My Husband Picked Up a Woman - Chapter 12

Saturn’s eyes widened as he realized the person he had interrupted was the Crown Prince, a man notorious throughout the Cropus Empire as a complete madman. He had intended to sit near Briseis, but he froze the moment he locked eyes with Calisten.

“Come here. Sit and talk,” Calisten commanded.

Saturn looked around to see who else was there, but only Cassius, formerly of Class 2, was present. The two were barely even acquaintances.

“Tell me everything. In detail.”

“That… well… all I know is she fell down the stairs and…”

“Could you please be quiet?” Briseis warned Calisten. He didn’t even blink as he looked back at her.

“Saturn Peril. Tell me everything.”

Saturn glanced at Briseis, but he was far more terrified of Calisten. Briseis was a generous person, but the Crown Prince was a dangerous man famous for being merciless.

“Someone said they pushed Brie down the stairs. That’s why she missed the first period the day before yesterday and stayed in the infirmary. Damian went to check on her.”

“Ah.” Calisten smiled as he looked at Briseis. She scowled, wanting nothing to do with him. “I see. Is that so?”

He continued to watch Briseis with a smiling face while she ignored him and focused on her studies. Saturn took a seat behind Briseis. His twin brother, Evice, sat beside him and signaled with his eyes as if asking what was happening, but Saturn simply shook his head, not knowing much himself.

By the time the morning assembly was about to begin, all the students had arrived.

“I heard Veron was moved to Class 2,” Ronald whispered to Briseis.

“Why?”

“Class capacity is capped at twenty. The ones who couldn’t keep up were sent down.”

Slide.

“Welcome, everyone. Good morning.”

The professor in charge of Class 1 entered, skimmed through his announcements, and began to speak.

“We have three new students in Class 1. Miss Delilah has been personally recommended for guidance at this Academy by His Majesty the Emperor.”

The professor motioned for Delilah to stand. She rose from her seat with a bright smile.

“Next is Cassius Rosephel. I am told he was a primary contributor to the defeat of the Viathen Emperor.”

Whispers broke out among the students when they realized the silver-haired man in the middle was Cassius Rosephel. He was quite famous. His family had been on the verge of ruin, but he was well-known not because his ducal house was poor, but because his family’s reputation had held back his talent. He was an exceptional warrior who had been the runner-up in the annual jousting tournament. He had been knighted at a young age, received a medal from the Emperor, and had practically lived on the battlefield since childhood.

The reason he was attending the Academy was obvious. It was because of the man he served as his lord.

“Next is Calisten Ethan Cropus.”

The Crown Prince. Calisten was the one who had stepped in every time Cassius’s family faltered. In the original story, Cassius was so loyal that he was willing to give his life for Calisten. The reason the original Cassius died for Delilah after stepping back without ever confessing his feelings was out of loyalty to Calisten; he could not confess to the woman his lord loved.

“Everyone, come forward and introduce yourselves to your classmates.”

The three students walked to the front.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Delilah. It is my first time at an Academy, and I am so excited. I am currently living at Damian’s estate and… well… I hope to be a mother by the time I graduate.”

At Delilah’s near-declaration, everyone’s eyes turned to Briseis. Briseis ignored the stinging gazes and stared forward with a cold, indifferent look.

“Ho ho. A lovely dream. Next.”

The professor moved the introductions along, and Cassius stepped forward, unable to hide his shyness as his face turned red.

“I am Cassius Rosephel. I look forward to working with you.”

“Is that all?”

“Ah… um… yes.” He laughed awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck, prompting a dry chuckle from the professor.

“Your turn.”

“Yes. I look forward to it as well.”

Surprisingly, Calisten spoke simply. The professor cast a cautious glance at him before addressing the class.

“Please be kind to these three students. Veron, Zeria, and Fedon have been moved down to Class 2.”

Everyone felt that although Calisten was smiling, it wasn’t a genuine one. Calisten, wearing a strange, twisted expression, watched Delilah return to her seat—specifically, to the seat next to Damian.

Damian, unable to fathom why the mad Crown Prince was staring at him, met his gaze for a moment before looking away and staring at the front. And so, the first period began.

❖ ❖ ❖

“Let’s go have lunch together.”

At Wilhelm Academy, students had to bring their own lunch. They had tried to run a cafeteria, but it didn’t last long. The students were the children of the most prominent central nobles in the Empire. If anyone got sick from the food, it would be a nightmare for the school. Furthermore, they were a picky group; many had specific allergies or dietary requirements. Thus, it was common for everyone to bring food tailored to their needs and eat in the classroom or the garden.

“Where are you eating?”

Briseis had intended to eat with Evice as usual. However, Saturn and Evice stood nearby, looking flustered and glancing warily at Calisten.

“I’m eating wherever you eat,” Calisten stated.

Realizing she couldn’t shake him off, Briseis asked, “Saturn, Evice. Is it alright if Cal joins us?”

“Ah, yeah.”

“I’m fine with it.”

“Cas as well.”

Seeing Cassius looking lost, Briseis invited him too.

“Where do you usually eat?”

“On the roof.”

Briseis packed her lunch. Calisten, who had brought a large lunch box, took hers from her as well.

“Hold it carefully. Otherwise, the food will slide to one side.”

“Yes, I’ll be careful.” Calisten, who had been answering her like an obedient pet, smiled brightly as they headed for the roof.

However, when they arrived, someone had already claimed a spot.

“Try some of this.”

“Ah.”

Delilah was sitting with Damian’s head in her lap, feeding him.

“We usually eat here,” Saturn said immediately upon seeing them.

“Then you guys eat over there,” Delilah replied with a smile, pointing to the opposite side of the roof before turning back to Damian. “I made this myself. How is it?”

“It’s delicious. I knew you were brilliant, but I didn’t know you could cook so well, Deli.”

“Thank you.” Delilah laughed and popped another piece of food into Damian’s mouth.

“Do we really have to eat here?” Calisten asked with a frown.

“Let’s just stay,” Briseis replied. A sudden streak of stubbornness made her refuse to leave just because of those two.

She took a seat on a bench on the opposite side and set her lunch on a round table. Calisten began unpacking a three-tiered lunch box.

“I made all of this.”

“You don’t know how to cook.”

“I learned. From Cas.”

“Ah, yes. That is correct. That’s how it happened,” Cassius said with a laugh as he sat next to Calisten. Briseis ended up sitting on Calisten’s other side. Saturn and Evice sat nearby and opened their lunches.

“Try this, Brie.”

Calisten handed her a tart. Knowing he couldn’t have learned to bake while roaming battlefields, Briseis played along and took a bite.

“It’s good.”

“Why did you bring only this? It’s all greens.”

“If you look closely, there’s an apple pie too.”

Calisten frowned at her lunch. “Eat what I brought.”

She considered refusing, but the tart was surprisingly delicious, so she agreed.

“You must be a good cook, Cas.”

“Ah, yes. I made mine as well. Would you like a madeleine?”

“Yes, I’d love one.”

Calisten watched Briseis eat the madeleine. “You look like a rabbit.”

“Stop talking nonsense. You try one too. It’s good.” Briseis took the madeleine Cassius had offered and gave it to Calisten.

“Feed it to me. Say ‘Ah’.”

Calisten spoke to Briseis, but instead of feeding him, she ate it herself.

“I’m eating it because you’re talking nonsense. This is very good, Cas.”

“Thank you.”

As they spoke, Delilah and Damian’s voices drifted over.

“I’ve started taking folic acid lately.”

“What’s that?”

“Medicine to prepare for pregnancy.”

Briseis’s expression soured at the sound, and Calisten’s face darkened in response. Cassius, not understanding the situation, asked a question.

“By the way, Brie, why are you eating with us when you have a husband?”

He asked out of genuine confusion.

“If I were your husband, I think I would be jealous if a beautiful wife like you were having a meal with other men.”