SMLD 20

Chapter 20

*”Am I being too greedy, too fast?”*

At that moment, the face of Calix—who had earlier taken Odellia’s wrist and spoken to her so tenderly—floated into Cedric’s mind.

As vivid as a painting, he could recall even the distance between their fingertips, and Cedric found himself grinding his teeth without realizing it.

The Crown Prince and a Baron. Aside from the stark difference in status, he was feeling an unmistakable jealousy—man to man.

The way Calix held her hand, met her eyes, smiled and leaned his shoulder toward hers—every single gesture kept grating on his nerves. That wasn’t about power or rank. It was the realm of emotion. The realm of the heart.

*”……I was first.”*

Even as he muttered that, Cedric caught himself and shook his head.

*”I shouldn’t be thinking like this……”*

What irreverent thoughts against His Highness the Crown Prince. Feeling his jealousy was far too childish, he dropped his head low.

What did order matter anyway? That dense woman probably wouldn’t care who came first.

Soon, a self-mocking voice escaped, buried beneath the haze of alcohol.

*”That blockhead…… She’s probably off misunderstanding something somewhere again……”*

Even as he said that, the corner of Cedric’s mouth curled into a helpless smile. Thinking of Odellia again, a smile came before any frustration.

He reached out to grab the bottle of wine on the table—but then. A voice from nearby pierced his ears.

“But hey. Lady Odellia, she’s still a virgin, right?”

“Come on, at her age.”

“Still, she was on the battlefield all that time.”

“Which is exactly why she can’t be a virgin. Look—it’s all men out there. How easy do you think it is for a woman to survive on her own? She’s just playing innocent. Those kinds of women are the ones who—”

*CRASH—*

A wine bottle flew across the table with a sharp clatter. One of the men shot up in surprise, but by then Cedric already had him by the collar. The surroundings erupted into chaos; someone tried to step in, but it was too late.

“How dare you utter Odellia’s name with that filthy mouth of yours?!”

“Wha—what?! Let go of me!”

“Lord Cedric! Do you know whose collar you’re grabbing?! Release him at once!”

Cedric paid no heed. He drove his fist straight into the mouth of the man who had been running his tongue so eagerly. *Thud!* Something clattered across the floor.

“AAAH! My tooth!”

“Unlike you cowards who cowered in fear of dying, she’s a hero who defended this nation! You damn dogs! How dare you mock Odellia!”

With no intention of letting it slide, Cedric slammed his fist into the man’s face—now missing two front teeth—several more times.

No matter how much he teased Odellia for being half-witted, that was by Odellia’s standards. In reality, Cedric was far taller than most men and just as physically built. It was only because Calix stood beside Odellia that he seemed lesser—Cedric was by no means some weakling who would easily fall.

Others rushed in to stop Cedric. The club’s guards clung to him too, but subduing him was no easy task. Naturally so—none of these men had real combat experience, and even fencing was merely a *hobby* for them.

In an instant, the social club descended into chaos. The chandeliers swayed, tables toppled, and screams and curses mixed in the air.

In the end, it was Cedric who got thrown out. His opponents were sons of count families, while Cedric was merely a provincial noble with little influence in the capital. It took five guards and three noblemen to finally hurl Cedric out of the club.

The moment he was kicked out, rain began to fall in a steady drizzle. His thin shirt quickly soaked through, and wet strands of hair clung to his forehead.

With nowhere to go, he trudged through the back alleys—until at some point, he lost his balance, stumbled, and collapsed onto the ground.

Drooping arms, cold pavement, pouring rain. Like a drowned rat, he lay sprawled on the ground with blurred consciousness, staring up at the sky.

And then. Through half-lidded eyes, a shadow fell over him.

A familiar presence seeped quietly through the sound of rain.

He barely lifted his gaze—and there stood Calix, holding an umbrella. Not a single raindrop touched him; impeccably dressed, he gazed down at Cedric in silence.

“……Your Highness Calix?”

“What possessed you to throw the first punch so recklessly?”

The tone was light as usual, but within it lay sharp reproach.

Cedric looked up at Calix through his wet hair, then mumbled dazedly.

“……You saw all of that……?”

Then, overcome with emotion, he shot to his feet.

“How could I just stand there after hearing that?! They were—they were deliberately mocking Odellia! How could I just listen and do nothing?!”

Calix watched him silently. Cedric’s voice grew more heated.

“If Your Highness had been there—couldn’t you have said something to shut them all up?! Odellia trusts and follows you so much…… If you won’t protect her at times like this, then when will you?!”

Without so much as a blink, Calix replied coolly.

“What was said in there won’t leak out. They have their own pride—they’ll act dignified outside. That’s nothing new.”

Cedric’s eyes widened. He didn’t even think about irreverence.

“So…… you’re telling me to pretend I didn’t hear?!”

Calix answered, very calmly.

“Yes. Do that. If you don’t say anything, Odellia will never know that men talked about her that way behind her back.”

“……”

“Even if you go and tell her every detail, you’re just a messenger. Are you planning to take credit for it? *I threw a punch for you, I care about you that much*—something like that?”

“Th-that’s not it, but……”

“Odellia would just worry about you. You got yourself beaten up pathetically after all.”

At the string of cold remarks, Cedric’s eyes flushed red. He huffed and shouted.

“Your Highness, that’s too much! Don’t you care about Odellia at all? You’re telling me not to say anything?! But she needs to know how men really see her!”

Calix answered in the same quiet tone.

“If you truly care for Odellia, then you should keep quiet all the more. From the moment she hears that, it will only hurt her.”

Cedric couldn’t hold back and yelled.

“Then what would *you* do, Your Highness?!”

Instead of answering, Calix grabbed Cedric firmly by the collar and yanked him close.

The eyes that had been hidden beneath the umbrella were now revealed up close. Cedric flinched and caught his breath.

“That’s none of your concern. Cedric.”

The moment the words ended, Calix swung open the carriage door and shoved Cedric inside.

As the carriage started moving, Cedric stared quietly through the window at Calix’s retreating figure—his back turned, growing distant.

Even in the rain, beneath his umbrella, his posture remained impeccably composed, without a single flaw.

*’Where does he get that kind of strength……’*

He slowly rubbed the back of his neck where he’d been grabbed. Even through his clothing, the force had been so strong it felt like his throat had been squeezed.

He recalled Calix’s eyes, seen up close.

Unlike his calm, cold voice—they were eyes filled with deep, simmering anger.

—

***

The next morning.

Still half-asleep, Odellia came down to the first floor in her pajamas. Her hair was a complete mess, and her footsteps were hurried and loud.

The moment she stepped off the stairs, she paused at a low voice coming from the parlor. The Grand Duchess was speaking with someone.

*’Who’s here this early in the morning?’*

Tilting her head, Odellia peeked into the parlor—and her eyes went round. Sitting across the table was none other than Calix.

“……!”

The moment their eyes met, Odellia flinched, spun around, and quickly called out.

“I-I’ll be right back! Just let me change and I’ll come down!”

Then she dashed back up the stairs. The mansion’s ceiling seemed to vibrate faintly from the commotion. The Grand Duchess clicked her tongue and muttered.

“That one never changes. I’ve warned her so many times.”

To that, Calix said calmly.

“Does it matter? Just leave her be. You can always build a sturdier house.”

The Grand Duchess let out a long sigh.

“Your Highness, you coddle her far more than necessary.”

Calix turned his head and gazed out the distant window. The bustling street scene came into view.

After quietly watching the people, he murmured in a very low voice—as if speaking to himself.

“……I’m aware.”