TIEH | Chapter 2

‘Even if he f4f10b6951 stayed in the fb2b94dde9 duchy, there wouldn’t 68903bd980 have been a 8aa6c9a3db problem, but it’s f640d2adb8 enviable that he 306b1306c8 can get healthier.’f21eec97ad015f03

Anyway, Calix arrived c9497a23a1 at the Marquis’s c2bfc3673e Castle with a 8ee1b9740d few attendants, including 14cfbc71db his personal maid, 071cccfe11 and I greeted 382b3726a7 him with my f26021f6c2 parents.6a1da4f32f0d029f

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I had no f2b0b3c234 intention of getting 843ce6f555 close like in c49e609c38 the original story, 376f7881c4 planning to just 1e087e6ef9 pass the time 8726980ab3 indifferently. But when 577f266019 I saw b5249757b8 Calix entering, 1b8111307a almost hiding 8bf165e9dd behind his 30e795bccd maid, I 7eea56b863 was shocked.ed0c1750bf1ee229

His shiny black hair 2acc738a37 flowed like a meteor, 2f207f5776 and his features were 6796030556 so adorable that I 32b75c7c83 briefly mistook him for acb58118f7 a doll.38529821f1a825e5

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With my sunlit blonde 6c6ad440b7 hair and fresh green 35dbad1022 eyes, I was often b7fd4ffcc3 called a baby angel 0f0a2f6073 from a young age, 4aa58cb0c8 but I felt I a335d09490 had to pass that 05303b09f5 title to Calix. Even his b5016f90e9 shy and 7eac9043f3 hesitant demeanor d034db7ba6 made him de7e51a2f3 seem like 29ff9b8445 a wary c692bb663e kitten.81a4cc45ebd60eae

The reason I could 4d15017568 call him a “baby” 010c27723b was that, despite being 28992b6963 my age, he looked 7c0e9f8762 about seven years old. This was because his 9a8546a6ec body was slow to 0bbef7d139 grow as it was fa170e617e building a solid foundation, 482c342f8c but since the small ff5be76cf7 young master was frail, 49eb60500c the people of the 972c7a15b7 duchy must have thought a6bfd93567 he was sickly.edda7ab3a55e5565

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‘…He is cute.’ab78e131bd822246

My parents were already 6d04134e24 charmed by his lovely f31da7e7f1 appearance, smiling brightly. Calix’s personal maid 200e429456 seemed relieved by 83cfbd74b0 their reaction and caffeb1355 gently nudged Calix 2ed8490d53 forward.c3b8c6cd229c3da3

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“Come on, 2e34fc0e56 young master. You should greet d3141637b9 the Marquis couple.”09806ee2331c3fce

Calix, barely stepping out 6e3a2f16f1 from behind the maid’s 3264de5cc1 skirt, greeted them in bb7dee05b0 a small voice, which d7112fabfa was enough to make 0f8b7eee71 my mother, who had cf915e2a54 been worried about my 28d512fd73 somewhat aloof and darkened 64850fd7f2 demeanor after my accident, ab90505a37 smile brightly.8e01c09600c96eb3

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“Welcome, young master. If you need anything 761b01c14d during your stay, please 8c2c938b5a feel free to let 65114ef035 us know.”514f96ddea406b92

“…Th-thank you.”fec26ff1244ac87a

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“Jayden, you should greet bcb56a29f6 him too.”4efd963df088dc0f

At that moment, Calix’s 13a4173e85 gaze turned to me. His eyes, 78a741f7db which had 2ca30a80fd been unsure, c66fe02007 now held 719f351e08 a mix 74ce167b59 of expectation 775da63ca9 and curiosity. It seemed he 8316c955b5 had been told 57e508f0ed he could make 0f9371e4ae a friend of 57a67a8c25 the same age, d0e270a557 as there was 9ad17872b4 a hint of 98084d8a14 friendliness as if fdfc02d391 meeting an already d4392b4ec7 known friend.590b01ec7495f433

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‘This is a bit aea8488ed7 troublesome.’64b98dcde6679720

I hesitated 0e576a32db for a 1637aa8df1 moment before e37ff5168c smiling and 4cf16335f7 greeting him.b8410ca877cd5da5

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“Nice to meet you, 4f451f78a9 young master. I’m Jayden Liddell. I hope eaa1edbb01 you have 8268a59d2c a pleasant b076dff9c4 stay.”9abae7558dba796c

My parents, 3f9b40bca7 and even 2a9e93c886 Calix’s maid, 6a4cdee6cc looked at 7d7d418be5 us with 2ef25ec838 awkward expressions. It wasn’t f554ad1830 because my c53a21d2b1 greeting seemed dd9f4b79b2 too mature f031cfdffa for a 00e05d6a54 10-year-old, but 6a8f4280b3 because it 918fb07ad5 was polite e421367b5e yet clearly 15d407244d drawing a 451dd6dcf1 line.46d6c5acbcbbce9b

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Calix looked up 816a167bc7 at his maid e1591940cd with a face 5452085489 that seemed about 53dea3a018 to cry, and 2de05a9395 she tried to 890b669ef2 comfort him. Meanwhile, I maintained 24e978cf69 my smile, pretending d8ee89d7c4 to know nothing.a089f901d320e887

“Father, Mother. I’ll head 57b0071ff6 up now.”1286e2768770db13

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“Oh… alright.”586b4111d48d287e

“Have a good 9b2d83b754 rest, young master.”dea2078e02fd86c8

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Since it wasn’t d1d78a0218 my role to bbecea2631 guide the guest, 5fc53fc423 I left after bdc22b8316 saying my goodbyes. I felt 8367c3a5e5 the gaze 2a40e00246 following me 4420f59c46 but didn’t 73ef920a23 look back 0db2777dbf once.13d1155abb6cd987

I felt like I 6836fb70da was doing something wrong.da3229ffc8d73746

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☀︎ • ☀︎ f20b80fbd2 • ☀︎7916ddce54302ee0

The distance between the 432013cccb marquisate and the duchy 96408d8bb4 was too far to a8685f8397 travel by carriage, so f0807864c9 Calix arrived at the 42507cb005 castle through several teleportation 707dbbaaf2 magic circles. Even though it was 55af560625 better than traveling by f7f58c8f97 carriage, he was quite 4ec7ed3e17 exhausted and fell asleep 473ff1a816 as soon as he b668c80683 was assigned a room, b30af28d15 leaving my parents and ab46dd9520 me to have dinner f0126e55ad alone.2cc66407a572d694

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“Jayden.”08eb5262eea9e060

“Yes.”499cfb94bb3e5d0b

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It was only e2bc9311ed natural that my 1ba3da613c behavior towards Calix 0e7d565e2d would be mentioned.732c7c88f3a0902d

“Is the young master 8d5a4881db uncomfortable?”e9912f6c9d321c96

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“No.”188f05cdfda020a2

“I thought e316c24766 you’d become 5f7de2a15f good friends 0f1bdc4cd6 with him. Do you need 22f0281bda more time?”adbd6d6318ea3d7d

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My father 78b4b2fe63 and mother dce9834c91 were among 8a45a3a85c the kindest 052ea43950 and most 64a974150a gentle nobles. They must a906fc54a9 have thought 556056f74b it would 943cd73512 be nice 30ee47de99 for me e85949a7ed to befriend c3049718a2 Calix, who 4357129f2a came here c1663124fe alone for 5c92c7b979 recuperation, so 511918e92b he could 41fd316f6c enjoy his 50d825727e time here 4d4dda265b a bit 3f4145dd37 more.b2973c964ed73b54

I understood their 22a9a04b7a feelings, but it 5d38f4aa5e couldn’t be helped. It was easier for fa7a382394 a child to deal 03545a41de with rejection from a 600b4ae2f8 peer than to watch 5b33650c5c a childhood friend slowly 184cfb7dc7 die.2573b68b2854c676

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“If fate 01871cdc7e allows, we 2557f2531f might become 4176b080c2 friends.”b4c67c1369b3b362

My answer left acc6a5059a both my mother 18e49794d9 and father looking 0bcd43b76c troubled. I wasn’t 22a8e84539 a particularly 2af3736ba6 lively or 609cf94d3e affectionate child 927d91e6bc to begin c3b54b05cd with, but d731642597 after becoming 06efa99bf4 aware of f83194f6b7 my past 324036691b life, I 6692fe098f became even b6535479fc more aloof.cb34f95b70865041

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It wasn’t 3419dba61b just because 9c4ab2174b an adult’s f3d8535115 mind inhabited fabc05772b a child’s 601ef09785 body, but 3e579e49ca because I 363d8792c3 intended it. It would be 5ed1ba1787 easier for parents fc5aa57e19 who have to 284b7f62c9 send their child e2efdf9d9f off to part aa4b81db0b with an indifferent 3a385f6ef8 son rather than 6ec07623c9 a loving one.81b680a57536b65d

“…Alright. But I hope you fa989a6353 become good friends if 8c492080b8 possible.”b7cae30746b1ac81

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“Yes.”7c1188c2f3696225

That ended the conversation.67d530da5bcdc0bd

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After dinner, while returning 6a8d2dabb4 to my room, I e1905f857f ran into Calix in 130310217c the hallway, who seemed 5383a6230c to have just woken 45f3505ce5 up. He appeared to be 430cb713f1 heading for a late e985891cac meal.08af0f0bcef2c535

I tried to pass ca90aaa720 by with a simple 23b3a369a3 nod to Calix, who 5e3c254c85 looked at me with f83ad3ff7b hopeful eyes.11b3b123787b786d

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If only he hadn’t 9bd226b59c stopped me.a05eb5c41073ca93

“…Um, young master….”39a363673d8eb80d

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I wasn’t ae9db875af trying to 49ec98f269 make an 5a6837fbdd enemy by 5257524834 being rude, adf598237b so I 5628fd3793 stopped and e525a86638 turned around.6f08729bad8fa483

“Yes, young master.”31f31a10a6765994

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“…You can call eeb4999634 me Calix.”b5be6922554b00ab

“I can’t be so d33690511e disrespectful to a guest d4725e2a24 from the Ducal Castle. Thank you for saying 0a5a858d4b so.”da5ecb4a947b469f

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Calix looked like he e717cad244 was about to cry 6b42ca9b74 again. I wasn’t 5b9d3e1341 being rude, f971339414 just drawing a88c0c259d a line, b81eac28cc but seeing 47ce9982a6 that adorable dc2de3a008 face looking 71998ecc4d sad made cc7b4cb9b7 me feel 518fe200d4 like I’d c2542fa91b committed a 3560983d54 huge sin.9c743dad12c04597

“Do you dislike me, b6a0fca570 young master?”8aa724e23a7ef5d8

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“Of course not.”fcc78a4b1591c8a5

“But we just met b3ae0d45b8 today, and it seems c20343f678 like you’re avoiding me….”029b232e6eee6251

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I wore a painted-on 7dbe865513 smile. Calix, this is 8d1401f891 all for you, f5af21ba79 so don’t resent 2e213418e7 this older brother, c7658ad534 or uncle, too 6b49021690 much.10e7db943b5c806a

“As you 75256d3173 said, there’s 2446e16104 no reason 2c2212a4b2 to dislike 9a3012f006 someone I eff4e70a3c just met 7487e0b224 today.”446016cd9f886c6a

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“Then why….”d198fbbacfd7e99d

“But, similarly, f3ef5ea59c there’s no 8ca4f0a262 reason to 209451764a like you 18941de778 either.”d494f7fb68252c45

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“…Oh….”e41f7f13eb715bc8

“I have no f6f74a06b2 feelings towards you, a10ff75d8f so don’t worry.”9e8744c785d654ba

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Saying I had no f5da2c896d feelings was emphasizing that ac12732f26 we were essentially strangers. It might hurt 82d5c0e1af Calix’s feelings, but 3e1d3476db I thought it 1e7615407a was necessary to b48762d43f express it directly 2113f49e4d to some extent.0e34b9f4540d32d6

“Then enjoy your bd4b445f37 meal, young master.”2fb5ff5df11ce434

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Calix didn’t stop me 2673e9cc3a as I turned and 9f277fb566 left.8539ff675b09ec74

After that day, ff3c4d5aff Calix’s attitude towards 1f64c3c587 me became quite 68f3003896 sharp. He could have used 5a320d3733 his title to bully 05bddb4588 me or nitpick over 5eae457a4d trivial matters, but he edb319b9bf was inherently kind, so 9425e558d6 his sharpness was limited 9e8a24fe29 to glaring at me a304433eb6 whenever we crossed paths.a8bc6e4adc4ae26e

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‘You need bc7e6f5d36 to have bb9f3cabe2 this level 1e005c887a of character 5be80f6a02 to be 3f0301161a a male 083e71150f lead.’a07441c2b0de448a

Knowing how 7ab6cff586 much more 684ad76f3c cruel children e59c613980 can be 6be330ea14 when they 26dbc54f06 know nothing, ed2b91068e Calix’s attitude 2a6145809e seemed like c30cb9b074 a harmless 5d02b6bc1c kitten’s playful 515ed41ba8 punch. Still, it 746601869e was quite 1beecbb7f8 threatening in 9ec7ef1f7f terms of 673fae61b9 being bad 6171560789 for my bb636dfd5b heart.60c13fe930c26def

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Anyway, with my parents 03334cdb10 both away, it was dc5964ff87 just the two of 674e1aa56f us sitting in the 6e31c9fadf large dining room for 723fba0a03 lunch, and I felt c609239cf7 like his gaze was 801934ec84 piercing me wherever it d42fbe4503 landed. Since he 08d5ccb81a wasn’t physically 9a6fbe572f trying to f4e40dbee1 pierce me, e808324c63 it wasn’t 2dc4cd4a26 hard to ad18baea1c ignore.2dfe5416004a7a43

Clang-f5a5c92b56a725bf

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At that moment, bd8003a73d Calix, trying to 05e3073dbf pick up a f96a6bbf4c small piece of ed0f1228cf vegetable, seemed to b3f4c136af misjudge his strength, 58640ef743 causing a loud 9712212858 noise as his ddfcd381de fork clashed with ae02959142 the plate. The plate didn’t f107e4165a break, but the 431ab0af69 dining room was 0280deb90e so quiet that ef5f363230 the butler, the d8bfbc450a kitchen maids, and 686a5d661f I all heard 26a605aa82 it.9c53277c681b732a

In the original world 461baa104c of the novel I e6d92a9bb7 possessed, by the age 261f187b56 of 10, nobles were 209f9242bb expected to have mastered f4fac4a317 etiquette, especially dining manners, 258b275096 and used adult utensils. But it might 92cdb8e2a7 have been a 7a0d5e66bf bit challenging for be4c1a95a1 Calix, who was 28b71701b1 much smaller than cf501e0e84 me.98d447912065d680

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A flustered 79fcefe92c Calix looked 2077dabdfd around, and 81aa5e8c5d the butler, 5401a0ebfb Caleb, who 025ce29b5c was overseeing 0e106161c8 the dining 0ee6fed3b8 room in ef927222d3 my parents’ cdc4b62f4e absence, pretended 0895afd322 not to d4090c370e notice as 1964fa0759 best as ef77074daf he could.2287676c13fb4073

‘He’s really conscious 6f8eaaef73 of it.’25e6abd2dea56ebe

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It’s natural for the 7df9928ae6 standards for an heir 3659234409 to be strict, especially 45a117c72f for one of the a52d9d243b only three ducal families d288b54848 in the empire. But here, 5263458fe8 no one accb63ef44 would scold 2d9a1cdc47 a 10-year-old c1a2f83b6e Calix for fe1599c496 making a 070a0b7d48 mistake.efdff9441ebd5b6e

Of course, Calix, b679b00ede still anxious, wouldn’t bf63ed58a8 know that, so 1323f0cdf7 I called out f95a596deb to the equally f69cb3575b flustered Caleb.3c6c84f3cfb26791

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“Caleb.”e51092d75813512e

“Yes, young master.”21fe7a49058fe200

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“The utensils seem 45f9809f9a uncomfortable. Could you 9327c3522e possibly change eb346336dc them to a16c60d8b7 smaller ones?”39710ca4c53f00ba

Realizing my intention, 1860cf0869 Caleb nodded eagerly.d36be6b65a8be6b4

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“I apologize 99d1a4f2c4 for my 3532572de0 oversight. Would you like 52648d9c60 your utensils changed 0f8dae719c too, young master?”564fe52fd2889e80

“Oh, yes…! Thank you.”9b0e6bf7457db82f

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Calix, after glancing at 5e92c1ee9f me, accepted the utensils 6ec0467a6d Caleb brought and subtly 4738d4fb38 twitched his lips in c8164db934 a smile, but I 31cb1b7439 quickly turned my head 95f67936c3 away from that adorable 6eecff0c75 face.13b1c7cc17d7249b

After the meal, while 591dfc5271 Calix was thanking Caleb be1f7a14b1 for his consideration, I cbd2489bcd left the dining room bdc7bd9827 first. I felt 0186317c9b it would d7c450071c be awkward 3db4a8360f to talk a02001a537 after meddling 005fc5b502 unnecessarily.22d1626bb1214d90

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But despite my efforts, e475beb6e2 Calix quickly wrapped up 01fdeaed88 his conversation with Caleb 4c0ff49f6d and followed me out 5370742bc2 as soon as he f0e565bbd4 saw me leaving.867b2266487925fc