Leave the Villainous Second Male Lead Alone - Chapter 3.5

In the past, I had assumed Callisto would manifest as a dominant alpha, but with so many deviations from the original storyline recently, I had started to doubt it. However, judging by the strength of her pheromones, it was clear she was an extraordinarily strong alpha. This was, in a way, fortunate—it would help her reclaim her rightful position.

She’s manifested already… She’s grown up.

I couldn’t cradle Callisto like a baby forever. I had always known this, yet I couldn’t shake the pang of regret and disappointment. Now that she had manifested, she would mature rapidly. Soon, she would start dating Lawrence, and eventually…

She’ll marry Lawrence and leave Wynyeates.

From the very beginning, I had been working toward a happy ending for Callisto and Lawrence. But for some reason, my heart felt hollow and bitter at the thought.

I must have dozed off while lost in these thoughts. When I opened my eyes, a hand was gently stroking my forehead. My father sat beside me, his usual composed demeanor softened by concern.

“Father, you’re back. Did your tour go well?”

“Yes, I’ve returned. It seems a lot has happened in my absence.”

I nodded, lowering my gaze. Callisto’s manifestation was the most significant event, but Roen’s behavior lingered in my mind like a shadow.

“What’s Callisto’s condition?” he asked.

“She’s still in the process of manifesting. It’s taking longer than usual because her trait is so strong. It’s heartbreaking to see her suffer.”

“Yes, it’s unfortunate, but it’s something she must endure. However…”

Father hesitated, his expression growing serious. I sighed, sensing he was about to bring up something important.

“Father, Prince Roen came to visit. I believe he’ll continue to accompany Harrington during future meetings.”

“I see. Harrington will always remain an ally. You should keep your distance from the prince.”

“Yes, but Roen…”

I faltered, unsure how to express my unease. Perhaps I was overreacting or worrying unnecessarily, but I couldn’t ignore the uneasiness gnawing at me.

“Roen’s behavior is suspicious, Father.”

Thinking of Callisto only heightened my concern. Roen posed a genuine threat. My father raised an eyebrow.

“I heard the First Prince met Callisto. Was there more to it?”

“He released his pheromones indiscriminately. It overwhelmed Callisto and caused her to collapse.”

Although Callisto’s manifestation was inevitable, Roen’s pheromones had undoubtedly accelerated the process. Dr. Woodson confirmed that Roen’s presence had been a trigger.

My father’s face darkened with worry.

“Why would the prince do such a thing?”

“He asked about Callisto’s biological mother.”

“What?”

I recounted the incident in detail. After listening intently, my father fell into deep thought.

“When Callisto was born, Roen would have been eight years old. It’s unlikely he interacted with the empress’s inner circle. At most, he might have seen her at banquets. He probably isn’t certain of Callisto’s identity yet.”

“I hope so.”

Hearing this from my father was somewhat reassuring. However, his next words were heavy with caution.

“But if Roen continues visiting the mansion and observing Callisto, his suspicions may deepen. Since we can’t prevent the prince from coming here, wouldn’t it be safer to send Callisto to the Academy?”

“…The Academy?”

The Academy, an institution founded by multiple continental kingdoms, was beyond the imperial family’s reach. It would ensure Callisto’s safety, and Roen’s interest would likely wane if she were out of sight. It was a sound suggestion.

Yet the thought of sending her away filled me with dread. I had worked so hard to shield her from hardship, and now I had to send her away because of Roen?

“The Academy would be a valuable experience for Callisto,” Father continued, as though sensing my hesitation. “It’s a place where noble children thrive, offering a comfortable and enriching environment.”

Compared to the harsh Navy I had once endured, the Academy was a far gentler option. But the thought of being separated from her for years still stung.

“Think about it. Rest now, Etienne.”

“…Yes.”

Father left, and days passed without me reaching a decision.

I had asked, but Callisto refused to accept my rejection. In the end, it was Lawrence who gave up on the child instead of me. As expected, the original main character married Callisto…

“So, Etienne.”

… Or so I thought, until Lawrence suddenly knelt down on one knee before me. My eyes widened in shock as a small jewelry box, its lid already open, appeared in front of me. Inside, a purple diamond ring gleamed brightly.

“I can’t marry her anyway, Etienne Wynyeates. So, marry me.”

“You little fox! I told you I’d get the purple diamond! I said I’d do it, you punk!” Callisto shouted.

“You don’t even have any money. Do you know how expensive this is?” Lawrence retorted.

“I was saving up my allowance! Give it back—it’s mine! It was my idea!”

“Ability matters more than ideas. How are you going to take responsibility for Etienne if you’re living off her allowance? Oh, right, you’re her younger brother and an alpha, so you can’t even take responsibility, can you?”

“Ouch! Get out—get out of here!”

Callisto and Lawrence began bickering, their voices escalating. I stood awkwardly between them, bewildered, glancing down at the diamond ring Lawrence had held out to me. When Lawrence finally managed to subdue Callisto, the tension shifted, and suddenly, the attention was back on me.

“So, will you marry me or not?”

Why is there a ‘so’ in that question?

Chaos at the Estate

I could barely remember how I managed to calm the children down. Somehow, I persuaded Lawrence to stand up, sent him back to the Duke’s estate with the diamond ring, and spent hours comforting Callisto. By the time Cliff came looking for me with a stack of invitations, I was sprawled on the living room sofa, completely drained.

“A banquet invitation? Decline them all. I need to stay by Callisto’s side for now,” I muttered, waving my hand without even glancing at the invitations.

Normally, Cliff would have left immediately, but this time, he hesitated before handing me one of the invitations, his expression unusually serious.

“I think you should look at this one, Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

The envelope, adorned with intricate rose patterns, exuded a faint fragrance. My hand froze mid-motion as I saw the signature on the outside.

Jeanne Valloana Harrington de Buche.

It was an invitation from the Empress, Prince Roen’s mother.

“I’m not going. And she expects me to bring Father and Callisto? That’s absurd.”

“Etienne, calm down.”

“Why would the Empress want to see Callisto? She absolutely cannot.”

By the time my father entered the reception room, alerted by Cliff, I was barely holding myself together.

It had finally happened. Roen must have suspected Callisto during his last visit, and now the Empress was inviting us to see the child herself. The Empress knew the face of Callisto’s mother, Empress Marie Louise. If she saw Callisto in person, there was a real risk she would recognize her bloodline. Whether we accepted or declined the invitation, it was a dangerous situation.

I chewed my nails nervously as my mind raced.

“I’ll just say she’s still recovering from her manifestation.”

“Etienne,” my father interjected.

“She’s still in the process of manifesting. Then they’ll understand. They wouldn’t expect us to bring a child in that state.”

“That excuse won’t work forever. The Empress is persistent, and she won’t give up so easily.”

“Then what do we do?” I asked, my voice tinged with desperation. “The Empress won’t stop until she knows the truth about Callisto… She won’t let her live.”

“Calm yourself,” my father said firmly. “If the Empress truly suspected something, she wouldn’t extend an invitation like this. She would act directly—perhaps even violently. This invitation suggests she’s being cautious, unsure if Callisto really is my son.”

“I wonder if that’s true…” I murmured, though his words offered a glimmer of relief.

“You’re right,” I admitted after a moment. “But we still need a long-term solution. We can’t keep using excuses.”

“This isn’t something we can solve with temporary measures. We need to divert the Empress’s attention entirely.”

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