared at me with wide eyes. I tilted my head.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Is it real food… not poison?”
“You little— I’ll taste it first before giving it to you. That enough?”
“…You’re really strange.”
“What’s strange? You don’t want to eat what I make?”
I suddenly felt uneasy, but Callisto shook his head.
“No, it’s just…”
“Just what?”
“You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”
“How do you know I won’t understand if you don’t try, you brat?”
Oops. I had just decided to be kind ten minutes ago, and I’d already slipped. I forced a gentle smile.
“I mean… you could at least try telling me, Callisto.”
“You’ve been weird this whole time.”
His tone was sharp, but his voice lacked strength.
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“…I just remembered when my food got taken away while I was eating.”
“Who takes food from someone while they’re eating? You don’t even bother a dog when it’s eating.”
Callisto shot me a sideways glance. The moment our eyes met, I flinched.
I had just remembered the incident from the original story—Etienne knocking over Callisto’s plate and humiliating him like a beggar.
I stammered,
“I mean… that never really happened, right? You’re just confusing it with a dream, Callisto.”
“It wasn’t a dream.”
Even as he said that, he looked confused. It seemed the future he knew kept clashing with reality.
I casually pushed my theory.
“It’s just a bad dream. A nonsense dream.”
“A nonsense dream?”
“Yeah. A dream that doesn’t make sense.”
“…Well, if I think about who appears in it, I guess it is like a dog dream… but everything else came true…”
Are you calling me a dog? I felt irritation rise, but clenched my teeth and smiled as I slid the plate closer to him.
“If there’s anything you want to eat, just tell me anytime. I’ll ask Mrs. Jones.”
“Okay.”
Callisto lowered his head, thinking for a moment before glancing at me and muttering,
“…Thank you.”
That surprised me. I never thought I’d hear thanks from him.
Callisto quickly looked back at his plate, but his ears were red.
“For the clothes earlier… and treating my hand too.”
“It’s nothing. That’s just what anyone would do.”
Is he starting to trust me? Maybe food really was the best way to win over a child.
Smiling, I reached out and cupped his cheeks. He startled and looked up at me. His face flushed peach-pink as I gently patted him.
“So stop calling me a villain, okay?”
“If you’re a villain, then what else should I call you?”
This kid never let anything go. My sympathy was quickly fading.
A few days later…
A tailor came to the mansion. He seemed to be planning to make two or three everyday outfits for Callisto.
Standing beside him, I shook my head.
“Seven outfits for daily wear, please. It’ll get cold soon, so add five winter cloaks and outdoor outfits. Hats and shoes too. Oh—and gloves. Match the colors to the clothes.”
“That many, young master? He’ll grow soon.”
The tailor chuckled. Callisto looked at me, startled.
In the future he remembered, I would’ve torn even the few clothes made for him. I had no intention of letting that happen.
Smiling brightly, I nodded.
“Then we’ll just make new ones when he grows. He’s so pretty—more clothes are better.”
“You should put this much thought into your own clothes too.”
Elsie chimed in. I shrugged.
When I had gotten my own autumn clothes and cloaks, I had left everything to the tailor out of laziness. I wasn’t particularly interested in dressing myself up—and Etienne wasn’t especially beautiful anyway. If I had to dress someone up, Callisto was far more pleasing to the eye.
Callisto mumbled,
“I only need one outfit.”
“I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it because I want to see it.”
It was true. I loved kids, and Callisto was especially doll-like. Even in oversized hand-me-downs, his beauty stood out. How cute would he look in perfectly fitted clothes?
But Elsie and the tailor seemed to misunderstand.
“It seems the young master is very happy to have a younger sibling.”
The tailor smiled warmly.
“I’m not young! I’m all grown up!”
Callisto snapped.
“But… you’re five years younger than Etienne, aren’t you?”
“That’s right,” Elsie said with a smile. “But Callisto is all grown up, isn’t he?”
Callisto nodded firmly.
“Yes. And…”
He tugged at my clothes. When I leaned down, he whispered in my ear,
“I’m not your younger sibling.”
“Hm? You can be grown up and still be my younger sibling, right?”
I felt a little disappointed. I thought he had opened up a bit these past few days.
Callisto glanced at me with a pout, cheeks flushed red, but said nothing.
