Chapter 34

Elena’s breathing, sitting beside Felix, gradually slowed until a faint snoring sound could be heard. Only then did Felix shift his gaze from the newspaper to look at his childhood friend.

Elena had fallen asleep, her head slightly tilted forward. She must have been very tired.

‘Her neck’s going to hurt like that.’

Felix clicked his tongue.

Elena thought of herself as capable and independent, but Felix saw her differently.

In his eyes, she was clumsier and more dependent than she realized. The only reason it didn’t show was because Alice secretly took care of her.

Even now, look at her. She could have just slept upright in her chair, but she had to sleep in such an uncomfortable position. Watching her like that made him feel uneasy.

At that moment, the train began to move. With the jolt, Elena’s body tilted forward even more. Yet she continued sleeping soundly.

Felix clicked his tongue again. Then, carefully, he guided her head onto his shoulder.

Worried that the height difference might make her uncomfortable, he tilted his left shoulder slightly downward to better support her head.

Sighing, he returned to reading his newspaper.

She really was someone who needed constant care.

***

The train traveled on and on, passing through plains and mountainous regions. The familiar scenery that they saw every time they traveled to and from the academy flew by.

Time passed quickly, and the train arrived at Felix’s hometown, the Christian Estate.

“Take care.”

“You too.”

Elena opened the window and waved at Felix. She thought he’d leave immediately, but unexpectedly, he set his bag down and stood there.

It seemed he was waiting for the train to depart.

“Give my regards to Madam Jane and the Earl.”

“Alright.”

“And to Tony and Lindsey as well.”

“Alright.”

Something felt off. Elena often spent her vacations at Felix’s mansion.

This was thanks to Madam Jane, the Countess Christian, who always made her feel welcome.

Madam Jane knew that Elena’s family didn’t care much about her and that she found staying at her own house during vacations quite difficult.

Because of this, she would always invite Elena to visit before they parted ways.

But today, there was no sign of such an invitation.

Was it that he didn’t want to invite me, or had he simply forgotten?

Still, Elena felt too proud to ask, ‘Aren’t you going to invite me?’

While she hesitated, the train’s horn blew, and it began to move. She waved more vigorously. Felix half-heartedly raised his hand in response before letting it drop.

“See you later!”

They would likely take the same train back to the academy.

“Yeah.”

In the end, Felix didn’t invite her to visit.

***

Her hometown hadn’t changed much since she’d last been there six months ago. The fact that no family member greeted her warmly remained the same.

‘Well, I’m used to it.’

Though she felt a twinge of sadness, she quickly adjusted her expression as her nanny approached her, teary-eyed.

“Oh, my dear Elly. You’ve grown again.”

Elena threw herself into the arms of her nanny, who was like family, and acted playfully.

“Nanny, I’m nineteen now. I’m not growing anymore.”

“What’s wrong with being nineteen? To me, you’re still a baby. I’ve been with you since the day you were born.”

Here she goes again. Ever since Elena’s mother passed away, her nanny had a tendency to overprotect her.

Not that Elena minded, honestly.

“Where’s Father?”

It was a casual question, but her nanny’s face darkened, and Elena immediately understood.

‘Father’s out again.’

It was such a common occurrence that she wasn’t surprised. She had expected it.

Her nanny, however, seemed to feel differently. She tried to console Elena like a child, carefully watching her expression.

“The Baron has been so busy lately. He really wanted to see you arrive, but he couldn’t make it. He asked me to tell you he’s sorry.”

A lie. Elena knew her nanny had made that up. Her father wasn’t the type to say such things.

Still, she pretended to believe her.

“Alright, I understand. I’ll see him at dinner, so it’s fine.”

To be honest, she wouldn’t have minded not seeing him at all.

Sensing her mood, her nanny skillfully changed the subject.

“You must be tired. Would you like to rest?”

“Yes, I’d like to take a nap.”

Elena took her nanny’s hand and headed to her room.

It wasn’t until dinner that she finally saw her father.

He hadn’t changed much in six months. He looked a little thinner, but the fatigue from his busy life was still evident.

“You’re here.”

“Yes. Have you been well?”

“I have. And you?”

“I’ve been well, too.”

That was the extent of their conversation. Elena could talk endlessly with Alice even after just a few days apart, but with her father, there was nothing to say.

‘This is awkward.’

They began eating in silence.

“You’re in your seventh year now, aren’t you?”

Her father, who had been quiet throughout the meal, asked as they waited for dessert.

“Technically, it’s my eighth year. I’m in my final year now.”

For the first time, her father’s gaze shifted from his newspaper to her. His expression was unreadable, giving no hint of his thoughts.

He used to be kinder when she was younger. Her mother’s death had changed so much.

Elena shrugged nonchalantly.

“It’s an easy mistake to make. Sometimes even I forget what year I’m in.”

“Elly…”

Her father seemed about to respond when the servant brought in dessert.

The awkward atmosphere was momentarily broken. Elena quickly started eating her sherbet, signaling that she didn’t want to talk.

Her father didn’t touch his dessert, silently watching her eat.

Hmm, it seemed like he had something to say…

Unable to bear the tension, Elena finally asked.

“Is there something you’d like to say?”

“…No.”

Ah, this was so awkward. 

Desperate to escape, she ate her sherbet quickly, almost aggressively.

When she took the last spoonful, her father spoke again.

“Are you planning to visit the Christian Estate again?”

“Um…”

Elena hesitated, holding the spoon in her mouth, then quickly set it down, realizing it was impolite.

“I’m not sure yet. Felix hasn’t mentioned anything.”

Now that she thought about it, his behavior earlier was strange. 

Why hadn’t Felix said anything?

‘Is something going on?’

Maybe she’d send him a letter. Felix would probably roll his eyes at the idea of exchanging letters, but she could always use the excuse of wanting to know how Tony and Lindsey were doing.

“Well, I’ll be heading to my room now.”

She politely excused herself and went to her room.

Only then did she feel like she could finally breathe.

***

“How is Elly doing? When is she coming to visit?”

This was the first thing Countess Christian said when she saw Felix return to the mansion.

Felix, who had been trying to pry his younger siblings off his legs, frowned.

“Mother, am I less important to you than Elena?”

“Of course. You can take care of yourself, but Elly doesn’t look after herself very well. I worry about her.”

“Sometimes I wonder who your real child is.”

Though he grumbled, Felix wasn’t truly upset.

The Countess had always treated Elena, the daughter of her late friend, like her own child. In fact, she often cared for Elena more than she did for Felix.

It had always been this way, so Felix didn’t usually mind.

But for some reason, it bothered him today. Not because his mother prioritized someone else, but because just hearing Elena’s name made him feel irritated.

He didn’t know why.

That’s why he hadn’t invited her to visit. Seeing her this vacation would only make his thoughts more complicated.

He needed time to sort things out.

“I didn’t invite her this time.”

The Countess, uncharacteristically, got angry.

“What did you just say? Are you out of your mind?”

Was it really something to get so worked up about? 

Felix wondered, but the Countess was serious.

“Why didn’t you invite her? You know how much the twins and I miss her.”

“I thought it might be inconvenient.”

“Nonsense.”

The Countess studied his expression closely. Felix couldn’t meet her gaze and turned his head slightly.

The Countess smiled knowingly.

“Oh my.”

Felix didn’t like the suspicious smile on her face.

Then she gave him a firm command.

“Write to Elly immediately and invite her to visit.”

“Mother…”

“If you don’t, I will.”

Left with no choice, Felix went to his room and wrote a short letter inviting Elena to visit.

As he sealed the letter, a faint smile appeared on his lips.