Find the One Who Abandoned Me - Chapter 85

“I know it’s a bit forward, but since I’m already here,  would it be alright if I stayed for dinner? Your sister is absolutely adorable.”

“…Adorable in many different ways.”

There was a slight crack in his tone. Calliope pretended not to notice. Words of comfort offered by someone who only sees the surface often do more harm than good.

“I’ll ask my mother about dinner arrangements. In the meantime, where would you like to wait?”

“Let’s see… I do enjoy reading, so the library would be perfect.”

“Understood. I’ll speak with my mother about dinner, then. Please wait there for a little while.”

“Thank you for being so accommodating on such short notice.”

“Not at all.”

Gillan shook his head and personally led her to the estate’s library. It wasn’t as large as the one in the Marquess’ estate, but the shelves were filled edge to edge with well-worn books, showing signs of frequent use. He pointed out sections as he guided her in.

“Over there are the history books. That section holds swordsmanship manuals. And those are for etiquette and academic texts.”

“Looks like you’ve read everything in here.”

He gave a faint, almost amused smile.

“…It’s been a long time.”

“So, you read them all when you were young. That’s impressive.”

Calliope moved toward the bookshelves and scanned the spines, then turned back toward him.

“I’ll spend my time here while you handle your business. I’ll stay right here and behave.”

“Alright. I’ll be back shortly, then.”

“Take care.”

She watched him quietly as he gave her a short bow and left the library. Once he was gone, Calliope looked around and muttered to herself.

“This place… something still feels off. Don’t you think, Jack?”

“Huh? I wasn’t sleeping!”

He gave her a startled look, as if trying to convince her otherwise. She looked at him like she’d just caught him napping on his feet.

Calliope sighed and pointed to a seat near the desk.

“Go on. Get some rest.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“You’ve really taken to that title, huh?”

“At this moment, I love it.”

Without hesitation, he slumped onto the desk and was out cold in seconds. The knights standing nearby looked at him in disbelief, but Calliope waved them off with a smile—don’t worry about it.

She turned her attention back to the shelves and began browsing between them. Having read quite a few books in both past and present, there wasn’t much that caught her eye. Skimming through some heavier titles she knew she wouldn’t finish quickly, she gradually found herself wandering toward the inner shelves.

The library was already dim, but as she moved deeper into the most hidden corner, it felt like dusk—shadows thickened like night.

And that’s when she noticed something.

“A magic section?”

It wasn’t a large shelf, but the collection was packed tight—books stacked atop each other, jammed in every space, forming something like a wall of knowledge. It almost looked like a bricked-up corner.

Calliope frowned in curiosity. Magic and swordsmanship may both draw on internal energy, but they’re practiced so differently that magical knowledge usually held little value in a martial household like this.

“Did they just shove everything in here randomly? But then… why is there no dust?”

Someone had clearly been reading these.

She leaned in closer, scanning the shelves, until her eyes landed on a title written in unfamiliar script. It wasn’t too different from the language they used now, but the shapes were just odd enough to render it unreadable.

“Ma…”

Ma… what? Was it just another spellbook?

She stared at the strange letters, trying to make sense of them. No other books nearby had similar markings, and beside that odd one was a noticeable gap—like someone had recently removed a volume.

Before she could think any further, Gillan’s voice called out behind her. Calliope quickly stood up and headed toward the history section, careful not to look like she’d seen anything unusual. She peered out casually from behind the shelves.

“You’re back already?”

“Yes. My mother agreed to it. But she’d prefer an earlier dinner. Would that be alright?”

“What time are we talking about?”

“She’s thinking a little after five.”

“That’s perfectly fine. I appreciate her hospitality.”

“Of course. And… what were you looking at just now?”

“Oh, the history books. I’ve read the basics before, but I noticed a few titles here I didn’t recognize. Could you recommend something?”

“Certainly.”

Gillan walked up beside her and pretended to inspect the shelves. But before responding, his eyes flicked briefly toward the far end of the library—toward the shelf with the spellbooks.

“Nothing else caught your interest?”

Calliope replied with complete innocence.

“I did take a look at a swordsmanship theory book, but honestly, I can never seem to understand those. That’s why I came here instead. Are there any you personally enjoyed?”

“Ah, yes. This one here…”

The dining room, though too large to be called modest, had a warm, cozy atmosphere—almost like a well-furnished cottage. It was a stark contrast to the formal, distant feel of the Marquess’ estate. She could sense how the Count’s family lived. But there was something else.

“I got praised by my fencing instructor today!”

“Really?”

“Yes! He said my thrusts were perfect!”

“That’s my daughter.”

And yet Gillan isn’t part of this picture at all.

Calliope chewed her food slowly, feeling uncomfortable as she listened to the warm exchange between the count and his daughter. The count and countess appeared to have a close relationship, and they clearly adored their younger child.

But that was the extent of it. Though they included Calliope in conversation, not once did they direct a single question to Gillan, who sat quietly at the table beside her.

Then, as if on cue, the Countess asked,

“By the way, how did you and Gillan come to know each other? He’s never really been one to invite people.”

She spoke as if talking about someone she barely knew.

Calliope paused, swallowing before answering calmly.

“We danced once at the debutante ball. Later, he sent a birthday gift when I held a celebration. That’s how I remembered him.”

“A personal gift? To a lady already engaged?”

The Count’s tone was subtly disapproving. Calliope answered wisely.

“No, it was sent under his family’s name. And among my peers, Gillan was the only one from a noble house of similar standing. I sent him an invitation out of courtesy, and he was kind enough to reply. I simply appreciate the gesture.”

“I see…”

The tension in the Count’s expression faded. A man known for beauty and warmth, speaking so coldly, didn’t quite match his public reputation. Though, to be fair, he had been perfectly warm—when speaking to his daughter. It seemed Gillan alone was excluded.

Calliope felt a tightness in her stomach. Her appetite vanished.

“Gillan has always been a bit frail. He doesn’t socialize much, and he’s not particularly skilled at anything…”

Though the Countess’ voice was full of concern, her words were not. She belittled him so naturally, she didn’t seem to realize it was inappropriate to say such things in front of a guest. Or perhaps she simply didn’t care.

Calliope’s lips curved into a sharp, amused smile, but before she could respond, Kelly suddenly piped up.

“Oh, that’s right! Lady Anastas, you said today that Gillan has talent!”

“Gillan has talent?” the Countess echoed.

“That’s hard to believe,” the Count added.

Calliope put her utensils down. Her usual etiquette was flawless—but this time, she made sure her silverware clinked against the plate.

“The only reason his talent hasn’t been recognized is because the people looking at him are too narrow-minded. He has qualities anyone could see—if they simply looked. It’s a shame no one in his own family has noticed. Still, with such a kind family and a devoted sister, I’m sure he’ll bloom in time.”

She meant it—but it was also a pointed jab.

Despite knowing how nobility operates with ruthless logic, something about Gillan lingered in her mind.

She stood from the table.

“I’m not feeling well. May I be excused?”

“O-Of course…”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t stay until the end. Thank you for your hospitality.”

Without hesitation, Calliope left the dining room with Jack and the knights trailing behind. Her heels echoed down the quiet hall.

Then, the sound of quick footsteps came rushing up behind her.

She turned—and saw platinum-blonde hair. It was Gillan.

Before she could speak, he stepped in front of her and asked bluntly:

“How did you know?”

Know what?

“That I have another kind of talent.”

“It would be strange not to notice.”

Your talent is that face, she thought. Anyone who doesn’t see it must be blind.

“When did you find out?”

“When do you think?”

Calliope answered playfully, pretending to know more than she did—and it worked.

“So you did see the spellbooks in the library earlier.”

Ah. Gotcha.

“When did you first suspect I had magical ability?”

“From the very beginning.”

He probably thought she was referring to his magical aptitude. But again, in her mind, she meant his looks. That face.

“…You have good intuition.”

“I hear that a lot. But don’t worry. I’m the only one who’s figured it out. I have no intention of telling anyone.”

“…”

“Was there anything else? If not, I’ll be going.”

She turned to leave, but had barely taken a few steps when his voice followed behind.

“That doesn’t make it a weakness for me.”

“Understood.”

Calliope bit back a smile.

If it’s not a weakness, then it must mean you have something bigger to hide.

And when she finally walked far enough that he was nothing more than a speck behind her, she smiled brightly.

“This is getting interesting.”

If that wasn’t his weakness, then it meant he was hiding something even more important. And maybe… he was still too young to realize just how obvious it was.

So easy to read.

With an unexpected piece of the puzzle in hand, Calliope returned to the Marquess’ estate.

Support