CH 24

“The rowing competition will be held soon. It’s been a while since I thought I’d try participating.”

“You’re going to compete?” Brandon asked with a chuckle.

“Yeah.”

Lake Centio in Vihiru was the largest and most beautiful lake in Irze. So, at the beginning of each summer, a rowing event was held there, but Leslie, who was not very fond of sports, had never participated in one before.

That Leslie would come to the villa he had not visited in years and participate in a rowing event? It couldn’t be true.

“Then, do your best.”

“Hyung is also participating, right? You’re better than me.”

“You seem to have forgotten. I am on my honeymoon with my beautiful bride.”

Callie, who was listening next to them, was embarrassed.

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She had asked them to come here on their honeymoon, but so far, the newlyweds hadn’t done anything together.

Perhaps that was intentional, but Brandon’s gaze lingered on Callie for a moment before returning to his brother.

“That’s why it’s better to spend time with my bride than a crowded rowing event.”

“Ah,” Brandon nodded, immediately understanding. “Then, I shouldn’t interfere. It’s a pity, but I’ll have to go out alone in the rowing event.”

“Either way, I’m off to hunt. They say wild boars keep appearing around the villa these days. You never know when an accident might happen, so I have to catch it and get rid of it.”

Brandon raised the gun he held in one hand and pointed it at Leslie as if he were prey.

The gun was suddenly pointed at him, but Leslie wasn’t taken aback or surprised at all.

He exchanged glances with Brandon without backing down. A tense gaze passed between the two.

Why are these men like this?

Callie, who was watching them nervously in the middle, intervened. “Brandon, you pointed a hunting rifle at a man. What kind of manners is this? Put it down quickly.”

At Callie’s scolding, Brandon smiled coolly and lowered the muzzle he had aimed at his brother. 

“Oh, did I point the gun? My hunting habit came out. Weren’t you scared?”

“Not at all. There’s no way you’ll shoot me, right, Hyung?” Leslie also smiled, raising the corner of his mouth, but his eyes remained cold.

“That’s right. There’s no way I’ll shoot my beloved brother. Unless you hurt me first.”

Then, Olivia, who had returned from her walk, entered the house and exclaimed, “Oh, Leslie!”

You came. I knew you would, my friend.

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“Olivia.”

“How long has it been since the three of us met like this in Vihiru? Welcome back, Leslie.” Olivia intervened between the two men, reminiscing and completely excluding Callie.

The three of us were that close, right? Then, let’s keep reminiscing about old memories.

Displeased, Callie wanted to get Brandon out of the room quickly.

“Brandon, if you’re going hunting, shouldn’t you get to it soon?”

I didn’t want to hear people say ‘the three of us’ without me.

So she reminded Brandon that he was about to go hunting. 

Seemingly aware of Callie’s intentions, Brandon obediently moved.

After Brandon went hunting, Callie ducked out so the two friends could catch up.

The villa, which had been quiet when they first arrived, was bustling with two guests and the servants they had brought with them.

I tried to find the culprit who harmed me in my previous life, but I don’t think it’ll be easy with these guests.

But since when were the siblings on bad terms? Judging from the fact that the three of them were close with Olivia in the past, it seems that they got along well back then.

Callie was sitting in the drawing room, quietly sipping afternoon tea, when she heard a knock.

“Yes, come in.”

She thought it was one of the maids. 

But the door opened, and Olivia, who had changed into a fancier dress, entered.

Callie remembered what she had heard from Mrs. Valerie, who had been guarding this villa for over 20 years.

Olivia, the widow of Marquis Clark Harrington and daughter of Count Gornette, married Clark for her family’s sake, but after her husband died, she gave up everything and returned to her family.

Why did she, who even had an arranged marriage to marry into a marquis family, return to the Gonet family and give up everything?

Could it be Brandon?

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“You must have been enjoying tea time quietly by yourself, but I disturbed you.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Tea with Callie… Oh, can I call you Callie? You’re Brandon’s wife, so I feel like I’ve known you for a long time.”

“Yes, feel free to call me that. I’ll call you Olivia, too.”

I don’t care about names.

Callie smiled broadly, and she agreed.

“That would be nice.”

“I thought you were with Leslie.”

“As soon as Leslie arrived, he went out to meet someone. Brandon, as you know, has gone hunting. Since it’s just the two of us here, I wanted to have afternoon tea together and talk about this and that.”

“Yes, that sounds nice. I want to hear how the three of you were when you were young.

When asked about her childhood, Olivia’s expression quickly turned into a smile, as if she remembered the happiest time of her life. Then, with a thin smile, she began to tell her story.

Olivia, who recalled the first time she and Brandon met, was shy, like a girl in love. 

“I met Brandon for the first time at a lakeside when I was ten. Father said no, so I slipped out of the mansion with the attendant without his knowledge and went to the lake. There were several boats tied to the lake, and I chose the smallest among them. As a child, I thought it would be nice to have a smaller boat to be less noticeable. The attendant rowed the boat to the middle of the lake. I sat in the middle of the big, wide Centio Lake, and it was so much fun.”

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Callie quietly listened to Olivia’s story.

“I didn’t even realize the boat was full of water.”

“Did Brandon show up and save you?”

“Did Brandon tell you?”

“No. Brandon just said you were a childhood friend.”

Childhood friend…?

Was I just a friend to you?

Olivia’s smile faltered, and she continued her story with a different expression than before.

“A little girl, only ten years old, was in a boat full of water in the middle of a large lake. The boat started to fill with water, so the attendant I took with me abandoned me and ran away. I was terrified and screamed for help, but no one came. Callie, can you imagine how I felt then? Absolute fear, like watching the world close in on me. The boat completely sank, and I struggled in the water. Then someone swam over from the other side.”

“Was that Brandon?”

Olivia nodded slowly and smiled.

“Yes, that’s right. My father thanked Brandon for saving my life by inviting him and Leslie to our home. From then on, whenever Brandon and Leslie came down to the villa during summers and winters, we went back and forth to each other’s mansions and hung out like real siblings.” 

“It’s like a beautiful fairy tale.”

“Right?”

That’s why I still can’t forget him. He’s the one who saved my life.

The person who willingly came to me and saved me when I was struggling in the water and fearing death.

The person I couldn’t forget until the day I got married against my will.

Callie, Brandon would be here with me if it wasn’t for you. I did everything to get back to Brandon’s side. You took my place…

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“But the prince in the fairy tale does not exist in reality.”

“I guess your fairy tale is like that. But mine is different, Callie.” Olivia denied what Callie said.

“Is Brandon your first love?”

Even Olivia, who was quite frank, was startled and couldn’t answer right away.

But even if she didn’t answer, Callie already knew.

“You’re not denying it?”

A moment of silence passed between the two young ladies.

Olivia was the first to break the silence. She let out her exaggerated laugh and tried to change the mood. 

“Because I was young then.”

“That’s right. It’s all about the past childhood.”

‘So stop thinking about Brandon, Olivia. Now, Brandon is my man.’

As if reading the expression in Callie’s eyes, Olivia answered with her eyes.

‘No, I can’t, Callie. Brandon has been my man from the start. You took him away.’