Before the Villains' Ending

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2. Her Absence

Calix had already experienced despair when Beatrice accepted to spend the rest of her life with the Crown Prince.

The fact that the girl who had given him warmth left his embrace shook him to the core.

It was a pain incomparable to the abuse he suffered in his childhood. Calix realized what it meant to feel utterly powerless, as if his sanity was slipping away.

He felt like he had lost the most important thing in his life.

While hesitating, Margaret once asked if he had already given up on life. He remembered how he playfully responded, “That’s the most interesting thing I’ve heard lately. Margaret, the situation I’m in right now isn’t about whether I decide to give up on life or not.”

But at that time, he was merely spouting nonsense. If only he had honestly expressed the thoughts flooding his mind, maybe he wouldn’t be feeling so miserable right now.

He should have said it.

He should have just said exactly what he was thinking.

He should have told her that she made it difficult for him to give up.

‘I wish you’d stay with me,’ I wanted you to tell me that, Calix lamented.

At that moment, one of Margaret’s remarks came up to him.

‘Florencia Eilish is a pitiful woman. She just didn’t know the right way. And neither did you,’ she said, the last time she came to visit.

But how does one do it the right way?

And would things have ended differently if he had known? A sense of self-reproach began to crawl up from the depths of his heart.

Calix lowered his head, recalling the day he first met Margaret.

The past replayed slowly in his mind, making him chuckle.

When he really thought about it, it amused him how vividly this first encounter with a woman whose presence was hardly noticeable remained in his memories.

“Once this reminiscence ends, will you appear in front of me?” Calix mumbled painfully.

Will you come looking for me?

* * *

Calix and Florencia frequently exchanged letters and met occasionally.

In a way, it was a sort of alliance.

She was the most wicked and cunning woman he knew, yet the only person who could offer the practical help he needed.

Calix had genuinely trusted Florencia as a partner.

However, in his eyes, their relationship was only a temporary alliance that could be discarded at any moment.

This partnership was rooted in Florencia’s enmity towards Beatrice and Calix’s hatred towards the Crown Prince. While it was a tenuous connection built on these two unhealthy grounds, it held quite firmly.

And during that time, Calix Hamel had no interest in Florencia’s younger sister.

“What do you plan to do with the Crown Prince?” Florencia inquired during one of their meetings. Calix laughed, a crooked forming on his lips as he responded with self-mockery instead of an actual answer.

“What a hopeless unrequited love. For both you and I.”

Honestly, he spoke the truth.

The Crown Prince was the sole person for Florencia, just as Beatrice was the only light in Calix’s life.

“she saved me,” was what he said when Florencia asked why he was so enamored with Beatrice.

And now he was gripping the teacup tightly, haunted by Beatrice’s words echoing vividly in his mind as if she was right there murmuring them in his ears.

‘I…I am His Highness’s woman.” Her lips twisted.

“Beatrice will be spared, but the Crown Prince will have his neck severed in front of her,” he finally answered Florencia’s question.

“Ha, dream big. You want to protect your love while seeking to kill mine? Do you think I’ll help you with that? Stop joking, Duke. I might consider aiding in Beatrice’s Kidnapping, but I have no intention of joining your rebellion.”

“All rebellions are like that, I can’t promise that people won’t die”

“Very well. I’ll help you on my own terms, and not because I’m obligated to follow your orders. Don’t even consider my participation in this coup.”

“How surprising,” Calix answered, staring coldly at the woman, who mixed mockery with her rejection.

Apart from the intense love she held for the Crown Prince in her blue eyes, the sharpness in it seemed diluted by something else.

Exaggerating slightly, one could say she was now a villainess with a submissive side, planning the future Crown Princess’s kidnapping.

“My life is not over yet. I don’t want to jeopardize it and risk getting confined or killed like the Duke. I will rise with His Highness’s power, and will only remove the thorns that get in my way.” Florencia said with a smile that made her look like a cat.

She seemed to believe that she had trustworthy allies, capable of handling the kidnapping.

In the past, she was a woman who would have crushed Beatrice with her own hands. Thus, Calix couldn’t contain his surprised expression.

Noticing his gaze, Florencia calmly explained, “I want to become somewhat kinder.”

“Huh?”

She lowered her head as if reminiscing about a sweet memory, and smiled wistfully. In a whisper, she admitted, “To be honest, I don’t have high expectations. I continue to act this way, so that child probably despises me too. Everyone also calls me a murderer.”

Calix remained silent. Partly because he didn’t know who the child she’s talking about was, but mainly because he had no desire to know more about Florencia.

And right after this incident, he met Margaret.

“Ahh! Miss!!” Someone suddenly screamed.

As a maid’s voice echoed throughout the corridor, Florencia immediately pushed her gloomy smile aside, and shouted in an anxious voice,”Mel, that foolish girl…!”

Upon hearing the nickname, Calix remembered that Florencia had a fragile younger sister.

Mel must be her name, he thought.

Come to think of it, the villainess in front of him had been less aggressive at home ever since her younger sister had supposedly died from her incurable disease, but miraculously came back to life.

While the man was lost in thoughts, the door was hastily swung open. And only then could Calix properly look at the rumored young lady.

An elegant, and exquisite girl, radiating with beauty, stood before him with a playful smile on her face.

How impolite!

“Hahaha,” He chuckled involuntarily.

If Florencia resembled the night sky, her younger sister looked just like the dawn.

Beneath her pale lilac hair, crimson eyes sparkled like the morning sun.

If he were to say that those eyes, with their burning color, weren’t impressive, it would have been a lie.

And they were staring straight at him.

“Aren’t you going to close your mouth and show gratitude for my concern towards you?” Florentina chided at the girl.

Margaret responded with a slight cough before adjusting her attire, and offering a graceful greeting.

“Forgive my rudeness. I was feeling unwell, which caused me to neglect greeting you immediately. I am Margaret Eilish.”

Calix had intended to respond to the greeting with a noble and gentlemanly demeanor, but that was until he heard her next words.

“Did you enjoy the conversation?” Margaret questioned.

It couldn’t be; he thought, doubting his ears.

A hint of doubt crossed his mind. Did she hear what Florencia and him were talking about? He tightened his lips and greeted her with a rather nervous expression.

Deciding to test her, he said, “You must be the rumored young lady. I am Calix Hamel.”

Margaret nodded, her eyes still fixed on him.

He didn’t quite see what emotions were hiding within those eyes of hers. But he remember that Margaret whispered, “You will fail,” in a very faint voice.

Trying to hide his unease, Calix asked sharply, “Young Lady, what did you just say?”

Behind his composed expression, confusion was overwhelming him.

He had been caught. His plans for rebellion…..

For a moment, a cold gleamer flashed in his black eyes as he bit his lower lip.

The room was clearly soundproofed. Meaning, it was highly unlikely for the woman in front of him to accidentally overhear their conversation.

Unless, she intentionally opened the door to eavesdrop

Calix felt the need to confirm the meaning behind Margaret’s words, but it looked like her health was worse than he had judged.

“Pleased to meet you,” she answered.

Cough!!!

“Your Grace, as you can see, I am quite unwell….” she added when she finally calmed down.

Still frozen by her previous statement, Calix watched more carefully as she now innocently raised her voice for others to hear. Then, he reluctantly replied, “I understand. It must be very painful for the lady.”

“I can’t deny that.”

And that was all.

Margaret weakly laughed and staggered outside the meeting room under Florencia’s nagging, insisting that she go back to her room immediately.

“Ahh, my sister is insufferable,” she dramatically complained.

“Enough,” Florencia harshly scolded her, “Stop talking nonsense, and go to bed quietly. If you keep running around disturbing others and turn your bed into a tomb, only then will you regret it,” she added, revealing the affection she had for her little sister.

At the time, Calix swallowed back the laugh the two sisters inspired him. A villainess and a sister feigning illness–it was quite a good comedy.

Yes, after observing her, he knew Margaret wasn’t really sick. But, he acknowledged her impressive acting skills.

Her pale complexion, weak voice, and dull eyes could really convince anyone that she was genuinely ill. There was no obvious evidence that her illness was an act.

However, Calix couldn’t be fooled that easily. Margaret’s exaggerated gesture, like covering her mouth, closing her eyes, and acting so theatrically appeared overly deliberate to him.

In that moment, Calix grew genuinely curious about the woman’s true nature. Moreover, her odd attitude showed no sign of desire or admiration for him.

Of course, back then, he had no interest in any woman other than Beatrice, so he had a displeased expression despite being curious.

Anyway, he was a man who could completely separate his curiosity towards someone from any act of kindness. And considering his alliance with Florencia, he couldn’t help but appear indifferent to avoid any possible misunderstandings.

Well, it’s not like he followed Margaret to her room or any kind of personal space as they both left the place where Florencia was.

As they walked out, Calix didn’t mention that her previous actions were improper.

In fact, he didn’t say anything at all.

Then, she surprisingly turned around, and offered him a carefully wrapped gift from her pocket, but he declined it of course.

Margaret was keen enough to know that I wouldn’t accept it… well, I was rather cold to her, to be fair; Calix thought as he emerged from his memories for a slight moment, smiling nostalgically.

What did Margaret say at that time?

Ah, yes. After he refused her gift, she uttered in defeat,’whatever, I tried.’

‘Even if you truly love Beatrice, it won’t matter what you do,’ she also mercilessly added.

Calix recalled lowering his head with bitterness. The conversation from that time remained in his memories, and he now knew that Margaret was actually showing genuine sympathy towards him.

“And acting like this won’t accomplish anything, you know,” she continued.

“It’s none of your concern. How did you find out about this anyway? No, let me rephrase that. Besides you and your sister, who else knows about this?” he asked with an angry frown.

He already knew that Beatrice’s heart belonged to the Prince, so Margaret’s comment was not very appreciated, hence why his words came out somewhat muffled.

And at his tone, Margaret’s smile instantly faded away.

She faced Calix with a serious attitude, her eyes staring into his as she spoke with a soft tone.