Chapter 4: Muscles, Misunderstandings, and a Marriage That Died Before It Started
If someone were to ask me when exactly my life derailed—
No.
Correction.
If someone were to ask me when my life started, I would point to this moment.
Specifically…
The moment I decided to torture my own body like it owed me money.
---
The Emberheart Estate – Somewhere No One Visits
I was hiding.
Not metaphorically.
Not socially.
Physically hiding like a wanted criminal.
Deep inside the Emberheart estate existed a forgotten structure—an old auxiliary training shed abandoned decades ago. No servants cleaned it. No guards patrolled it. No nobles even remembered it existed.
Why?
Because it smelled like rust, dust, and regret.
Which made it perfect.
I stripped off my noble clothes and stared at my reflection in a cracked mirror.
"…Yep. Still pathetic."
Thirteen-year-old body.
Too thin.
Weak shoulders.
Soft hands.
This body had never known hardship.
Which meant—
"Time to traumatize it."
I stepped outside.
The yard was uneven stone and dirt. No equipment. No weights.
So I made my own.
I grabbed iron chains used for securing old carts, wrapped them around my torso, and tied stones to my legs.
I looked like a medieval idiot.
"…Author never said I couldn't do this."
I dropped to the ground.
"ONE!"
Push-up.
My arms screamed.
"TWO!"
Pain.
"THREE!"
I collapsed.
Face-first.
"…Okay," I wheezed. "Maybe we start with fewer chains."
I removed half.
Tried again.
Push-ups.
Squats.
Planks.
Running laps around the yard until my lungs felt like they were being stabbed repeatedly.
I vomited.
Then kept going.
Sweat drenched my body. My hands blistered. My legs trembled violently.
And through it all—
I laughed.
Like a madman.
"Hah… hahahaha…!"
If anyone saw me now, they'd think I'd snapped.
But this?
This was freedom.
No expectations.
No mockery.
Just pain.
Honest pain.
And pain didn't lie.
Hours passed.
Days blurred.
I trained at dawn.
Collapsed at night.
Ate whatever I could steal from the kitchens.
Drank water like it was divine nectar.
My muscles adapted.
Slowly.
Painfully.
And with every rep, I felt something change.
Not power.
Not magic.
Control.
---
The Mansion – Complete Chaos
By the second day…
People noticed.
"Has anyone seen Master Calix?"
"No."
"He didn't show up for breakfast."
"He didn't show up for lunch."
"Or dinner."
The servants whispered.
"Did he… run away?"
"Wouldn't blame him."
"The engagement is coming."
"Maybe the stupid one finally realized his place."
Even Lyra noticed.
She stood in the hallway, arms crossed, frowning.
"…That idiot."
He didn't fight back.
Didn't complain.
Didn't even show his face.
Something was wrong.
But no one went looking.
Because no one expected anything from Calix Emberheart.
---
Two Days Later – Arrival of Doom
The day the engagement girl arrived…
I was mid-training.
Chains heavier.
Movements sharper.
Sweat pouring like rain.
My body hurt.
Everywhere.
But I was smiling.
"Again."
Squat.
"Again."
Push-up.
"Again."
Collapse.
I didn't stop until—
"MASTER CALIX!"
A servant's panicked voice echoed.
"THE MARQUIS'S DAUGHTER HAS ARRIVED!"
I lay on my back, staring at the sky.
"…Ah."
Right.
Her.
I sat up slowly, joints popping.
"Guess it's time."
---
Introducing the Engagement Girl
Her name was Elowen Ashborne.
Second daughter of Marquis Roland Ashborne.
On paper?
Perfect.
Golden-blonde hair.
Soft blue eyes.
Delicate smile.
Elegant posture.
The kind of girl bards wrote songs about.
In reality?
A professional actress.
She sat gracefully in the Emberheart reception hall, hands folded neatly, expression shy and polite.
"I've heard so much about you, Lord Calix," she said sweetly.
Lies.
Every word.
Inside her head?
This is him? This useless trash?
She had already met Kyle Garfield.
Two weeks ago.
At a joint training observation held by the academy for look out for upcoming prodigies and help children to pass the academy entrance exam
Kyle had helped her pick up dropped documents.
Smiled awkwardly.
Apologized too much.
Blushed when she thanked him.
And just like that—
She fell.
Hard.
The rumors about Calix only cemented her resolve.
I'll reject him.
Publicly.
Dramatically.
And if needed… I'll make him the villain.
She glanced at me.
Why was he standing so… calmly?
Why wasn't he staring?
Why didn't he look nervous?
I bowed.
Politely.
"Lady Elowen."
Her smile faltered.
I sat.
Crossed my arms.
And spoke.
"I know your plan."
The room froze.
Her eyes widened.
"…Pardon?"
I leaned forward.
"You're here pretending to be nice so I fall for you."
Her breath hitched.
"You'll claim I forced you into inappropriate behavior."
My voice was calm.
Measured.
"And when you reject me, you'll cry."
Her hands trembled.
"Everyone will believe you."
Silence.
I continued.
"You heard about me from Seraphina Valewood."
She stiffened.
"She's your friend."
I smiled.
"You already like Kyle Garfield."
Her face drained of color.
I stood.
"I'm not getting engaged to you."
Gasps echoed.
I turned to leave.
Then stopped.
"And if you lie about me—"
I raised a small crystal.
A video-capturing crystal.
"I'll release this."
Her eyes shook.
"I'll tell everyone you fell in love with another man and tried to destroy a Duke's son to escape responsibility."
I looked back.
"You're a Marquis's daughter."
I smiled thinly.
"I'm still higher than you."
"Now."
I gestured toward the door.
"Go."
"…And tell the truth."
She stood slowly.
Shaking.
And when she left the mansion She literally told her Parents
"…I… I cannot accept this engagement."
Tears formed.
"My heart belongs… to someone else."
Chaos erupted.
Inside her mind?
What… what was that ? ..
Where is that useless..piece of shit guy .. Seraphina told me about
It's like I was setted up for this from the start ..
Calix Emberheart
You will not get the last laugh ..i will make sure you will pay for this you wait and see
Aftermath
The family stared.
Duke Alaric rubbed his temples.
"…He lost."
Selene sighed.
"The only time he could've been useful…"but had to lost to a guy she meant just once ..oh my dear Calix ....
Lyra stared at the closed doors.
Silent.
Thoughtful.
"…Brother."
And somewhere—
Kyle Garfield sneezed.
Unaware.
---
Calix Emberheart
I walked back toward my hidden yard.
Muscles aching.
Heart steady.
"Good."
"No distractions."
"Academy soon."
"And Evelyn…"
I smiled.
"This time."
"I'll be ready."