TIEH | Chapter 19

As we chatted, 506d338a32 it became evening 658cbaf2ac before we knew 0f6937523e it. Since I had a41752e9ba to eat in a2957dd673 my room due 4d654b936a to being confined aadbc0621c by Hemel, I 1ba90d66b9 tried to send 0e47e3f54c Calix out first.e72b1e91105800fb

“Let’s eat first and talk again later.”1c1eb9789bcec6e0

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“Sure.”4d193bfc9681fd7f

“Go eat.”c4283f1d10616715

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“Eat and come back? What about you?”5faef1fdb4240732

“I have to eat in the bedroom.”0f21d53e667faa40

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“Can’t I eat here too?”51b91773c4880805

It’s not that he can’t, but unless there’s a special reason, there’s no need to eat in the bedroom.97d7a858ca249bf9

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“You can eat with your parents. Eating in the room is uncomfortable.”3ea67405856375a6

“No, I want to eat with you, Jayden.”137eec693dec22c4

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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.4e368835b901045e

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.723f4e498be85e6b

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“If not me, who’s going to cut your steak, Jayden? I have to eat the vegetables you hate too.”1407453c5892788f

“You make it sound like I’m a picky eater. I’m not that bad. And I can do both myself.”1670c5258bb04c99

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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.593e1aa39ae0dc87

And I 3aa1f56a37 realized later 4472d47866 that thinking 103ff9b449 it was fbd776282e just banter 046f505172 was my 8aa096c411 mistake.370b0d276417a1af

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“Jayden, this seems a bit tough.”96092247183b189e

Calix stuck by 39e006a2fd my side throughout 6bba678acc the meal, practically 73b16d7d3a serving me. I thought bf6ffaad81 he was ebf414a50a being extra 7272d94ce5 last time, daa0332d7e but that 0bee7b9a8c was him b72faf8a21 holding back 3db05c3b6e because my 430de42419 parents were 2fef9c5010 watching.2ea11fd63df2dbae

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“Are you kidding? I have teeth too.”19d3a4587843768d

“You should say ‘teeth’ or ‘tooth,’ not ‘teeth.‘”e0ae74c5c147ab58

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“Who doesn’t know that?”ea3d57702daaffcb

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.420bfdb28c1ba019

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“If you really want to eat this, I’ll cut it smaller for you.”75fde79c8014542e

“…Is this revenge?”d8f459cd9fae8183

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“Me, revenge on you? For what?”11cc9c910817912a

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.1dde8b974b1adb29

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Recently, I 2502504ba8 declared our 9d0cdd5d6d friendship over, b100bc977e ignored all 6e655590e6 his letters, 99d1fe274d and even c7bd4213e1 blocked direct 960ac29aba magic circles, 7c3cf91b23 forcing him 817ef6411e to take 65ba202879 a carriage 2c2430bebf and get e44a20431a scolded by 86a296579c the Duke.e58e6eee94579dc1

“Well, if not, then fine.”6ed88cb8299f7d3f

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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.4fe7c8412cadc0a0

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.23846cfb82cae460

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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.15cfcde152fc27a9

“Should I ask them to clear the table if you’re done?”b3692bcdfd204780

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“What about you? You barely ate while taking care of me.”c5d9bda676922923

“No, I ate a lot.”40ae6f451606b4cb

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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…b753b957daba00ba

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.97308b01a0ca7ea5

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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.989c3e9334a3e394

“Should I learn tea ceremony too?”b81661a20567082d

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“Why tea ceremony all of a sudden?”021503c1cb3c05a7

“Just because. I want to brew tea for you too.”b842b39929ba02cd

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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.d543e324fec092e6

“…It was my first time back then.”63816f62c93e1edc

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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.”15f082337bea83a6

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?4bd48d3f865fef40

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Calix chuckled 3f2ad71af2 shyly at 5c35784e34 my logical 8849b70747 words.e96ab0ac0d1fdb4e

“Talking to you, Jayden, makes me feel like I’m someone amazing.”0ab77d95b382eed2

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“That’s what I want to say.”bc948afc3fdc70d0

Unlike me, abfc5a29d0 who always c097d36125 spoke with 74ad94ada9 a hint b88bef1805 of sarcasm, 01aa625a5b Calix was dc547a7fd1 the kind 19b5ebe03a of kind 2e7983b117 person who f0a61c7c6b only spoke 71eb62c12a carefully chosen, 49b91dfac6 beautiful words. And that was still d77a952575 true now.964d268d5d1498c0

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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.6d52e6d9eefdf919

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.23c38db53223f5b1

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“Well, maybe humility is your charm.”1d58f3d25b7bcaad

“…Charm? Do you really think so?”f29d26e9002b7cd6

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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.632cbc093bc789ac

“No, if you acted cocky, it might suit you in its own way.”fe879ab7b6e318f0

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“Which do you prefer, then?”a313f8caf0e924f9

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.11a9de55eddd1686

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“Both are about the same.”aa3a63d0b7b2c909

“But if you had to pick one?”6a92d2ddd44e6ec1

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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.86d208c18929a66b

“Choosing between a timid kitten and a proud kitten is an insult to kittens. Kittens are just cute.”b29061b0518533c8

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Though I said it c776048efa jokingly, it ultimately meant c41d8b2a17 I liked whatever Calix b540859803 did. And seeing that 0d1ba41c8c my answer pleased 33468d950f him, Calix laughed 7fe3909865 brightly, his cheeks 01df20ba7e turning red.e238593fc12e4353

“I can’t beat you, Jayden.”4290e8ea5b29b56d

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Knock-knock-acd789e08488c25e

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.bcf221fe096555c7

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Seeing Calix get up 5dd8f3b1c9 to check, I followed 77d3080919 suit, but before I 75e000f331 could say anything, Damian 62e3d27886 opened the window and 6d53942794 came in.46b3aea19e8bd8ed

He used to wait fff1a0cbcb for me to open 3dbdaf3d8a it, but now he db330940e2 comes in on his 35f1ff61be own, and he happened 314508dd5d to run into Calix.cdeca9c9f0644bb3

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‘He’s going to nag a lot.’f00a7df93a428283

Calix, quickly standing 2941da892e in front of b784da28ed me, seemed a c6c3db709f bit frustrated at 0b81a616c4 not having a 8cc0b42130 sword, then picked 6ed1322b05 up a butter f9d734bbc5 knife from the 89b3e79a86 table. Soon, unmistakable aura enveloped cc062918d0 the blunt blade.7935fcc3911456db

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What was just a 9dd687d051 utensil for spreading butter b9d23d6e16 on bread became a 4e07b599c1 deadly weapon capable of 54b0efdc37 taking a life.3ffa7bcf573af572

“No, hey, wait-”b30adf5c347b9070

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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.64b57d5094e6bdd0

“Stop!”2fa182314708bb55

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“Jayden?!”b37055e74f2e76af

Perhaps due to his cd0f4669ef surprise, the aura on 40b6eb1f64 the knife wavered and 4d51d3f1ce disappeared, and I finally 4595efc86f sighed in relief.78a5b3e553568d0f

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“What are you doing so dangerously?! What if someone gets hurt…!”45686eee6ab56a93

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.281de2b1ca513a06

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“Calm down first. He’s someone I know.”08a795274d9d492d

“…Someone you know?”9670359b17b796eb

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“Yes, really.”796a047fce82c35b

Calix, hesitantly approaching 6116380f4f me, finally noticed 4387e47fe1 how close we 37739fdd22 were and kept 2789229a7a glancing at my 95842939e4 arm linked with 8f79165b2e his.ecb64e9aff2f131e

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Despite being the d65b891df7 one who often 45eb72598e initiated skinship without 9869ccbe43 hesitation, Calix seemed befdf590fb quite flustered. It seemed it was c979df8f06 because I initiated it 8074a9760b first, but whatever the a5bdfa7928 reason, I had no fd40a7ad06 intention of letting go 3c19eaeaa2 until he completely lowered 5a34a19dd4 his guard against Damian.23ffacc66a2d3141

“This is Damian. And Damian, this is my friend, Calix.”e38f12310b162f35

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I didn’t expect a friendly introduction, but even in silence, the invisible tension between them was palpable.a27f2f1ce90219dc

Especially Calix, who usually 7aef823ef7 had a clear smile, bb6f1efd52 now had a stern 94702750a6 face, exuding a surprisingly 2e1a09c44c chilly aura for someone a7a6c6bb3a so young.c4bfd5c69f261c76

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‘Was he always this tall?’a552c2a15c439699

Calix, who 7406180026 had long 89c5c9cd49 surpassed me 69974d0baa in height, c23a004e18 was still e9cbd46e2c shorter than 5dae0928a9 Damian, but 15cd7492b8 the original 96bba786e6 story mentioned 1a76e89065 Calix would e5a56a6ab2 eventually grow 50d9a3cbb4 taller than 5d97f64ace Damian, who b3cd0fabe2 was described a189faf7ee as taller ca971320f8 than the a564b02a62 average man.62402f9b2239d7ce

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Damian, too, wasn’t wearing his usual innocent smile but had a sly expression reminiscent of his original portrayal.71dafd4830c60439