Chapter 11
Whoosh—Crack! Crackkk!
“Ahh!”
It was hard to see exactly what happened. Louis was definitely the one who first stabbed, but in the next moment, Callista’s wooden training sword struck his arm and the back of his neck.
In an instant, Louis folded almost in half, rolling on the floor while howling.
“Ughhhh! Huuuck! Aaaahhh!”
His arm bent at a grotesque angle as if the bones were crushed. Louis wailed a chilling scream.
“Louis!”
Before I knew it, Callista pushed past the servants and called out to Louis. She tried to lift her nephew by grabbing his arm, but he only groaned louder.
“How could this happen…”
Bang!
Instead of answering, Callista threw her wooden sword in front of Clarissa. Clarissa, who was about to scold over Louis’ injury, widened her eyes and shut her mouth.
Callista turned to Soye.
“Noble Lady…!”
“It’s your fault you couldn’t control your subordinates, Soye. Leave the ducal family with the boy.”
Though close to my father’s age and once Callista’s own bodyguard, Callista showed no mercy in her expression as she commanded him.
Clarissa’s face went pale, and Soye bowed his head, speechless. Despite his age, the deep wrinkles on his face made him look more sad than resentful.
…No.
I tried to look away, but instead, memories of Soye from my previous life flickered through my mind.
He was a warm person. One who shared money and food with hungry children on the street. Sometimes he was too kind and got fooled.
He had even been kind to me. Once, despite Callista’s order to assassinate me, he pretended it was a mistake and spared me.
He remained loyal to the ducal family all his life without forming a family and was killed by Clain’s assassins.
I had clung to the body Clain had shown me while chuckling and apologized repeatedly, blaming myself.
“I will obey your orders…”
“It’s my fault.”
Before I fully realized what I was doing, my mouth moved. Soye looked at me in surprise.
“Well then, young noble lady!”
“I’m sorry. I spoke to Louis, told him to hurry back, tried to stop him, and I caused the fall.”
Callista slowly turned her head and looked at me. Her cold expression showed no emotion.
“Y-you heard that? That boy was at fault…”
Louis’ eyes grew wide as he looked at me while rolling on the ground, and Clarissa shouted something happily, but Callista ignored them and locked eyes with me.
I saw a beautiful face carved sharply like a knife. Her dark blue eyes stared piercingly, as if seeing through everything.
A gaze filled with inherent coldness. It chilled me from head to toe like being frozen in chains. I couldn’t move a finger.
“…Harper.”
The memories of my previous life overwhelmed me.
The poison that half-paralyzed me in the red wine I first tasted on my tenth birthday.
The assassins who sneaked into my room at eleven, sword pointed at my throat.
Callista’s cold face when she found me isolated in the hunting grounds at twelve, drawing her bowstring while looking straight into my eyes.
“There is nowhere in this world you can go.”
Her words left behind as I ran away, and the people who chased me until the end.
My lips and legs started to tremble.
“Long time no see.”
Her voice was as cold as her gaze. The inexplicable chill coursed through my whole body, and I stood still, unable to answer.
Seconds or minutes of silence passed before Callista finally looked away.
“Soye, take the child away. If this happens one more time after tomorrow, I won’t be so lenient.”
“T-thank you, noble lady!”
She turned away without hesitation and quickly left down the hallway, followed by several others.
“Miss Harper, you didn’t stay still…”
After the crowd dispersed, Jena quietly approached and fixed my ribbon, which had been disheveled by Louis.
“…”
Jena said more, but I didn’t hear it properly. The coldness that had controlled my whole body a moment ago hadn’t faded.
Callista has returned.
I thought I could avoid it.
But this fear trembling my legs and lips, the countless memories of my past life, didn’t allow any such rational thought or calmness.
“…Ah.”
Thud—
“Ah, Miss!”
The strength in my legs drained completely, the ceiling spun, and I couldn’t see anything.
I need to find that person…
Amid the dizziness, the forgotten task lingered in my mind.
“Master, are you okay with leaving Louis Evans as he is?”
Callista sat in her private study chair, staring at Aramis Müller, her academy classmate and personal guard.
“Louis… who?”
“Louis Evans. The kid who wrestled Miss Harper and whose arm you crushed.”
“Oh.”
She shrugged as if she’d completely forgotten.
“Evans again? That woman and the elders of the council are really planting weeds.”
“You saw the duchess protecting him. He’s her blood relative.”
“His unpleasant demeanor runs in the family? Are you suggesting we treat him?”
“If anyone heard, they might think you confuse me with Vittori.”
Callista spat out, and Aramis shook his head in disbelief.
“Better kill him before he bears a grudge.”
Seventeen, still almost a boy, his advice was always harsh.
“Leave him be. Soye will handle it.”
“If that useless man had trained him properly, the kid wouldn’t be getting beaten up for failing to greet properly.”
“It’s not about greeting. He’s a dog that bites his master.”
“Excuse me? Then…”
Aramis scratched his head, recalling the earlier scene where the kid was grabbing someone’s collar.
“…Was it because of Miss Harper?”
“Do you think we should just let a ducal apprentice attack a noble lady?”
“Well… that’s true.”
Aramis nodded reluctantly. Indeed, with Callista’s clear hierarchy, Louis’ behavior was unacceptable.
Even if Callista had no affection for the person whose collar Louis grabbed.
“What about Theon?”
Callista suddenly asked about Theon, and Aramis frowned slightly.
“Why was that guy acting that way as soon as he arrived…”
Clack—
As Aramis was about to answer, the study door opened. Blonde hair, round glasses, and piercing gray eyes gleamed beyond.
“Knock before entering. Can’t do that with your weak arm?”
“The lady said to come in. Unlike you, I have memory.”
Theon grumbled to Aramis, who frowned.
“You’re here, Theon.”
Callista stood and greeted him. Theon bowed politely.
“I greet you, miss.”
Callista raised one eyebrow, paused briefly, then invited him to sit.
“Thank you, miss.”
Callista stared at him for a while, then said to Aramis:
“Aris, make tea.”
“Huh? I don’t know how to do that. Shouldn’t we call a maid…?”
Aramis protested, but Callista remained unfazed.
“You’re an idiot. Pour water into the teacup, then put the tea leaves in.”
“Making your bodyguard do such chores is cruel.”
“If you don’t want to work under a cruel master, then leave.”
“Haah…”
Aramis sighed deeply and left the study, no longer able to pretend ignorance of her signal.
“You didn’t tell me whether to pour hot or cold water, miss. He’s simple and will be confused if you don’t say.”
Theon said seriously.
He and Aramis had always bickered since their academy days, the classic clash between scholar and warrior.
“If you pour cold water, he’ll drink it himself. More importantly—”
Callista sat opposite Theon on the sofa and looked up. Their dark blue and dull gray eyes met.
“Will you refuse my offer?”
Callista said calmly but bluntly. Theon adjusted his glasses.
“What offer…?”
“Didn’t you say since the academy that you wanted a master you could serve for life? That gathering all the empire’s wealth only has value if there’s a reason behind it?”
Callista stared at Theon. He said nothing and held her gaze.
“After that, nobles and kings came seeking you, but you refused them all.”
“That’s right.”
“When I returned last time, I made the same offer. To become mine. You said you’d answer after graduating.”
“…”
“And yet you still call me ‘miss’ instead of ‘master’… Are you considering someone else?”
“That is…”
Theon briefly avoided eye contact and trailed off.
I knew he was perceptive but hadn’t expected such a direct strike.
When he dodged the question, Callista’s eyes widened slightly.
“Could it be your father or that woman?”
“No!”
“Theon, no matter how tight the money is, not them. They’ll chew you to the bone and spit you out. You’d better leave the manor and run your own business.”
“That’s not it, miss. It’s just… I’m a bit busy with other matters right now.”
“Other matters?”
Callista frowned in confusion, worried for a moment.
“You’re teaching that Harper girl?”
She paused, then slowly spoke. Theon didn’t deny it, and she raised an eyebrow.
