Leave the Villainous Second Male Lead Alone - Chapter 2.2

“I don’t… I don’t want this! That wasn’t part of the plan. I don’t want to take lessons with him!” It was Yves.

“Yves, my boy…” The Viscount glanced at the Count with a troubled expression but didn’t make any effort to stop Yves.

It was clear he shared Yves’ reluctance to include Callisto, whom he regarded as illegitimate.

The two boys sitting beside Yves also looked displeased. The Count’s expression hardened as he observed them. Yet, even he couldn’t entirely dismiss the opinions of a viscount and his heir. Tears welled up in my eyes as I glanced back and forth between the Count and the others. In the original story, though the plot ultimately led to tragedy, Lawrence was Callisto’s only love and savior. If Callisto couldn’t join this group and earn Lawrence’s affection, the romance would be stripped from this tragic romance. What would remain then? “Just tragedy…” My face paled. I didn’t want to meddle in someone else’s love story, but if it directly impacted my own death flags, that was a different matter.

Somewhere along the line, something had gone terribly wrong. “Oh, what do I do now?” As I chewed on my lower lip, wracking my brain for a solution, a low sigh broke the silence. Glancing sideways, I saw Lawrence slowly begin to speak. “It doesn’t seem right to exclude Callisto when we’re all staying under the same roof. I think he should join the lessons.”

“Young Master.” “If Viscount Camois’ heir and the others truly object, then I’ll withdraw from the group as well. I’ll ask my father to arrange separate lessons for me, Etienne, and Callisto.” In this strictly hierarchical society, neither a viscount nor a count could raise their voice against a duke. Lawrence invoked his father, the Duke of Armagnac, to pressure the Viscount.

In the original story, this was precisely how Lawrence ensured Callisto’s inclusion in the group.

Displeasure was evident on both Viscount Camois and Yves’ faces, but they had no choice but to back down.

“Very well. We’ll proceed as the Young Master suggests. Yves, you will abide by this, and I’ll hear no further complaints.” “

But, Father—” “Quiet. Count, let’s move on. I have much to report regarding the new harbor investment.”

“Let’s do that.”

Only then did I feel relieved. Lawrence was still Lawrence. Even though things seemed to deviate slightly from the original story, they eventually returned to the proper course. I turned to Lawrence and nodded. “Thank you.” Lawrence tilted his head, one corner of his mouth curling up. His chestnut eyes sparkled.

“You owe me one.”

“…What?” Why did his gaze feel so chilly? A shiver ran down my spine as I rubbed the back of my neck. The fine hairs there stood on end. Lawrence was still smiling brightly, but something about him felt different. He didn’t entirely match the “gentle savior” described in the original story.

His behavior toward Callisto at the banquet had also left me unsettled. In the original, Lawrence was steadfast and unwavering once he gave his heart to someone. Shoving aside my uneasy feelings, I waited for the tutor to arrive, but Callisto burst into the library, radiating excitement. “Etienne!” He threw himself at me, wrapping his arms around my waist and nearly toppling me over. If Lawrence hadn’t caught me quickly, I would have fallen backward.

After regaining my balance, I clicked my tongue and lightly scolded Callisto. “Sweetheart, that’s dangerous. Be careful.”

“Mm…” Callisto, however, was too busy nuzzling his cheek against my chest to listen. Perhaps I’d spoiled him too much. But ever since that stormy night when I found him crying and trembling, I couldn’t help but be soft toward him. No matter how much he clung to me, I couldn’t bring myself to push him away.

However, this wasn’t a space for just me and Callisto. His behavior was far from proper, and I was about to reprimand him lightly when Lawrence spoke up in a calm voice. “Etienne almost fell because of you. Be careful, kid.”

“Who are you calling a kid?”

“Is there anyone else here who fits the description?”

“Why am I a kid? I’m only two years younger than you! If I’m a kid, then so are you!” “Two years is a big difference. I’ve lived hundreds more nights than you!” Callisto, who was already childlike by nature, was one thing, but even Lawrence, who was far more mature for his age, turned into a squabbling child whenever he faced Callisto.

Why were they like this every time they met? Listening to the two of them bicker gave me a headache. “…Enough, both of you.” Still, Lawrence wasn’t wrong. This kid was mine, not his. But thinking about it, Callisto was destined to become Lawrence’s “kid” eventually. I could tolerate this much—until Yves interjected with a sneer. “Trash stays trash. Look at his rudeness—what else would you expect from a bastard?” This was something I couldn’t overlook. I glared at Yves, preparing to stand up, but Callisto clung tightly to my waist, preventing me from rising. Sighing, I gently patted his back and sat him down next to me. Yves glared at us, his brow deeply furrowed and his eyes flashing with contempt. “Why are you clinging to something so lowly?” Though Yves continued to mock us, I forced myself to stay calm. I hadn’t yet figured out how to deal with him or Viscount Camois, so I decided to bide my time until a plan came to mind.

But Yves didn’t make it easy. “Where did you even pick up that stray? Look at how filthy and disgusting he is. Don’t you smell the stench of the slums, Etienne? Your tolerance is truly impressive.” Was this really coming out of a 12-year-old’s mouth? I turned to Yves in disbelief, only to find him smirking at me.

A dry laugh escaped me. ‘Viscount Camois must have told him to get along with me, but I suppose he’s too young to understand that.’

The viscount had likely arranged this group to foster a connection between Yves and me. In the original story, Yves and his friends clung to Etienne, never leaving his side. The Count’s household had been exploited by Viscount Camois, partly because Etienne had fallen for Yves’ charm. Whenever Yves made a request, Etienne would beg his father to fulfill it, no matter what. To Etienne, who had grown up lonely, Yves was his first and most treasured friend.

The problem was that Yves only saw Etienne as a means to an end.

Fortunately, the situation had changed. Because I had stood by Callisto from the beginning, Yves now treated me with hostility instead of manipulating me. Then, I remembered what the Viscount had said to the Count before leaving earlier. At the time, I had been so focused on ensuring Callisto’s inclusion in the group that I hadn’t paid attention, but now I recalled his mention of “new harbor investments.” So, the time for that had already arrived. If that was the case, I needed to sever the Count’s ties with Viscount Camois before things progressed further.

The project that the Viscount had pushed aggressively, one that required pouring a significant portion of the Winyeates family’s assets, would end in complete failure a few years later. Perhaps it would be better to make an outright enemy of Yves now. After all, children’s fights often escalated into conflicts between adults. With that thought, I hardened my expression and delivered my retort coldly. “Obviously, my tolerance is remarkable, considering I’ve been putting up with you.” Yves’ face twisted in shock, and the boys sitting beside him froze, their expressions hardening.

“What? Filthy and disgusting? Smelling like the slums? Yves, no matter what you think, Callisto is a child of the Winyeates family.

Even if the sky splits in two, Callisto is my little brother. And yet you dare insult him?” Callisto tugged at my sleeve and whispered softly, his voice only loud enough for me to hear. “I’m not really your brother…” “Stay quiet, sweetheart. I’ll handle this.” “No, I mean… the sky doesn’t have to split in two…”

“Quiet, Callisto. Etienne is absolutely right.”

“Why don’t you stay quiet, you sly fox?” Callisto snapped at Lawrence. While the two muttered on either side of me, I didn’t look at them. My mind had already gone cold, and Yves’ face had turned a deep shade of gray. “Does Viscount Camois know how ill-mannered his son is? With an heir like you, he must find himself in quite a predicament.”

“What did you say, you bastard?”

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