Leave the Villainous Second Male Lead Alone - Chapter 3.2

In truth, he wasn’t wrong. Eastern trade would remain stable for the next few years. Although the sudden failure of the glass trade had drastically reduced profits, the Eastern Continent was rich in culture and would always offer new trade opportunities. If Harrington could overcome this temporary cash flow issue, he could rise again.

Thus, I had two choices. The first was to press him now and break his momentum entirely. The second…

“I’ve been short-sighted. You’re absolutely right, Your Grace. Please forgive my ignorance.”

I rounded my eyes innocently and smiled softly. My concession immediately eased Harrington’s demeanor. After all, he wasn’t in a position to assert dominance.

“Hmm. If that’s how you see it, could you extend me some leniency?”

“Rather than withdrawing completely, why don’t you transfer full ownership of Bjorn to us? We’ll offset the loan by Bjorn’s market value and extend the repayment deadline as well.”

“Oh, would you really? If Bjorn satisfies you, I’ll gladly hand it over. Truly, thank you.”

“Think nothing of it. If I can’t trust Harrington, whom else could I trust? Should you require further funds, don’t hesitate to ask. We’ve recently come into some surplus capital.”

Harrington’s eyes wavered visibly. For someone struggling with financial difficulties, the offer must have been extremely tempting.

Having scratched his back, it was now time to dangle the carrot. Thanks to the success of the glass industry, Wynyeats had more than enough funds, and Harrington was surely aware of this.

“You’re very understanding, Young Master. I’ll remember this kindness. I’ll visit again soon.”

Harrington eagerly extended his hand for a handshake. As I clasped his thick hand, I silently counted the days until Harrington would finally fall.

Rather than breaking him now, I decided to give him the means to recover temporarily. I wanted Harrington to rise again, flourishing and intoxicated with success.

Because the higher he climbed, the greater the impact when Eastern trade collapsed overnight in six years.

After concluding the important matters, the rest of the meeting devolved into idle chatter. Entertaining Harrington and Camois had left me mentally drained. Fortunately, my father, who had been out, returned and took over in the reception room. I excused myself and headed back to my room.

Just then, Cliff, the head butler, appeared down the corridor, looking visibly flustered. Raising an eyebrow, I asked, “What’s the matter, Cliff?”

“Young Master, you need to step outside immediately.”

“Outside? Isn’t it time for the children’s swordsmanship lessons?”

“It is. However… there’s been an incident involving Master Camois and the Gillos siblings.”

“…Master Camois?”

My brows furrowed instinctively. Master Camois referred to Ivry, who had been banned from the Wynyeats estate years ago for using violence against Callisto and me.

Apparently, Yves, who had accompanied Harrington and Camois, had been waiting outside in the garden, barred from entering the estate. Upon encountering the children returning from the training grounds, a confrontation had ensued. Hearing Cliff’s explanation, I hastened my pace.

When I reached the garden, it wasn’t the Gillos siblings standing against Yves with a sword—it was Callisto.

Behind Callisto, Kevin and Anessa of the Gillos family glared at Ivry with indignation.

Although Callisto had been learning swordsmanship, he was still only 13—a child. I’d never seen him wield a sword, but I was certain his skills were still rudimentary. Yves, an adult, was far larger and stronger. If he truly intended to harm Callisto, the child could suffer serious injuries. I froze in horror, about to call out to Callisto.

But Callisto spoke first.

“Apologize immediately for your disrespect toward Kevin and Anessa.”

His voice was cold, far removed from the Callisto I knew. The expression on his face as he glared at Yves was shockingly chilly and stern. I had always seen Callisto as an adorable, lovable child. Who knew he was capable of such an expression? Stunned, I halted in my tracks.

Yves smirked mockingly.

“What disrespect? Why should I show courtesy to mere viscount children who don’t even count as nobles?”

“Shut your mouth, Yves.”

“Watch your tongue, brat. Dealing with a bastard like you isn’t difficult.”

Today, Lawrence wasn’t present at the lesson, leaving no one of higher status than Yves among the children. With only the viscount children, the illegitimate Callisto, and the fallen noble Brynne present, Yves had clearly grown bold. His unchanging arrogance after all these years was exasperating.

Yet Callisto’s expression didn’t falter. His voice remained steady and icy as he stared Yves down.

“Then go ahead and try. You’re holding a sword, aren’t you?”

“What? Are you challenging me to a duel, kid?”

“Why not? Or are you just all talk?”

“You… you bastard!”

Ivry ground his teeth furiously.

I frowned and stepped forward. Yves’s very presence at Wynyeats was enough to anger me, but targeting Callisto was beyond tolerable.

Before I could speak to eject Yves, he lunged forward in a large step, closing the distance between himself and Callisto while swinging his sword.

Everything happened in an instant, leaving no time to intervene. Panicked, I squeezed my eyes shut.

The sharp clash of swords echoed loudly. Startled, I opened my eyes again.

To my relief, Callisto stood unscathed, his expression calm and unreadable.

Ivry’s sword wavered in the air, deflected by Callisto’s strike.

Tilting his head slightly, Callisto curled his lips into a smirk. Shadows deepened in his amber eyes.

“Is that all? You said you’d ‘deal with me.’ This is too easy, Yves.”

“You little bastard… I’ll make you pay, you illegitimate wretch!”

Yves, who had been pushed back, let out a guttural scream and charged at Callisto again. At the same time, Callisto swung his sword with force.

Clang!

The sharp sound of clashing metal rang out as their swords collided once more. Yves, with his larger build, used his full body weight to overpower Callisto. For a moment, Callisto’s sword seemed to be pushed back.

“Ah…”

The children standing closer to the scene gasped, their faces filled with anxiety.

At that moment, Callisto, who had been stepping back, suddenly ducked with lightning speed. He moved so quickly that his motion was barely visible. Just as he disappeared from view, his sword flashed in the air, and the metallic clang echoed sharply. Yves’s sword, now broken in half, spun through the air before embedding itself in the ground.

Silence fell over the scene.

Callisto’s sword was now pointed directly at Ivry, the tip aimed squarely at his throat.

A thin red line appeared in the middle of Yves’s thick neck, a drop of blood trickling down and staining his collar.

Callisto smiled sweetly, though his tone was anything but gentle.

“What now? Looks like it’s a bit hard to ‘deal with me,’ Yves…”

“Callisto!”

It was only then that I regained my senses, shouting in shock. Forcing my frozen body to move, I ran toward Callisto. The boy widened his eyes in surprise and stepped back slightly, still holding his sword.

“B-Brother?”

“Why were you fighting in a duel, my dear? That’s so dangerous! What if something terrible had happened?”

“Huh? I-I… Brother…”

“Let me see. Are you hurt anywhere? Were you scared? It’s okay now.”

“Mm…”

I inspected Callisto thoroughly, relieved to find no injuries. Then I turned my head sharply to glare at Yves. He flinched and avoided my gaze, his shoulders trembling.

“Master Camois, what on earth do you think you’re doing?”

“…Doing? It was just a friendly sparring match, nothing more.”

It had been years since when I last saw Yves. He was no longer a child and had surely learned how the world worked by now. He must have also realized how vast the difference in status between the official heir of the Wynyeats family and a mere viscount’s son like him was. I was no longer someone he could bully or trifle with.

“As an adult, aren’t you ashamed? Swinging a sword at a child like this is nothing short of violence!”

My voice rose in anger. Callisto, standing behind me, tugged at my sleeve cautiously.

“Brother, I won…”

“Stay quiet, my dear. I’ll make sure he can never bother you again.”

“But even if he does, I can win again…”

Ignoring Callisto’s murmurs, I shielded him behind me and faced Yves squarely. His face flushed red as he clenched his fists tightly.

“I’m the one who got hurt. My father won’t take it lightly that a bastard put a wound on me.”

“Does the fact that you, an adult, attacked a child first simply disappear because your swordsmanship was inferior to his?”

My tone grew cold. Yves avoided my gaze, clearly startled. He hadn’t anticipated that I would defend Callisto, an illegitimate child, so fiercely. His arrogance, which had been unchecked among children of lower status, vanished in my presence. It was disgusting to see how quickly he wilted.

“Your father won’t take it lightly? Good. Neither will I.”

“What? What do you mean, Etienne?”

“Young Master, did I ever permit you to address me so informally? Mind your manners.”

Ivry snapped his head up, his eyes burning with barely contained rage as he glared at me. I met his gaze head-on, lifting my chin defiantly. A tense silence hung between us.

At last, Yves bit his lip hard and muttered, “…I apologize, Young Master.”

“Good. However, I don’t want to see you on Wynyeats grounds again. Leave immediately.”

“What? But I’m waiting for my father and Duke Harrington—”

“I said leave, Yves. You can wait on the road outside the estate.”

Yves’s face turned ashen, twisting in humiliation.

I wrapped an arm protectively around Callisto’s shoulder and turned away. The Gillos siblings and Brynne approached to offer their thanks. After exchanging a few kind words, I led Callisto inside. Thus, the incident came to an end.

However, my heart remained unsettled.

Though Yves had apologized to me and been expelled from the estate, the ones he had wronged were Callisto and the other children, not me. No matter how furious I was, I couldn’t demand that the viscount’s son bow his head to a child born out of wedlock.

Callisto would face countless such incidents in the future. It wouldn’t just be Yves; many others would scorn and mistreat him. I couldn’t always be there to shield him. It pained me to think that the boy, who was more noble than any of them, would endure such contempt.

Someday, I would restore Callisto’s rightful status. But for now, there was nothing I could do, and that helplessness stung.

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