LVSMLA 20

Chapter 20

I had never even met the children of Gillos and Beringham. They weren’t high-ranking enough nobles to be invited to the banquet held at the count’s estate last time.

Baron Gillos was a noble who had fled to the Peron Empire when civil war broke out on the eastern continent. Because of his origins, he was quietly looked down upon by the empire’s aristocracy. As for Beringham, theirs was a marquis family—but one that had long since fallen into ruin, to the point that rumors said they would soon be removed from the noble registry altogether.

Despite that, there was a reason I wanted to bring them in. Of course, it wasn’t because I “liked” those kids.

I shook my head at Callisto.

“No, I don’t even know what they look like. But all three of them have good reputations, so they could become good friends.”

More for Callisto than for myself.

The Gillos twins were still very young. But in a few years, they would become some of the finest swordsmen in the empire. In the original story, they had wanted to join the Imperial Knights, but because they were foreigners with low titles, other nobles discriminated against and excluded them, preventing them from achieving their dream.

Afterward, they enlisted in the Imperial Navy, where there was no class discrimination, and met Callisto. They became his loyal subordinates and played a major role in helping him rise to Crown Prince.

But this time, Callisto wouldn’t be entering the navy. So it would be best to help him become close to the Gillos twins now.

And as for Lady Beringham…

‘She was a genius who invented the first bronze cannon.’

I smiled faintly as I recalled her achievements.

The Gillos twins had been Callisto’s subordinates in the original story, but Beringham was different. She came from a region neighboring the Harrington territory and, a few years later, invented a bronze cannon far superior to existing ones. However, that technology was stolen by the Harrington ducal house.

What should have been called the “Beringham Cannon” instead became known as the “Harrington Cannon,” demonstrating overwhelming power and greatly advancing Harrington’s military strength. Meanwhile, the original inventor, Lady Beringham, was imprisoned in an underground dungeon by the Empress and Duke Harrington, who sought to monopolize the technology. She later met a miserable end there.

Because the Beringham marquis family had long since fallen, she was likely being neglected and forced to study on her own without proper education. If I could bring her over to Winayts’ side, it would be a tremendous help. Not only that, she herself would escape the tragic fate she suffered in the original story.

Since I had decided not to send Callisto to the navy, I needed different means to restore his status and complete his revenge. The Peron Empire allowed nobles to maintain private armies, so I planned to build a powerful one under Winayts. In the original story, the Harrington family had wielded such influence precisely because of their immense wealth and strong private forces. If I could bring Lady Beringham to our side, it would both weaken Harrington’s power and effectively strengthen ours.

So Callisto’s question—whether I wanted to befriend them because I liked them—was both absurd and oddly cute. It was about making friends his own age, yet I had approached it so calculatingly that I almost felt guilty.

I patted his cheek and spoke gently.

“They’re all around your age. I just want you to have some friends.”

“Really? You don’t like them, right? Then do whatever you want, hyung.”

Callisto seemed reassured and graciously gave his “permission,” even though it didn’t matter whether he agreed or not.

And the way he smiled, his big eyes curving so sweetly—if Lawrence hadn’t been there, I might have hugged him tightly and showered his cheeks with kisses as usual. But I couldn’t act like a doting fool in front of a duke’s son. I cleared my throat and calmed my fluttering heart.

Meanwhile, Lawrence still looked reluctant.

“But… do we really have to? Wouldn’t it be enough for just you, Etienne, and me—”

“I don’t want that! I’m joining the lessons too!”

Callisto cut in immediately. Did Lawrence still dislike him? Considering Callisto’s past behavior, that was understandable. But this was something I couldn’t compromise on.

I brushed back the strands of black hair falling over Callisto’s round forehead and said quietly,

“I’m sorry, Lawrence. But Callisto is my younger brother. I can’t leave him out.”

“Hyung, but I’m not your real—”

“I was being thoughtless, Etienne,” Lawrence cut him off quickly. “Of course Callisto should join. He’s your young little brother, after all. Right, little brother?”

“Who are you calling little, you sly fox?!”

Callisto flailed his short limbs in protest. Lawrence ignored him and smiled at me with gentle politeness.

“But do we really need to increase the number of people? I think the three of us would be enough.”

“Ah… you think so?”

I grew anxious. I hadn’t expected him to object.

‘Is it because of their status?’

The Armagnac ducal family was one of the most prestigious in the empire. Aside from Harrington—the Empress’s family—there was no other ducal house of equal standing. It wasn’t a position that would normally share lessons with the children of a baron or a fallen marquis.

Still, Lawrence had personally accepted Callisto, who was rumored to be illegitimate. I had assumed his naturally kind personality would make him agree and even help persuade the adults.

Just then, Callisto, who had been glued to my side, suddenly sprang up and snapped at Lawrence.

“Etienne wants it, so what’s it to you? If you don’t like it, you leave!”

“…Callisto.”

I let out a quiet sigh. So much for him being well-behaved today.

Lawrence seemed to think the same, clicking his tongue.

“That’s why you’re such a brat. If you don’t understand, just stay quiet.”

“I’m all grown up! You’re the brat!”

A nine-year-old and a seven-year-old bickering like this… I rubbed my forehead.

Then Lawrence turned sharply, a cold smile curling his lips.

“Just shut up and stay quiet, brat.”

“….”

A chill ran down my spine.

Was Lawrence really supposed to be the “gentle one”? Lately, he seemed even more like a budding obsessive than Callisto.

“Even if you say you don’t like them now, people’s feelings can change. We should be reducing competition, not increasing it.”

“Competition…?”

Callisto blinked in confusion.

“Yes. They’re all competitors. You’re his brother, so you won’t keep following Etienne around forever. But I’m different. So don’t interfere.”

What… was he even talking about? I was too stunned to respond.

Then Callisto burst out,

“Why wouldn’t I follow hyung? I’m going to marry him when I grow up!”

“You’re only saying that because you’re young! You won’t say that when you grow up! And it’s not even possible!”

“What do you know?! I will! I can marry him too!”

“Ugh.”

Lawrence shook his head, then leaned in and whispered into Callisto’s ear,

“Fine. But do you really think those kids won’t like Etienne?”

“Well…”

“There are three of them. What if all of them start chasing after him? Can you handle that? Wouldn’t it be better if it’s just you and me?”

“…You’re right.”

I could hear everything.

I groaned.

“So these kids are… fighting over me?”

On top of that, Callisto apparently had ambitions of marrying me. I had never imagined that.

I sighed and said,

“Listen, the Gillos twins are only eight, and Lady Beringham isn’t even ten yet. They’re closer to your age than mine.”

Which meant I’d basically be babysitting them.

“Talking about liking someone and competition… you’re just kids. Stop fighting and get along.”

They both turned and glared at me.

“I’m not a kid! Seven isn’t young!”

“Don’t underestimate us, Etienne. Feelings don’t have an age.”

“The fox is right! And I’m all grown up!”

“Me too!”

…Sure.

I let out a deep sigh as I looked at the two future main leads, who were destined to have a dramatic, obsessive, tragic love story filled with regret and longing about fifteen years later.

I had hoped they’d get along early, but maybe it was too much to expect them to build romantic feelings at this age. In the original story, they only truly fell in love after reuniting as adults.

Especially Callisto—at his age, it was only natural that his older brother was his whole world.

I soothed them with a few “Alright, alrights.” Honestly, it was far better than them hating me like in the original story.

All I could hope was that they wouldn’t forget these feelings… and that they would safely remove my death flags.