TVDML 05

Chapter 05

I learned this by subtly tailing Baldwin around—drawing magic circles and writing formulas wasn’t all that different from creating chemical equations.

It was just like designing a process based on a chemical formula: combining elements in the right ratio to create a magical equation, which would then form the basis of a magic circle.

So yeah, I guess this is what they call a “major syndrome”—I can’t stop relating everything back to my old studies.

While munching on snacks and flipping through a children’s book beside Baldwin, who was back to reading again, I dozed off.

One more downside of being this young?

I couldn’t read my favorite romance novels anymore!

At this mental age, I had to read things like Toto Goes on an Adventure with Dotori! Seriously?

The seat Baldwin always claimed in the library was by a sunlit window.

Whenever he sat down under the pale, forsythia-colored sunlight, Laila would inevitably approach him like this.

Now their positions had flipped: Baldwin looked down at Laila, who had ended up dozing off on his lap, breathing softly.

He held up his book to shade her from the sunlight, and a soft smile spread across her round face.

“Who’s the real cat here?”

Truth be told, Laila was the one who’d always fall asleep like a full-bellied cat whenever the sun hit just right.

Baldwin’s crimson eyes dimmed slightly.

Oblivious, naive, and cute Laila.

Laila, who’d unknowingly opened the door to something and now lay there without a care in the world, peacefully asleep.

Baldwin let out a quiet chuckle.

There was a reason why generations of Winchesters had awakened as Swordmasters and made names for themselves.

Direct heirs of the Winchester family inherited their predecessors’ skills and knowledge the moment the previous head died.

More precisely, they inherited the memory of the sword.

People often said the Winchesters were naturally gifted for swordsmanship.

But the truth was more complex.

The heads of the Winchester line were ‘Sword Ghosts’—beings who, upon inheritance, became almost like spirits of the blade.

They lived with a colossal magic sword within them.

The name of that sword was Caliburn.

During the era when Rahaphilt Bendelroheim founded the Empire, five knights had served him.

He had bestowed five swords upon them—two broke, and three remained.

Those were Caliburn, Tyrfing, and Caladbolg.

Caliburn, passed down to the Winchesters, was said to be a greatsword capable of cutting down dozens of knights in a single stroke.

Since Baldwin’s father died the moment he was born, Baldwin had inherited Caliburn’s knowledge and powers at birth.

He could summon the sword at will.

The reason he buried himself in books was to organize all the chaotic knowledge he had received.

He had become a monster from the moment he was born, and innocent Laila didn’t even realize it.

When he let his guard down, red energy would flicker at his fingertips.

Baldwin opened and closed his hand.

The red aura that had been lingering around his fingers disappeared.

He gently brushed aside the strands of silver hair that had fallen across Laila’s cheek.

As he swept away her soft hair, his fingertips pressed into the tender skin beneath.

“Just trust me. I’ll protect you.”

Small, cute, and utterly insignificant.

He wasn’t quite sure what this feeling was yet.

But one thing was certain—he wouldn’t let go of the warmth touching his fingers.

Baldwin smiled sweetly, his face feigning innocence.

I tiptoed up next to Baldwin.

“What?”

Baldwin had grown more aloof by the day. These days, his attitude wasn’t just cool—it was downright prickly.

Okay, maybe it was because I kept teasing him, so he had his guard up.

But that didn’t mean I planned on stopping anytime soon.

Seeing the proud, haughty look on Baldwin’s face made my heart melt like butter on a warm skillet. He was like a fluffed-up cat.

I ignored his wary look and scooted right next to him.

“What’s with you?”

My sly smile was reflected perfectly in Baldwin’s clear, beautiful crimson eyes.

Ahem. AHEM!

I quickly swapped it out for a smile that screamed sincerity and trustworthiness.

“I have a wish, Baldwin.”

I spoke fast, always had. But at least I could now enunciate full sentences clearly.

Thank goodness for that.

Sigh… Those were tough times, not being able to speak properly.

People don’t understand unless they’ve lived through it.

Even Didi learned to speak quickly—Mom said it was pure survival instinct.

To survive me, she said. Tch. What did I ever do?

“A wish?”

“Yep! Today’s my birthday.”

“Lala, your birthday’s a month away.”

Baldwin narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Aw, c’mon. Don’t be like that.

Yes, technically my birthday was a month away, and his was tomorrow—but did that even matter?

Your birthday is my birthday. And my birthday is also… my birthday.

“Nope! I have multiple birthdays.”

“Th-That’s a lie!”

Baldwin scooted back.

“It’s true! Laila has several birthdays, okay? Think about it. Why else would Mom and Dad keep getting me cake?”

Well… because I like it.

But when you’re a kid, it’s a given that cake = birthday.

You know, the kind of kid who wants to blow out candles every time they see a cake.

And Baldwin was still at that cute, impressionable age.

As he started to waver, I sealed the deal.

“What the heck? Didi didn’t even get me a gift? Lala prepared something for you!”

Then I puffed out my lips.

Eventually, Baldwin surrendered with a sigh and raised both hands.

“…What do you want?”

Ah, what a sweet kid.

Big sister doesn’t ask for much.

Come here for a sec?

“This is your wish?”

The proud kitty looked at me and gave a sugar-sweet smile.

He just kept getting cuter.

I gave him a matching yellow hairpin to go with the yellow dress, and even applied some lipstick I’d swiped from Mom’s vanity.

Sure, my stubby fingers made for clumsy work, but I did my best.

No more half-hearted dressing-up like before—this time, I tied the ribbons nice and tight.

Ahh… such a beautiful male lead. My fangirl heart was on fire.

The dresses Baldwin usually wore were pretty enough, but since he was just a nanny’s son, they were always plain.

But dressed up to my taste? He was so adorable I could’ve had a nosebleed.

“Yep! This was Lala’s wish! Didi, you’re soooo pretty.”

Honestly, it felt like Baldwin’s cross-dressing was fanservice for me.

Every day was thrilling. Perfect!

As I sparkled with joy, Baldwin let out a deep sigh.

“If Lala’s happy… then I’m happy too.”

How could he say something so precious?

How was this sweet little boy supposed to grow up into that prickly character? I couldn’t believe it.

The story started after all three leads had formed their personalities.

They were about 15, I think.

Baldwin was the textbook tsundere: cold to everyone but sweet to his girl. The dream prince type.

Actually, more like a cold northern duke character.

Anyway, it was a little bittersweet.

Because once that phase came around, I’d be completely ignored.

Like sending off a well-raised son to get married.

Or maybe—just maybe—my prince would show up by then, too.

I was spinning around Baldwin, bursting with admiration, when the door suddenly flew open.

“Lala! Didi! You’ve been good, right? Today’s the brunch pa—”

Wait. That’s today?

That meant… I was going to see the female lead today!

How could I be so unprepared?

Mom didn’t give me a heads-up!

She stared silently at Baldwin and me, then exploded.

“LALA!!!”

“Yeah?”

“What did you do to Didi!!! Forget the clothes—look at his face!”

“I didn’t do anything! Didi’s pretty, right?”

I proudly displayed my masterpiece.

Following my instructions, Baldwin spun gracefully around the room in his haughty pose.

But Mom was not impressed. She sighed and held her forehead.

“Why today of all days… Lala! What did I tell you about touching my makeup! I said no presents if you keep doing this!”

Jeez. Just because my birthday was a whole month away…

Mom suddenly grabbed me out of nowhere.

“Lala, spanking time! Spanking! Are you going to keep disobeying Mommy?”

Did… did I just get spanked?

Wow. First time ever.

Humiliated and thoroughly smacked on the rear, I reminded myself that I was over 30 years old if you counted my past life.

No way I was going to cry over something like thi—

“Uwaaahhh! Mommy, I hate you!!!”

…Okay. That was beyond my control.

Even I hardly ever cried, so the moment I burst into tears, the room fell completely silent.

Baldwin looked at me, wide-eyed, and Mom froze mid-swat.

“Huh? Lala? Did Mommy hit you too hard? No, no, that wasn’t it… Lala, I’m sorry, sweetie.”

Startled, she pulled me into a hug.

Baldwin wiped at my face with hands still covered in makeup.

“Don’t cry, Lala. Stop it!”

“Waaahh… Mommy, I hate you!”

“If you cry, you’ll grow horns on your butt. The goblin man will come take you away!”

“Hic… huhuhu… I said that first!” (That was my line!)

Baldwin hesitated mid-scrub, then—

He gave me a small kiss on the cheek.