Chapter 26

“Calix?”

At that moment, Ellie turned her head at the unfamiliar voice calling Cal’s name. A young man wearing a fur hat was standing there.

“Ivan!”

Cal recognized the man and greeted him warmly. Cal introduced Ivan and Ellie to each other. Cal’s friend Ivan and Cal’s lover Ellie exchanged greetings.

“When did you come back, Calix?”

“Two days ago. I’ll stay during the break and go back next semester.”

“It’d be nice to see you again before you leave. With Miss Elysia, too.”

“Yes, I’m looking forward to it.”

When Ivan asked where Cal was going, Cal replied that they were headed to the lake. Ivan then offered to prepare some snacks for them.

“Ivan runs a donut shop. It’s a very old and famous place.”

Cal winked and said Ellie could look forward to the taste. Only then did Ellie realize Ivan was a free citizen. She was secretly surprised that Cal called him a friend and spoke so comfortably, but she didn’t show it.

With the donuts and warm chocolate drinks Ivan had prepared, Cal and Ellie finished their tour of the market and then headed for the lake as planned.

Ellie couldn’t take her eyes off the new scenery outside the window. After passing through the city center, she saw trees covered in snow. The pointed trees, still green even in winter, looked as if someone had sprinkled cotton on top.

After about thirty minutes, they arrived at the lakeside Cal had mentioned. From where cars couldn’t enter, the area was still covered in deep snow. Even with boots that reached her knees, the snow came up to Ellie’s calves, which amazed her.

Cal, carrying skates, approached Ellie as she crunched through the snow.

“The blades are sharp, so be careful.”

Cal helped Ellie put on the skates and warned her repeatedly. Just standing on the ice in unfamiliar shoes was an adventure for Ellie. She managed to stand, then learned how to push herself and move a little at a time.

Just as Cal had played as a child, the two skated together on the ice. Not used to the activity, Ellie moved slowly and fell on her bottom several times. Cal slipped on the ice many times while helping Ellie up. Still, they kept laughing throughout the whole time.

After playing to their hearts’ content, they sat on the ice and watched the sunset. The whole white world was dyed red by the sunset, sparkling beautifully. Ellie thought she understood why Cal missed this place.

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Yes, it’s really beautiful.”

Ellie and Cal leaned their heads on each other and gazed at the same scenery.

“Will you come here with me again next year?”

…Would we be able to see it together next year? 

Ellie thought it was like a dream and just smiled.

“Will you come here with me in ten years, in twenty years?”

Cal’s eyes were serious. It didn’t seem like a situation where she could just joke and move on, so Ellie was flustered.

“Will you marry me, Ellie? I’ll make you happy for the rest of your life.”

Cal’s proposal made Ellie’s eyes waver. She couldn’t tell if her face was hot because of the sunset or because of Cal. Unable to meet Cal’s intense gaze, Ellie looked around and finally bowed her head deeply.

“You don’t have to answer right away.”

Cal’s words, which seemed to consider her feelings, made Ellie emotional. She spoke in a jumble.

“I-I’m not a noble…”

“What does that matter?”

“…I don’t have parents. I’m an orphan…”

Ellie had never felt ashamed of being an orphan, but she couldn’t help it in front of Cal. She fidgeted with her hands and muttered excuses. Cal grabbed her hands warmly.

“You became a wonderful adult even without parents. That’s what I fell for.”

No matter what Ellie said, Cal was unwavering.

“Oh, and I’ve met many men…”

Compared to Cal, who was her first, and considering Northern culture, Ellie was a woman from the South with a freer past. Cal couldn’t hold back his laughter.

“What happened before you met me doesn’t matter at all! From now on, you only need me.”

Cal cupped Ellie’s cheeks and made her look up. When their eyes met, Ellie’s face turned even redder. Finding her adorable, Cal kissed her lips.

“Your beautiful face caught my eye first, but now my heart is filled only with you. Ellie, you are more wonderful and amazing than anyone, and I only hope I can be a man who suits you.”

“A girl from an orphanage? I’m not in your league.”

“I only hope I can be a man who suits you.”

Ellie, who had once been told she wasn’t “in someone’s league,” became the most precious person in the world to Cal. Cal told her that status and family didn’t matter, that she alone was enough. In front of him, Ellie cried her heart out.

It was the moment she began to dream again about something she’d once given up on.

***

For someone who had lived her whole life in the warm South, the North’s cold was not easy to endure. Not only had she spent the whole day outside in the cold, but she’d also played on the ice, so Ellie felt the beginnings of a cold for the first time.

After dinner, they gathered in a room with a roaring fireplace, wrapped in warm blankets, drinking warm liquor. The family gathered, chatting about the day, and the atmosphere was very pleasant. As she grew tipsy, Ellie leaned her head on Cal’s shoulder.

Cal’s hand slowly crept over and covered the back of Ellie’s hand. His fingers played with hers, making the mood between them subtly intimate. With everyone around, Ellie was startled but didn’t pull her hand away.

They continued playing with their hands secretly. Cal’s fingers slipped between Ellie’s, and as he tickled her palm with his fingertips, Ellie clenched her fist. Feeling her face flush, she hid it against Cal’s shoulder, and Cal didn’t miss the chance.

“Ellie, are you sleepy?”

“Ah, yes. A little.”

“It’s late. Go up and sleep.”

“Good night, Anne.”

“Ellie, I’ll walk you to your room.”

Ellie and Cal stood up together. They stopped Susan from following, and went upstairs alone. As they neared Ellie’s room, their steps slowed.

“Ellie, can I come in?”

Standing in front of her door, Cal suddenly asked for permission, which Ellie found cute. She grabbed the tip of Cal’s finger and pulled him. It was a weak pull, but Cal followed without resistance.

When the door closed, Cal pressed Ellie against the wall. The blanket Ellie had been wrapped in fell to the floor. Ellie giggled and wrapped her arms around Cal’s neck.

“Is it okay for us to do this?”

“There’s nothing stopping us, is there?”