Leave the Villainous Second Male Lead Alone - Chapter 2.6

Come to think of it, my eyes were violet. I’d forgotten, since I rarely looked in the mirror. Lawrence continued, reminding me of something I hadn’t thought about in a while.

“And they look so bright against your silver hair. They’re truly beautiful, just like you, Etienne.”

“Uh… thanks.”

Lawrence mentioned that the flowers were grown in his family’s garden, and they were indeed lovely. Though I wasn’t particularly interested in flowers, Callisto, with his surprisingly delicate tastes, would probably be delighted to have them.

“But Etienne, since Yves and the others are no longer part of the lessons, I was thinking that maybe going forward, it could just be the two of us…”

Lawrence’s soft voice trailed off as he began his suggestion, but the door suddenly burst open. A loud clatter of footsteps preceded Callisto leaping onto my bed and burying himself in my arms.

“Brother, are you okay? I heard that fox was here!”

“…”

The fox… Lawrence’s previously gentle expression twisted in an instant.

“Sorry, Lawrence. Callisto is still recovering, so he needs to stay in bed. I hope you understand.”

In truth, Callisto had fully recovered ages ago. His bruises had long faded, and his youthful body had healed astonishingly fast. However, his perfectly healthy appearance made my excuse all the more awkward as I tried to justify it to Lawrence.

“…I see. But won’t having him in bed with you make things uncomfortable, Etienne?”

Lawrence’s stiff tone betrayed his displeasure. Even someone as polite and kind as him seemed to find Callisto’s behavior rude. And who could blame him? Callisto had brazenly jumped into bed and was now clinging to my waist, all while Lawrence, our guest, watched. I broke out in a cold sweat. With Lawrence forming such a negative impression of Callisto, it seemed even more unlikely they would end up together.

Meanwhile, Callisto appeared blissfully unconcerned. Pressing his cheek against my chest, he glared at Lawrence with a pointed expression and sniped back.

“I’m not uncomfortable at all! Etienne and I always sleep together. You wouldn’t know that, would you?”

“…Always?”

“Oh, that’s…”

In noble families, it was uncommon for siblings to share a bed. Embarrassed, I hurriedly tried to explain away Callisto’s remark.

“Callisto sometimes has nightmares, so I stay with him to help him feel safe. That’s all.”

“Ah, I see. Well, that makes sense. Callisto is still very—young, after all.”

Lawrence’s expression softened slightly as he shrugged, but his tone still carried an edge. Callisto, however, stiffened at the remark. I didn’t want him to say something else that could make the situation worse, so I quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway, Lawrence, what were you saying earlier about the lessons? You were talking about continuing them?”

“Ah, yes. Even with Yves and the others gone, I’d like to keep going with the lessons. If you’re okay with it, I’ll let my father know.”

“Really?”

I felt relieved. I’d been dreading the prospect of convincing the Count on my own, but with Duke Armagnac’s support, things would be much easier. I nodded enthusiastically.

“Of course, I’d love that. Isn’t that great, Callisto?”

Callisto, however, didn’t look thrilled. His expression was sour, and when I turned to look at Lawrence, his face didn’t look much better. The two of them spoke at the same time.

“Do we really have to do it with that fox?”

“Callisto too?”

Callisto had been so happy when he first joined the lessons, and Lawrence had even helped make it happen. Why were they suddenly acting like this? Flustered, I looked back and forth between them before an idea struck me.

“Now that I think about it, isn’t three people a bit too few? What if we add a few more? I have some people in mind. Lawrence, do you think you could ask your father about it?”

“…Three more people? Who?”

Lawrence’s voice dropped a notch as he asked. Though his tone was hard to read, I couldn’t imagine someone as kind as him opposing the idea. Smiling, I replied.

“The twin siblings from Viscount Gillos’ family and Lady Berringham from the Marquisate. I’ve wanted to get to know them better for a while. This seems like a good chance to build some friendships. Gillos is skilled in combat, and I’ve heard Lady Berringham is incredibly intelligent.”

“…You want to befriend them?”

Lawrence’s murmur carried a trace of suspicion.

As our conversation dragged on, Callisto tugged at my sleeve. Having grown up lonely, he often sought my attention when he felt ignored. I stroked his cheek, prompting him to tilt his head and ask.

“Who are they? Do you like them, Brother?”

“Hmm?”

Callisto’s amber eyes seemed to gleam for a moment.

I hadn’t even met the Gillos twins or Lady Berringham before. They weren’t of high enough rank to attend the Count’s previous banquet.

The Viscount of Gillos was closer to the middle class than true nobility, and the Berringham family, though once a marquisate, was so destitute that rumors of their impending removal from the noble registry abounded.

Still, I had my reasons for wanting to bring them into the group. It certainly wasn’t because I liked them.

“No, I don’t even know them,” I replied, shaking my head at Callisto. “But they all have great reputations, so I think they could make wonderful friends.”

For Callisto, not me.

Callisto’s amber eyes seemed to flash brightly.

I had never met the children of Gilloth and Beringham. They weren’t high-ranking nobles who would have been invited to the banquet at the count’s estate last time.

Gilloth, a baronet, was closer to the middle class than to the nobility. Beringham was a marquess family, but it had fallen so far from grace that rumors suggested it would soon be expelled from the aristocratic registry.

Despite their background, there was a reason to recruit them. It certainly wasn’t because I “liked” those children.

I shook my head toward Callisto.

“No, I don’t even know their faces. But all three of them have good reputations, so they could make good friends.”

More for Callisto than for myself.

The Gilloth twins were still children. However, in a few years, they would become some of the empire’s most outstanding swordsmen. In the original story, they aspired to join the imperial knights, but due to their low rank, they were discriminated against and excluded by other nobles, preventing them from achieving their dream.

Later, they joined the imperial navy, where they met Callisto. As Callisto’s loyal subordinates, they played a significant role in his rise to the position of crown prince.

However, this time, Callisto wasn’t going to join the military. So, it would be better to take this opportunity to help him befriend the Gilloth twins.

As for the young lady of the Beringham family…

“She was a genius who invented the first copper cannon.”

Thinking of Beringham’s accomplishments, I couldn’t help but smile slightly.

In the original story, Gilloth served under Callisto, but Beringham was different. She was from a region adjacent to the Harrington estate. A few years later, she invented a copper cannon far superior in performance to existing ones. However, this technology was ultimately stolen by the Harrington duchy.

The cannon, which should have been known as the “Beringham Cannon,” instead gained fame under the name “Harrington Cannon,” leading to a dramatic enhancement of Harrington’s military strength. The original inventor, Lady Beringham, was imprisoned in a dungeon by the Empress and the Duke of Harrington, who sought to monopolize her technology. She met a tragic end there.

Since the Beringham family had long been in decline, Lady Beringham was likely being neglected and self-studying without proper education at this point. If I could bring her to the Wynyeats’ side, it would be a great boon. Not only that, but it would also allow her to escape the tragic fate depicted in the original story.

Given that I had decided not to send Callisto to the navy, I needed a different means to restore his status and complete his revenge. The Peron Empire permitted private armies for nobles, so I planned to strengthen Wynyeats’ private forces. In the original story, the Harrington duchy’s dominance stemmed from their powerful private army, bolstered by their immense wealth. If I could recruit Lady Beringham, it would simultaneously weaken Harrington’s forces and enhance Wynyeats’ power.

That’s why Callisto’s question about whether I liked them enough to befriend them was both absurd and endearing. I felt a pang of guilt for being so calculating in arranging friends for him. Gently patting his cheek, I soothed him as I replied.

“They’re all your age. I just want you to have friends.”

“Really? You don’t like them, right? Then do whatever you want, Hyung.”

Callisto seemed relieved by my response. Without being asked, he generously gave his “permission” to proceed, as if doing me a favor. Not that it mattered whether Callisto approved or not—this plan was moving forward regardless.

Moreover, the way Callisto squinted his big eyes and smiled so adorably almost made me want to hug him and smother him with kisses like I usually did. But not in front of Lawrence. I couldn’t risk looking like a doting fool in front of the duke’s son. Clearing my throat, I tried to calm my heart, which was fluttering because of Callisto.

Lawrence, on the other hand, still looked displeased.

“But… do we really have to? Etienne and I could just…”

“No! I’m joining too!” Callisto interjected.

Did Lawrence still dislike Callisto? Considering all of Callisto’s past antics, it wouldn’t be surprising. However, this was one matter where I couldn’t yield.

Gently brushing aside the black hair on Callisto’s round forehead, I spoke softly.

“I’m sorry, Lawrence. But Callisto is my brother. I can’t leave him out.”

“Hyung, but we’re not real brothers—”

Callisto’s quick remark was promptly cut off by Lawrence.

“I wasn’t thinking, Etienne. Of course, Callisto should be included. After all, he’s your ‘younger brother.’ Isn’t that right, little brother?”

“What do you mean, younger brother, you sly fox!”

Callisto flailed his short limbs and jumped up and down in protest. Regardless, Lawrence gave me a slightly troubled smile as he looked at me kindly.

“But do we really need to add more people? I think the three of us are enough for the lessons.”

“Oh… is that what you think?”

I hadn’t expected Lawrence to object, and his reluctance made me anxious.

‘Why is he against this? Could it be because of Gilloth’s or Beringham’s social status?’

The Armagnac duchy was one of the most prestigious noble families in the empire. In fact, aside from Harrington—the family of the Empress herself—Armagnac was the only ducal family. Naturally, it wasn’t the kind of household expected to share lessons with children of a baronet or a fallen marquess.

However, Lawrence had personally intervened to include Callisto, who was widely rumored to be illegitimate, in his lessons. His naturally kind temperament made me think he would readily agree and even help persuade the adults. I looked at Lawrence with a flustered expression.

At that moment, Callisto, who had been sitting close to me and sneaking glances, suddenly sprang up. His voice was brash and commanding as he scolded Lawrence.

“If Etienne wants it, what does it matter to you? If you don’t like it, you can leave!”

“…Callisto.”

I sighed quietly. I’d been wondering why Callisto was unusually calm today.

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