Chapter 7

As soon as Elina returned to her room, she sank to the floor in front of the door, sobbing. Tears kept falling, blurring her vision.

She couldn’t understand why she felt so sad and miserable.

Was it because she couldn’t be adopted into the Grand Ducal family? She’d always thought even wishing for such a thing was wrong. Just being able to live here was a stroke of luck unimaginable for a commoner.

Even if Terence agreed, she would have refused adoption to the Grand Ducal family.

But Terence’s strong opposition was something she’d never experienced. The always-kind Terence had shown such discomfort at the idea of accepting her as family, and it shocked her deeply.

Only now did she realize how much she’d come to trust and rely on Terence. Maybe, even if everyone else opposed her, she’d hoped he would want her.

She knew there were insurmountable walls of status, and she understood him logically, but an inexplicable sense of disappointment scratched at her heart like a jagged stone.

“Hic… Get a hold of yourself, Elina!”

She didn’t even deserve to feel disappointed. She owed the Grand Ducal family so much, and would devote her life in gratitude, yet here she was, having these thoughts about Terence.

Elina wiped her tears with the back of her hand, trying to calm herself as she approached the window.

She stood there for a long time, letting the cool breeze wash over her. When her flushed cheeks finally faded and she’d dried her tears, she heard Terence’s voice and a knock at the door.

“Elina.”

“Come in.”

Her voice was a little hoarse, but she managed to sound calm. Hastily wiping her face for any remaining tears, Elina forced her trembling lips into a smile as Terence entered.

“…Did you cry?”

Even in the dim room, Terence immediately noticed her red eyes. As he strode toward her, Elina fought back another wave of tears.

After being so kind, after making her believe he’d always be on her side, no matter what…

“What’s wrong? Hm?”

“Something got in my eye earlier… I’m fine now.”

As he stepped closer, reaching out as if to brush her tears away, Elina unconsciously took a step back and muttered an excuse she’d hastily made up.

At her seemingly rejecting gesture, Terence hesitated and awkwardly pulled back his hand.

“Elina. Their Graces are looking for you. They said they have something to tell you.”

“Ah, I’ll go right away.”

It was probably to ask her opinion directly. The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess were always kind, always listening even to the story of a mere commoner like her. If she pleaded before them to be registered in the Grand Ducal family, they would surely grant her wish.

But she had absolutely no intention of doing so. Terence, standing in front of her, hesitated as if wanting to say something, but she already knew what would come from his lips.

Elina looked at him with a much calmer gaze. As expected, Terence clenched his fists and struggled to speak.

“Before that, there’s something I want to say. Elina, actually I…”

“Don’t worry. There’s nothing for you to be concerned about, Young Master.”

“What do you mean…?”

Her quick reply puzzled him. Terence’s expression, watching her with confusion, turned pale at her next words.

“I heard everything. I’m sorry.”

“You… heard everything?”

He repeated Elina’s words as if chewing them over, his face sinking into disappointment. He hadn’t wanted her to find out like this. Terence tried hard to steady his stiffening expression, asking again just to be sure.

“…To the end?”

“Enough to understand your intentions, Young Master.”

What did she mean? He couldn’t know exactly how much she’d heard, but her usually bright smile now looked noticeably awkward, and that alone gave him a sense of her mood.

Terence shook his head as if making excuses, trying to explain his feelings.

“Elina, I…”

“Anyway, don’t worry. I’ve never dared to wish to be adopted into the Grand Ducal family. How could I be so ungrateful?”

She forced a smile, but the pain was clear on her face. She looked as if she might burst into tears at any moment, her expression resolute as if she didn’t want to hear anything more from him.

Terence seemed about to say something, but Elina only said she’d be back and hurriedly left the room as if running away.

As expected, Elina refused the Grand Ducal couple’s proposal to become a member of their family. Even when Priscilla tried to persuade her to think it over, Elina did not change her mind, so Priscilla began searching for another family to register her with.

After much consideration, Elina chose the couple she felt most comfortable with, Viscount Harris and his wife.

Though it wasn’t a high title, Viscount Harris was a shrewd man who ran a successful trading company, and his wife was famous in society for her kind heart.

When the Grand Duchess personally introduced Elina, the Harris couple, who had long worried over not having children, gladly accepted her. She left the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess behind, following the Harris couple down to their manor.

With time, Elina’s contact with Terence grew even less. She was busy studying at the Magic Academy and, even during breaks, stayed at the Harris manor rather than the Grand Ducal castle, so she had no chance to meet him.

Sometimes Priscilla, feeling a bit lonely, would invite her to visit the Grand Ducal castle, but whenever Elina saw Terence from afar, she would hurry back to the Harris manor as if running away.

Even Elina herself couldn’t understand why she avoided Terence so much. It was only the year before she graduated from the Academy that she truly realized her feelings for him.

One day, called by the Grand Duchess, Elina quietly visited the Grand Ducal castle and carefully set down her trembling teacup.

“Young Master is… going to the front?”

“Yes. There’s unrest near the Northern border due to barbarians. Since Terence has no real battle experience, His Majesty seems to want to send him now.”

“But…”

Going to the front. The barbarians near the Northern border were known for using magic in their attacks—a troublesome enemy. The news that Terence would be going to war made Elina’s heart sink heavily.

Priscilla watched Elina’s trembling hands for a moment, then raised her teacup to her lips and spoke.

“Meet Terence before he leaves. You don’t know when he’ll return, so you should say goodbye.”

“…Yes. I will.”

“And I hope you’ll visit more often. I know you’re busy studying, but when Terence returns, I plan to hand over the title and move East.”

Visiting the Eastern villa would be an even longer journey, so Priscilla wanted to see Elina more often while she was still at the Grand Ducal castle.

Elina, surprised at how quickly Terence would inherit the title, opened her eyes wide and nodded.

“I’ll visit often even after you move East. It’s quick if I use the travel gate.”

“Oh my, I’d love that. Elina, you’re always welcome. Ah, Terence should be here by now. Go on, quickly.”

“Yes, I’ll go now.”

No sooner had Priscilla finished speaking than Elina rose from her seat. Ever since she heard that Terence would be going to war as a commander, she couldn’t stop worrying.

She hurried out of the hallway, forgetting how long it had been since she’d last faced him.

Just as Priscilla said, Elina was able to find Terence on her way to his room.

He, who used to greet her awkwardly and run away, now stopped in his tracks as she approached.

“…Elina?”

Maybe because it had been so long, Terence, who had always been tall for his age, had grown so much that she had to look up at him. His broad shoulders, long legs, and strong jawline made him look every bit a man.

Approaching him, feeling a little unfamiliar and awkward at his changed appearance, she saw his violet eyes widen in disbelief.

Her green eyes, close to tears, trembled as she came near.

“I heard you’re going to the North.”

“Ah, you heard.”

“It’s… it’s so sudden, and the North is dangerous.”

Her eyes were full of concern for him. Now an adult and even more beautiful, Elina’s appearance made Terence’s heart race wildly.

After that day, he had tried to organize his feelings, not wanting to burden her with unwanted emotions.

He thought he had given up, but seeing Elina again made him realize that wasn’t true. He couldn’t even remember how long it had been since they’d met like this.

He knew how selfish and petty his opposition to Elina’s adoption had been. That was why he hadn’t dared approach her while she kept avoiding him.