Leave the Villainous Second Male Lead Alone - Chapter 2.18

However, if I had known this would make Callisto cry, I would have forced myself to hold it in.

Looking up at me with big eyes, Callisto’s eyes quickly filled with tears. Panicking, I quickly pulled him into my arms.

“Baby, why are you crying? Don’t cry, okay?”

“Why don’t you believe me? I really love you, hyung…”

I tried to soothe the child.

“Okay, okay. I know. I do.”

“Liar. You don’t know anything.”

Callisto’s golden eyes brimmed with tears, his voice trembling with resentment.

“I know how to love too!”

“…”

I was at a loss for words.

“Do you think I can’t really love someone just because I’m a kid?”

“…”

Well… honestly, wouldn’t anyone think that, my dear?

But I couldn’t say that out loud, so I silently pulled Callisto into a tight hug.

For a while, Callisto remained upset with me. Even Father noticed and asked me about it.

“Did something happen between you and Callisto, Etienne?”

I was sitting on the long couch in the study, feeling awkward as I closed my book.

To be fair, Callisto might have been sulking during the day, but he still crawled into my bed at night. He could have just slept in his own room, but no—he would come over, turn his back to me, and fall asleep. Every time I looked at his small head turned away, I had to stifle a laugh. Still, I couldn’t just let things be, and I was wondering how to make things right.

“Well… Callisto got a little upset with me.”

“Hmm? Why would he be upset? You two get along so well.”

“That’s the problem—we get along too well.”

Father looked puzzled by my resigned sigh. Smiling awkwardly, I explained the situation.

“…He asked me to marry him. Said he’d manifest as an omega.”

“What? Hahaha, Callisto said that?”

It must have been unexpected for Father too. When Callisto had said it to me, I’d been speechless for a while, so it made sense. Feeling embarrassed about having been proposed to by the child I was practically raising, I avoided Father’s gaze and pretended to be distracted.

But after laughing for a while, Father muttered something surprising, almost to himself.

“Well, if you’re both happy, I don’t see why not. You won’t find many like Callisto. If he manifests as an alpha, it could even be a good match.”

“Pardon? Father, what are you saying?”

I jumped in shock. Why was he seriously considering the child’s proposal? And officially, Callisto is… my half-brother?

Father seemed to notice my pale face and sobered up. Clearing his throat, he sat in the chair across from me, looking like he was about to have a serious conversation.

“Etienne, there’s something I need to tell you. It’s long overdue.”

“Yes?”

Father’s expression was grave, and he looked somewhat tense. Straightening my posture, I looked up at him.

In a heavy voice, he began.

“I’ve heard that you learned about Callisto through other nobles.”

“Ah…”

He was referring to the rumor that Callisto wasn’t just a ward but Father’s illegitimate child, which I’d heard during my first banquet with Callisto.

I’d always known his true identity, so it didn’t bother me. But in the original story, Etienne was deeply hurt by this revelation.

“I’m sorry you had to hear it from someone else. I thought you were too young to know the truth, so I planned to tell you later. I didn’t realize how much it would hurt you. That was my failure.”

Father’s apology caught me off guard—it was something that hadn’t happened in the original story. Although he loved his son, the Count never revealed the truth or apologized, leaving Etienne to resent him for years. I swallowed hard, surprised.

Father continued, his face clouded with regret.

“You’re all grown up now, but I still saw you as a child. I’m sorry I didn’t trust you sooner, Etienne.”

“Father…”

But his confession didn’t end there. With a determined expression, he took a deep breath before looking me in the eye.

“Etienne, you’re old enough now to take responsibility for your actions. There’s something you need to know about Callisto.”

“…Yes?”

“Do you remember the Second Prince who went missing from the palace seven years ago?”

Of course, I remembered. According to the original story, Empress Marie Louise was murdered by assassins sent by the Empress shortly after giving birth to Callisto, the Second Prince. A nurse had escaped the palace with Callisto with the help of the royal guard, leading to the infamous “Second Prince’s Disappearance” incident.

The Empress had pinned the blame on another consort out of jealousy. Although there were many suspicious details, the Empress was backed by the powerful Harrington Duke family, so even the judiciary couldn’t fully investigate the case. In the end, the scapegoated consort was executed, marking the case as closed.

Since then, the Emperor had been searching for Callisto. However, as long as the Empress and Harrington were in power, bringing the young prince back to the palace would have been a death sentence. No matter how much the Emperor tried to protect him, the danger would have been unavoidable.

The Count’s household was the safest place for Callisto. Until he could build his power, revealing his identity to anyone was out of the question.

Father had hidden the truth from me to protect Callisto and our family. A single careless word from me could have put us all in danger.

“…I remember.”

But now, Father was revealing Callisto’s identity to me.

“Callisto isn’t related to you by blood, Etienne. His body bears the ‘Mark of the Prince,’ which appears when exposed to sunlight. You know what that means.”

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Father trusted me despite the risks. This was his way of officially recognizing me as the heir to the Winnyates family and acknowledging that I was no longer a child.

From now on, I had to protect Callisto’s secret and safeguard the family as its guardian.

When I returned to my room, Callisto was already buried in the bed, only his eyes peeking out.

“Why are you so late? I was waiting for you. Can’t you come back earlier?”

“…”

I hadn’t even accepted his proposal, but he was already acting like a betrothed. Callisto still seemed upset, tapping the spot next to him with his hand.

“Come lie down here.”

It was both absurd and endearing, so I decided to tease him. Pretending to sulk, I replied.

“No. I’ll sleep separately tonight.”

“What? Why?”

Callisto sat up in a panic, his face full of dismay. He might have been upset, but he clearly still wanted to sleep beside me. I clenched my teeth to keep from laughing and drooped my shoulders dramatically.

“You always turn your back on me and sleep far away. I feel too hurt to sleep together.”

His golden eyes trembled, like an earthquake had struck them. Callisto fidgeted nervously, mumbling as he asked.

“Were you… upset?”

“Of course I was. It made me so sad I wanted to cry every day.”

“What? You can’t cry!”

Clearly flustered, Callisto flailed his small arms like a baby bird trying to take flight. Tilting my head toward him, I asked.

“So, will you stop turning your back?”

“If I stop turning my back, you won’t cry?”

“Baby, I asked first. You have to answer me.”

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