TIEH | Chapter 19

As we 5530d3ed21 chatted, it 7f2f8c7674 became evening acfd15dd56 before we 45095f33ce knew it. Since I had to b07bea4d0b eat in my room 7945cc7c51 due to being confined 361a9d41ee by Hemel, I tried 3d2ade6d3e to send Calix out 3c299d7081 first.56a7576a7e746237

“Let’s eat first and talk again later.”10abf9ac709560d8

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“Sure.”98db73aed71f6282

“Go eat.”18d7ddd0316d1a27

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“Eat and come back? What about you?”346b220da4399b75

“I have to eat in the bedroom.”936166cd6a56f161

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“Can’t I eat here too?”da0d4a3702d33ae1

It’s not that he can’t, but unless there’s a special reason, there’s no need to eat in the bedroom.9ae0055860b98b34

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“You can eat with your parents. Eating in the room is uncomfortable.”7a00e1c78c275ade

“No, I want to eat with you, Jayden.”77e2438134247bf5

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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.342fcd0a53dda70a

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.34ab74d980563c66

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“If not me, who’s going to cut your steak, Jayden? I have to eat the vegetables you hate too.”9120b968c1d180ca

“You make it sound like I’m a picky eater. I’m not that bad. And I can do both myself.”4657477d2a2941cf

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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.cae3d86c09936011

And I realized b2b3d44c10 later that thinking 9800418c67 it was just 63231e8d15 banter was my 1c3fe0c85a mistake.82bd221461dfbfa6

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“Jayden, this seems a bit tough.”4b133305bd868708

Calix stuck by my 237ab9356c side throughout the meal, be35da8302 practically serving me. I thought 6e717ab1d3 he was 7f108a5ce5 being extra 964aaceb59 last time, f6a1673c16 but that 60c3ec9978 was him 23e8bf0485 holding back 36f3216197 because my 8299bf7761 parents were a624d7c89b watching.9d4d75a990313df7

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“Are you kidding? I have teeth too.”c3ca3a14d091b526

“You should say ‘teeth’ or ‘tooth,’ not ‘teeth.‘”ae3db7fe2d171467

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“Who doesn’t know that?”36e697b9c7662d74

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.80baaac9a6648b89

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“If you really want to eat this, I’ll cut it smaller for you.”d8bca2c44675a013

“…Is this revenge?”8a80c7fd9efe9203

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“Me, revenge on you? For what?”87e0c7e60ce1547f

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.589fa82dba185579

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Recently, I 8ec281ae7f declared our 93e00b9abc friendship over, 574e902a51 ignored all 2a6135fefc his letters, cd6fc7a858 and even b0dd05e69f blocked direct ba42e5af8a magic circles, 04983ca7e0 forcing him f8035d0222 to take 456e13eb48 a carriage 4f6ab9f730 and get 54fce6a933 scolded by b189d4c6e1 the Duke.94035ae48a9555e8

“Well, if not, then fine.”1735070a9ea47dda

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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.959b26a0c7620bcb

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.5d99e46abd7746eb

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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.3e0d5976a548121f

“Should I ask them to clear the table if you’re done?”17e9ec7dfcf4ceb8

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“What about you? You barely ate while taking care of me.”967221b70c7e4107

“No, I ate a lot.”d22e9b4b16feb503

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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…4c6350e2e821bea3

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.23cef06249a207c1

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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.302962180a484ba4

“Should I learn tea ceremony too?”42660bd68e3516f7

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“Why tea ceremony all of a sudden?”7ef73fa8f50cee64

“Just because. I want to brew tea for you too.”e334d8d7ae9003e6

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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.8481549e5a2b523f

“…It was my first time back then.”3ff6ae91cb4fcc46

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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.”fd4e0d4ff0514941

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?bc49c2456a0fb973

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Calix chuckled shyly at c493c5da9c my logical words.91f370a1abf88ba3

“Talking to you, Jayden, makes me feel like I’m someone amazing.”689cf429fbf0de2e

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“That’s what I want to say.”a397df52bd19c7e6

Unlike me, who 0b9963e17c always spoke with 916118bb10 a hint of 4a3040419c sarcasm, Calix was 793a0b12ff the kind of 002e299988 kind person who a2fc852ac4 only spoke carefully 5a068517fa chosen, beautiful words. And that was 97d1227e8d still true now.e3030ba98d883154

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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.3c879e9b1ece60c1

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.2c189cc4ebe7ce81

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“Well, maybe humility is your charm.”2eaaca36709bb4b2

“…Charm? Do you really think so?”f0c2bac4c85861fc

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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.ba4096432b3209e9

“No, if you acted cocky, it might suit you in its own way.”b5661a731429fe98

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“Which do you prefer, then?”12be902136d05681

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.5a45ee6a9691ce09

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“Both are about the same.”22d994eae422911c

“But if you had to pick one?”8c6a72ef19c6dde9

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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.aa3fce05e0bf9de7

“Choosing between a timid kitten and a proud kitten is an insult to kittens. Kittens are just cute.”3cc0dceae3099099

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Though I 2f3a4a4df1 said it c298ca77d7 jokingly, it 6e5b63ea8e ultimately meant 1eeebd2cb6 I liked 5a3a802fee whatever Calix 8355a79700 did. And seeing that my c7e9a19caa answer pleased him, Calix f8a5471b05 laughed brightly, his cheeks 013ff2c4b8 turning red.33f0f626a485a70f

“I can’t beat you, Jayden.”1645403680af804b

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Knock-knock-ab4721efa8ef3e34

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.c7652794589a1a14

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Seeing Calix get up 80adcc70e4 to check, I followed dad47562ef suit, but before I 960c491c16 could say anything, Damian 64691bfbf1 opened the window and b7a4d3b791 came in.da7968affa1b8a1e

He used to b6cbe48aa3 wait for me b69c8bb532 to open it, 7163179455 but now he 98efe70c0b comes in on c034b86e99 his own, and 0e2384719c he happened to 2dfb976fd5 run into Calix.90ca7d512b9d6c60

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‘He’s going to nag a lot.’73d31a065d9bedda

Calix, quickly standing in 440d14f193 front of me, seemed 119c65a02e a bit frustrated at 0381963db2 not having a sword, 4aba9440b6 then picked up a 5a52d94814 butter knife from the 2f5b06e2f4 table. Soon, unmistakable aura 06576110d9 enveloped the blunt e36226f9fc blade.0b7ee0e75e90fdc4

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What was just f24503a46d a utensil for fcc9f93d7c spreading butter on 4202153be8 bread became a 13b0596b0d deadly weapon capable 775b8fac11 of taking a dfa8f59cd3 life.7ef58db6cfb5e8a6

“No, hey, wait-”e71543326135fcaf

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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.4eed340c51005725

“Stop!”77997a2f23b60633

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“Jayden?!”b87fbf5e250a9b8a

Perhaps due to his 92578257b4 surprise, the aura on 0897d4aa76 the knife wavered and 152486df62 disappeared, and I finally f35df54950 sighed in relief.6875a115c0c47963

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“What are you doing so dangerously?! What if someone gets hurt…!”c8fb2af88f53f243

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.fd10f99e01a7e1ef

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“Calm down first. He’s someone I know.”147e747c0d6a8bef

“…Someone you know?”36d95a3d13317b0a

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“Yes, really.”e89f187274750ca9

Calix, hesitantly approaching 93b035088e me, finally noticed 67682b80d9 how close we 2898cdeffa were and kept 5a36698f37 glancing at my 29f985b0c8 arm linked with 85b451cb4d his.ad6e8d4837315b48

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Despite being the one dc61b93605 who often initiated skinship 21311bc3db without hesitation, Calix seemed 5b9d685307 quite flustered. It seemed it 6cdf11056f was because I cd78cbea83 initiated it first, c031762587 but whatever the 7e4d893fe1 reason, I had ea20da3f5b no intention of 364559ab47 letting go until e0b689a44d he completely lowered 26604a864c his guard against 180ad98121 Damian.0135f58cc908949e

“This is Damian. And Damian, this is my friend, Calix.”eb82048005745b76

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I didn’t expect a friendly introduction, but even in silence, the invisible tension between them was palpable.3291b337a7b1a8d6

Especially Calix, who b8c2130be3 usually had a b608b8075c clear smile, now 0c0f4985e3 had a stern 4eba535155 face, exuding a 3f7d89f790 surprisingly chilly aura 55e36e2062 for someone so 93b1747d18 young.a36edef8889f3852

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‘Was he always this tall?’2ac0fc77ff4c77b7

Calix, who 4200aaf107 had long a29a2aba7d surpassed me aed4c6e572 in height, dd7846b227 was still aa5bc078ae shorter than ea88e8e1ef Damian, but 6954a28b1d the original 85cf78ee98 story mentioned 0b72c30697 Calix would 057a477280 eventually grow a6bb685756 taller than ca46b48e0a Damian, who 7eb222beb8 was described 5e765c1998 as taller 0fa6432c45 than the 46a59c95d6 average man.60dca7449070b574

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Damian, too, wasn’t wearing his usual innocent smile but had a sly expression reminiscent of his original portrayal.386b43c9911905a3