Chapter 5

The Callisten in the original story was a madman, but quite different from the madman I knew.

In «Delilah: Mistress of the Grand Duke’s House», he was crazy but devoted to the female protagonist, Delilah.

The problem was that because I had changed, the original story had twisted, and just as I had only met Delilah for the first time this week, Callisten hadn’t seen her yet either.

Far from having the female protagonist appear to suppress his madness, he had simply grown up as a madman.

He hadn’t even enrolled in the Academy and lived as he pleased.

Our childhood together was truly difficult. He was someone who had to have whatever he wanted.

And I was one of the things he wanted to possess.

Not with loving feelings or romantic emotions, but truly wanting to own me, a kind of possessiveness.

“Did you miss me?”

“Hahaha. I really missed your voice.”

He was still wearing his savage armor covered in blood. He must have come straight from the battlefield, as he strangely smelled of earth and sun-dried scent.

Yet he was still beautiful.

Perhaps because he was cruel and insane, he was externally exceptional to compensate for his lacking personality.

Objectively speaking, there was probably no one more handsome than Callisten in this empire.

“I really missed you. I longed for you.”

But that’s why I didn’t believe his words even more.

His hair didn’t look like someone who had just come from the battlefield; it was neatly swept back. His pitch-black hair still looked glossy and soft. His blood-colored eyes were bewitching like rubies sparkling underwater.

Naturally, the more dangerous a creature, the more brilliantly beautiful it was.

Just like Callisten Ethan Cropus.

“You know, I’ve been thinking a lot on the battlefield.”

“Thinking a lot doesn’t work for you. People don’t change.”

“Nothing changes as easily as people.”

“Not you.”

When I spoke with certainty, he laughed. He closed his eyes and laughed out loud. One shouldn’t be caught off guard by this appearance. He was like a bundle of needles inside cotton. A dangerous person who would cause serious injury if touched carelessly, with needles suddenly protruding.

“I’ll apologize for what happened when we were children.”

“What exactly are you apologizing for?”

“When you wouldn’t play with me, I released all your canaries. That.”

“Don’t you remember anything else?”

“Chasing away the children who said they wanted to be friends with you?”

“So you did that too.”

“Ah, that’s not it either?”

He didn’t love me. He was just a person with an extremely strong desire for exclusivity, and someone who made a very clear distinction between his people and others.

He had been unable to trust people since his mother passed away. That’s why he only opened his heart to people from the Philia Marquis household, whom he could trust.

“I’ve changed now.”

He went to war with the Biaten Empire right after the war with Merbenia broke out. Before that, he had gone to suppress a rebellion.

In the original story, he should have been obsessed with Delilah throughout his four years at the Academy.

Instead, he had lived on battlefields for four years straight since he was 16.

“I won’t do things you hate or fear anymore.”

“Will you please do that?”

I stared at him blankly, thinking these weren’t the words someone who had barged into my carriage uninvited should be saying. He smiled kindly and said:

“I really want to possess you.”

“Didn’t you just say you’d be good?”

“Yes, I’m speaking nicely.”

When I frowned without realizing it, he smiled brightly and said:

“So I’ll work hard to make you want to give yourself to me.”

“Have you forgotten I’m married?”

Then he smiled even more ecstatically and said:

“But you haven’t consummated the marriage yet, right? Then an annulment would be easy.”

“……”

“And the Briseyes I know wouldn’t allow her husband to take a mistress.”

When I pressed my lips tightly at his words, he seemed to realize he was right and continued with another smile:

“If you come to my side, I will never do such a thing.”

“You’re the Crown Prince, someone who might become Emperor someday. If you become Emperor, wouldn’t you take an imperial consort?”

“Here.”

When I asked pressingly, he placed a strange piece of metal on my hand. When I opened my palm, it was a key.

“What is this?”

“The key to my chastity belt.”

“……What?”

“I hate anyone who isn’t you. And I’ve never unlocked this, even on the battlefield. I’ve kept it hidden in the imperial palace all this time.”

I found myself looking toward his lower body, wondering if his words were true. He moved slightly, and there was a very faint sound of metal moving.

“What I’m wearing hurts if there’s an increase in volume.”

I wasn’t unaware of what a male chastity belt looked like. I was just amazed that he was actually wearing one.

“I’m always in pain whenever I think of you.”

“Get out of the carriage right now.”

“Hahaha.”

He laughed at my words and then firmly grasped my hand as I tried to return the key, making me clench my fist.

“There’s only one key. If you throw it away, I’ll wear this forever.”

“Why are you giving this to me? Take it back.”

“Because you’re the owner.”

“I’m married.”

“But you’ll soon have the marriage annulled. Or you could divorce.”

It seemed problematic that he knew me so well.

“I will absolutely never make you worry about such things.”

“…Cal.”

“I’ve been thinking a lot. What do I lack compared to the Grand Duke of Mays, what made you feel so secure with him.”

“……”

“The Grand Duke might have been fake, but I’m real. I’ll be the real person you want. I’ll make sure you don’t suffer because of another woman. I’ll make sure you don’t even have doubts.”

The key in my hand felt extremely cold. He was still holding my hand that clutched the key.

“Bri.”

“…Yes.”

“Just say one word, that you’re glad I’m back.”

“Go.”

“Hahaha.”

He laughed as if he had already anticipated my response, then met my eyes and smiled.

“I’m really happy to see you again.”

“……”

“It hurts.”

Suddenly understanding what he meant by saying it hurt, my face grew hot.

“Please, go.”

“Alright, sleep well, Bri. I’m truly happy to see you now that I’m back.”

With those words, he got out of the carriage.

As soon as he left, I almost shouted at the coachman to take me to the Grand Duke’s residence.

I was finally able to return to the Mays Grand Duke’s residence and go to my room.

⁕⁕⁕

Demian and Delilah did not return to the Grand Duke’s residence that night.

Briseyes couldn’t sleep because they hadn’t returned.

Perhaps because she had stayed up all night with her eyes open, the bruises all over her body seemed to feel even more chilly.

After staying up all night waiting, morning came, and she had to prepare for the Academy. In reality, whether they came or not, she now wanted to remove them from her life.

Although she couldn’t tell if meeting Callisten yesterday was fortunate or unfortunate, luckily, it had made her think about annulling the marriage.

But there would be no one in the empire who didn’t know that Briseyes and Demian were married.

Even so, if they hadn’t consummated the marriage, they could divorce. An annulment was also possible.

But the problem lay with the Philia Marquis household. It was a place that had used their daughter as an object of trade because they were interested in the Grand Duke’s title.

If she broke off the engagement with Demian, it was obvious she would be sold around with a blemish this time. They would think she was flawed since she had already been married once.

She might even be sold to someone over sixty.

That’s why she was so fixated on the Academy.

She needed to prepare a way to survive, even if it meant cutting ties with her family.

At the same time, she thought it might be better to look for someone to marry simultaneously with breaking off the engagement. At least if it was someone she chose herself, it would be better than living with Demian.

“How would you like your hair done?”

Ella asked while observing Briseyes’s mood. Thanks to Ella, who cared for her more than anyone else and had grown up with her like a real sister, Briseyes was regaining her composure.

“Just brush it.”

“What? Ah… yes.”

The usual Briseyes would have tied it neatly. That was the neat and feminine hairstyle that Demian liked.

But the current Briseyes had no interest in such things.

Yet she felt so awkward with her hair down that she wasn’t sure if it was really okay. Part of her heart still held onto what Demian had said.

‘Bri has a really pretty neckline. That’s why I find myself looking at you whenever you tie your hair up high.’

Recalling those words, Briseyes bit her lip as if mocking herself and looked in the mirror.

And so, she headed to the Academy with less care than usual.

⁕⁕⁕

Demian and Delilah were not at the Academy either. It was almost time for the morning assembly.

Even though they had attended the Academy yesterday despite pushing themselves.

—The door slid open.

“We have a visiting student today.”

The professor in charge of Class 1 said this and looked toward the door.

Then immediately, someone entered through the door.

Briseyes unconsciously opened her mouth and stared at him in shock.

“Please greet him. This is Callisten Ethan Cropus.”

Callisten was looking at Briseyes with a strange smile on his face.