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Chapter 15
The relationship between Callisto and me had already deviated from the original storyline. However, everything else—except for us—was proceeding exactly as planned. One such example was the joint lessons for the children of noble families, which began not long after. It was an important event in the original story as well.
In the world of “The Prince’s Sword,” the education of noble children is largely divided into two types. One is inviting private tutors to teach either individually or in small groups of children from several families. The other is enrolling in an academy with dormitories. In the latter case, students cannot return to their families for several years, so heirs of noble houses usually chose the former.
Étienne, being the only son of a count’s family, had always received private tutoring. Then one day, a close friend of the count proposed a joint education arrangement, and the count accepted.
The problem was that this “friend” was Viscount Camois—the very man who would later bring ruin to the count’s family.
Because of that, I briefly considered refusing the joint lessons.
However, this class was also where Callisto and Lawrence were supposed to fall in love. Until a few years later, when Callisto—unable to endure Étienne’s oppression—would enlist as a naval cadet, he was meant to develop his feelings for Lawrence through these lessons.
So canceling the class itself wasn’t an option. Instead, I had to find a way to remove Ivry, the viscount’s son, from the group—and somehow separate the viscount from the count as well.
“Group tutoring at this age…”
From my perspective, it felt like I was being lumped together with a bunch of kids for a group lesson. It was an expensive kind of education I’d never even experienced in my previous school life.
Letting out what felt like my hundredth sigh, I scanned the children gathered in the study of the Wyniets estate. Since this wasn’t a formal academy but rather a gathering based on family connections, the age range was quite varied.
First, there was Ivry, the central figure of this tutoring group. He was the heir of the Camois viscountcy, twelve years old. His physical development was impressive—he was a full head taller and more robust than Étienne, who was the same age. His appearance was neat, but his long, narrow eyes, inherited from his father, gave him a sharp, almost sinister look.
I need to get rid of that guy somehow…
As I pondered various methods, I looked at the boys seated on either side of him.
They were heirs of a baronial and another viscount family, essentially Ivry’s lackeys. In the future, even after inheriting their titles, they would side with the Camois viscount and join the Empress faction. Since they were key forces opposing Callisto, it would be best to remove them all at once along with Ivry.
Next was Lawrence, seated beside me—the main protagonist of the original story and the son of the Duke of Armagnac. With his soft brown curls and warm brown eyes, he looked like a gentle and kind boy. When our eyes met, Lawrence smiled sweetly, his eyes curving.
Even I, who had been deep in thought about the Ivry problem, found myself smiling back without realizing it.
But the small voice that would normally pipe up angrily whenever I smiled at Lawrence was absent today. The count had decided not to include Callisto in this lesson, worried that his identity might accidentally be exposed among other noble children. Officially, Callisto was known as the count’s illegitimate child, so other families likely wouldn’t welcome him anyway.
However, in the original story, despite such concerns and opposition, Callisto joined the class with Lawrence’s help. I also intended to bring him into this group somehow.
At that moment, Count Wyniets and Viscount Camois entered the study. The count smiled gently at the children.
“Everyone’s here. These are the friends you’ll be studying with from now on. Have you all introduced yourselves?”
“Yes, Count.”
Ivry answered first.
I narrowed my eyes and stared at him. His face was so harsh that he even looked mean-spirited. It wasn’t easy for a mere twelve-year-old to give off that impression.
Come to think of it, Lawrence should have said something by now, but for some reason, he remained silent. I glanced at him—and was startled.
Lawrence had been staring at me the entire time, as if he hadn’t taken his eyes off me once. His usual warm gaze felt strangely cold.
What the… Is he looking for Callisto?
Confused, I looked around, but there was nothing. Then Lawrence curved his eyes again and smiled. Yet no matter how long I waited, he showed no sign of bringing up Callisto.
“Well then, we’ll be on our way. Your teacher should arrive shortly.”
The adults were already preparing to leave. I darted my eyes around nervously, and only when the count was almost out the door did I hurriedly call out to him.
“Father, wait a moment!”
“Hmm? Étienne, what is it?”
The count stopped and turned back, and Viscount Camois also looked puzzled. I glanced once more at Lawrence, but he simply smiled softly.
Why does he keep staring at me like that?
In any case, Lawrence clearly had no intention of bringing Callisto up himself. So I had no choice but to speak in his place.
“Can Callisto join the lessons too? There’s plenty of space… and he needs to study as well, Father.”
“…Callisto?”
The count seemed taken aback by my suggestion.
“Hmm…”
At that moment, Lawrence let out a faint groan beside me. Thinking he was finally going to speak, I turned—but he only frowned briefly before quickly smoothing his expression again.
I raised an eyebrow at him in confusion.
He simply smiled brightly at me again.
“Since we’ll be studying together every day, wouldn’t Callisto feel lonely if he’s left out? It’d be nice if he joined us. Lawrence is around his age too.”
“…I’m two years older than that kid, Étienne.”
Lawrence muttered from beside me. I turned to him, wondering if I’d misheard. His smile seemed deeper than before.
“Lawrence, what did you say?”
“It’s nothing. But you really are kind, Étienne.”
His irrelevant response only made me more anxious.
“…Do you not want Callisto to join us?”
That would be a problem. If the main protagonist rejected the main love interest, who knew where the story would go? Even if Callisto had calmed down now, being rejected by Lawrence could turn this back into a dark tragedy.
Lawrence narrowed his eyes slightly, then shrugged.
“No. Well… if you insist, I suppose we should.”
Something about his tone felt off.
Did I push too hard just now? Did he start disliking me?
I stared at him wide-eyed, but he had already returned to his gentle expression.
The count had originally planned to arrange separate lessons for Callisto. But my words seemed to move him.
“Then shall we bring Callisto here as well? What do the rest of you think?”
Viscount Camois clearly disliked the idea of his son studying alongside an illegitimate child, but he didn’t openly oppose the count. Seizing the moment, I added,
“Callisto would be happy to have friends. He’s young, but he’s smart—”
I couldn’t finish.
A sharp, harsh voice cut in.
“I… I don’t want that! That wasn’t part of the arrangement! I don’t want to study with him!”
It was Ivry.
“Now, Ivry…”
The viscount looked flustered but didn’t try very hard to stop him. The other boys beside Ivry also seemed unwilling.
The count’s expression hardened. But even he couldn’t completely ignore the opinions of other noble families.
I looked between them, almost on the verge of tears.
In the original story, Lawrence was Callisto’s only love and salvation. If Callisto couldn’t join this group and meet Lawrence, then this wouldn’t even be a romance anymore.
It’d just be misery…
My face went pale.
I didn’t want to meddle in someone else’s love life—but if it was tied to my survival, that was a different matter.
What am I supposed to do?
As I nervously bit my lip and racked my brain, a quiet sigh came from beside me.
Lawrence slowly opened his mouth.
“Since we’re all staying in the same estate, it doesn’t seem right to exclude only Callisto. I think he should join us.”
“…Young Duke Armagnac.”
“If the viscount’s son or the others truly object, then I’ll withdraw from this group as well. I can speak to my father—we can arrange separate lessons for myself, Étienne, and Callisto.”
In this strictly hierarchical society, a viscount or even a count could not oppose a duke. Lawrence had used his father—the Duke of Armagnac—to pressure them.
Just like in the original story, his intervention ensured Callisto’s inclusion.
Viscount Camois and Ivry looked displeased, but they had no choice but to back down.
“…Very well. We will follow your wishes. Ivry, that is final. No more arguments.”
“But Father—!”
“Silence. Count, shall we go? I have much to report regarding the new port investment.”
“Yes, let’s.”
Only then did I finally relax.
Lawrence was still Lawrence. Things had seemed slightly off from the original, but in the end, everything returned to its proper course.
I turned to him and nodded.
“Thank you.”
Lawrence tilted his head and curled one corner of his lips upward. His brown eyes gleamed.
“You owe me one.”
“…Huh?”
But why did that look feel so cold?
