TVSI 09

Chapter 09

If the Empress had not miscarried and had given birth to a prince around my age, I might have been mentioned as a candidate for the next Empress.

Among the two ducal houses and two marquis families, ours was the only one with a daughter, making me the most likely choice for the future Empress.

However, the Empress lost her first child, and suspicions spread that her frail health meant she could no longer bear children. Years later, she finally gave birth to a princess.

The princess’s birth shifted the balance of power.

First, it meant I no longer had to be dragged into pointless political struggles over marriage prospects.

Second, it meant that a new power figure had emerged above Emil.

“Looks like I’m not welcome?”

Rastain glanced between Hill and me before asking.

“It’s not that you’re unwelcome. I’m just surprised.”

“Can’t say I tried to surprise you.”

“Your very appearance is surprising.”

Hill cut in.

“You haven’t shown your face in the capital for the last two years.”

“I simply had no reason to come to the capital. But now that I’ve entered the Academy, that’ll change.”

I remembered now. Even for my tenth birthday, we had planned to send him an invitation, only to cancel it after hearing he had returned to his territory.

“Then why did you come to the capital—?”

“Do I really need to explain?”

I let out a dry laugh at his arrogant tone.

Fine. Don’t tell me.

At Rastain’s appearance, Emil approached us from nearby. Behind him, Blensia trailed nervously.

“Bell.”

“Emil, sorry. I said I’d be right back.”

“Don’t worry. It looked like something was happening, so I came.”

Blensia nervously glanced at Rastain.

Just as I was about to head back to where we’d been, Rastain sneered behind me.

“I heard you spent your time in Lancaster playing servant. Looks like your master treated you well. You’ve polished up nicely.”

“…”

Emil looked at him without much interest and turned away.

But I couldn’t.

I had worked so hard to prevent him from going through humiliations like this. Hill teased him slyly, sure, but he’d never spoken so directly like Rastain.

When someone powerful speaks like that, everyone below them naturally follows.

As I stopped walking, Emil looked at me curiously.

“That was harsh.”

“Harsh? Was anything I said wrong?”

“Lord Callicst isn’t staying with Lancaster to play servant. I invited him as a guest and a friend. He’s an honored guest of Lancaster.”

He fell silent at my objection.

Then, as though he genuinely didn’t understand, he asked:

“Why go through all that trouble?”

There was no malice or mockery in Rastain’s voice.

He was sincerely curious.

Even if they didn’t say it aloud, Hill and the other children were probably wondering the same thing.

I couldn’t tell the real reason.

So once again, I wrapped myself in a convenient excuse.

“Because it’s wrong to isolate and oppress someone based on prejudice when you don’t know anything about them.”

At that moment, I hated myself for lying so shamelessly.

“Do you think you’re some kind of saint?”

Rastain, who had been silently stroking his chin, sighed in disappointment.

“If he’s truly wronged, he should fight his own way out. There’s no need to shelter someone who doesn’t even struggle.”

What?

Anger surged inside me, and I was about to shout—

Emil grabbed Rastain by the collar.

“What do you know about me?”

A truth no one knew.

The only person who had ever understood her was Mom.

I had no intention of defending a criminal.

Still, there was one thing I could say with certainty.

In that dark, crushing place, Emil had struggled and resisted as much as he possibly could.

It was just that the people around him had been unbearably cruel.

“Have you ever dreamed of a mother you’ve never even seen appearing in your dreams, laughing that you’re the same kind of monster as her?”

Emil spoke calmly.

But his eyes were threatening.

“…Let go.”

“Have you ever been treated like you didn’t exist while every move, every expression was watched?”

“…”

“Have you ever knelt before your own father, begging forgiveness for things you didn’t even know you’d done wrong?”

I covered my mouth.

I should stop him, but every word Emil said hit me like a fresh shock, freezing my legs in place.

“…What more was I supposed to do to struggle?”

“…I said let go.”

“Answer me.”

Rastain shoved Emil off as though shaking off dirt.

Then, with contempt, he said:

“So your solution was to cling to another family like a leech?”

Suddenly, I thought I understood why Rastain hated Emil.

He found him irritating.

“And to disgrace one of the noblest families in the empire while you’re at it?”

“Your mother stained her name. If you’re going to do the same, at least don’t drag others down with you.”

Emil’s eyes trembled for a moment.

I quickly covered his ears and forced him to look at me.

“Emil, don’t listen. You don’t have to hear this.”

“…”

I grabbed his hand, certain he was shaken.

But Emil slowly removed my hand.

And then Rastain drove the final nail in.

“Or are you trying to win their sympathy so you can secure a place beside the future Marquis?”

“That’s enough.”

Just as I glared at Rastain—

“Emil!”

“Ugh!”

Rastain staggered backward, clutching his face after taking Emil’s punch.

Startled, I rushed toward them.

“Lady Belsia! No, you’ll get hurt!”

Blensia grabbed me, warning me not to interfere.

The two boys had already erupted into a fight.

Rastain struck back mercilessly, and before anyone could stop them, they were tangled together on the floor.

I sucked in a breath.

Emil’s expression as he hit Rastain was blank, as though violence was the most natural thing in the world.

Emil had every reason to be angry.

But—

I killed the Marquis and Marchioness.

Watching the violence unfold, the memory crashed back over me.

For two years, I had watched him slowly regain emotional stability.

Deep down, I had reassured myself that maybe this was enough.

But unless the people around him—the entire country—changed the way they viewed Emil…

Would changing him even be possible?

The blood drained from my hands and feet.

Fear struck me suddenly.

Seeing Emil raise his fists without even a moment of hesitation felt like being blindsided.

As I stood frozen in shock, Hill suddenly jumped between them.

“…Can both of you calm down?”

That snapped me back to reality.

Before it could go any further, I clung to Emil as he raised his arm again.

“Emil!”

“…Bell.”

“I know you’re angry. But this isn’t the way.”

“…”

Maybe because I held onto him, Emil slowly released his grip on Rastain’s collar.

“…Then.”

“What?”

“Then how should I repay him?”

“You…”

“…Do you think I was wrong too?”

His voice was flat.

His eyes lifeless.

Without realizing it, I loosened my grip on his arm.

While I tried calming Emil, Hill helped Rastain to his feet.

His cheek was swollen red, painful even at a glance.

One of the attendants hurried off to find someone who could mediate the situation.

Cooling his bruised cheek with the back of his hand, Rastain sneered.

“…I’ll be taking this matter up with House Callicst.”

Whose fault was this to begin with?

I clenched my teeth.

I wanted to argue right then and there, but Emil came first.

Ignoring Rastain’s glare, I turned to leave.

“Belsia Lancaster.”

He called after me.

I ignored him.

There was no reason to answer.

I immediately checked the spots where Emil had been hit as soon as we stepped into the hallway.

Bruises had already started forming around his eye.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“That bruise is going to take a while to fade.”

But instead of worrying about the pain, Emil asked something else.

“Belsia.”

“Yeah?”

“You never answered me earlier. Do you think I was wrong?”

He genuinely sounded like he didn’t know.

I hesitated before finally answering.

“It wasn’t your fault… but hitting someone was wrong.”

“…Then I should apologize too.”

I had always thought of Emil as quiet, starved for affection.

I never imagined he’d fight like this.

I had thought I understood him.

That confidence had been arrogance.

I wanted to call for a physician, but maybe because we had wandered aimlessly, there was no one around.

“Don’t do that again next time. I’ll hit them for you instead.”

“…You?”

“No matter how much my mom, dad, and I try to protect you, Duke Callicst is still technically your family… It’ll only hurt you in the end.”

Ah, from here onward, I knew the way.

I had just spotted one of the attendants from the playroom and was about to ask for a physician when—

“Emil Lachlan Ronsiste Callicst.”

Someone approached with an attendant leading the way.

Emil’s hand trembled in mine.

It was Duke Callicst.

The attendant looked nervously between me and the Duke.

I instinctively stepped in front of Emil, trying to shield him.

It was pointless.

“Duke…”

“News travels quickly.”

It was impossible for the Duke not to hear about Emil fighting Rastain.

Still, I had hoped he’d hear about it later.

Adjusting his glasses, Duke Callicst smiled at me reassuringly.

At first glance, it seemed gentle.

“Move aside. This is between a parent and child.”

“Emil didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Move.”

The glass-like gleam in his eyes turned cold.

Then, he forcibly grabbed my shoulder and shoved me aside.

It didn’t hurt, but I stumbled.

What happened next completely contradicted the smile he had worn moments ago.

The difference in temperature was so jarring that I couldn’t process what was happening.

“Duke!”

Before I could stop him—

Smack!

A sharp sound rang painfully through the hall.

Emil endured the slap.

I never thought the Duke would strike him without even asking what happened.

“Duke, Emil—!”

Smack!

Another brutal sound echoed immediately after.

Without realizing it, I stepped back.

“It’s punishment. We’ll discuss the details after we return.”

“…Yes.”

This was wrong.

Yes, Emil had done something wrong.

He hit someone first.

That couldn’t be denied.

But to hit your child without even asking for an explanation?

As if used to this, Emil remained calm.

He didn’t even touch his cheek.

He just endured the pain.

Before he could follow the Duke, I grabbed the edge of his clothes.

“Bell?”

“Duke, I’ll explain.”

The cause was Rastain Lucretius—

But would the Duke even care?

A man who had neglected and abused his own son.

I was suddenly sure that, to him, Rastain Lucretius of another ducal family mattered more than his own child.

“Duke, I had a conflict with Lord Lucretius—!”

“It’s fine. Really.”

Emil gently removed my hand.

“See you later.”

How could he act so calm?

He looked too composed for someone who had just punched Rastain.

Even as he followed the Duke until they disappeared from sight—

Emil never looked back.

W-What do I do…?

An attendant approached, trying desperately to guide me away, but I could only stare at the place where Emil had disappeared.