LVSMLA 40

Chapter 40

It felt like all the blood in my body had frozen. I was terrified that Roen might notice my changing expression. But Roen was still focused on Calisto. I quickly opened my mouth in panic.

“Your Highness, Calisto is—”

“Yes, Viscount Winyeits is my father.”

Before I could say more, Calisto answered in a calm, steady voice. His tone was so composed it felt like a different person. The cute, lovable child he always was had disappeared; instead, Calisto now faced Roen with a cold, composed expression.

For a moment, his image overlapped with when he had been holding a long sword and facing Ivri.

“I see… but still.”

Roen took a large step closer to Calisto. Now only a small distance remained between them. With a faintly curved smile, Roen’s blue eyes scanned Calisto.

“Back then you were too young, so I wasn’t sure, but seeing you grown like this… you feel strangely familiar.”

“What do you mean?”

“I wonder where I saw you. Why do you feel so familiar?”

If there was any connection between Calisto’s biological mother, Empress Marie Louise, and Roen, it would only be from a few encounters at imperial banquets or receptions. And Roen had been a child then. There was no way he would remember the Empress’s face. Still, cold sweat ran down my back.

I quickly searched through the original story, but there was no scene where Roen met Calisto like this. The story is from Calisto’s perspective—if such an event existed, it couldn’t have been omitted.

‘Is it because of me…? Because Roen came to the Winyeits estate unexpectedly?’

I clenched my fist. It might be because I changed the future that Calisto was now in danger.

Then Roen smiled lazily, his eyes narrowing.

“Who is your birth mother?”

“……”

My breath stopped.

It wasn’t just a feeling. Roen’s pheromones suddenly intensified. As if he had completely lost control, his overwhelming pheromones spread instantly, filling the surroundings. Even though I tried my best to endure it, I felt like I might vomit blood.

Calisto’s face also turned pale. Yet the child still stood straight, looking up at Roen, and answered clearly.

“I am my father’s son.”

“That’s not an answer to my question.”

“…My mother was a commoner working on a farm in Winyeits territory. I heard my father met her during a territorial inspection.”

“Back when your legal wife was alive? How uncharacteristic of a viscount.”

I couldn’t let this continue. I forced myself to steady my nauseated body and intervened.

“Your Highness, I’m feeling unwell—”

“Ah, I see. You’ve looked unwell for a while. I should take my leave as well. See you again, Etienne.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Please take ca—”

My voice stopped abruptly.

Roen, who had just been politely bidding farewell, suddenly bent down and kissed my cheek.

His red lips were colder than ice. The sensation felt like a snake’s skin, sending chills through me. His pheromones pressed down heavily, suffocating me.

I barely managed to breathe and turned my gaze toward Calisto. The child’s face had gone completely pale, lips bitten until they bled. His golden eyes were teary.

“Your Highness…”

I forced my heavy arms to move and gently pushed Roen away.

“It’s late. We’ll see you next time.”

“Very well.”

Roen smiled and boarded his carriage. Only then did the suffocating pressure of his pheromones loosen.

But just as I turned to Calisto—

He collapsed.

“Calisto!”

I rushed over and caught him. The unconscious child went limp in my arms. At that moment, a thick floral scent filled the air.

The remaining pheromones of Roen were instantly suppressed by a brilliant fragrance—calendula flowers with golden petals matching Calisto’s eyes.

[Time Skip]

Calisto’s manifestation had begun. His fever rose rapidly, and he breathed weakly, unable to open his eyes. The room was filled with an intense calendula scent that pressed heavily on me. My whole body tingled as if pierced by sharp objects, but I couldn’t leave his side.

“Young master, you must leave now.”

“But he’s in so much pain.”

“If the manifestation progresses further, his pheromones will harm you.”

“He’ll look for me when he wakes up…”

“It will take several days before he regains consciousness. You should rest as well. Please, come now.”

Doctor Woodson urged me out. I reluctantly returned to my room and collapsed onto the bed. My body couldn’t withstand prolonged exposure to Calisto’s pheromones. If I had truly been an omega, it might have been different—but I had forcibly changed my secondary gender, making me especially vulnerable to alpha pheromones.

‘So he really is an alpha.’

I had once assumed Calisto would be a dominant alpha, but recent changes in the story made me doubt it. Yet, seeing my reaction to his incomplete manifestation, it was clear his alpha traits were extremely strong. That would help him reclaim his position later, so at least that was good.

‘He’s already manifesting… he’s grown up.’

He could no longer remain the child I kept in my arms forever. Even though I knew that, I couldn’t shake the feeling of sadness. Once his manifestation completed, he would grow quickly. Soon he would begin a relationship with Lorenz, and then…

‘He’ll marry Lorenz and leave the estate.’

This had always been the path I worked toward for their happy ending. So why did my chest feel so hollow and painful?

Thinking that, I fell asleep.

Something gently touched my forehead, waking me. It was my father, sitting by the bed.

“Father, you’re back? Was everything alright during your inspection?”

“Yes, I’ve returned safely. Quite a lot happened while I was away.”

I nodded quietly. Calisto’s manifestation was the biggest issue, but Roen’s visit also weighed heavily on my mind.

“How is Calisto?”

“He’s in the middle of manifestation. His condition is severe because his traits are strong, so it’s taking longer than usual. I’m worried.”

“I see. It can’t be helped. But…”

My father paused, steadying his breath. I already knew what was coming, so I spoke first.

“Roen came, Father. It seems he’ll come every time there’s a meeting with Harrington.”

“I see. I’ll handle Harrington meetings from now on. Stay out of it.”

“Yes, but Roen…”

I hesitated. It might just be my fear exaggerating things, but I couldn’t ignore it.

“Roen’s behavior is suspicious.”

My father raised an eyebrow.

“The first prince met Calisto. Was there anything else?”

“He released his pheromones aggressively. I think that’s why Calisto collapsed.”

“Why would he do that?”

“He asked about Calisto’s biological mother.”

“What?”

I explained everything. After hearing it all, my father fell into thought.

“When Calisto was born, Roen was eight. It’s not strange for him to have seen the Empress at banquets, but he shouldn’t be certain of Calisto’s identity yet.”

“That’s a relief…”

But then my father added in a grave tone.

“If Roen keeps visiting the estate and continues seeing Calisto, he may become suspicious. Since we can’t stop a prince from visiting, perhaps it would be better to send Calisto to the academy.”

“…The academy?”

The academy was jointly established by nations across the continent, beyond imperial control. It would ensure Calisto’s safety and remove him from Roen’s sight.

It was a good idea.

But I didn’t want to part with Calisto.

After everything I did to keep him from being sent to the navy, now I had to send him away because of Roen?

“Think about it. Rest now, Etienne.”

My father left, and days passed as I struggled with the decision.

Doctor Woodson later announced that Calisto’s manifestation had ended.

Relieved, I rushed to his room and opened the door—

“Sniff… sob…”

Inside, Calisto was crying uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face.

“Cal… why are you crying?!”