HBTSS 06

CHAPTER 06

With a scoff, I stood up from my seat.

“I’ll send the revised contract through a messenger later today.”

Leaving those words with Callisto, I made my way out of the marquis’s estate.

That’s when I happened to spot Lennox in the garden.

‘Whoa, he’s cleaned up nicely.’

It seemed the Skylar estate had taken good care of him. Compared to the last time I saw him, he looked much neater and tidier.

Beneath his black hair, his skin was as clear and smooth as fresh snow. His features were delicate yet defined — a refined appearance.

He was undeniably handsome, but since he was still a child, my first impression was more “cute” than anything else.

But Lennox wasn’t alone.

‘Who are those kids next to him?’

There were a few boys who looked about three or four years older than him.

‘Did he make friends already?’

But the more I watched, the clearer it became… the atmosphere between them wasn’t friendly at all.

One of the boys was tapping Lennox’s forehead, clearly picking a fight.

“Hey, I don’t know what kind of trick you pulled on the young master, but there’s still an order here, you get it?”

“…So?”

“So? This brat doesn’t even understand plain words, huh?”

“What I’m saying is, as the new guy, you’re supposed to do our work too, you idiot.”

Hearing this, my internal alarms flared red.

‘Hey! I’m trying to pave this kid’s way with roses here!’

And you’re throwing mud on it?

My entire goal was to build a path of peace and comfort for Lennox so that he wouldn’t even think about revenge.

But if things were already going off the rails like this, that was going to be a problem.

“You better do it properly, got it? We’ll be watching. Mess up even a little, and you’re done for.”

Lennox didn’t react at all.

But I knew what was happening beneath that calm, expressionless face.

‘The ones who’ll be “done for” are you brats…’

The boys shoved a rag and a bucket into Lennox’s hands and walked off. Lennox stared at the cleaning tools briefly, sighed, and walked away.

I debated for a moment which direction to go… but quickly decided.

‘Let’s deal with the root cause first.’

Anyone who disrupted Lennox’s peace had to be dealt with — personally.

“Hey, boys. Come here for a second.”

Up close, they looked even younger than I’d thought.

‘Well, Lennox is smaller than most kids his age…’

Judging by their clothes, they were probably houseboys or page boys working at the estate.

“Y-Yes, ma’am…”

Though I wore a mask, they could tell by my well-dressed appearance that I was a noble — they approached with nervous expressions.

“Do you know who I am?”

“I-I’m sorry, we don’t…”

Well, it would be strange if they could recognize me with my face hidden.

Still, they seemed to think I’d be furious for not being recognized and looked visibly intimidated.

‘So quick to grovel…’

Hard to believe these were the same boys bullying Lennox.

Absolutely spineless.

“I see. Lately, the young marquis asked me whether there’s been any trouble between the houseboys. I guess I was mistaken.”

“Huh?”

Their faces stiffened. Wow, they really don’t hide it well.

“He came to consult me just this morning, you know. He looked quite troubled. His face was so serious.”

I lied smoothly, using Callisto’s naturally serious expression from earlier as fake evidence.

“So I just assumed… maybe you boys were causing some kind of trouble.”

“Th-That’s not true!”

“It better not be. The young marquis is especially sensitive about that kind of thing. If he even suspects someone is stirring up trouble… he won’t hesitate to dismiss you all.”

I spoke with an icy tone, and the boys looked terrified.

“Don’t even think about bullying him where no one’s looking. You really think your fellow houseboys will stay quiet?”

In an environment like this, betrayals were common. These kids all knew the game.

So they kept their mouths shut and just exchanged nervous glances.

“Secrets don’t stay buried forever, you know.”

I tapped my lips playfully and then rested my hand gently on their heads.

“You’re all still young with bright futures ahead. Don’t go out of your way to make trouble, okay?”

I patted their heads one by one, like I was giving them heartfelt advice.

“Y-Yes, ma’am…”

Having warned them, I returned home with a satisfied expression.

At least for now, those boys would watch their step around Callisto — and each other.

It felt a little wrong to intimidate kids, but this was the best I could do under the circumstances.

If I revealed myself directly to protect Lennox, I’d be blowing my cover as his secret benefactor.

I thought everything was neatly wrapped up.

Until another rejection letter arrived.

After cleaning the floors and returning to his room, Lennox was about to lie down when he felt a strange sense of unease.

Someone had been in the room.

That gut feeling sharpened Lennox’s senses as he scanned the space.

And then — he found the sponsorship contract on his desk.

Judging by the contents, rejecting it would be plain foolish.

It promised free food, shelter, clothing — even education and money to help him eventually stand on his own.

“……”

But Lennox stared at the paper, utterly unmoved.

Back in the back alleys, he’d seen countless kids get lured by sweet words from adults and end up signing similar contracts.

Those contracts also claimed to “support” the children — with no strings attached.

But deep down, every kid knew.

That the contract was just a trap.

There was no one in the world who would extend such overwhelming generosity to kids like them for nothing.

Still, the kids signed.

Because even if it was a trap, it was better than starving to death.

But what awaited them was a fate worse than starvation.

Endless labor, abuse, illness… and once they were no longer useful, they were discarded and left to die in the streets.

Lennox had seen it all. Lived through it.

Even if his connection to them was fleeting — a brief conversation or shared glance — it still hurt to watch them die.

“I… hate it.”

He didn’t want to be used up meaninglessly, then die like that.

Still, he couldn’t bring himself to let go of the contract.

A part of him wanted to grab onto it — just in case it really was a lifeline.

After all, who could possibly be content living life hungry and cold on the streets?

If only the contract had clear terms — an exact price to pay — he could have accepted it more easily.

But this… this was too suspicious.

Even the fact that the contract came back after he’d already rejected it once made him wary.

Frowning, Lennox glared at the paper.

There were too many complex words — it was hard to understand. He considered just returning it to the young marquis again.

Then, his green eyes landed on one spot.

There was something new this time.

Yes — a price had been added.

“…‘If someone is in need, help them.’”

He slowly read the words he could understand.

Now that he grasped the general meaning, a cold smirk crept onto his face.

‘That’s the price?’

Did they think he was a fool?

After all those densely written conditions and clauses, the only requested “cost” was kindness to others?

It only made the whole thing seem even more suspicious.

He sighed and glared at the contract again — and noticed something else odd.

‘Wait… why is the handwriting different here?’

Wasn’t this supposed to be between him and the young marquis?

Yet this contract looked like it had been written by two different people.

As if it was a collaboration.