Chapter 18
“If you don’t like her, that’s fine. You don’t have to get along. I’m only asking how you plan to behave now that we have a new family member.”
“What do you mean, behave?”
Kaphir, known for being mature beyond his years, said nothing and quietly kept his thoughts to himself. But his younger sister, Carolie, still too young to hide her feelings, didn’t bother masking her displeasure. She hated that someone she’d never even seen before was suddenly her sister. And she hated even more that her parents, who rarely made time for her even when she was sick, were now sitting at the dinner table because of that stranger. There wasn’t a single part of this situation she liked.
“I’m not going to play with her!”
“Then don’t.”
Circe simply nodded at Carolie’s pouty declaration. Of course, this response only made Carolie even more frustrated. As her little sister fumed, Kaphir let out a long, almost adult-like sigh, then spoke in a more controlled tone.
“I’ll join her for family events or public outings… but I don’t want anything beyond that.”
Illan didn’t respond with words. He just gave a slight nod.
After that, no one spoke.
The children sat in silence, waiting for the meal to begin, unwilling to speak to the unwelcome guest who would soon arrive. Meanwhile, Illan and Circe quietly gave brief instructions to their attendants and maids as they received reports on the day’s affairs.
Kaphir watched Carolie’s lips begin to twitch with irritation and scratched his forehead subtly. It was clear the house was going to be noisy for a while.
The tense silence was finally broken by a soft knock at the door. Two light taps, followed by the dining room door opening smoothly. A girl entered—her features so sharp and composed she looked as though she had been carved from white marble.
Her chin held high, her gaze straight ahead, and the precise way she stepped—it was all unmistakably noble. Kaphir stared, surprised.
Wasn’t she supposed to have lived like a commoner?
There was nothing uncertain in her posture, no awkwardness despite being the last to arrive. Her poise, her grace—it all radiated someone who had been intensely trained, someone born of noble blood.
Calliope didn’t show even a hint of unease as she looked at the table where the four of them were already seated. Instead, she slowly blinked once, as if centering herself. She had lived this moment before. The first time, she’d been so caught off guard that she’d apologized before even introducing herself. Not this time.
Instead of offering an apology, she gracefully pinched the edges of her skirt and gave a composed, elegant curtsy.
“I am Calliope Hubert.”
She didn’t bow her head but lowered her upper body slightly—her greeting was flawless, without a single fault.
“And from this moment forward, now that I’ve met the family… I suppose I’ll be Calliope Anastas.”
Her eyes briefly met Illan’s before shifting away.
“I won’t bring shame to that name.”
The tone wasn’t boastful, nor arrogant. But it carried such quiet certainty that no one could bring themselves to contradict it.
Illan simply turned his gaze and gave an order.
“Sit.”
Calliope followed the servant’s guidance and took her seat at the table. Circe, who had been watching her carefully, spoke next.
“Your mother must have raised you well.”
“She never once forgot what it meant to be a noble, no matter where we were.”
“I see. I can believe that. You carry yourself well—it’s reassuring.”
Instead of replying, Calliope simply dipped her head slightly.
At that moment, the servants entered, rolling in trays of food and setting the table with practiced hands. Despite placing silver and glass utensils, not a single clink echoed—the kind of refined silence expected from a household of the marquis.
Calliope began eating with calm elegance, as serene as a windless lake. Illan, Circe, and Kaphir also picked up their utensils without unnecessary fuss, each movement smooth and precise.
Only one person at the table seemed unable to focus on the meal: Carolie, with her adorable mop of curly red hair.
“I don’t like you.”
The sudden outburst made everyone at the table pause.
Illan and Circe both turned toward their daughter, hiding their expressions. Kaphir looked caught between embarrassment and frustration. But Calliope, completely unfazed, continued moving her utensils and replied calmly:
“Oh? I don’t dislike you.”
“That’s not the same as liking me!”
“I might grow to like you.”
Calliope’s composure only made Carolie more flustered, her irritation swelling without direction.
“Don’t act so confident! Just because you have the Anastas name doesn’t mean we’re real family! I don’t care about someone like you!”
The little girl’s angry huffing was so loud, even Calliope, seated a short distance away, could feel it. Finally, she gently set her utensils down and met Carolie’s gaze.
“Didn’t you come down to the third floor yesterday because you were curious about me?”
Everyone at the table turned to look at Carolie—this was news to them. Carolie felt her face flush with heat instantly, her round cheeks going red with a mix of shame and anger.
“T-That was because a stranger came into our house! I had to make sure you weren’t weird or dangerous!”
Calliope calmly picked her utensils back up and resumed eating, as if nothing had happened.
“You were right to do that. You’re smarter than me. When a stranger comes into the house, of course you should check on them.”
Though her voice was endlessly gentle, her expression and demeanor were anything but. Cold and unreadable, Calliope’s words seemed more like statements than invitations.
Carolie, watching her closely, hesitated for a moment—then decided she was being mocked. Her tiny fist slammed against the table with a sharp thud. She was about to snap back at Calliope when—
“Carolie, what kind of manners are those at the dinner table?”
Circe’s sharp tone made Carolie flinch and quickly lower her hand under the table. She pouted, mumbling something under her breath, still clearly dissatisfied.
To be honest, Calliope found the whole thing rather amusing.
Before her return to the past, Carolie had been much younger than her. Even back then, she’d always had a bit of a problem with Calliope, but now… Calliope didn’t really dislike the girl. Not yet, at least. In fact, she found this pouty little sister oddly adorable.
She’s not even trying to be cute, and yet…
She popped a small piece of steak into her mouth and chewed slowly. Carolie’s behavior made it clear—she was trying to protect her space, her place at the table, her things. Calliope couldn’t help but compare it to her own childhood—how clueless and lost she had been.
In comparison, this child was much smarter than she had ever been at that age.
Calliope swallowed the meat silently.
“If you have time, would you like to join me for tea tomorrow?”
“No!”
“Perfect. Tomorrow afternoon, then. I’m not good at waking up early.”
“I said no!”
“I’ve been wanting to try that dessert everyone in the capital’s been talking about.”
Carolie’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Wait… do you mean the cookie—”
“Cookie cake.”
So, she had guessed right. The infamous dessert that had become all the rage among noble girls in the capital—a monstrous creation that stacked sugar-drenched cookies over an equally sugary cake. Calliope personally found it nauseating, but Carolie had been completely obsessed with it at one point.
Of course, she wasn’t allowed to eat it freely. Circe had imposed strict rules since Carolie lacked self-control when it came to sweets.
“But if you don’t want to join me, I guess I’ll have to eat it alone.”
“I-I guess I could go just this once…”
Her dislike for Calliope was quickly losing ground to the once-a-month chance to have her favorite dessert. But just as she began to give in, Circe stepped in.
“Carolie. You and I agreed that dessert was only allowed once a month, remember? Choose something else.”
Carolie had already had her monthly serving earlier this month. Her face collapsed into a look of heartbreak, as if the world were ending. Still, she gave a small, reluctant nod—slowly, like it physically hurt.
“You’re right… I promised. So I can’t.”
Calliope didn’t laugh out loud, but she smiled silently, the corners of her lips lifting ever so slightly.
The meal resumed in peace. Kaphir, who had been watching quietly all this time, furrowed his brows. This new addition to the household was far more formidable than he’d expected.
Calliope finished her meal at a pace that matched the others. Illan was the first to rise and leave the dining room. Outside, his attendant was already waiting with a stack of documents, which he accepted without breaking stride.
Circe left next, receiving a quiet update from a maid as she exited. That left only the children at the table.
Calliope didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she turned toward Carolie with a soft question.
“Are you really not coming to tea tomorrow?”
“Why would I?”
“I thought you liked cookie cake.”
Carolie scowled, suspecting she was being teased again.
“Are you trying to mock me? I can’t even eat it!”
“Well…”
Calliope leaned in a little, placing one hand by her lips, lowering her voice like she was sharing a secret.
“You could eat it while I pretend I’m the one eating it.”
“Huh?”
Carolie looked up, stunned, clearly not expecting that kind of loophole. Her eyes went wide, and for a moment, her face lit up.
But Kaphir stepped in, playing the role of Circe now.
“You’re not thinking of breaking your promise with Mother, are you?”
“N-no…”
Carolie stammered more than usual, murmuring under her breath. Calliope turned her gaze toward Kaphir, locking eyes with him. He held her gaze, but something about the way her crimson eyes bore into him made him blink involuntarily.
“So, your brother’s the kind of guy who won’t even let his sister sneak a bite of cake. That’s unfortunate.”
And with that final remark, Calliope gracefully stood and left the dining room.
Now, only Carolie and Kaphir remained.
As the door clicked shut behind her, Kaphir let out a quiet sigh and muttered toward his sister.
“You always let your emotions get the best of you. Seriously… were you really about to follow someone you just said you hated over a piece of cake?”
But Carolie didn’t respond.
“Try to act properly. If Mother’s been unsettled lately, it’s probably because of her.”
