<Chapter 118>
#13. Seeds of Chaos (7)
When Calix, who had hurried at Angel’s alarming news, arrived, Owen was about to board his carriage. Those surrounding him were pouring criticism on Owen, who had declared he would return home despite the situation not being resolved.
Especially since Durasen Botenta, whose crime had been revealed in this case, had suddenly fallen unconscious, they had no choice but to rely on Owen’s medical skills. As Calix had explained to Melty, the Padrian family only cultivated herbs and poisonous plants; they weren’t particularly skilled in treating the human body.
“I don’t think the meeting will proceed even if I stay.”
Owen responded in a cold tone to those who criticized him, questioning how he could talk about returning to his mansion while leaving a patient behind.
“I don’t have time to waste on someone who won’t wake up. I’m not that idle, you know.”
Naturally, his words were met with countless criticisms. Among them were even sneering voices suggesting that he was fleeing because the Sarvie family’s medical skills were inadequate. Owen calmly let their voices flow past him.
However, he didn’t forget to examine Calix, who had arrived late, Melty standing beside him, and Lila and Kamin Patel behind them. Intimidated by his sharp glare, Melty quietly clutched Calix’s clothes.
“If your head can’t grasp what’s important, perhaps it doesn’t need to be attached.”
With those brief words, Owen boarded his carriage. As the carriage quickly departed from the mansion, creating a cloud of dust, the stunned onlookers each cursed the Sarvie family. Ignoring their criticism, Calix frowned with unease.
It wasn’t easy to understand why Owen would leave his position in this situation, drawing all attention.
While the gathered people resumed discussing solutions for this incident, Calix quickly took Melty back to their room. Rubbing Melty’s plump cheek with his thumb as Melty stood there blankly, Calix smiled slightly and said,
“Let’s finish packing and go too.”
“…Is it really okay to leave like this? The people gathered downstairs seemed really angry.”
“It’s fine.”
With Owen’s departure, there was already no one left who could treat Durasen. As he had told Melty, Calix was not a medical professional. It was nearly impossible to diagnose and resolve the condition of someone who had suddenly fallen unconscious, let alone provide minor treatment.
Although the main domains of the Padrian and Sarvie families were clearly different, it was obvious that those who had lost one side would flock to Calix, whining for him to resolve the situation.
Urging the hesitant Melty to hurry with his packing by patting him on the back, Calix narrowed his eyes and observed the surroundings. Though he disliked the Sarvie family, Owen’s judgment this time was correct.
In a situation where the suspect’s guilt had been confirmed, there were no further measures to take. At most, discussions about the level of punishment would follow, but it was meaningless to discuss such things while the person lay unconscious. Rather, only the vassals waiting for the final decision here would be aware of that.
Anyway, it was obvious that the next head of the Botenta family would come from among them, so there was no need to create friction this early. Although they hadn’t had a formal conversation yet, the Botenta family’s help would be necessary to safely overcome the famine that would follow after resolving the drought.
Most of those who remained here without leaving were clearly planning to somehow ingratiate themselves with the Botenta family to gain their help.
‘But that’s only an issue if there’s any food left here.’
After finishing his thoughts, Calix clicked his tongue lightly with displeasure. Considering the extended time of the situation that was labeled “drought” but was actually “desertification,” Avartia must have multiplied quite rapidly. Considering the time needed to transport the plant, there was a high possibility that Avartia had been grown in Botenta. If so, there was no hope here either.
“Hey.”
Calix, pulled from his contemplation by the soft voice, shifted his gaze. Somehow, Melty had finished packing, and the backpack he wore was now round like a ball. The sight of Melty looking up at him while hugging the round bag in his arms brought a smile to Calix’s face—he was just too cute.
“…Someone else made Durasen like that, right?”
“I suppose so. He did take poison yesterday, but that was already detoxified. Until then, there was no problem…”
As Calix continued his explanation, he narrowed his brows at a sudden realization. Come to think of it, Owen Kun Sarvie had been the one who examined Durasen at that time. The Sarvie family was well-known for medicine, and Owen had a certain reputation and prestige.
In a situation where Durasen Botenta’s guilt was clear, it was natural to ask Owen, an outsider, for treatment rather than the resident physician in the mansion.
‘But that doesn’t mean we can trust Owen either.’
After Durasen first consumed the poison, it was Owen who examined him. Durasen did regain consciousness afterward, but he had only been conscious for about a day at most. Then he fell unconscious again, so Owen had essentially left him in a deteriorated state. There was a reasonable suspicion that Owen might not have provided proper treatment at that time. But if he had done such a thing, the answer to the question “why?” didn’t come to mind.
Once a thought was triggered, it stretched out in a long chain of associations. What woke Calix from his thought maze was a soft sensation touching his lower body.
“…What are you doing?”
Melty was wearing his rounded backpack in front. Calix, looking at him with an amused face, gently pushed the bag that was touching him to get a better view of Melty. That slight push was enough to disturb Melty’s balance, making him stagger backward.
“Are you okay now?”
“Okay about what?”
Unlike the puzzled Calix, Melty spoke with a serious and sincere expression.
“What happened to Mr. Durasen isn’t your fault. You did your best.”
…I wasn’t thinking about that at all?
Calix swallowed the sentence that had appeared in his mind without his knowledge. Melty, looking up at the stunned Calix with a serious expression, continued.
“You don’t need to worry about what other people say. Understand?”
Calix nodded firmly with his lips tightly closed at Melty’s words, spoken with a stern expression as if addressing a child. Seeming relieved that Calix had readily agreed with him, Melty sighed deeply, took Calix’s hand, and walked to the sofa.
Like an obedient pet, Calix gently followed behind Melty. Only after sitting down could Melty properly make eye contact with him, and he continued in a calm tone.
“Were you hurt by the bad things people said?”
Hurt? Who?
Skillfully hiding his bewildered expression, Calix silently rubbed his forehead against Melty’s shoulder like a wounded young animal. Melty stroked Calix’s hair with a sigh that sounded like “Oh, you.”
“Even though there may have been reasons for Mr. Durasen to do what he did, what he did was still wrong. So why is everyone trying to blame Calix? You don’t need to listen to such things at all!”
Melty burst out in anger, exhaling sharply through his nose. He recited all the things people had been saying, glaring as they blamed the Padrian family or claimed Calix should take responsibility, and emphasized multiple times that there was no need to worry about it. Unlike Melty, who grew more displeased the more he thought about it, Calix felt both love and gratification for his lover who was taking his side.
“Who blamed me for what?”
“Those people kept saying it was all your fault…”
As Melty was frowning, recalling the unpleasant glances directed at Calix right after Owen left along with the murmuring words, he belatedly realized something strange and stopped speaking. As this new realization dawned on him, his ears trembled slightly. Slowly turning his head, Melty looked into Calix’s bright golden eyes.
“…Weren’t you hurt earlier by what people said when the carriage left?”
“Um… not at all?”
Having no intention of lying to Melty, Calix answered candidly and squinted his eyes. Melty’s chubby cheeks trembled in shock.
“What! Then why were you so absentminded earlier? I thought you were hurt by what those people said…”
“You got angry on my behalf because you thought I might be hurt?”
“Of course!!”
Calix smiled brightly as he faced Melty’s brown eyes filled with indignation. His mind, which had been complicated by thoughts of annoying cleanup tasks just a moment ago, was now neatly organized. To be precise, his heart was warmed thanks to Melty filling his thoughts.
“Ah~ My lover is truly the best.”
Many people envied and were jealous of the Padrian family. Because of that, Calix was quite accustomed to dealing with their sharp words and actions. Since many of their remarks weren’t worth paying attention to, it was his daily routine to let them in one ear and out the other.
Today’s words surely weren’t worth paying attention to either. Yet, it was a mystery why he felt so reassured thanks to Melty, who took his side and got angry on his behalf. Overwhelmed with affection, Calix rubbed his lips against Melty’s cheek.
Seeing Calix’s face full of happy smiles, Melty forgot what he was about to say to him and obediently offered his cheek. Clear laughter spread from Melty as his face and upper body were conquered by the kissing attack.
“Didn’t you say we need to pack to leave soon?”
Melty caught and stopped Calix’s hands, which were somehow finding their way inside his clothes, and retorted with his lips pushed out in a pout. Calix laughed deeply at his prim response and spoke.
“If we’re a little late, we’re a little late, so what.”
“Can we say goodbye to Ms. Lila and Mr. Kamin Patel before we go? And my brother too…”
“I understand all that, but first, let’s finish what we were doing.”
Melty laughed softly at Calix’s whisper. The person who had been wearing a serious expression just moments ago had vanished, leaving only someone with a playful smile urging for intimate time.
Of course, Melty didn’t dislike what he was asking for. Spreading his legs to wrap around Calix’s waist and pulling him close, Melty let out another clear laugh.
“Only if you promise to pack up the rest of the luggage.”
“Of course. I’ll take care of everything without you having to worry.”
After dropping those sweet words, Calix planted a kiss on the bridge of Melty’s nose. And with that as a signal, the time for the two to leave the Botenta mansion was delayed a bit longer.
