TIEH | Chapter 16

While Calix was lost 869489a0c2 in thought, I also 37d52cfdea reflected on the time 93312f1c11 I spent with him. Looking back, Calix treated 24cabe2242 me with as much 89723718cb dedication as my family. He stuck by my 497b86ee93 side when I was c9870c66f9 bedridden and unwell.51bb0afb1fa39754

When I was feeling better, we often went out to the market together, but after my symptoms worsened, we mostly just ate together or strolled in the castle garden. As my range of activities shrank, Calix’s daily life became simpler to match mine.d2d1904e829a5236

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“…Calix, I suddenly got curious.”65c63b16cd03dde1

“What is it?”b5a7f80f42cafb27

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“Weren’t you bored just staying in the castle with me?”b0e0f9b8805139e0

Even though it was Calix’s choice to spend time with me, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy. When I tried to make new friends for him by attending various gatherings, hoping he’d go out and play, he deliberately acted indifferent.b8a88652e9a68892

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“Did you think playing without me was a betrayal?”35fda23567672b3e

I thought it was fdb5cb1544 a reasonable guess, but 72fafd4af3 Calix looked surprised, as bd59b74bcf if it was an c40839faaa unexpected reason.286029df1b2e8920

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“Not at all.”ac91e69393d92213

“Then why?”26ea52de70fe9af4

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“Why would staying in the castle be boring?”ab1da97856f8b099

Why would it be 06e85bd3db boring? You were the 05eb3eabbf one who got d1fda281bb excited playing outside. Calix, noticing my confusion, c45c8eb430 chuckled softly and added.5f3f24604669f94f

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“I just like being with you, Jayden.”6468553b245cc8ca

I studied Calix’s face carefully. I wanted to see if he was just saying it for my sake or if he truly meant it. But it seemed genuine, which was even more puzzling.7a7367a8dc87fde9

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“I don’t think I’m that fun of a person.”d6b20ccc19b7af1d

Calix’s bright smile faded slightly.970a596484e24340

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“…Well, that’s not what I meant, but to answer, you’re fun. You always say unique things.”145b666b6c753e74

If that’s not what you meant, then what did you mean? Instead of clearing my doubts, it only deepened them, but if he found it fun being with me, that was a relief.a6a730d1f74ef4c7

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“You used to scold me for not being noble-like.”57f912a5c5376a41

“Being not noble-like and being fun are separate things.”0417839bf96abb63

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“…You didn’t used to speak so eloquently.”35207dabd9bb3707

“I learned it all from you, Jayden.”cbf75f7c65447511

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It seemed I had b7c146c0f3 done something else to 2311f4ba39 the future heroine. I felt 5416d62665 a pang d096291826 of sympathy 26c26700b5 for the c13e0a54b0 heroine who a36cf3bf3d would have acd9ef9310 countless arguments 2eb32a219f with Calix 42985966b2 in the 1b55e6ed09 future.f8a673c3f5142148

Anyway, after that, we got lost in reminiscing about the past. Five years didn’t seem that long, but looking back, there were quite a few fun moments.39f1b83008e24167

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The most outrageous 09db36d5f5 incident happened in 0b90fe15a0 the winter when 6c3898227e we were 12.bfb9bd1caf63c420

“Do you remember how cold it was when we were 12?”4f1a5a2f8dd03b2a

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“Of course.”97a81a1df2ab8cc7

It was d260c2c4cc an unusually ed04e6c1f2 cold winter 5781a9a7dc in the d0af491588 marquisate, where 3f97150b13 the temperature a4c4ac50cf was usually 00cce80b46 mild all 00524fbf4b year round, 7621f00fa7 cold enough 47366dd81b to freeze 9aea002a0e the pond 39670ddd52 solid. It was c44ef294a9 a common d54c3e3563 sight for c254be092b Calix, who 73c3493664 was used 93fc2ff545 to the 18facd7382 chilly duchy, 884b3e6cdd but I 4676ff1522 found the 26959f553f white landscape 220e95a0af fascinating and 10582f66c5 quite charming.e7416e8fd8ce024e

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Excited, I dragged Calix to the nearby mountain with two fertilizer bags we stole from the castle’s storage. And what we did was sled down the snow with those smelly fertilizer bags.85e52277359e1608

It was only 5a9387af40 natural that the c270f7e89f knights who witnessed 2e8f6ee1f7 our lack of 8d0806e591 decorum and dignity e25e6929e4 were shocked, as 325b7cfa97 were my parents ed0e03af3b when they heard f7ad98f922 about it.742991df34ce7345

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“I still remember my uncle and aunt’s expressions vividly.”1b2b0b4c30125c12

My parents, being naturally kind, couldn’t scold us when we returned with big smiles after having fun. Instead of scolding us, they stepped back in shock, trying to avoid the stench from the fertilizer bags we hadn’t cleaned properly, as Calix said with a chuckle.8fc3551b4ec222d9

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“Did you see Father holding his breath?”239cc4f1786ad59e

“I think he was trying not to show it so we wouldn’t get hurt, but that made it even funnier.”cdea57efb875d50f

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“That’s the thrill of rebellion.”609497d280aa52ec

But a few days later, when we played with daggers stuck under wooden boards on the frozen pond, my parents couldn’t hold back their scolding. I was a precious child who constantly tested their patience.b248c84d2f601598

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As we bfda5926f2 talked for 3a77e0d8b6 a long daf00a8c99 time, the 917c5dd305 faint dawn 166dea6104 light began 5a6a03d394 to appear 67869b3a04 outside the b9022be1a6 window. I sat 8ea15af45b up from 55e48d0d6b my comfortable a68afa968f position, and c8a7b2cac7 Calix followed 714d5c64a8 suit.f683c60d77db6208

“Calix, you said you’re leaving early in the morning, right?”f06d16bb0842fd6f

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“Yeah.”19cf1e4b33b3b2c6

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can see you off today.”d209e1f553b876b3

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“Yeah, you don’t have to. We stayed up late, so you should get some rest. Sleeping well is good for your health.”2c2d75650f9ec722

He seemed a bit disappointed that we couldn’t say a final goodbye, but he still thought my health was more important. However, my reason for not seeing him off was unrelated to that.1c7febe96788c47c

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“That’s not why.”831ab999605248d5

“Then why?”be7165d1fb553953

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“Actually, I’ve been hiding something from you. That’s why.”16f6c06d59ead3fb

As I tensed up at the thought of telling the truth, my expression naturally hardened, and Calix’s face darkened as well.542615957757fb13

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“What could you be hiding…? I’m starting to get scared.”3e8104fc2d470ca2

“…Just so you know, I’m not joking or playing around.”506fa1d4b474862b

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“Yeah, tell me.”a0f194d15f1576cf

I opened and closed my lips several times. For some reason, it felt like my throat was blocked, and the words wouldn’t come out.e9b7f25880256b4f

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Hemel had told my parents about my mana sclerosis, and I had informed my brothers indirectly through a letter, so this was my first time saying it out loud. But that wasn’t the only reason I hesitated.fb3ae30c04bb2bfd

Maybe, just as I wanted to see Calix happy and prepared gifts for him, I didn’t want to see him shocked or crying, which made me even more reluctant to speak.9baec0fe7ef20b5f

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‘I guess I’ve grown attached to Calix.’aafe8449e5a9a534

Indeed, anyone who truly faced Calix couldn’t help but adore him. I wasn’t much different. At first, I thought he was just like a cute little kitten, but eventually, I came to genuinely consider him a friend.55fe1a6cb559dd2e

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Gathering my resolve, I 21b075c7a6 calmly began.f22acdb7ef77ffd7

“Calix.”b39c3f4a5b6b2acc

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“Yeah.”73f7b8d44a6e2722

“I have mana sclerosis.”3c8f0fc9860cbdad

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“…What?”40c2d93bcd847f6b

Calix seemed to doubt whether the ‘mana sclerosis’ I mentioned was what he thought it was.f42a4f84831da37b

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And the 6d890e26d1 result of 32f140c523 that doubt 245e810f85 seemed to 077820cff3 be denial.c3f6ec7a2a298c35

“What… do you mean?”01ee403d363a3307

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I laughed like 7bd4a6f339 a sigh.0781d5dbb62b0b73

“See, I told you you’d regret being friends with me.”ec3ecd175781afe9

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At that moment, Calix’s bright face turned pale. It was as if he was facing a monster’s maw ready to devour him.4d1554aca239962a

“…You… knew?”65ac75ca69af8ced

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“Knew what? That you’d regret it?”c790660160e45a2b

“That you’d be sick!”b3a570936ed05683

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I shrugged. I didn’t necessarily have to keep my past life’s memories a secret, but there was no reason to tell someone I wouldn’t see again. Besides, I wasn’t confident I could summarize the long story at this point, with Calix about to return to his estate.7d203c732c6ec03b

“I told you I could see the future. You didn’t believe me at all, did you?”be239ea3b2ff8917

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Calix suddenly reached 5dae70a242 out and grabbed f1d0519b3c my hand. The trembling was transmitted 27f987ea42 through the touch.9b72e00f2aafe321

“Do, do your uncle and aunt know?”31543412452ef1a2

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“Yeah.”8219f04cfd5da153

“…When? When did they find out?”8162da08cfc08f9a

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“I was diagnosed by Hemel when I was 13. You wouldn’t know because you were at the duchy.”7a85528f4b95a132

Calix seemed to recall 31bb059cbc something and suddenly lifted 7242c67741 his head.4c623ad3197d1349

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“…Then did you buy the gifts knowing you were sick?”f0c0babc28bab15d

“My illness and the gifts are separate.”a79a1fcac502e4f5

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It might have been bewildering for Calix, but for me, who already knew the future, it was just a slightly more eventful day. It wasn’t something to make a big deal about.abb5e1cd5c178c43

“You’re like this…!”428b992a40646122

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But Calix didn’t seem to think so, and his voice rose. Soon, tears that had welled up in his big eyes fell onto the blanket.6707af4e6fd16d8e

“You’re like this, so I…”2621aa6062943ad0

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Calix, speaking in a trembling voice, clamped his lips shut. I didn’t know what he wanted to say, but judging by his rambling, he probably didn’t know either.a0aaf32584e9b70d

Since I 8d072f2d20 started the e56f3c8c9c conversation, it be5ef2fd1d was my 4f037a5d05 responsibility to 21b74bb5e9 finish it.ff95d4a6833b9daf

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“I made it sound like it was your fault, but that was a joke. I’m sorry for upsetting you.”8bee43b36a166052

“I, I…”1e4a24cad820a88e

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“So don’t come to the marquis’s castle anymore. Don’t send letters either.”d6dee3fe2873212f

Calix froze in 0e7a7ff76f shock. Yes, this was 53c847576e what I really 45c57994f0 wanted to say. Maybe this 06caf7d305 was better a3922988d8 than maintaining 569fcf5aa2 the relationship 30ab6b96f8 and running 799df4666a away just 54dd29ba29 before dying.04f7e8776f55907e

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“I told you, a great person will appear in your future. So break up with a sickly friend who only hurts you. Got it?”8e0e33cd8b1b85f7

Seeing his face, shocked and tearful, was so pitiful that I couldn’t help but reach out.04be51bf63776d1d

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“Sorry.”c55a91ef17f83ded

After wiping 8d11633275 his tears, 4ea4925b13 I took 4a870afce2 my pillow a1443e2507 and returned bd55f0d125 to my 3b1ec61390 room. The spots 84ba573a94 where the 31cfaa1770 tears had 0b617fadfd touched felt 53017073f6 hot, as 7150390209 if it 8b5f3d7954 was a 847131ae68 punishment for 5a6892c0be my irresponsibility.f8ae80b097fa4086

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