<Chapter 92>
#10. The Beginning of Change (4)
Calix slowly pushed his eyelids up and turned his gaze to the side. Looking toward the warmth that reached him, he smiled upon discovering Melty, who had fallen asleep curled up tightly against his side.
Even after being safely rescued from the people who had come from the family, Melty had stubbornly persisted until Calix opened his eyes, only exhaling a sigh of relief after confirming that he had safely regained consciousness. Praising himself for having successfully coaxed Melty a few hours earlier when he had adamantly refused to lie on a bed with a patient, Calix brushed Melty’s hair with his hand.
“Mmm.”
With a low voice, Melty grumbled in his sleep and clung even closer to Calix. The smile that naturally appeared on Calix’s face deepened even further. His gaze fell on the bandages wrapped around Melty’s fingertips, and he frowned. They were wounds from when his nails had broken and bent while climbing the rock.
“I see you’re awake.”
Calix slowly sat up at the voice that ventilated the sweet atmosphere.
“Were you here?”
At Calix’s calm voice, Braiante exhaled a deep sigh. Despite the anxiety he had felt during the sudden landslide, their son had returned alive, which made his worrying seem pointless. However, that didn’t mean he was unharmed. Looking at Calix with a face soaked in fatigue, Braiante rubbed his forehead with his hand.
“Thank goodness it’s just this much.”
“I survived thanks to the tunnel. Have you assessed the situation?”
Braiante let out a deflated sigh at Calix’s question. After the news of the accident had been delivered, the Padrian family had been in a state of emergency. Although Calix had not formally been recognized as the successor, he was the only direct blood relative of the family.
Moreover, the accident had occurred near the family’s territory. The fact that an artificially caused accident had threatened the life of the heir was a matter that needed to be taken seriously. His injuries, rescued after concentrating all available manpower, would have been life-threatening if not for the blessing of immunity.
“…The person who caused the explosion died. We won’t be able to interrogate them about what they were thinking, but we believe there was involvement from other families in this incident.”
“I suppose so.”
Calix replied indifferently and looked at Melty, who was still in deep sleep. He had been attentively caring for Calix in the cave, insisting on nursing him, but as soon as the situation was resolved, he had plunged into a deep slumber. Naru, who had come through the back door and cooperated with Melty’s activities, was also asleep, coiled up at Melty’s bedside.
“They probably weren’t after my life. If they were, they would have used a more certain method.”
Due to past incidents, Calix’s blessing of ‘immunity’ was already widely known. Because of this, Calix knew that those who wanted to kill him would primarily use methods involving physical confrontation, including assassination.
Moreover, the rocky mountain where the accident occurred already had an unstable foundation and was prone to landslides. That’s why it was well-equipped with tunnels for protection. If they had been far from a tunnel or unaware of their existence, they would have died without a chance, but fortunately, Calix had been able to secure a safe zone.
“Of course, it would be good not to rule out the possibility that they were targeting me.”
Braiante nodded gravely at Calix’s words as he shrugged lightly. Although he was leading the family admirably, in his father’s eyes, he was still a son who looked young. The bitterness in his mouth intensified as he watched his son accept the situation so calmly.
“I know your blessing protects you, but it’s not good to rely on it too much. Don’t forget that your mother and I worry about you.”
“…I’ll be careful.”
“Good.”
Braiante’s expression finally relaxed with relief at Calix’s answer. His gaze naturally fell on Melty, who hadn’t awakened despite their ongoing conversation. Simultaneously, Calix pulled up the blanket to block Melty from his father’s view.
“He’ll wake up.”
“…Huh.”
A laugh escaped Braiante’s lips at his son’s resolute words and sulky expression. He had noticed from the beginning when Calix had bristled, warning not to approach and pressure Melty, but it seemed he had fallen deeply in love.
– Do you think someone else the child likes could appear?
The voice of his wife, Amelia, who had insisted that whatever serious opinion Calix expressed should be approved, echoed vividly in his mind. Braiante rubbed his temple with a grave expression. He too didn’t want to oppose his son who had fallen in love for the first time in his life. But the matter of succession wasn’t something that could be passed over so easily.
“What about that Sarvie fellow?”
“Johaim? I heard he’s leaving tomorrow.”
Calix, who had naturally provided a different topic to spare Braiante from inevitably sighing deeply, nodded lightly at his response. Braiante’s expression hardened at his son’s question about someone he would normally have ignored.
“Do you think he’s connected to this incident?”
“I’m just keeping all possibilities open. If this incident was aimed at me, there’s only one reason I can think of.”
“…You’re talking about the ‘drought situation.'”
With narrowed eyes, Braiante could easily understand what Calix was trying to say. Calix smiled, as if to indicate that his father’s inference matched his own thoughts.
“If the land is in a state where it can’t absorb water at all, that’s more serious than an ordinary drought. It’s strange from the start that no one has properly assessed the situation.”
“…That’s true.”
“Have you found anything?”
Braiante let out a low sigh at Calix’s question. His son had been exceptional and clever since childhood, but there was no need to rack his brain even in his injured state. Reaching out, Braiante lightly pushed Calix’s forehead.
“Recover your body first. It’s fortunate that there are no severe injuries, but take care of yourself for a while.”
“Do we have that luxury?”
“Was it that child who told you about the related book in the study?”
Calix, noticing Braiante’s gaze shifting from him to Melty, raised his hand to create a shadow. Wrinkles formed on Braiante’s brow, displeased by his son’s guarding action.
“Faces wear out if you keep looking at them. Know that I have no intention of showing him to you until you welcome him.”
“Sigh. How did you end up having a connection with someone from the Crosel family in the first place? Except for receiving requests, they’re a family that doesn’t interact with other families.”
At Braiante’s question, Calix sank into thought about how to answer. It was close to chance that he had found Melty while looking around the village without any particular thoughts. It wasn’t uncommon for him to see people through his gift in the village, but that day he had used his gift impulsively, which was unlike him. As Calix searched for a plausible excuse to give Braiante, his eyes caught a temple-shaped object placed to the side.
“We met by the Beast God’s arrangement.”
“…A fellow who doesn’t even believe in the Beast God… Enough. So, have you also received permission from the Crosel family?”
“Ah…”
At Braiante’s question asked while clicking his tongue, Calix was unusually at a loss for words. Until now, he had only thought about getting permission from his own family, but the biggest obstacle remained. Slowly lowering his gaze, Calix looked at Melty’s face as he smacked his lips, saying “yum yum,” perhaps dreaming of something delicious.
***
“Ah.”
Soft soup was diligently transferred into Calix’s mouth as he opened it wide like a baby bird. Melty looked at him worriedly as he repeatedly exclaimed “delicious” with a beaming smile all over his face.
“If anything hurts, you need to tell me right away.”
“Okay.”
Calix nodded with a bright smile. His gaze rested on the clear pillow mark on Melty’s cheek. He had slept so sweetly that the mark pressed on his cheek was vivid, yet he was speaking with such a serious expression that laughter kept escaping through Calix’s lips. Seeing this, Melty glared at him with a sullen face.
“Why do you keep laughing? You don’t know how worried I was about you!”
“I know, I know.”
“It’s fortunate Naru found us when he did.”
Melty, speaking with a sigh, stroked Naru’s head as it clung to his body just like always. He didn’t know how Naru had survived the landslide, but he had managed to find them where they were.
Moreover, Naru had even granted Melty’s request to bring herbs, as Melty was unable to move. Watching Melty look at Naru with overflowing affection, Calix deliberately opened his mouth widely, making a loud sound.
“Ahhh~”
Only then realizing that he was in the middle of helping with Calix’s meal, Melty hurriedly moved the spoon. After busily delivering food to Calix’s mouth, Melty frowned as he examined Calix’s body, tightly wrapped in bandages.
“What are we going to do with you so badly injured?”
At Melty’s question, Calix felt a twinge of conscience. It was true that he had received treatment for his injuries, but they weren’t so severe that he couldn’t eat by himself. However, he hadn’t stopped Melty who, as soon as the food arrived, had said, ‘Since Calix-ssi has trouble moving, I’ll help you eat!’
“I’ve said this several times already, but it will heal quickly. The blessing of immunity itself is in the health category. I’m more relieved that you weren’t seriously hurt.”
“That’s not…”
“I don’t know what your blessing is, but yours isn’t related to health, right?”
Whenever the topic of blessings came up, Melty tightly closed his mouth. Though Calix couldn’t know the reason, he guessed that Melty’s blessing was either difficult to explain to others or something he wanted to keep secret. At Calix’s words, Melty pressed his lips together. His words seemed to suggest that Calix had been injured in Melty’s stead.
Although it seemed right that Calix, who was less likely to sustain serious injuries due to his blessing, should endure the injuries, that didn’t mean Melty liked seeing someone he cared about get hurt. Looking at Melty’s protruding lower lip, Calix smiled slightly and cleared his throat before speaking.
“There’s a more important issue than that.”
“What important issue?”
Melty, who had thought that restoring Calix’s health was the most important, looked at him with a puzzled expression. Meeting his gaze, Calix smiled slightly and spoke in a serious tone.
“Our marriage – we need to get permission from our families.”
