Find the One Who Abandoned Me - Chapter 84

“Lady Anastas?”

“Oh—! I just meant I agreed with you.”

Calliope smiled gently, steering the conversation in a new direction. That’s right. Isaac is focused on swordsmanship right now, so it makes sense he would admire a knight like that.

With that thought, she quietly closed the book and returned it to its shelf. A glance at the clock told her it was nearly eleven.

“It looks like it’s about time for you to go, Isaac. What time will you be home today?”

“I’ll finish around nine.”

“Oh no, then we probably won’t get to have dinner together. But you’ll still have time to see me for a bit, right?”

“Of course.”

With a soft smile, she walked him to the entrance. She waved until his carriage disappeared, then slowly lowered her arm. Isaac had definitely grown brighter than before—she was glad for that. But something still felt off. It left a strange, unsettled feeling in her chest.

With a deep sigh, Calliope turned and headed back to her office.

“I’ve got an appointment. Bring the knights,” she told Jack.

“Then, should I…?”

“Yes, you’re coming with me.”

Jack jumped to his feet.

“And don’t even think about just waiting in the carriage while I take care of things.”

His shoulders sagged as he dragged himself off to gather the knights.

Susan watched with absolutely no sympathy on her face.

“Didn’t you send him to bed early so he could get up at dawn?”

“I did.”

“Hmph.”

As her maid, Susan had woken up even earlier than Calliope to help her prepare. Seeing Jack dragging himself around despite a full night’s sleep clearly annoyed her.

“You can rest here, Susan. I’ll be back soon—I’m just running an errand.”

“Thank you, my lady.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Calliope left for the Andres estate with Jack and the knights. Jack dozed off in the carriage a few times, but she didn’t bother to wake him.

When they arrived, the first thing she noticed was how warm and welcoming the estate felt. The garden had been decorated to match the season, and the soft brown tones of the building gave it a calm, tidy appearance. The Andres family was known for both their beauty and their gentle nature.

As she stepped down from the carriage, she was greeted by Gillan and several servants.

“Welcome, Lady Anastas.”

“Thank you for inviting me, Master Andres.”

Since Gillan wasn’t a knight yet, she couldn’t call him “Sir.” It was curious—such a refined, noble family known for producing skilled warriors, and yet here was their son, graceful and polite, who hadn’t become a knight himself. Still, Gillan didn’t seem to mind at all. He showed no discomfort at being addressed without a title.

“Your estate is beautiful.”

“It doesn’t compare to the Marquess’ home, but my mother puts a lot of care into it.”

“It really shows.”

They strolled through the garden together. Though in truth, it wasn’t just the two of them—their personal guards trailed close behind, making the whole thing feel more like a formal outing than a casual visit.

Calliope found something strange about the Andres knights walking behind them.

The Andres knights seem… off.

They were supposedly there to protect Gillan, but their sharp, watchful eyes made it feel more like he was being monitored. Calliope didn’t let on, and instead kept up light conversation as they moved deeper into the estate for a brief tour. But the uneasy feeling didn’t go away.

“This is a small inner garden we keep inside the house. My mother loves flowers.”

Yet the gardeners tending those flowers didn’t stop to greet Gillan as he walked by.

“I hope you like the tea.”

The maids serving tea were perfectly polite to Calliope—but oddly indifferent toward Gillan. Not rude, just… distant. Most wouldn’t have noticed, but Calliope did. It wasn’t about having good instincts—it came from experience. From knowing what it felt like to be on the outside.

Is he being ignored by his own family?

She knew all too well how martial families often cast aside children who failed to become knights. But even so—he was the eldest son. Then again, she herself had once been a daughter in name only. The thought made her smile to herself bitterly.

She gently set her teacup down.

“The tea is wonderful. But… are the other members of your family busy today?”

“My father is out, and my mother is likely preoccupied. My younger sibling should be finishing up their lessons with the tutor right about now.”

“Oh? That’s quite early for lessons to end.”

“Well, this is a martial household. The rest of the day is focused on sword training. My sibling was especially excited when they found out I had spoken with Duke Dailus recently.”

“Ah, because of Lady Berchia?”

“Yes. She’s achieved so much at her age already. Though… of course, not quite to the level of your fiancé.”

“Well, my fiancé is special. Even Lady Berchia acknowledged that.”

Calliope shrugged lightly, as if it were nothing.

“But since I’ve come all this way, I’d really love to meet at least one other member of the family. Could I meet your sibling for just a moment?”

Her eyes sparkled with innocent curiosity. Gillan replied with his usual gentle smile.

“…I’ll ask.”

His voice and expression didn’t waver at all. But Calliope knew.

He didn’t want her to meet them.

She didn’t ask why. Not yet. Understanding something was one thing—but knowing the truth required seeing it for herself.

Gillan politely excused himself and stepped out for a moment. Left alone, Calliope leaned her elbow against the armrest and rested her chin on her hand.

“I still can’t shake this uneasy feeling… What is it exactly?”

“Is it because he’s prettier than you, my lady?”

“Jack. Hit him.”

“Ahh! Don’t you have a sense of humor?!”

“That was punishment for the world’s worst joke. And for saying it just because I didn’t let you sleep longer.”

“…”

Jack looked guilty—caught red-handed. She didn’t understand why he even tried to hide it when it was so obvious.

About ten minutes later, they heard hurried footsteps racing down the hallway. No way that was Gillan—he wouldn’t run like that.

Then suddenly, slam! The door burst open without even a knock.

“Lady Anastas!”

A young girl with flowing golden hair and bright green eyes rushed in, her face lit up with excitement. A few seconds later, Gillan followed, slightly out of breath and wearing an apologetic smile.

“She’s still not quite used to formal etiquette. I apologize.”

“No, not at all. I’m the one who asked to see her so suddenly.”

“Oh, right! I shouldn’t have done that—I’m sorry!”

“And you should introduce yourself, too.”

The girl gave Gillan a quick glare, then turned toward Calliope with confidence.

“My name is Kelly Andres, Lady Anastas! I’m the second child of the Andres family!”

“I heard about you. Come, would you like to sit here with me?”

“Thank you!”

Kelly cheerfully sat beside Calliope, who welcomed her with warmth and gently scooted closer.

“So then, what made you run in here so fast? I was worried you might trip.”

“If you knew how many laps I run during training, you’d be surprised! I never fall!”

“That’s impressive. So how many laps do you usually run… Fifteen, perhaps?”

Kelly’s eyes widened in shock, her expression innocent and amazed.

“How did you know?!”

“Well, I’ve done a bit of sword training myself, and since my fiancé is an exceptional swordsman, I tend to learn these things whether I want to or not.”

“Oh, that’s right—Sir Esteban! Lady Anastas, if it’s not too rude, may I ask about Sir Esteban and Lady Berchia? They’re my role models!”

“Wow, you’ve got some big dreams.”

“Well, dreams should be big!”

“You’re absolutely right.”

Kelly turned fully toward her, eyes sparkling with focus and excitement. She was clearly hanging on to every word.

“I didn’t know you practiced swordsmanship too, Lady Anastas! But then again, the Marquess—your father—is also famous for his skill with the sword. That’s so amazing. People say you’re good at everything!”

“Oh my, is that what they’re saying? Well… it’s not exactly a lie.”

Kelly seemed to admire her confidence. But what she said next struck a strange chord.

“My brother is too sick to train or sit for long periods of time. So I think it’s amazing that someone with such a slim figure like you can handle so much.”

Calliope smiled, but her eyes narrowed slightly.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. My parents often use him as a lesson—they tell me to work hard so I don’t end up like him. They say I have talent with the sword, so I try really hard to make up for what my brother can’t do.”

“I see. Well, hard work is always admirable.”

Calliope glanced at Gillan. He still wore the same gentle smile, as if none of this fazed him. As if he was used to it.

Then she looked at Kelly again. The bright-eyed girl clearly meant no harm—she was just repeating what she’d heard at home. Too young to filter or question it.

Without realizing it, Calliope found herself giving a knowing smile.

“You know, from where I stand, your brother seems to have some incredible qualities of his own.”

Kelly looked genuinely surprised, as if she’d never heard anyone say that before.

“Huh? Like what?”

“Hm… that’s a secret. But discovering it for yourself—that’s how you sharpen your perspective.”

“Oh! Thank you for the lesson, my lady!”

Calliope gave her a warm smile. Soon after, it was time for Kelly’s sword training, and she politely excused herself.

Once she left, neither Gillan nor Calliope spoke for a moment.

The silence felt heavy.

Calliope’s chest ached with a strange mix of emotions. The situation reminded her both of herself and of Isaac—someone quietly enduring, giving away nothing. Holding his ground no matter what.

Still, that doesn’t explain everything. This strange feeling I’ve had from the start, it hasn’t gone away. Why is he showing interest in me?

Calliope made up her mind.

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