TISND Chapter 48

Chapter 48

When she first heard the story, she thought of Melissa.
She hadn’t heard the full details but knew that woman had abused the children.
Could it be that she had hit the children?

“Were the scars older than two years?”

“They didn’t seem that old to me. If I had to guess, they were less than two years old. I even saw some fresh red marks.”

“But…”

After Calligo and Melissa’s divorce, she believed the children would no longer be exposed to danger.
Moreover, Joshua was a mature and sensible child compared to others his age. She thought he would handle any potential danger more rationally than anyone else.
But there was something she had unknowingly overlooked: he was still just a child.

“Where could he have gotten those injuries?”

“To me, they looked like stab wounds from a sword.”

“Could it be from practicing swordsmanship?”

“If a noble is learning swordsmanship, they would have a skilled and professional instructor. Would such a teacher train so harshly that the child ends up scarred?”

Aiden shook his head.

“Who would dare leave scars on a noble’s body? If caught, it would ruin them.”

“But it’s strange. Especially since he’s been trying to hide his injuries from everyone.”

“It looked like wounds that needed regular care. Since he hasn’t been to a physician, he must have been treating them himself.”

“Then it’s likely that when we first met Joshua, he already had scars hidden under his clothes.”

“Probably so.”

It was heartbreaking to imagine a child, who seemed so mature and composed, hiding such wounds beneath his clothes.

If he was in pain, why didn’t he say so?
Even a small splinter in a finger causes discomfort.
How much pain must he have endured from those stab wounds? It must have been excruciating, making every movement uncomfortable and agonizing.

“Judging by the timeline, it must have been during his time at the academy.”

“Actually, Joshua doesn’t attend the academy.”

“What? Then where has he been during that time?”

“I don’t know the details. He keeps it a secret from everyone.”

“Wherever he’s going, this is a matter we can’t ignore.”

Aiden was right. Even though Joshua had asked for secrecy, such severe injuries couldn’t be overlooked.

“I’ll speak with His Grace, the Duke. He would know where Joshua has been going, and he needs to be informed about this situation.”

Aiden nodded in agreement, seemingly recognizing that there was no other option in this case.

—

Now, Helena stood in the study.
She had learned from the butler last time that the Duke often spent time here. When not busy, he either spent time with the children or read books to relax.

Leaning against the closed door of the study, Helena tried to organize her thoughts about what to say.
In truth, every time she was alone with him, things hadn’t gone well, so she hesitated to approach him again.
Even so, the thought of meeting Calligo made her heart race.

What should she say first? Should she start with a greeting? Should she bring some snacks or tea just in case? No, he might dislike it if the conversation dragged on unnecessarily.

Taking a deep breath, she murmured the words she intended to say. She resolved to keep the conversation brief and get straight to the point.
It was at that moment she steeled herself.

With a soft click, the study door opened.
“Ahh!”

Caught off guard while leaning against the door, Helena’s body tilted backward. Just before she hit the ground, a firm hand caught her waist.

Calligo, who seemed to have just woken up, had disheveled hair. His eyes, still clouded with sleep, carried a languid softness, so different from his usual cold gaze.

The bangs he usually swept neatly back now hung loosely over his forehead, a rare sight.

Even his typically impeccable appearance as a commander was different. He wore only a shirt without a coat, and three or four buttons were undone.

The last time she had seen him, he had even worn his coat to sleep. He must have indulged in a long nap today.

He was stunningly handsome. Helena felt as if her heart might burst then and there.
The hand supporting her waist was warm.

Perhaps because of the thin shirt he wore, his scent seemed stronger than usual. It reminded her of a winter in Frantor—cool and refreshing, without being overwhelming.

Then she realized, belatedly, that she had been staring at him. She needed to resolve this situation quickly.

“Hello,” she managed to say.

“…”

The only words she could muster were a simple greeting, which felt inadequate given the position she was in.

Embarrassed, Helena squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could faint.

After a moment, the hand at her waist withdrew, and she awkwardly stood before Calligo.

“Thank you for saving me.”

“What brings you here? You seemed to have been lingering outside the study for a while.”

It seemed her presence outside the door had woken him.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were asleep. I apologize for disturbing you. I’ll come back later.”

“No.”

Calligo gently placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her as she hesitated by the door.

“Stay.”

“…Yes.”

Calligo ran his fingers through his messy hair before heading to the bar set up in the corner. He poured himself a glass of brandy, as if to moisten his throat.
Hearing the soft sound of the brandy flowing into the glass, Helena seated herself on the sofa.

As she waited, she tried to organize her thoughts.
It hadn’t been easy to get to this point. While she knew she had to tell Calligo about the matter, she had agonized over how to phrase it, what to say, and what to avoid.

Caring for children and raising them were entirely different matters.

Until now, Calligo had tolerated Helena’s involvement with the children. Knowing this, she had devoted herself to them, ensuring they were fed and clothed and always being there for them.

But raising a child wasn’t just about providing meals. It involved teaching them the values and principles they needed as they grew.

This situation required proper parenting. To address it, she needed to know where and from whom Joshua was learning swordsmanship. This required a discussion with Calligo.

He had been clear about not crossing boundaries and had also told her not to interfere in the children’s matters before marriage. That was why she was worried her concerns might come across as interference.

“So,”

Calligo, who had sipped some brandy, sat across from her. He could probably see the tension evident in her expression.

But Helena wanted the children to grow up happy and upright.
Because she herself had not.

“What’s the matter?”

As he sat on the sofa and asked, she was flooded with thoughts. But finally, she made up her mind.

“I have something to tell you.”

“Speak.”

“The first issue is about an outbreak of disease in the eastern part of the North. My senior mentioned that a village they recently visited is now dealing with the epidemic.”

“I see. What are the symptoms?”

“It’s said to be a fever, which could be especially dangerous for children. My senior suggested it would be wise for Your Grace to take precautions.”

“I received a report on this earlier today. We’re already discussing countermeasures. Those showing symptoms have been isolated for treatment, and the medical centers are prepared to respond effectively. There’s no need to worry.”

“That’s a relief.”

Helena smiled faintly.

“And the second issue?”

“My senior conducted health checks on Jeremy and Joshua, just in case.”

“Wouldn’t that fall under the first issue? Or did the two boys show symptoms?”

“No, they didn’t.”

As her expression grew more serious, Calligo fell silent. He seemed to sense that something more significant was coming and waited quietly for her to continue.

“During the checkup, he discovered stab wounds on Joshua’s body. There are numerous scars, and some appear to be recent.”

At this point, Calligo seemed to realize where the conversation was headed. The mention of injuries on Joshua’s body darkened his expression.

No parent would be pleased to hear that their child’s body bore scars. For a moment, neither of them could speak, overwhelmed by emotions—sorrow and guilt for not knowing the child’s pain, and anger toward whoever had caused those injuries.

Helena bit her lip, trying to calm herself. After some time, she took a deep breath and continued.

“That’s why I have a request for Your Grace.”

“What is it?”

“Could you tell me where and from whom Joshua is receiving his training?”

Joshua had insisted that he could handle things on his own. He wanted everything to remain hidden, for no one to find out. He had begged them not to interfere.

But this time, Helena couldn’t ignore it. She had a sense that if they dismissed this issue and turned a blind eye, something irreparable might happen.

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