Chapter 22

“Cal, I am a free citizen.”

“Yes, I know. In the South, we learned that class no longer matters.”

“In principle, that’s true, but actually, the South has more class discrimination than the North, even among free citizens.”

Ellie gave a bitter smile. After hearing the story of why Ellie closed her heart and about her first lover who wounded her, Cal became agitated as if it were his own matter.

“No, I won’t be like that! I was worried you wouldn’t accept me because I’m a noble and you’re a free citizen.”

“Pfft. Calm down, Cal. I expected you to be a noble. At least, I thought you wouldn’t be an ordinary free citizen like me.”

Thinking back to the car from last time, and the fact that the director personally introduced her to the internship, it was suspicious. Despite that, Ellie had decided to try dating Cal. She didn’t know what the future would hold.

“By the way, Cal, how old are you?”

“Well, um…”

Cal hesitated and told her his age. Ellie’s eyes widened when she heard it. He was two years younger than her. Cal, watching Ellie’s reaction, made a determined face as if he would reveal everything he had been hiding.

“And actually, I already knew about you, Ellie!”

It was a confession that he had known her before seeing her for the first time at Nyx. Ellie blinked.

“I first saw you buying flowers at the square in front of the library. I thought you were so beautiful the moment I saw you, and after that, I saw you often.”

Cal confessed that he fell for Ellie at first sight.

“There’s a boy who sells flowers at the square, right? You bought purple flowers that time.”

Remembering Ellie holding a purple flower up to her nose to smell it, Cal smiled.

“I wanted to get close to you, but I had no way. I heard rumors too. ‘The Iron Wall of the Royal Library.’ Haha.”

“What’s that supposed to mean!”

Even though it wasn’t the first time she’d heard that nickname, Ellie shouted in embarrassment.

“Then one of my friends knew you. He recommended that I could meet you at Nyx. Uh, and…”

Though he’d decided to confess everything, Cal hesitated and couldn’t continue. Ellie, having already made a scene at the library and sensing there was something else she didn’t know, sighed deeply and spoke.

“What is it? I’ll forgive everything today, so just tell me.”

“…Really?”

“I said so.”

“Actually, I went to Nyx that day because I heard you were coming. My friend told me.”

It was a thoroughly planned meeting. Ellie was so dumbfounded she was lost for words.

“But you spoke to me first that day, so I was surprised too.”

Just as he said, Ellie was the one who spoke to Cal first when they met at Nyx, so she had nothing to say about that. The meeting may have been Cal’s plan, but the one who made it happen was Ellie’s own choice.

“Ellie, from the beginning, it was only you for me. No matter what kind of person you are, I decided.”

The simple confession, without any embellishment, touched Ellie deeply. She quietly looked up at Cal’s face, then gently kissed him and pulled away. Seeing Cal’s surprised face, Ellie smiled softly.

“…Me too. I decided the same.”

After a brief, ticklish gaze, Ellie changed the mood by asking something else.

“What about siblings? I grew up in the cathedral orphanage right after I was born, so I have no family.”

“I have a younger brother. He’ll like you very much. My parents have managed the estate for generations.”

It was expected, but hearing that he was a noble with an estate made Ellie pause. Cal’s family seemed greater than she’d thought.

Cal, watching Ellie’s expression closely, suddenly grabbed her hand.

“Ellie, my family and I are nobles, but my parents would never discriminate against you for that.”

Ellie found Cal’s words hard to understand for a moment. It sounded as if she would have a chance to meet his parents.

“The North is very different from the South, but Ellie, there are many places you’ll like. Will you come with me to the North and meet my family?”

Cal cautiously proposed. He kept watching Ellie’s reaction, unsure how she’d take it. Ellie thought it over, and Cal didn’t want to pressure her, but his desire to go to the North with Ellie was stronger.

“I want to show you where I grew up.”

He wanted to show Ellie the beautiful North he had seen all his life.

“The snowy North?”

“It’ll be your first time seeing it.”

“The frozen lake too?”

“We can skate on it together. I’ll teach you.”

Watching Cal kiss her hand, Ellie couldn’t help but smile.

Ellie thought,

If she was with this person, she wouldn’t be afraid.

Epilogue

“Ellie, won’t you come to the North with me?”

That’s how Ellie’s journey to the North began.

***

Ellie, born and raised in the capital, had never ridden a train before. She was wide-eyed at the excitement of travel and the scenery at the train station.

“…Wow.”

Entering the station, Ellie was busy looking around. She found it amazing that so many people had come to ride the train.

“Ellie, come here.”

Cal gently wrapped his arm around Ellie’s shoulder as she wandered among the crowd. Escorting her so she wouldn’t bump into people, Cal walked confidently toward the boarding area.

Thanks to Cal, Ellie moved safely and carefully brought up her worry.

“But Cal, is it really okay not to bring anything?”

As someone traveling to the North, Ellie’s luggage was so minimal it was almost bare. The small bag she carried contained only underwear and other inner garments; she hadn’t even packed a change of clothes.

“Ellie, don’t underestimate the cold in the North. The thin clothes you wear here won’t be enough at all. I asked them to prepare clothes for you, so don’t worry.”

Cal reassured Ellie. While they talked, they reached the entrance to the boarding area and stood before the ticket inspector.

“May I see your tickets?”

Cal took out two tickets from his jacket pocket. After verifying their identities with citizen IDs, the station staff returned the tickets.

“Let’s go, Ellie.”

“Ah, yes.”

Entering the boarding area, the first thing visible was the hazy steam. The pure white steam from the locomotive at the front covered the train cars.

Following Cal’s lead, they ended up quite near the front. Ellie didn’t know much about trains, but she knew the front cars were first-class, so she glanced at him to check if this was right.

“Cal, how far are we going?”

“We’re almost there.”