Chapter 81
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Scoundrel, Villainess Lady, Stepmother (4)
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"...Arrogant little punk."
Left alone in the study, Eddard Calliope muttered to himself.
—Why bother chopping off your brothers' heads when you could just live out your days as Ursula's live-in stud?
Eugene's attitude, as if he could claim the heir's seat anytime he wanted just by willing it, was nothing short of infuriatingly cocky.
"...Truly, infuriatingly cocky."
Yet Eddard's face, as he said it, was filled with a smile he couldn't quite hide.
As a father and family head, Eddard had always strived to treat his three sons equally.
But being human, he couldn't help having a favorite—the one that hurt the most when pricked.
And that was Eugene Calliope.
It was only natural for his gaze to linger a bit longer on the son born from the one and only woman he'd ever truly loved.
His first marriage had been a political one.
He harbored no regrets about that.
The moment he was named heir to House Calliope, Eddard had abandoned any dreams of marrying for love.
He had simply wed the most suitable partner for the prosperity of his house and its people.
But while he was away from the estate, she succumbed to illness, and hearing his young Erden ask when Mother would return swallowed Eddard in guilt for failing to protect his wife.
That was when Garcia Misha slipped in.
In truth, he could have easily brushed off her sneaking into his bed as a mere trifle.
But Eddard married her out of duty and tried time and again to love her.
Yet... he never once succeeded.
How could he love a woman who saw him only as a stepping stone to power?
In the end, the emptiness in Eddard's heart only grew, and to forget that void, he threw himself back into the battlefield.
Deeper, riskier places...
One such day, trapped in an ambush and on the verge of drowning in a wave of demonic beasts, he met Pavolrie Chiara.
Her long hair whipping in the wind as she cleaved through the horde, Chiara looked every bit the goddess of war.
—Lord Eddard, are you all right?
—...Marry me.
—...Pardon?
Looking back now, proposing on their first meeting—blood-soaked, ragged, amid a field of corpses—sounded utterly ridiculous.
She refused, of course, but casting aside all pride as family head, he begged until she finally relented.
'...Fine. I said fine. Let's do it. Let's marry.'
But from the start, marriage between Eddard and Pavolrie Chiara had been impossible.
The Pavolrie family would never accept their eldest daughter entering as a mere concubine beneath Misha of House Garcia, who wasn't even the legal wife.
In the end, the Pavolries warned Chiara that she'd be disowned if she didn't end it, and just when it seemed over...
Chiara abandoned everything and came to him.
'Haa... so this is how it ends up. I've thrown it all away to choose you, so don't let me regret it until the day you die.'
How could any man not love a woman like that?
The few years with Chiara were the happiest of Eddard's life.
Yes...
Until she was swept up in the Pavolrie civil war and died.
The Pavolries had cast her aside, but Chiara couldn't abandon them.
To stop the war between main and branch families, she returned to Pavolrie... and perished there.
Eddard resented the Pavolries for her death, but he couldn't destroy a house already fallen to ruin.
Having lost his beloved wife, Eddard nearly despaired, but this time Eugene remained.
The boy who took after Chiara in looks but had her opposite temperament—a gentle soul.
Seeing Eugene restored Eddard's will to live, but fearing he'd lavish too much affection on him compared to his other sons, he deliberately kept his distance.
As a result, Eugene grew into a timid boy who fretted over others' opinions.
That pained Eddard so much that he distanced himself even more, trapping them in a vicious cycle—until last year, when the boy left House Calliope.
...And now, a year later.
Eugene stood before him like Pavolrie Chiara once had—boldly voicing his opinions without flinching.
Eddard couldn't have been prouder or more grateful.
'...And taking her as a live-in bride, no less.'
What if, the moment he met Chiara, Eddard had abandoned House Calliope and left with her...?
Gazing at Eugene, who seemed to walk the path he himself hadn't dared, Eddard smiled warmly and murmured.
"...Guess I should start preparing the trousseau early."
Stepping outside, Alfredo was nowhere to be seen—only Emma waited.
"...Where's Alfredo?"
"Master Alfredo had business and stepped away. Shall I fetch him?"
"No, never mind. He's busy."
"Yes... hee hee..."
Emma beamed and sidled right up beside me.
"Something good happen?"
"Yes! It's been so long since I last saw you, Young Master! I'm just thrilled!"
Was it because Pavolrie blood ran in my veins too?
I effortlessly earned their goodwill without even trying.
"By the way, Young Master... my birthday's coming up soon. Remember? When my next one rolls around, you and I..."
Thud—thud—
Footsteps echoed from the opposite end of the hall.
Blood brothers or not, Cale's looks were handsome enough.
But his seaweed-like curly green hair and sharp, unpleasant glare ruined it all.
"Hey."
The moment Cale appeared, Emma's face hardened like she'd spotted trash.
I could tell why at a glance—his gaze slithered over her body, dripping with sticky lust.
"I need to talk to my brother. Get lost."
"...."
At Cale's words, Emma glanced at me.
I nodded and said,
"Go on. I'll talk with my brother and catch up."
"...Yes, Young Master."
As Emma bowed and moved to pass, Cale grabbed her wrist and barked,
"Wait... You ignore my orders but obey that bastard?"
The instant he gripped her wrist, Emma's eyes turned ice-cold, and she spoke in a sharp tone.
"Let go. I'm Young Master Eugene's personal maid. Prioritizing his orders over yours is only natural."
"Tch... Let's see if you mouth off like that once I'm family head!"
"...Then, if you'll excuse me."
It was pathetic, seeing the so-called Calliope heir cower at a mere servant's warning.
"...Damn bitch. Someday, you'll be under me..."
Cale eyed her departure slyly until she was gone, then glared at me.
"What? Eyes down."
He thought it intimidating, but it was laughable.
'...One telekinesis blast and he'd drop dead.'
From Cale's perspective, he'd only seen me before I grew, so his arrogance made sense.
"My apologies, Brother."
I bowed my head, and Cale snorted in satisfaction.
"Right, you're just lucky to get into Carnea Academy. Don't delude yourself into thinking you're better than me."
"...I know."
"Good, know your place. But hey..."
Cale shoved my shoulder with his fist.
Compared to Professor Loreos's punches, it was yawn-inducingly slow.
I could dodge easily, but showing wariness now wouldn't help.
"What the hell did you talk about with Father that was so secretive?"
"...Nothing much..."
"Spit it out. Unless you want a beating like old times."
Cale gripped my shoulder harder in warning, but to me, it felt like a massage.
His muscle power? Maybe an 8 or 9 on the stat scale.
'What a joke...'
Fighting kids like this after sparring monsters like Vivian, Tristan, and the princess made me sigh inwardly.
"...You aren't gunning for the heir's seat, are you?"
That was Cale's real aim, after all.
A mutt barking in fear of losing a throne that wasn't even his.
I smiled softly and replied,
"Why would I? I know my limits. I just caught up with Father after so long. And... I've decided to back you, Brother Cale."
"What? For real?"
Cale, who'd been threatening me moments ago, lit up with a grin.
Realizing it, he tried to school his face, but way too late.
"Yes, why would I lie to you? I've thought from the start the next heir can only be you, Brother. Honestly, Brother Erden's too rigid."
"...Hahaha. Finally came to your senses. Smart move."
"In return, when you become family head, give me a position..."
I dangled the bait, and Cale smirked like he'd expected it.
"Don't worry about that. Half-brother or not, we're blood. I'd never leave you hanging. That stiff Erden... tch. Pretend you didn't hear that."
"We're in the same boat anyway."
"No, I can't fully trust you yet."
The fool tried playing cool now, but his greed-filled eyes betrayed him.
"I'll set it up, so talk to Mother yourself. Then I'll know we're truly in it together."
I nearly applauded Cale for digging his own grave.
"...Understood. I'll speak with Lady Mother."
What I needed most right now was exactly that—a chance to talk with Garcia Misha.