I couldn’t take my eyes off his face after he said something I didn’t understand. His lowered green eyes gave no clue to what he was thinking.
‘Is he feeling anxious?’
His face was so expressionless that it was impossible to read him—only the context of our conversation gave me any idea.
‘Does he think he’s an unwelcome guest at the marquisate?’
It didn’t sit well with me.
Then, as he bit his lip, a sense of déjà vu washed over me.
To be precise, it reminded me of Melin’s anxious expression when she feared I would abandon her in front of Istasha.
“I don’t regret it.”
“…?”
Lennox looked at me. I met his silent gaze with a blank stare.
It took me a moment to realize something was off.
‘Ah, shoot.’
Now that I thought about it, I wasn’t really in a position to say something like that.
‘It sounds like I’m his sponsor or something!’
I had only spoken up because I couldn’t stand by and watch, but now I’d misspoken. Flustered, I quickly tried to recover.
“I meant you won’t regret it, Viscount.”
“…Yes. That’s reassuring.”
“That tone makes it sound like you don’t find it reassuring at all.”
“…”
Lennox didn’t reply. He just kept looking at me. For some reason, that gaze felt intense, and I looked away without thinking.
‘He really is absurdly handsome.’
Looking closely, I couldn’t help but be impressed.
From my transmigration point of view, I was around Lennox’s current age.
Having enrolled in the academy and seen countless good-looking people, I thought I had developed a bit of resistance to beauty…
‘But he’s on another level.’
He was absolutely unmatched.
The world really was unfair. He’d probably break many hearts when he grows up.
Is this what it means to have the looks of a protagonist?
Come to think of it, despite being injured, his face was flawless. Definitely the protagonist’s plot armor at work.
“Still, don’t leave your wounds untreated. Get them looked at.”
“…”
“Answer me.”
“…Okay.”
His reply was indifferent, but strangely, the look in his eyes seemed more alive than before.
Better than when we first met and his eyes were dull—but the way he looked at me was slightly unnerving.
‘This is really odd.’
Was he like this in the original story?
I don’t remember him acting this way when Melin brought Lennox.
‘Then again, as kids, Melin and Lennox didn’t really talk.’
It was mostly Melin doing all the talking.
Lennox! Are your wounds okay?
I’m too lazy to say your full name—so I’ll just call you Ren!
Are you hungry, Ren? Want to share my bread?
Each time, Lennox either stayed silent or just nodded, like someone who had lost the will to live.
‘I don’t think he ever initiated a conversation like this.’
It was really strange.
Still, I didn’t think it was a bad change.
‘It’s a sign he’s becoming more human.’
I nodded, interpreting the situation positively.
“Right. And from now on, don’t go outside without a guardian.”
Just as I turned to leave, Lennox grabbed my arm.
“Then… are you not coming anymore?”
“That’s right. I won’t be coming again.”
His grip on my arm loosened for a moment. I was about to pull away when I froze at the look on his face.
He looked oddly bitter and lonely.
‘…Don’t overthink it.’
I brushed it off as just my imagination and forced my slightly heavy steps forward. I wasn’t in a position to be reading into his feelings anyway.
‘Oh, right.’
Just then, I noticed the small box in my hand—the necklace with the magic stone that changes hair color.
Callisto had gone out to look for Lennox and wasn’t in his office.
‘It’s too late to return this to Callisto now.’
But it felt weird to just go into his empty office and leave it there. What should I do…?
Lennox had probably already walked far away by now.
I turned around on a whim—and there he was, still standing behind me, staring blankly.
‘Why is he still here?’
Surprised by his odd behavior, I hesitated before speaking.
“You…”
“Call me Ren.”
He looked unusually stubborn as he said it.
I suddenly held the necklace out to him.
I had been feeling guilty about taking the heirloom necklace—his only keepsake from his parents—for safety purposes.
Though, with the magic stone replacing the gem, it wasn’t exactly pretty.
“…Anyway. Consider it an early birthday present.”
Lennox stared at the necklace in his hands for a long time.
‘I really can’t tell what he’s thinking.’
I grew impatient and asked.
“Don’t like it?”
At that, his green eyes slowly lifted to meet mine. He opened his mouth slowly.
“…You know my birthday?”
That caught me off guard.
I knew from the original story that his birthday was early next year.
But he had lost his memory and didn’t know when his birthday was.
“Well, I don’t know exactly, but since you’re still short, I figured your birthday hasn’t come yet.”
“I see.”
His voice was indifferent, but his face looked oddly pouty. Was he sulking because I called him short?
“I’ll show you something cool.”
Seeing a glimpse of childlike behavior in him for the first time, I suppressed a laugh and changed the subject.
“If you wear it like this—”
I placed the necklace around my own neck and pointed at my hair.
“Ta-da! It turns blonde. Cool, right?”
His eyes widened in surprise.
Seeing that expression for the first time made me laugh lightly as I took the necklace off and stepped closer to him.
“Okay, turn around.”
But when Lennox hesitated, I remembered something important—he was deeply wary from his years in the back alleys.
“Oh, if you don’t want to, you can put it on by yourself—”
“Please do it.”
“Huh?”
“I… can’t do it on my own…”
“Oh, okay.”
As I fastened the necklace around his neck, I noticed the back of it. There were faint scars—but more than anything…
“You’re really small and skinny…”
Even compared to Melin, his neck looked smaller.
“I’ll grow fast.”
Lennox responded curtly, clearly annoyed.
His nape seemed a little red, too.
“…Are you really okay?”
“Yes.”
He averted his eyes as he answered.
Click.
As the hook clicked into place, Lennox’s hair instantly turned blonde.
“…Wow!”
My sudden exclamation made his shoulders flinch.
‘How does blonde suit him this well?’
With black hair, he looked like a cold northern noble. With blonde, he looked like a little prince.
‘Still, I prefer the northern look…’
It was amazing how a simple change in hair color could alter someone’s impression so much.
“You look much brighter.”
“Is it better to look brighter?”
“Brighter is always better. Honestly, the best thing is smiling.”
At that, Lennox awkwardly lifted the corners of his mouth in a bizarre attempt to smile.
“…Like this?”
“Why do you look like someone who’s never smiled before?”
“Because I haven’t.”
“…I’m sorry.”
I quickly apologized.
‘Damn it, he was serious.’
I wanted to bite my tongue.
How little must a kid have laughed in life for that to be his first smile? A wave of sadness hit me.
I’m not usually the sentimental type…
Lennox kept fiddling with the necklace on his neck, not letting go even once.
For the first time, I saw a hint of excitement on his face.
“You really like it?”
“…Yes. It’s the first birthday present I’ve ever received.”
And just like that, I felt heavy-hearted again.
“…From now on, you’ll get lots of presents every winter. And you’ll have plenty of reasons to smile, too.”
Sigh. What am I even saying?
I’ve never been such a busybody in my life.
‘Oh well.’
Lennox doesn’t even know who I really am.
That thought made me feel lighter.
Acting completely out of character, I patted Lennox’s head and walked away.
