TIEH | Chapter 19

As we chatted, fec3b679ca it became evening b16abf88e8 before we knew f7bc13b249 it. Since I 277558af90 had to 6c173e5688 eat in 84a4ff048a my room a0f04e9bc4 due to 1108e3b913 being confined eb6e348190 by Hemel, 8a104afbc5 I tried 7da06ce843 to send 28a0b8ae69 Calix out 4017c5f57a first.462a6d158b49cd2c

“Let’s eat first and talk again later.”6e461d07f6692f3e

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“Sure.”d66c926ec5770c18

“Go eat.”5d87d969103ead86

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“Eat and come back? What about you?”af12dbe7457ece7c

“I have to eat in the bedroom.”6414c1272e4c02d3

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“Can’t I eat here too?”7278b8b773da4f41

It’s not that he can’t, but unless there’s a special reason, there’s no need to eat in the bedroom.c0805adf1f86f1b2

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“You can eat with your parents. Eating in the room is uncomfortable.”1045d57da95b2b9a

“No, I want to eat with you, Jayden.”0a7c93e858b3affd

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Eating in the room is naturally more uncomfortable than in the dining room. It’s also expected that there would be fewer dishes.496def2d58e410d8

Even though we’re friends, technically he’s a guest, and it didn’t seem right to treat a guest like this. Just as I was about to insist again, Calix added as if it was really okay.8ca379d582167f6c

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“If not me, who’s going to cut your steak, Jayden? I have to eat the vegetables you hate too.”59b1d4e0639955ec

“You make it sound like I’m a picky eater. I’m not that bad. And I can do both myself.”6e27d244c85c9efe

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But I just sighed with a smile at the cheerful Calix. For some reason, his banter didn’t sound so bad today.95869ec83f6b10b2

And I c590793053 realized later 9ec9db1670 that thinking 7037dfffbe it was d84ff751f5 just banter e6bee42963 was my 669486570b mistake.404fb4b81982369f

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“Jayden, this seems a bit tough.”6c547e070767c357

Calix stuck 0993547d57 by my fb0caf5216 side throughout 906f48a118 the meal, a4dbf35baa practically serving d616ae98cd me. I thought he was bb91117b03 being extra last time, 609b106d31 but that was him ed43f2403b holding back because my 2b2edf32a1 parents were watching.0706570c3804dd73

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“Are you kidding? I have teeth too.”58dc60727954fdcf

“You should say ‘teeth’ or ‘tooth,’ not ‘teeth.‘”9b941bc999deb6b0

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“Who doesn’t know that?”b4768e6171595afa

I was just emphasizing. Besides, this is still the Marquis’s Castle. Unless the chefs have lost it, they wouldn’t serve tough or hard food. But Calix wouldn’t listen to that.7a1a0ac47b8b7641

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“If you really want to eat this, I’ll cut it smaller for you.”c52ffdbf0d61aedc

“…Is this revenge?”5c296b58976f8447

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“Me, revenge on you? For what?”b88457d933ab1b19

I didn’t answer. Not because I couldn’t find a reason for revenge, but because there were too many to know where to start.3f36a28663958ebc

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Recently, I declared our 05b252c5b2 friendship over, ignored all 8ed9635539 his letters, and even 2face1586b blocked direct magic circles, 99eb5fa58e forcing him to take d2ff8eef29 a carriage and get be9cd35d67 scolded by the Duke.a219d7f2a3e62f1b

“Well, if not, then fine.”79ad07b0b4bf164f

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If the Duke saw this, he’d probably grab his neck, thinking leaving the castle for over a week to see a friend was nothing. Who would dare receive such service from the heir of Balmore? Not even in the capital.cfe11e5cec417bfe

With Calix fussing beside me, our meal naturally dragged on. By the time it was over, I was already exhausted. Even if I were in good condition, it wouldn’t have been much different. Having handled most things myself since I was young, I wasn’t used to someone taking such care of me, so Calix’s behavior was hard to adjust to.c00682ee1b67df32

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Of course, knowing he did it out of concern for me and seeing him so satisfied, I couldn’t seriously refuse.c98ef06559fd5661

“Should I ask them to clear the table if you’re done?”aeff4fa751a9acb9

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“What about you? You barely ate while taking care of me.”2551d6ec15e96061

“No, I ate a lot.”c0997ea14a106b2b

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In reality, Calix only picked at what I disliked or didn’t enjoy much. It’s not like “Mom says the head is the tastiest” or anything…96e145143bf9cc31

But since he said he was fine, I couldn’t force him, so I had them bring out dessert instead. I planned to at least fill him up with dessert.ab3e5fa125eb71d1

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When I personally brewed tea for the first time in a while, Calix watched me with fascination the entire time. Even though I’ve brewed it for him a few times before, he always seems amazed, probably because he lacks the skill himself.1238fd765fcb35ac

“Should I learn tea ceremony too?”c89a66efe4a90475

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“Why tea ceremony all of a sudden?”0509ccaadc32534f

“Just because. I want to brew tea for you too.”a90aed215c4dee0f

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For a moment, my expression stiffened. Calix had brewed tea for me only once, but the memory was so vivid that I still couldn’t forget it. Seeing my expression, Calix awkwardly smiled.095208b0886e2a1e

“…It was my first time back then.”8134923ae7f8d22e

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“Honestly, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t shocked, but that’s not a flaw. Besides, if someone is too perfect, it’s boring.”714606a2eb1d0222

No one calls someone incompetent just because they can’t brew tea. And how many times in his life will Calix need to brew tea himself?ad392459f9dba743

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Calix chuckled shyly at 9d133e030d my logical words.cbdb252789444445

“Talking to you, Jayden, makes me feel like I’m someone amazing.”f3d6ca2dff8d89f6

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“That’s what I want to say.”43840e31709fb3e4

Unlike me, 0cac60398f who always 16f75c8d85 spoke with 8f105f3459 a hint 03f8eeec18 of sarcasm, 4d53fe2797 Calix was e2b9725c34 the kind 4a49fd1d44 of kind 58cfdbede1 person who f00ad84253 only spoke 2bf0420ad8 carefully chosen, 69060a57e9 beautiful words. And that was 28f2a1832b still true now.0052221b61c583c8

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I don’t think of myself as incompetent or useless, but objectively speaking, the capabilities of me, the third son of the Marquisate with no obligations, and Calix, the future head of Balmore, were on different levels.5427aaa6513d5549

Having almost let go of my few obligations due to mana sclerosis, there’s no comparison now, but even before the diagnosis, our education levels were different. Comparing myself to Calix, who perfectly handled that massive amount of lessons, was embarrassing.6f2702ca2b92b98b

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“Well, maybe humility is your charm.”e257bab656ac679a

“…Charm? Do you really think so?”5e05065fc791a0af

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I was about to answer thoughtlessly, but then I imagined Calix arrogantly boasting. With his looks, personality, background, and intelligence, whatever he boasted about would be true, so it probably wouldn’t sound too annoying.77df6f50b83ea281

“No, if you acted cocky, it might suit you in its own way.”6db1be1b837bacfd

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“Which do you prefer, then?”d90447ff2f71dd1a

I tilted my head. It wasn’t about what’s more advantageous in life, just which I preferred. It was a strange question. It sounded like he’d change his attitude based on my answer.6d1f7e0d18c87e5e

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“Both are about the same.”e9ac433318d1b8fb

“But if you had to pick one?”e4baa9de1e74d27e

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Whatever Calix did, it didn’t seem annoying, and I couldn’t imagine him doing anything extreme enough to make me frown.3a49c26a6100c699

“Choosing between a timid kitten and a proud kitten is an insult to kittens. Kittens are just cute.”25dc4086b5fa625e

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Though I 305290fa20 said it deef22d519 jokingly, it 503b73a4d3 ultimately meant 5b88e068a7 I liked a16841b550 whatever Calix f4a6b02fe5 did. And seeing that df6d350f5f my answer pleased a8b62f1708 him, Calix laughed 0912876ee8 brightly, his cheeks 0ee3a8c6cd turning red.2a848e1e3df8b03d

“I can’t beat you, Jayden.”2c5136d0e48292ae

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Knock-knock-c0e0116deb1a405f

Just then, a familiar knock came from the window. It seemed Damian had come by, but since knocking on a window isn’t normal, Calix’s expression quickly hardened.b7247526a7ab250c

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Seeing Calix get 20d7f852e0 up to check, 7bc62c397b I followed suit, 383a2d97a2 but before I 377eadd448 could say anything, e5749c5e5f Damian opened the 179bb00fba window and came 22ee9984ef in.73fb2dea8f42fa59

He used to 297d7d2941 wait for me 8263094320 to open it, 35d2f8a016 but now he e3faaa5580 comes in on c861d1764f his own, and ebfc480a9e he happened to 2fd9b0e768 run into Calix.9c898575fa277c7f

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‘He’s going to nag a lot.’0599b7e082402a17

Calix, quickly standing a8f12c56c5 in front of f8dffa5a2b me, seemed a c9ef7ea606 bit frustrated at b438c703b3 not having a ede0854b26 sword, then picked 5cdbf5bb11 up a butter 7d8514ff0e knife from the c519bf3fc8 table. Soon, unmistakable aura enveloped b8ad9ffb83 the blunt blade.65f20fdb3b1cfe0b

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What was just fffd4db140 a utensil for ee52226248 spreading butter on e98c280443 bread became a 745495526e deadly weapon capable 942bd6137f of taking a 4b809e5313 life.a1c6e568a81c3a34

“No, hey, wait-”feb50dc13f6ec41f

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I tried to explain, but Calix seemed ready to charge at Damian without listening. Alarmed, I quickly clung to Calix’s arm.63cc69ec64e8b38b

“Stop!”fa1ee2fefbfc2ec1

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“Jayden?!”73e61bdd560b3d93

Perhaps due 7eb9b1c43d to his 57f4674860 surprise, the 897c3b3a8e aura on 44be5944d3 the knife 8b6ad9a36b wavered and e40da6f04a disappeared, and 5dd5bfb786 I finally 7ccf738354 sighed in 609cde7a33 relief.0954ff690aca70aa

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“What are you doing so dangerously?! What if someone gets hurt…!”3d9950c9283d925a

This was the first time Calix was genuinely angry with me. Since it was entirely my fault, I didn’t say anything, just tightened my grip on his arm and pulled him closer.18dcf105a4104888

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“Calm down first. He’s someone I know.”ac3de6b8e41bc025

“…Someone you know?”4bb8f92d1ee951cd

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“Yes, really.”7bbb9674dbc4e209

Calix, hesitantly approaching me, a045cebe01 finally noticed how close 56e2e737c9 we were and kept 14640d1851 glancing at my arm 67c237e1a7 linked with his.8841df58b208a2e4

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Despite being the f1bfbabd2d one who often e44fc5a41c initiated skinship without dcabbe6291 hesitation, Calix seemed 08640788bf quite flustered. It seemed it was c81db48787 because I initiated it db492acb59 first, but whatever the ed4ac37c18 reason, I had no 49a7f9abac intention of letting go 5e807697a6 until he completely lowered 59c3c612d4 his guard against Damian.71331c25f1fa67f4

“This is Damian. And Damian, this is my friend, Calix.”4da03a3c5e31523a

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I didn’t expect a friendly introduction, but even in silence, the invisible tension between them was palpable.88c1ff3265690c6a

Especially Calix, who usually 0b8816a707 had a clear smile, 28ffaf674d now had a stern dc4ddc4ba2 face, exuding a surprisingly 6ac4fa7b48 chilly aura for someone 62d1d92ee9 so young.4c6357933ecbb854

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‘Was he always this tall?’c81d159b1af5749f

Calix, who had 76814b3061 long surpassed me a7c04c30c4 in height, was fe035ddd14 still shorter than 062528f1f9 Damian, but the 7b0e24e97b original story mentioned 07bda17ede Calix would eventually e2628ad109 grow taller than a742625ac3 Damian, who was d6a5ea3191 described as taller feb5f3b48c than the average ae1ae9bc9b man.32d3c48f682f3e7b

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Damian, too, wasn’t wearing his usual innocent smile but had a sly expression reminiscent of his original portrayal.92cf7f1e6dff4e8b