As I internally shook my head in disbelief, Amarcus seemed to realize he had overreacted as well, quickly clearing his throat to smooth his tone.
“Ahem… Callius. You treat me so coldly; it truly hurts. Isn't this rather harsh toward a cousin you haven't seen in so long?”
What on earth was he talking about? He had been the one spouting insults at Callius just moments ago.
Callius apparently found it just as absurd, his voice laced with faint disbelief.
“And since when have we ever sat face-to-face, laughing and making polite conversation? Cut the nonsense and state why you're here.”
At that, Amarcus let out a soft snort.
“The Head Butler told me you caught a terrible cold and needed rest. But judging by the way you speak, you don't seem all that sick, do you?”
“Ah, I see now. You were hoping I'd come down with something fatal, weren't you?”
“Why must you be so hostile? I merely came by out of concern for you!”
Amarcus persisted in his little charade, leaving his true motive completely unclear.
“You don't look especially ill… and if it's just a cold, I don't suppose there's any reason you couldn't join us for dinner tonight. I've missed you, and it would be a shame to dine alone with Uncle without you there. What do you think? Won't you come out and join me at the dining table?”
Amarcus made the suggestion with a subtle edge of provocation in his voice.
When Callius offered no reply, he deliberately pushed further.
“Or is there… some other reason you cannot leave this room? Isn't that right?”
I knew very well that Callius had no easy answer for that.
In his current condition, there was simply no way he could endure making his way to the dining hall.
‘What should I do? Should I step in and fabricate an excuse myself?’
As I bit my lip in hesitation, Callius suddenly spoke.
“Very well. Lizzy, fetch my coat.”
“Excuse me?”
“Huh?”
The moment his unexpected answer dropped, cries of astonishment broke out from Amarcus and me simultaneously.
Yet Callius paid it no mind, rising steadily to his feet.
Soon, the sound of his firm footsteps resonated as he made his way toward the door.
“Lizzy, go on ahead and lead the way.”
He directed his words toward where I stood beside the doorway.
Caught off guard by the sudden order, I hesitated for a brief moment before quietly stepping forward to guide them.
When Callius stepped out into the corridor and declared he was going to dinner, clear confusion washed over Amarcus's face.
“Are you really coming? To dinner?”
“Yes, I am. You were the one who suggested it first.”
“Well, yes, but… are you truly going all the way to the dining hall?”
“How many times do you intend to ask the exact same question?”
With every step along the corridor illuminated by magic stones, my anxiety only mounted.
‘What on earth is Callius thinking…?’
Amarcus, breaking into a sweat, scrambled to excuse himself.
“No, what I mean is… I heard you were very sick. I was worried, so I was only asking out of concern. If you're feeling unwell, you can simply say so without hesitation.”
At those words, Callius halted mid-stride.
“Ah.”
A dry, mocking smile curled on his lips.
“So that's what this is. I wondered why you would suddenly invite me to dinner, only for you to assume I wouldn't even be able to set foot outside the room.”
“What? That's not what I meant—”
“Then why make all these excuses while looking so uneasy?”
Callius continued in a sharp, cutting tone.
“The dinner invitation was mere lip service. The truth is, you didn't want me ruining your chance to curry favor with Father.”
“Wh-what?”
Struck right where it hurt, Amarcus began stammering noticeably.
“No need to get worked up. I'll take the hint and step aside, so go on and enjoy your private time with Father.”
Then, turning slowly around, Callius spoke to me.
“Lizzy, let's return to the room.”
“Pardon? Ah, yes.”
Only then did I grasp his intention, quickly falling into step behind him.
Before long, Amarcus's flustered voice echoed behind us.
“Wait! Callius! At least tell me which way leads to the dining hall!”
The annex where Callius resided had undergone radical renovations, altering the layout completely.
It had been designed with intricate routes to prevent any chance encounters with outsiders.
Amarcus had only reached the room earlier with the guidance of the servants; finding his way to the dining hall alone now would take an eternity.
“Damn it! It's a dead end!”
Hearing his distant mutter, I couldn't help but stifle a quiet laugh.
His stubborn pride would neither allow him to chase after us nor let him humble himself to ask for directions.
Meanwhile, Callius and I calmly made our way back to the room.
“…Is it really all right to leave him like that?”
I asked cautiously, listening to the muffled curses gradually fading beyond the door.
This hallway was far dimmer than the rest of the estate.
If Amarcus remained lost on his own, he might end up late for his engagement with the Duke.
“What's the harm?”
Callius replied with cool indifference.
“Everything is difficult at first. I stumbled and bumped into plenty of walls myself until I learned.”
He followed it with an arrogant chuckle.
At times, he could be terrifyingly cold. Was this simply a trait of the novel's male lead?
“Still, Amarcus seems determined to uncover what we're hiding.”
“He must have heard I haven't left the room in months, and came today to see my condition for himself.”
“I doubt he'll give up after just one attempt. What should we do?”
Callius seemed to share my concern, tapping his fingers thoughtfully on the table.
After a brief pause, he spoke as though he had made up his mind.
“If Amarcus is that curious, I'll simply have to go and show him myself.”
“…What do you mean?”
“I will attend as well.”
“Att—attend where?”
A sinking feeling washed over me.
“Where do you think?”
He stated it plainly.
“The upcoming ball, of course.”
“What?!”
The words caught in my throat.
‘He's going to attend the ball in his condition?’
Noticing my shock, he asked in a teasing manner.
“Why are you so stunned? I went out into the forest before, didn't I?”
“But… that was in the dead of night, and you were completely bundled up in a cloak.”
At a gathering like that, countless eyes would be watching; such a disguise wouldn't hold up easily.
‘Where on earth is this confidence coming from…?’
Sensing my hesitation, he spoke slowly.
“Actually, after returning that night, I realized something.”
He continued deliberately.
“I was too preoccupied to notice before… but my condition only causes pain upon exposure to light; it inflicts no actual bodily harm.”
Taking my hand, he gently pressed it against his cheek.
“Look. Even though my last outing was prolonged, I didn't suffer a single scratch.”
“Oh…”
There wasn't a trace of a scar, only smooth skin befitting a true male lead.
‘In fact, it looks healthier than mine.’
Thanks to all the maid duties I wasn't used to, I had even developed eczema on my hands.
When my cheeks puffed out in mild annoyance, Callius shot me a sharp look.
“What's with that sour look on your face?”
“Ahem! It's nothing at all.”
I answered hastily, steering the conversation elsewhere.
“Could there perhaps be internal damage…?”
He replied in a steady voice.
“The physician examined me thoroughly and found nothing. He merely prescribed a mild sedative in case of shock.”
Then, he added with confidence.
“So, as long as we find a way to manage the pain, everything will be solved.”
“…That does sound reasonable.”
I found myself nodding along unconsciously.
‘The Callius in the original novel must have discovered this loophole in his illness too…’
And since he ended up living happily ever after with Helena, enduring the pain evidently hadn't left any lasting consequences.
