Chapter 139. The Harbinger of the Storm

“The Raman family is in Rublea…?”

Early morning, after just waking up.

Ellen was greatly surprised by this unexpected news.

[There’s a party being held at the Raman family’s mansion from 2 PM to 9 PM today.]

[Would you like to attend together, if you’re okay with it?]

“……”

The thin letter paper crumpled slightly in Ellen’s hand. The sender of this letter was none other than Felix.

After parting ways like that yesterday, she thought she wouldn’t run into Felix again if she could help it. She was also relieved that Felix wouldn’t report her whereabouts to Enoch…

But now this letter. Ellen was at a loss for how to react. Moreover, the Raman family… She knew they were staying in Asir, but she didn’t expect them to come up to Rublea at this time. She thought they would be in Paleas during this peak trading season.

‘…I do want to meet them once. They are my mother’s family, after all.’

However, attending the party carried many risks. It would probably be a party mainly attended by the gentry class, but nobles might also be present, and someone among them might recognize her.

‘And I’m too afraid that Enoch might really be looking for me…’

Although she hoped it was just a baseless rumor, thinking there was no clear reason for him to look for her, still, one could never be too careful.

‘The Enoch I know… would have found me disgusting after the magic wore off. Such a person would have no reason to go out of his way to look for someone who left on their own…’

Letting out a heavy sigh, Ellen lowered her gaze back to the letter. There was no mention of how long he would wait for a reply… just a postscript saying to meet him in the Emerald Room at 9 AM today.

After pondering for a moment, Ellen finally decided to go meet Felix. It would be rude to treat him too coldly, and she was also curious about news of the Raman family. Of course, she intended to keep maintaining boundaries with Felix.

…Perhaps it might be better to tell him now. To tell Felix that she only thinks of him as a friend.

A good friend.

That she doesn’t want to be anything more or less than that.

Ellen carefully folded the letter and placed it on the table before heading to the bathroom to wash up. She needed to hurry and get ready if she wanted to leave before 9 AM.

She skipped breakfast due to lack of appetite. Although yesterday had been a bright day, today the sky was gloomy. It seemed like it would rain soon.

‘Come to think of it, didn’t they say Rublea often has storms around this time?’

She wanted to take a walk along the riverside, but it might be better to stay inside in case it rained. Ellen quickened her pace, glancing at the watch on her wrist. The current time was 8:50 AM. The Felix she knew would probably already be there waiting by now.

Sure enough, as soon as she arrived at the Emerald Room, Felix greeted her with a bright smile. He was dressed well enough to attend the party right away.

Felix approached Ellen slowly, smiling somewhat shyly. Then he greeted her in an affectionate voice.

“Hello, Ellen. I’m sorry for contacting you so suddenly. But I really wanted to let you know about the Raman family.”

“…I see. Good morning, Fel.”

The two sat facing each other at a table by the window and quietly drank their morning tea for a while. In the prolonged silence, Felix was the first to speak up.

“So… what do you think? Have you thought about it? Will you attend the Raman family’s party with me?”

“…Well.”

Ellen hesitated for a moment as she put down her teacup. She needed to say that she shouldn’t be seen by people, but to do so, she would have to reveal that she was really on the run. But Ellen didn’t particularly want to bring that up.

As she was quietly pondering, Felix, for some reason looking anxious, spoke again.

“Actually, I asked the Raman family to arrange a separate meeting.”

“…What?”

“I thought you might want to meet them. I’m sorry if it was unnecessary meddling.”

Ellen was somewhat taken aback but tried to ask calmly.

“Did you tell them that I’m here?”

“Yes… They want to see you too, Ellen.”

“They want to see me…?”

At those words, Ellen felt her heart flutter slightly. It was natural, after all, since they were blood relatives.
Although they were relatives who had neglected her mother, there might have been unavoidable circumstances… Did they know? That her mother had passed away long ago?

“…I have a question.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Do the Raman family members know? That my mother passed away a long time ago.”

“…Yes. They said they only found out after you became the Grand Duchess of Bayern.”

“……”

So they had no interest at all before then? Why didn’t they try to find out? Even if she had married, she was still their only daughter and sister… Ellen felt a strange sense of disappointment. Was this feeling on behalf of her mother?

‘If it were mother… she probably would never have forgiven her family.’

That’s the kind of person she was.

Then she… perhaps she should meet them on behalf of her mother.

It wasn’t for a family reunion. She just wanted to ask them. Why they had abandoned her mother. If they knew she had been murdered. And she needed to tell them. Regrettably, that her mother would not forgive them…

‘I feel like mother would want me to convey those words to them too.’

Ellen raised her head to look at Felix. She was still dumbfounded that he made an appointment without consulting her, but thanks to that, she gained an opportunity, so it wasn’t bad in the end.

Still, she had to say what needed to be said.

Ellen opened her mouth.

“Felix, you should have discussed this with me before deciding.”

“…I’m sorry, I truly have no excuse even if I had two mouths.”

“Why did you do it?”

“……”

After a moment of silence, Felix gazed at Ellen intently. A yearning look.

An emotion that was now impossible to ignore was swirling within.

Ellen closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh.

Then, quite resolutely, she called out to Felix.

“Felix.”

“……”

“I’m sorry. I… I know how you feel.”

When she opened her eyes, Felix’s expression, looking as fragile as broken glass, came into view. Ellen met his eyes and smiled bitterly. Knowing how it felt to love someone alone, she found Felix pitiful and sad. In a way, they were in the same boat, but…

“I can’t accept your feelings. I’m sorry.”

“……”

“I really… can’t do that. Felix.”

What’s not possible is not possible.

She had to distinguish between sympathy and affection.

After a long silence, Felix finally spoke up.

“…I know it’s a hopeless one-sided love.”

“……”

“But… I can’t help the feelings I’ve already developed for you.”

“……”

“I won’t burden you. I just… want to help you. If you want, I’d like to remain your friend.”

Ellen slowly closed and opened her eyes with a rather complicated feeling. Felix was looking at her with a sorrowful gaze. Ellen moistened her lips with the now lukewarm morning tea and spoke again.

“Friends… Can we really do that? Felix? When your feelings for me are no longer just friendship?”

“Ellen…”

“I’m sorry. From now on… it’s better if we keep our distance.”

“……”

After quietly keeping his gaze down for a while, Felix slowly nodded. His expression was as complicated as Ellen’s, if not more so.

“…Alright. If that’s what you want.”

“…Thank you for understanding.”

A heavy silence enveloped the two. The sky visible through the window was dyed an ominous gray. Like the harbinger of a storm.

“…This way, Miss Lopez.”

“Thank you, Mr. Werner.”

An hour later, Ellen arrived at the Raman family’s mansion with Felix. She had asked Felix to call her ‘Miss Lopez’ and added that she’d prefer if he didn’t ask why.

And Ellen, too, decided to call him ‘Mr. Werner’, a title that clearly kept distance. She thought this was the right decision to make.

‘I’m going to die soon anyway…’

It would be better for Felix too, to help him get over his feelings as quickly as possible. Ellen made this judgment with a sad feeling.

“Master, Madam. The guests have arrived.”

As they reached the reception room, a servant of the Raman family announced politely, and shortly after, a voice invited them in as the door opened.

Ellen stepped inside with a bit of tension. And, at that moment—

She froze at the sight of a familiar person that entered her view.

A chill ran down from her head to her toes as if someone had poured cold water over her head. For a moment, her consciousness wavered and her vision flickered black.

‘His’ voice violently struck her eardrums.

“Hello, Ellen.”

Enoch, who had been sitting comfortably on the sofa as if it were his own home, slowly rose from his seat.

And he began to approach leisurely. Staring at Ellen with fierce and wild eyes, like a beast about to bite the nape of its prey.