Leave the Villainous Second Male Lead Alone - Chapter 2.7

Lawrence seemed to be having similar thoughts. Raising an eyebrow, he clicked his tongue and responded with a rebuke.

“That’s why I keep calling you a brat, you little runt. If you don’t know anything, just stay quiet.”

“I’m not a brat! You’re the brat!”

And so, the nine-year-old and seven-year-old bickered. I began to doubt if they’d ever fall in love someday. Resting my forehead in my hand, I sighed.

“What do you know, anyway? You’re only two years older than me!” Callisto fumed.

Lawrence turned sharply toward Callisto and smirked. His smiling eyes had an oddly cold edge.

“I told you to shut up and stay quiet, didn’t I, little brat?”

“…”

A chill ran down my spine. Was Lawrence’s “gentle nature” keyword accurate? Lately, he was looking more like a budding possessive tyrant than Callisto.

“Even if you don’t like them now, you never know how things will turn out. I already have enough competition—I don’t need more people added to the mix. What’s there to like about that?”

“Competition…?”

Callisto blinked in confusion. Lawrence’s voice turned frosty as he continued.

“That’s right. They’re all competitors. You might stop chasing after Etienne when you grow up because he’s your brother, but my situation is different. So don’t get in the way and just stay put.”

What was this all about…? I couldn’t make sense of the words coming out of the nine-year-old’s mouth. While I stood dumbfounded, Callisto flailed his arms in protest.

“Why would I stop following my Hyung? I’m going to marry him when I grow up!”

“You’re saying that now because you’re a kid. Once you grow up, you won’t say ridiculous things like wanting to marry your brother. It’s not even possible!”

“What do you know? I can marry him!”

“Ugh.”

Lawrence scrunched up his face and shook his head.

“Fine, whatever. Talking to a brat like you is pointless.”

Then, leaning in, Lawrence whispered into Callisto’s ear.

“Fine, but think about this. Do you really believe those kids won’t like Etienne?”

“That’s…”

“There aren’t just one or two of them—there are three. What are you going to do if all of them start chasing after Etienne? Wouldn’t it be better if it were just you and me? Don’t you think so?”

“…You’re right…”

I could hear everything. From Lawrence’s grave whispering to Callisto’s dejected reply, the absurdity of it all left me speechless. So these kids were fighting over me now? And Callisto—was he really aiming to marry me? I hadn’t even imagined such ambitions.

I groaned and opened my mouth to speak.

“Listen, the Gilloth twins are only eight years old, and Lady Beringham isn’t even ten. They’re closer to your age than mine.”

In other words, I was about to become a glorified babysitter. While I made sacrifices, these kids were imitating love triangles. In a world without TV, where had they even learned this nonsense?

“Forget about ‘liking’ and ‘competitors.’ You’re all kids, so you should get along.”

Callisto and Lawrence simultaneously turned their heads to glare at me, their sharp eyes gleaming in unison. They only ever seemed to get along when they were united against me.

“We’re not kids! Seven isn’t that young!”

“Don’t dismiss us, Etienne. Love has nothing to do with age!”

“That fox is right! And I’m already grown up!”

“Me too!”

Sure, whatever you say…

I sighed deeply as I looked at the main characters destined for a future of passionate, obsessive, and bittersweet love, filled with regret and despair.

I’d hoped they would get along early, but it seemed unrealistic to expect them to start building romantic feelings at this age. After all, in the original story, their love had only truly blossomed after they reunited as adults.

Especially in Callisto’s case, this was still the age where I was the center of his world. With a resigned smile, I gently coaxed and calmed Callisto and Lawrence. Better to have them like me now than to hate me, as in the original story.

I just hoped they’d hold onto these feelings long enough to help me avoid my death flags.

After much cajoling, I finally secured their agreement to include the Gilloth twins and Lady Beringham. I had to repeat about thirty times that I had no interest in those kids and only wanted them to be good friends for Callisto and Lawrence. Babysitting a nine-year-old and a seven-year-old was proving to be the hardest job in the world.

“Then I’ll tell Father about it,” Lawrence said softly, his usual kind smile returning. I looked at him skeptically. The “gentle” nature attached to his character was growing increasingly dubious. The original story only showed fragments of this world. Perhaps Lawrence was gentle when he was the main love interest, but it didn’t seem to extend to everyone.

Although I was relieved they agreed with my plan, it was clear that neither Lawrence nor Callisto had ordinary personalities. These little kids were already trying to manipulate me. After I helped them make friends, I planned to step back and let them handle things themselves.

I had plenty of other matters to deal with. Although I’d managed to prevent the Wynyeats family from falling into ruin, I needed a new source of income to ensure a comfortable life—not just for myself, but for Callisto as well. If he was to ascend as crown prince without enduring the hardships of military life, I’d need substantial funds.

Fortunately, the Wynyeats estate had capital set aside for a new port development project. I’d been busy contemplating where best to invest it. On top of that, I still had to spend time with Callisto, who clung to me every day. Kids really didn’t grow up on their own.

It was during this busy period that an unexpected guest arrived at the Wynyeats estate. Someone I hadn’t anticipated meeting in person—the Duke of Harrington, the Empress’s younger brother.

I was only twelve, but in this world, by the time you turn fifteen, you receive education to take over the family business. In cases like mine, where I was already appointed as the heir to the family at an early age, involvement came even sooner. Therefore, my father was more than happy to let me attend this meeting, and it seemed like he was even pleased that I, despite my young age, showed an interest in the family business.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Duke.”

Count Camois, with a nervous expression, bowed to Duke Harrington. In response, Harrington merely nodded arrogantly without saying a word. I was slightly anxious, wondering if the Count might feel offended, but he seemed to think the Duke’s attitude was perfectly natural. Thankfully, the atmosphere didn’t turn sour.

“I’m Etienne Wynyeats.”

This time, I greeted Duke Harrington. His sharp, snake-like gaze lingered near my cheek. He curled his lips into a smile and softly laughed.

“Your father must be very proud to have such a fine son. How old are you again?”

His response stood in stark contrast to his dismissal of Count Camois as if the Count wasn’t even there. Now, the Count seemed displeased, and his expression as he looked at me was less than favorable. But what could I do? In this world, status mattered more than age.

Father answered the Duke.

“He’s twelve. He’s shown interest in the business, so I thought I’d bring him along to involve him early.”

“Ah, he must take after his mother. He’s already a sight for sore eyes. When he grows up, he’ll be a great beauty.”

“…Duke.”

Father’s expression changed at Harrington’s lecherous comment. Noticing this, Harrington burst into laughter, and with a rude pat on Father’s shoulder, he laughed heartily. I had to force myself to resist frowning.

“No, I’m just saying that since my nephew is around the same age as young Lord Yungshik, I thought they might get along well.”

“If you’re referring to your nephew… the First Prince, Roengrin?”

“Exactly. Roen turned fifteen recently, didn’t he? The Empress is starting to think about choosing a fiancée.”

Father’s face hardened even more, and I was startled by the sudden mention of Roen’s name.

The First Prince, Roengrin de Biche. He was the Empress’s only son, and in the original story, after Etienne, who had been a side character, died, Roen became the primary antagonist. He ended up opposing Callisto for the throne, and just before Callisto started his rebellion, Roen was crowned crown prince. However, when Callisto seized power, both the Empress and Roen disappeared, executed as traitors.

‘Why is Roen being brought up now? And an engagement? Is he asking me to jump into my own death flag?’

I silently jumped at the thought. I’d tried to involve myself in the new port development business and now found myself entangled in this mess.

In the original story, there was no connection between the First Prince and Etienne. The timing of their appearances in the original work was completely different. So, I had no idea why Roen’s engagement was suddenly being brought up. In the later parts of the original story, Roen would take Etienne’s place as the “substitute side character,” and it made more sense for Roen to propose to Lawrence than to me.

Moreover, becoming the First Prince’s fiancée meant aligning oneself with the Empress completely. As a father who was hiding Callisto, the Second Prince, my father could never accept such a marriage.

Father spoke calmly.

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