LVSMLA 13

Chapter 13

Cliff must have felt wronged when I scolded him like that. After all, he had only been loyal to the count’s family—and to me. If this had been the original Etienne, he would have applauded and welcomed such behavior.

‘No wonder Etienne kept going all the way to Callisto’s room every time.’

There was a reason Etienne went to all that trouble. It was because he felt satisfaction every time he saw where Callisto was staying. He likely also intended to monitor Callisto so he could not live comfortably.

What kind of twelve-year-old thinks like that? Just recalling the original story made my head hurt.

I felt Callisto’s gaze cautiously studying my expression. I wanted to turn around and smile at him, but dealing with Cliff came first. I needed to settle this properly now that I had the chance. I frowned and stared directly at Cliff.

“Father clearly told you to treat Callisto properly. I understand he entrusted you with that responsibility. So what is this room supposed to be? And why is there no bell connected to the servant hall?”

“Young master, Lord Callisto is… a ward of the count’s household.”

“So?”

Cliff looked like he was about to say “illegitimate child,” but he held back, perhaps thinking I did not yet understand the situation. I pressed him again.

“So this is what ward treatment amounts to in the Wynietes Count’s household? This looks worse than how servants are treated.”

“That’s not—”

“Then what? Are you saying Callisto deserves this treatment because he’s a bastard?”

“…Young master!”

Cliff’s face turned pale. I could feel Callisto’s startled gaze, but I did not look back at him.

It was obvious there would be no dedicated maid for Callisto. The lack of any means to call a servant meant the child had been handling everything alone until now. I didn’t know how things worked in this world, but where I came from, leaving a child alone in the cold like this was child abuse. I was angry that I had only realized this now.

I spoke coldly to Cliff.

“Prepare a new room for Callisto near my eastern bedroom. Assign him a dedicated maid as well. Until then, Callisto will stay in my room with me.”

“Young master, there’s no need to go that far!”

Cliff shouted, his face ashen. What he likely wanted to say was that I “must not” do that. I stared him down.

“I don’t care what you call Callisto. He is my younger brother. He will soon be formally recognized as a Wynietes. So act accordingly from now on.”

“…Young master.”

“Well? Are you not going to answer?”

“Understood, young master.”

“Good. You may leave.”

Cliff bowed as if he had no choice. Having given him enough warning, he would now treat Callisto properly. He was not the kind of person who mixed personal feelings with duty.

After Cliff left, I held out my hand to Callisto. He looked up at me.

His deep golden eyes held an unreadable emotion. I smiled brightly at him.

“Let’s go. We’ll have your luggage brought later by the servants.”

Callisto silently stared at my hand. After a long pause, he slowly reached out and took it. The warmth from our joined hands was comforting.

Smiling, I asked him, “Want me to carry you again?”

“I’m already grown up. Why would you carry me?”

Then who was it that clung to me earlier?

Holding my hand, Callisto walked with his short legs moving quickly. Someday, those stubby legs would grow long, and he would become much taller than me. Thinking I wouldn’t be able to see this cute version of him for long made me feel a little sad. I could somewhat understand the feelings of friends raising children.

Feeling oddly sentimental, I spoke to the child walking beside me.

“Grow up a little slower, Callisto.”

Callisto huffed in response.

“I’ll grow up fast… And I’m not your little brother.”

“Sure, sure.”

“It’s true. You just don’t know yet… but anyway, I’m not.”

I already knew. I knew Callisto was not my half-brother, but a prince. Still, I had to pretend not to, so I just smiled and brushed it off.

“I got it.”

Then Callisto muttered with a sulky face, “I’ll grow up fast and become way more of an adult than that fox guy earlier. So don’t tell me to grow slowly.”

“….”

I had nothing to say to that. Honestly, this troublesome little tyrant of a protagonist was something else.

That night, I ended up sleeping in the same bed as Callisto for the first time.

Until a dedicated maid was assigned, Elsie would take care of both of us. After bathing Callisto, she brought him into the bedroom. Seeing him freshly washed like this was the first time since he arrived at the count’s house. Back then, he had been thin and very small. He was still small now… but…

His wet black hair lightly covered his round forehead. His flushed cheeks were plump, like an apple bitten by Snow White. I recalled the banquet earlier that evening. Among all the noble young lords present, Callisto was the most graceful and adorable little noble.

Sitting on the bed, I tapped the space beside me.

“Callisto, come here.”

Callisto widened his eyes. He looked around nervously before slowly approaching me. The once-feral little kitten now showed a rare shy innocence. My heart melted instantly.

Since the bed was too high for him to climb, I lifted him by the waist and placed him beside me. He smelled like me after his bath. Callisto fidgeted awkwardly with his fingers.

“Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“Tell you what?”

He looked up at me innocently.

“You don’t even have a bathroom in your room. No separate sitting room either. The room is too small. I should’ve fixed it earlier. I’m sorry.”

Compared to my suite-like room, his was worse than a servant’s quarters.

“Is my room bad?”

“Hm?”

“I’m fine with it… Why are you angry?”

Callisto looked genuinely confused. I sighed lightly.

“I’m not angry. For now, let’s just sleep here together. The bed is big, so it’s fine, right?”

“Eh?”

The bed was large enough for both of us to roll around comfortably. Of course it was fine.

But Callisto suddenly flailed his arms in shock.

“Sleep together? You and me? Why?”

“Huh? Why not? Where else would you sleep?”

“I can just sleep on the sofa in the sitting room!”

“What are you talking about? Why would you sleep on the sofa? The bed is huge.”

“But how can I sleep with you? You’re too careless! What if something happens! You’re an alpha! And I—”

“What are you even talking about, kid?”

A seven-year-old in this world was worrying about propriety like it was “men and women must not sit together after age seven.” He must have seen some future where Etienne awakened.

I was speechless.

In the end, I sat up and said, “Then just sleep here alone. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

“Why?! No! It’s cold there!”

“My room isn’t cold. Don’t worry and sleep properly.”

“Who said I’m worried about you? I’ll sleep on the sofa, so you stop worrying! You’ll catch a cold!”

Even as he argued, his eyes were full of concern. Like a prickly kitten still caring for its owner.

Laughing, I patted his head and went to the sitting room attached to the bedroom. The sofa was wider than my old studio apartment bed and far more comfortable.

“I’ll sleep here, okay?”

Callisto looked like he was about to cry, struggling to climb down from the bed. But I couldn’t in good conscience let a child sleep on the sofa. Smiling, I scolded him.

“Don’t come down. You’ll get hurt. What if your short legs trip?”

“I’m short because I’m still young! I’ll grow soon!”

“Sure, sure. Our Callisto is just a baby.”

“I’m not a baby!”

“You’re not a baby, so behave. Be good, okay? If you keep being stubborn, I’ll sleep in your room instead.”

“….”

In the end, Callisto lost. He turned away sulkily, clearly upset. I chuckled as I lay down on the sofa and soon drifted off to sleep, thinking it would be a peaceful night.

My expectation was wrong.

In the deep night, I woke up.

Thunder roared as lightning flashed beyond the bedroom window. Rain poured heavily. But what woke me was not the storm.

A sobbing scream from Callisto echoed through the room.

I snapped fully awake and rushed toward the bed.