My Husband Picked Up a Woman - Chapter 19

“Go home. I’m tired.”

“I’ll only stay for a bit. I’m truly exhausted, that’s why.”

Briseis sighed as Calisten rubbed his head against her lap.

“People will misunderstand if they see us. Go away.”

“Just one minute.”

Thinking about how long it must have taken him to travel from the Imperial Palace at this late hour, the hand she had raised to push him away froze in mid-air.

“Brother Mikhail said the House of Philia will no longer remain neutral.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Because I’m going to be the Emperor.”

“Then you’ll need the support of the House of Mayze.”

“I don’t need that,” he said firmly, looking up at her. Then, wearing an ecstatic smile, he added, “What I need isn’t the Grand Duchess of Mayze. It’s you, Brie.”

“You probably mean Brother Mikhail and my father.”

“I need them too. But I need you much more.”

“You’re quite the liar. Did you only learn how to lie on the battlefield?”

“Hahaha.”

He laughed at her remark, clearly amused, and stared at her intently. His eyes were as lively as ever, sparkling like red jewels.

“I won’t lie to you.”

As he spoke, he took her other hand and placed it on his head.

“Ugh…”

He stifled his breath to keep from reacting any further. Seeing him look as though he were in pain, she intentionally stroked his hair.

“What did you promise my father?”

“A dukedom.”

“I see.”

Briseis thought about the immense wealth of the House of Philia. With vast granaries as their fief, their income was already the highest in the Empire. They owned numerous mines and merchant guilds. Furthermore, the House of Philia had influence over almost every business in the capital.

“If I help you, what will you give me?”

“I’ll give myself to Brie.”

“You should give me something useful.”

He trembled at her words but forced a smile. Hearing the metallic friction from his chastity belt every time he moved, Briseis thought he truly was out of his mind.

“I’ll help you get a divorce.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Let’s go to Jeronis’s office together.”

At Calisten’s words, she let out a short laugh and pulled her hand away.

“Why did you stop stroking my hair?”

“The minute passed a while ago. Now go back.”

He let out a regretful sigh but eventually nodded.

“See you tomorrow, Brie. Have sweet dreams.”

He stroked Briseis’s cheek before finally departing.

❖ ❖ ❖

Third period. It was Administrative Welfare Theory.

“Is there any student who can answer this question? I will give one bonus point to the student who answers correctly.”

Briseis had prepared for this and raised her hand immediately. Normally, since no one else would have raised their hand, the professor would have called on her right away. However, this time, Delilah had her hand up as well.

“This is the first time someone other than Student Briseis has raised their hand,” the professor noted with a chuckle. “Since Student Briseis usually takes most of the bonus points, may I call on Student Delilah first today?”

“Yes.”

Briseis felt an ominous premonition but managed to nod.

“Thank you, Professor!” Delilah said with a bright smile. When the professor signaled her to speak, she began.

“The difference between the two welfare theories lies in how they categorize the recipients of welfare. The first theory focuses on whether the potential recipient is working hard but remains impoverished. The second theory differs by suggesting that we must consider people who have become poor due to social factors.”

“Correct. Miss Delilah, which theory do you believe is more accurate?”

“I believe the first theory is correct. Help should not be given to those who do not deserve to be aided.”

The professor nodded at Delilah’s answer. “Miss Briseis, which theory would you like to emphasize?”

“I agree with the second theory. It is difficult for the socially vulnerable to escape the cycle of poverty. If left unaddressed, accumulated discontent can lead to riots.”

“Correct.”

The professor smiled satisfiedly, looking back and forth between the two.

“I’d like to give points to both, but since Student Delilah answered first, I will award the bonus point to her.”

“Thank you!”

Briseis sat back down, struggling to maintain her composure. She felt strange seeing Calisten, who surely knew the answer, twirling his pen and pretending to know nothing. Delilah was often mentioned as a genius in the original story. With Calisten being just as brilliant, it was clear that if Briseis slipped even slightly, she wouldn’t be able to maintain her current standing. In truth, Calisten’s relaxed attitude came from the fact that he had mastered all these subjects as a child.

She looked down as a piece of paper touched her elbow. Calisten, sitting next to her, was sliding another useless note.

Is the key still in the first drawer next to your bed?

Knowing the implication behind his words, she ignored him and stared forward. He pulled his chair closer, pretending to sit upright while huddling right up against her.

“The core of this theory lies in the attitude toward poverty. Whether one views the problem of poverty as individual or social…”

I couldn’t sleep a wink. Just thinking about my key being next to your bed.

She ignored his note again and quickly moved her pen, transcribing the professor’s lecture.

“Solving the problem of poverty is essential to making the Empire prosperous. For example, in the now-defunct Viathen, they funded almshouses to train mercenaries…”

Suddenly, Calisten leaned toward her and whispered very softly.

“I killed all those mercen—mph…”

“Quiet.”

Briseis covered Calisten’s mouth. He looked at her and smiled, seemingly happy even with that.

“Therefore, the theory that practicing Noblesse Oblige is beneficial for the entire aristocratic society…”

She sighed and pushed him away. Then, her heart sank as she saw Damian in the distance, smiling and stroking Delilah’s hair affectionately. She thought she had moved on, but every time she saw them, she realized she hadn’t.

For a moment, Damian playfully nipped at Delilah’s index finger as she teased his lips. In that same moment, his eyes met Briseis’s. She quickly turned away and tried to focus on the class.

❖ ❖ ❖

“Where are you going, Brie?”

It was Damian who caught Briseis as class ended.

“I have business to attend to.”

“If it’s not urgent, go to the mansion. Mother will be there alone.”

“You go, Damian.”

“I’m going to the boutique with Deli. She doesn’t have any clothes that fit her properly.”

Delilah was still wearing Briseis’s clothes.

“Then get her a uniform. How much longer is she going to wear mine?”

Briseis decided to consider her uniform a lost cause, but she was still displeased. It wasn’t just the dresses she was “borrowing” without permission; it was jewelry, shoes, and even her books.

“They’re just objects, don’t be so petty.”

Damian’s attitude was even worse.

“Go back to the mansion and keep Mother company. She’ll be bored alone.”

“…Fine.”

Briseis spoke and walked out first. Calisten, who had followed her out, tilted his head curiously.

❖ ❖ ❖

Once she boarded the carriage at the main gate, she gave the order.

“To Jeronis’s office.”

Calisten, happy that Briseis had boarded his carriage on purpose, watched her with a smile.

“I thought you weren’t going.”

“Why?”

Calisten just watched her with a grin. “Brie, I’m always watching you.”

She felt her mood dip, wondering if this sharp-witted man had realized her true feelings.

“Don’t speak.”

“Okay.”

It didn’t feel good to realize he probably saw everything—how she was constantly disappointed by Damian and hurt by his actions. She thought she could cut off her lingering feelings cleanly, but emotions weren’t so easily untangled.

“Brie, won’t you look at me?”

At his request, she shifted her gaze to him. Calisten smiled like a pure madman and met her eyes.

“Actually, during my victory parade…”

Briseis recalled Calisten’s parade, which she had missed.

“My father told me he would grant me one wish.”

“Ah, right. What did you wish for?”

She recalled Damian’s wish, which she had heard from Ella.

“The Master asked to be allowed to remain loyal to His Majesty the Emperor forever!”

She remembered it being a surprisingly normal wish. She had expected him to ask for marriage to Delilah or to officially take her as a mistress.

“Are you curious?”

“Not really.”

When Briseis turned her head away, he moved to the seat next to her.

“It’s cramped. Go away.”

“My wish was to have you.”

Briseis turned around in shock.

“Ah…!”

Because of the sudden movement, her face was almost touching Calisten’s. Her lips were so close to the tip of his nose that they were nearly grazing him.