Find the One Who Abandoned Me - Chapter 82

“We went out for a short walk, but there was an ambush. They weren’t after me they were targeting Lady Anastas and Sir Esteban.”

Of course, Otis’s involvement was kept entirely secret. With his known ties to the noble faction, revealing his presence would’ve only complicated things. He had already separated from his carriage driver and left the village.

“An ambush?”
Ilhan’s expression hardened immediately.
Rather than scold Calliope for sneaking out, Lady Berchia sent a healer to check on her and had the two moved to Calliope’s room for safety.

Calliope had already changed into a nightdress, her previously dirtied gown replaced. Noticing this, Isaac looked flustered—his gaze shifting awkwardly around the room before finally settling on her. He spoke in that state of nervous tension.

“Still, it’s a relief no one was seriously injured.”

“Indeed. But Isaac, aren’t you going to look at me?”

“L-Lady, your attire…”

“It’s just a nightdress. What’s the big deal? We’re engaged, after all.”

Afraid he might become even more unsettled, she gently led him—not to the bed—but to the table beside it. She threw a shawl over her shoulders as she sat down. Only then did Isaac manage to exhale and relax slightly.

Once she made sure he was truly uninjured, Calliope turned to Susan and asked for some warm tea.

“I understand. Still, thank goodness Sir Esteban was with you. If not—my lady, you shouldn’t be going out alone anymore. You said assassins targeted both of you, right? Sir Esteban can defend himself, but you… you mustn’t take such risks.”

“I know. That’s the fifth time you’ve said that already, Susan. No need to repeat it.”

“Do you know how worried I was?”

With a huff, Susan stepped out to prepare the tea, leaving the room quiet—filled only by the sound of their breathing. A stillness lingered until Calliope broke it.

“Isaac… I think they were after you.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because there’s no reason for anyone to go after me. I’m not the type of person people would want dead. But you? You’re different. You’re a young prodigy—there are plenty of martial families who’d see you as a threat. Families that raised their geniuses with everything they had, only to see you rise ahead of them. Earning the title of the kingdom’s greatest swordsman—someone would kill for that.”

Isaac didn’t respond immediately. He stayed silent, lips pressed together. In truth, he didn’t fully agree.

He was certain Calliope had also been a target.

Yes, they had aimed for his life—but their intensity, their relentless pursuit… it felt like they wanted her more.

Because she knows the past.

That’s why she was so cautious. Why she insisted on never letting him travel alone. In her previous life, he had once been ambushed while traveling to the provincial estate—he had been nineteen.

So the timeline’s moving up?

She had been planning to act before the usual danger, given that Isaac’s birthday—when it originally happened—was still a few months away.

Calliope turned to him.

“Isaac, do you have any plans to visit your provincial estate soon?”

“Yes. My father asked me to go before winter arrives.”

His birthday was in winter. If he was heading out early, that likely meant the incident would happen sooner too.

But why were they targeting him so aggressively? It felt too deliberate—even if it was a political move by rival families, this level of violence was extreme.

Calliope bit her lip.

Should I go with him?

It might be a disturbance—but if she went with thorough preparations, they could change the outcome.

And there was a very clear reason this mattered to her:

Isaac loses an eye in that ambush.

A blade had grazed his eye. It looked minor at first—his eyes were already pale, nearly white, so no one noticed right away. It was only long after the fact, when the damage was irreversible, that Calliope realized what had happened.

She had cried endlessly.

Isaac had held her for hours, gently telling her not to cry, whispering that her tears would melt the snow.

But I already know what to do this time.

She had to prevent the tragedy—and figure out who was behind it.

This latest ambush had been unexpected—it didn’t exist in her past life. But now that the Marquis’ and Duke’s households had been alerted, they would surely be on guard. That gave her an advantage.

Still… What am I missing?

She clenched her jaw. So much she hadn’t seen in her last life. So many things she’d been blind to.

She felt helpless again. As if nothing she did would be enough to protect Isaac now.

Noticing her expression, Isaac stepped closer and exhaled softly.

“…?”

As Calliope stood lost in thought, Isaac reached out and gently pulled her lower lip from between her teeth. Then, with his thumb, he traced the red mark left behind.

“You’ll leave a mark on your lip.”

“Ah…”

Her ears flushed pink. Isaac had never been this forward before—not with physical contact. She gave an awkward little smile, still touching her lip.

“I was just… thinking.”

“Don’t worry too much.”

He brushed her lip one more time with his thumb, then slowly let go—with just a hint of reluctance in his eyes.

“I won’t leave your side. That way, neither of us will be alone… right?”

Calliope stared at him, momentarily speechless.

When did my fiancé grow up like this…?

He was still so young—barely an adult—but he now stood tall, over 190 cm. Even as she clung to him, he towered over her. His broad shoulders no longer looked boyish. He had become a man.

Her cheeks were still warm.

“W-Well… that works.”

“Good. Then I’ll go inform the Marquis.”

“R-Really?”

She hadn’t expected him to be so serious about staying that close. Caught off guard, Calliope quickly stood up from her seat. Isaac took a small step back and nodded, then added quietly:

“But… we can’t share the same room.”

“Eh…”

“…We can’t.”

“Alright.”

She let go—reluctantly—of the hope she’d secretly been entertaining. Fortunately, Ilhan and Kirke had been so surprised by the situation that they ended up allowing Isaac to stay at the Marquis estate, albeit reluctantly. What they didn’t know was that Calliope had skillfully persuaded them to place his room right next door to hers. That part, she kept to herself.

Even so, something about the whole arrangement felt odd to Calliope. Sitting on the couch with her legs crossed, she furrowed her brows.

“What exactly is going on here?”

“It’s for your safety, my lady,” Jack answered dutifully.

“That’s not what I meant, Jack.”

After the birthday party—and the ambush—Isaac wasn’t the only one glued to her side. Three knights from the Anastas family had also been assigned to guard her now. And Calliope, who never enjoyed being surrounded by people, let out a long sigh.

“I already told you. They weren’t after me.”

“I remember. Still, you’ll be traveling with Sir Isaac Esteban, right? It’s just a precaution.”

“How much did the Marchioness pay you to say that?”

“Not much.”

“You’re driving me insane.”

She let out another sigh, then turned her gaze to Isaac.

“Isaac… No, never mind.”

“Yes?”

He looked as if he was more than content with the current arrangement. After all, the finest knights from the Anastas family were now guarding Calliope. He doubted his own strength—he didn’t know how powerful he might become in the future, but he knew he wasn’t strong enough yet.

Calliope, unaware of what was going through his mind, decided not to argue anymore and simply let her aching temples rest for the time being.

“I need to go shopping.”

“Yes!”

“Of course!”

“Understood!”

“Yes, my lady!”

“…I only need one person to answer, thank you.”

The only one who didn’t respond was Jack, who looked at her proudly, as if to say, Didn’t I do a good job? She ignored him. That smug face was oddly annoying today.

With her three knights, her fiancé, Jack, and Susan all in tow, Calliope headed out to shop. Even Lady Berchia didn’t have this kind of entourage when she left the house. Well… Otis Glayderth had a similar one now, ever since the kidnapping incident. How did Calliope know?

…

…

Because she ran into him while shopping.

Otis had one aide and four guards with him. The two groups locked eyes briefly—both sides looked equally exhausted—and gave each other the shortest, most polite nod possible before walking on without a word. They didn’t need to say anything. It was the silent agreement of two people who had absolutely no desire to make their day more tiring than it already was.

If their groups had merged, they would’ve looked like a noble sightseeing tour with over ten people. Not the most subtle company.

The first place Calliope visited was a jewelry store, followed by the boutique she had personally helped open for Romanda.

“Welcome!”

“Oh! Lady Anastas! Over here, please!”

As soon as her name was called, Romanda came rushing out from inside, lifting her dress slightly as she hurried to greet her. Now known proudly as Madame Romanda, she looked radiant with confidence, chest puffed out with pride.

“Welcome, my lady!”

“I just came by to see how your shop was doing.”

“It’s going well—very well. Do you know how many appointments we’re getting in a day now?”

“Your talent is finally shining through.”

Romanda smiled, though a little awkwardly.

“My skills help, yes… but the models make all the difference. Many customers ask for dresses similar to the ones you’ve worn.”

“That’s still your work, isn’t it? Don’t be so modest.”

Romanda had always taken pride in her abilities, but seeing the dresses in other high-end shops across the capital had shaken her confidence. They sparkled with gems, were made from the finest silks, and exuded opulence. She’d worked hard to rise above that feeling of inferiority.

One way she did it was by offering personalized service to her most elite clients.

“Actually, I was about to call on you soon. I’ve been thinking about a new dress design, specifically for you.”

“Oh? Really?”

“Yes. With the palace ball coming up at the end of the month, and your fiancé’s birthday celebration as well, it’s best to start preparations early.”

“You even know my fiancé’s birthday now?”

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