Chapter 6

With every step, Terence’s smiling face kept appearing before her eyes, bathed in brilliant sunlight.

“Why is my heart beating like this?”

Was it because Terence had changed so much in such a short time? Her face kept heating up even though the weather wasn’t that warm, and it felt strange.

Elina stopped abruptly, pressing both cheeks with the back of her hand, trying to cool herself down.

Her mind, which had just been filled with magic theory, was now a mess of thoughts about Terence.

Was it because today, for the first time, she truly realized Terence was a boy? Or was it because puberty had arrived late? Or maybe it was because the male lead in the romance novel she’d read during a recent break was described so much like Terence.

Recalling the novel for a moment, Elina began fanning her face with both hands, shaking her head quickly.

“Get a grip, Elina! There’s no time to be distracted when you still have magic to study…!”

She tried to push away other thoughts by muttering the magic formulas she’d memorized earlier. Luckily, her flustered feelings were soon replaced by worries about the upcoming entrance exam.

When she entered the kitchen, the Grand Duke’s chef, Zimmer, put down his frying pan and greeted her.

“I was just about to send up some sandwiches. Sit down. Studying is good, but you need to eat well to keep your mind sharp!”

“Hehe, thank you.”

Whenever Zimmer saw Elina, he fussed over her as if she might collapse from hunger, always trying to get her to eat more.

This time was no different; he brought her a mountain of different sandwiches and reminded her to finish them all, setting the plate before her.

“By the way, how about having breakfast with Their Graces? They miss you so much when you’re not there. It seems they leave more food behind when you’re absent.”

“I’d like to, but the exam is so soon. I want to get good results to repay Their Graces for sponsoring me…”

Elina shrugged helplessly, stuffing herself with sandwiches until she was almost full to bursting, then got up from her seat.

Zimmer, refusing to take no for an answer, pressed cookies and candies into her hand and shook his fists encouragingly.

“If it’s you, Elina, you’ll surely be top of the class. Don’t overdo it—take breaks!”

“Thank you, Sir.”

Elina crammed the snacks into her pockets and waved as she left the kitchen.

Just in case, she went to Terence’s room and knocked carefully, but the quiet response made her tilt her head and mutter.

“Is he still with Their Graces?”

It seemed the conversation was taking longer than expected. She hadn’t seen him in a while, and it felt disappointing to part after just a brief meeting, so after a moment’s hesitation, she headed for the drawing room.

She thought enough time had passed for the discussion to be wrapping up, so she decided to wait outside. Her green eyes sparkled as she climbed the stairs.

‘He’d like it if I called his name before he leaves, wouldn’t he?’

Whenever she called him ‘Young Master,’ she could see the disappointment on his face, so she cared about it too.

Since she’d see him even less after entering the academy, she decided to call his name this time, thinking it might be her last chance.

With these thoughts, she went up toward the Grand Ducal couple’s drawing room and heard quiet voices leaking out into the otherwise empty hallway.

Knowing she shouldn’t, Elina couldn’t resist her curiosity and stood close to the door. She listened, and the muffled voices became clearer.

“What do you mean by that?”

Terence’s voice sounded flustered. 

‘What was going on?’

Elina pricked up her ears and, at his next words, clutched her skirt in surprise.

“You’re registering Elina into the Grand Ducal family?”

“It’s easier to attend the academy with noble status. We could find a suitable family, but since things are like this, I thought adopting her ourselves might be fine.”

Elina’s hand clutching her skirt turned white. Adoption into the Grand Ducal family—she’d imagined it, but never truly wished for it to happen.

No matter how kindly Their Graces treated her, she wasn’t shameless enough to covet the position of Grand Duchess, knowing it would cause trouble.

Biting her lip and shaking her head, Elina listened closely as Terence spoke again.

“But, Mother…!”

“Your father agreed, so we called you to ask your opinion. What do you think, Terence?”

“I don’t want it.”

“…You don’t? You mean you oppose registering Elina?”

“Yes, I’m against it.”

Even when the Grand Duke asked again, Terence’s voice remained firm. His tone, full of confusion and anger, sounded unfamiliar even to Elina.

“Just find a suitable family and register her there. Why the Grand Ducal family…!”

“Terence. I don’t understand why you’re so opposed.”

The Grand Duchess, too, sounded surprised, as if she hadn’t expected such a strong reaction.

Elina also hadn’t expected him to be so vehement. She’d never considered joining the Grand Ducal family, but his fierce opposition made her face suddenly darken.

“I thought you cared for Elina like a little sister. Was I wrong?”

“That’s…”

Elina didn’t listen any further and hurried out of the hallway. She was too afraid of what he might say next.

She could still hear their voices as she left, but her mind was too chaotic for the conversation to register; it just buzzed in her ears and faded away.

Meanwhile, Terence, completely unaware that Elina had overheard and run away, struggled to keep his composure in the unexpected situation.

To register Elina meant she’d become his little sister. Without realizing it, Terence had started to develop feelings for Elina, and this situation left him speechless.

He couldn’t pinpoint exactly when he’d started to care for her.

Was it from their first meeting, when she’d smiled at him with her golden hair shining? Or was it years ago, when he’d first dreamed of Elina and experienced his first wet dream? Or was it when his heart began pounding uncontrollably and his face flushed whenever he saw her, prompting him to join the knight order to escape?

He couldn’t be certain.

But he did know that this wasn’t just a fleeting crush—his feelings ran much deeper.

Even if not now, he would have come to like her eventually. Elina was clever, kind, and so warm-hearted that she’d tear up at his smallest wounds, yet she was also impressively strong.

Terence couldn’t imagine anyone else shaking his heart so completely.

Selfish as it was, he found it hard to accept Elina as his little sister.

“If it’s about succession, you know Elina isn’t even a threat.”

Thinking Terence’s reaction was about succession, the Grand Duke tried to persuade him with a firm voice.

But Terence just shook his head, looking confused.

“That’s not it. I…”

“Do you have feelings for Elina?”

Priscilla, watching him closely, asked, and Terence’s face went rigid, as if struck. Seeing her son flustered at being found out, Priscilla sighed softly and looked at him.

“Does Elina feel the same?”

“No! Elina doesn’t know anything. It’s not her fault.”

Maybe he thought Priscilla might do something to Elina, because Terence hurried to defend her.

The Grand Duke, watching Terence’s flustered manner, clicked his tongue quietly. It reminded him of his own younger days. He pretended to scold his son sternly.

“Do you think it’s right to block Elina’s future just because of your feelings, which may be nothing more than youthful impulse?”

“It’s not a passing whim. I…!”

Terence jumped up to protest. As father and son’s voices grew louder, worry appeared on Priscilla’s face. She gestured for Terence to sit and spoke.

“Dear, it’s best to ask Elina directly.”

“Madame, but…”

“We can’t force this with just Terence’s feelings or our wishes. This is Elina’s life; she should choose. Terence, you must agree.”

“Mother!”

“If Elina refuses, let’s register her with a suitable vassal family instead.”

“…Let’s do as your mother wishes. Terence, you must accept Elina’s decision. Go and bring her here.”

Leaving everything to Elina’s choice, Terence had nothing more to say. He knew his opposition was selfish.

Guilt toward Elina, self-loathing, and his feelings for her all tangled together.

His steps toward Elina’s room felt heavier than ever. If Elina wanted to join the Grand Ducal family, he should hide his feelings.

But maybe this was his last chance to be honest.

Despite his confusion, his feet carried him steadily to Elina’s door.