Find the One Who Abandoned Me - Chapter 57

Lady Berchia stared silently at Calliope’s unbothered expression. It almost looked like she was regretting bringing this up.

Calliope, who wasn’t at all concerned with her companion’s inner conflict, simply inhaled the soft aroma of the tea brought out by the maid and asked casually,

“So, what is it you wanted to talk about?”

Berchia exhaled briefly, leaned comfortably back against the chair, and crossed one leg over the other. It could’ve come off as arrogant—but it suited her a little too well.

“My engagement.”

“Your engagement? Why bring that up with me?”

Calliope genuinely didn’t understand and asked again.

“More precisely, what I’d like to do before I’m engaged. Children of noble houses, whether they like it or not, eventually have to marry once they come of age. Thankfully, my mother isn’t in any rush to see me married off, but still… I’ll probably be engaged before I turn eighteen.”

“Right, that makes sense.”

“But noble engagements and marriages are always political. Whether I like the person or not, if the match benefits our family, I’ll be expected to accept it. That’s why many nobles enjoy casual romances before they’re bound.”

“Well, not just before. Plenty of nobles keep ‘casual romances’ going after marriage too.”

Calliope rested her chin on her hand and smiled, her elbows lightly on the table. Berchia twitched an eyebrow and replied,

“I don’t want to do that once I’m engaged.”

“Not exactly a moral stance.”

“Exactly. Which is why I’d like to—while I still can—”

“Experience romance? That’s surprising. But even so, Otis Glayderth doesn’t exactly seem like the best target for that.”

At those words, Berchia froze mid-movement, her hand stopping just short of her teacup. Her gaze turned cold and sharp, but Calliope just grinned wider.

“You—how did you…”

“Lady Berchia, when someone catches you, you’re supposed to brush it off like they’re talking nonsense. Nobles don’t just admit it like that.”

Berchia looked stunned. Calliope sat up straighter and continued.

“Well, I suppose I understand now why you’re asking me instead of anyone in your family.”

After all, Berchia was the cherished only daughter of Duke and Duchess Dylas. If word got out that she had a thing for Otis—scion of the rival Glayderth House—it wouldn’t just ruffle feathers. It could upend the entire political balance.

“I noticed at Auticle. You were very focused on him. Your gaze was intense.”

“No one else has ever picked up on it before.”

“That’s because you didn’t look like a girl in love. More like… a predator stalking its prey.”

“…I looked like that?”

Her sharp eyes narrowed dangerously.

“…Is what I heard someone else say. I didn’t say that myself.”

Which was technically true. Otis had said it. She had just… added a little seasoning.

Calliope tapped the table and smoothly changed the subject.

“So why him, of all people? I mean, yes—he’s handsome, well-dressed, comes from a powerful family, capable, resourceful…”

“Isn’t that enough of a reason?”

“It is, on paper. But Otis Glayderth is the figurehead of the noble faction.”

Her tone dropped, more serious now.

“And I doubt he has any interest in changing that. Even if nobles often enjoy romantic freedom before they’re engaged, a relationship between the daughter of House Dylas and the heir to House Glayderth? That’s not something people will ignore.”

“I know.”

“Then maybe pick someone less… politically inconvenient. Some nice, polite, reasonably attractive nobleman—”

“That’s why I’m going to see him in secret.”

“…Excuse me?”

“What?”

“…What?”

Calliope blinked, then let out an empty, incredulous laugh.

Bold, aren’t we? Just like her father. But more than anything, something was missing from this entire conversation—something important.

She paused to think.

“…And what about Otis Glayderth’s opinion?”

Only then did it strike her. Berchia had never once mentioned whether he returned her feelings.

Not that Calliope didn’t already know. Otis would soon become increasingly and profoundly averse to women. Still, Berchia, who was unaware of that future, simply crossed her arms and raised a brow.

“I’ll make him fall for me.”

“…Well, your confidence is… impressive.”

Calliope’s words were laced with Ah, the unshakable confidence of a pampered duchess. Not that Berchia caught the subtext.

It’s not really confidence. It’s pride she can’t let go of.

Still, House Dylas was a ducal house for a reason. Berchia had likely never been denied anything she truly wanted. Had Otis not been from House Glayderth, she probably would’ve gotten bored by now.

Or maybe it’s precisely because she can’t have him that she wants him more.

House Glayderth had the highest wealth in the kingdom—aside from the royal family. But House Dylas was close behind, thanks to subtle but consistent support from the crown in their business ventures.

“And I’ve been making an effort… in my own way.”

“Effort? What kind of effort?”

“I’ve been acting more reserved.”

“I think I understand what you mean.”

Otis Glayderth may have taken it as a hostile glare, but even Calliope had to admit—Lady Berchia did seem unusually well-behaved around him.

Calliope looked at Berchia again. Her posture was confident, almost arrogant—leaning back in her chair, one leg crossed, and eyes that often looked down on people. And this was the same woman trying to win favor with Otis Glayderth?

Nothing in their conversation so far carried the weight of someone making a genuine effort to win another’s heart. That arrogant tone of hers—the way she assumed that if she wanted someone, they’d simply want her back—didn’t match up at all with the idea of someone “trying.”

Calliope’s crimson eyes stayed fixed on Berchia for a moment. Then she asked in a soft voice,

“Do you really like him that much?”

Berchia frowned and looked away. Then, after a long sigh—like someone finally giving up—she answered quietly,

“…Yes.”

Calliope didn’t smile. Instead, she fell into a quiet pause, thinking deeply.

In the future, she recalled, Otis never ended up engaged to anyone, and Berchia had been matched with someone else entirely. So, there wouldn’t be any real issue if she just let this play out. Politically, she didn’t want things to shift too dramatically either.

She’ll probably give up on her own eventually.

But then a thought struck her.

What if they were secretly seeing each other in the past… and I just didn’t know?

Her past self had been painfully naive. It wasn’t impossible.

But then, another memory surfaced.

“You’re in my way. Move.”

Right. That was what Otis had said to a girl crying in the hallway after bumping into her.

Nope. Not a chance. A guy like that wasn’t secretly dating anyone. So, most likely, this really had been a one-sided crush the whole time.

Calliope reached a conclusion: after today, she wouldn’t get involved in this anymore. Still, since Berchia had asked for advice, she’d at least take this conversation seriously.

“Lord Glayderth is known for avoiding women, isn’t he?”

“That’s right.”

“So do you really think acting reserved is going to help you get close to him?”

“I think it will. Honestly, I’m pretty sure.”

Her tone was confident. Calliope narrowed her eyes slightly and asked,

“And what makes you think that?”

“He seems to avoid women who are obviously interested in him. He gets uncomfortable when someone’s too forward.”

Calliope rolled her eyes to the side.

It’s not exactly wrong… She’s surprisingly observant, given how clueless she usually is.

Clearly, she’d been watching him closely.

In the future Calliope remembered, Otis had grown into an extreme woman-avoider. Outside of official events, he’d avoid all contact with women and act completely cold. Thankfully, at this point in time, it wasn’t that severe—but once he turned eighteen and something happened… it all went downhill.

“So you’re pretending to be quiet and gentle?”

“I need to get close to him first. If he finds out I’m bold or into swordsmanship, I’m sure it’ll make him uncomfortable.”

Calliope frowned slightly.

So because Otis seems to dislike bold women, she’s hiding who she really is?

She had the wrong idea entirely.

Otis did dislike women who were romantically interested in him—but he didn’t care whether they were quiet or bold, gentle or brash. As long as someone wasn’t hitting on him, he really didn’t mind who they were. He probably wouldn’t flinch even if a woman ate a wild bear with her bare hands.

In fact, being skilled with a sword would probably be a plus for someone like Otis, who valued ability above all else.

Then, suddenly, it clicked.

So that’s why no one ever heard about Lady Berchia’s swordsmanship in the future…

Seriously? She gave up her talent for the sake of a crush?

Calliope pressed her fingers against her temple, exasperated.

I’m over here worried about not having any sword talent, and she’s throwing hers away on purpose?

There was even the chance—however small—that she’d need to fight alongside Isaac in a demon-slaying expedition. That meant she needed to take her sword training seriously. Magic would’ve been nice, but unlike swordsmanship, it wasn’t something you could just learn through effort.

Putting aside the fact that she’s the daughter of the most progressive duke in the kingdom, and yet here she is—acting like this…

Calliope reached up and untied her ponytail, running her fingers through her now-dry hair and finally said—

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