Chapter 8

There were many ways he could keep Elina by his side if he wanted. But Terence didn’t want to force her heart.

Even now, she pretended not to know his feelings and kept her distance. Every time he realized how awkward things had become, his heart ached, but Terence still didn’t want to give up on her.

He planned to slowly, gently let his feelings seep in, not to rush her and make her retreat.

And he would wait until he was strong enough that there would be no rumors when he finally stood Elina at his side.

If he tried to keep Elina close, the Grand Ducal family elders, who wanted to see their own blood as Grand Duchess, would surely hurt her. He couldn’t let her be wounded because of him again.

But every time he faced her like this, the walls he’d built up collapsed without resistance. He squeezed his fists, wishing his patience was stronger than he thought.

Terence nodded, trying to hide his wish that this moment would last forever.

“It won’t be a difficult fight. You don’t need to worry.”

That was true. His skills were now unmatched in the Empire.

His Majesty appointed him Commander not because he was his nephew, but because Terence was the one who could end the war fastest.

Even so, Terence was glad for Elina’s concern. He knew she worried because she still remembered him as a child.

He wanted to rub his face in her soft hair and whine like he did when he was little. Every time he did, Elina would laugh and pat his head.

Unaware of the effort it took for him to restrain his impulses, Elina only worried for him.

“…Please don’t get hurt.”

It might have been presumptuous, but she had to say it. Honestly, she hadn’t been avoiding him out of resentment.

Her initial resentment faded quickly; after that, every time she saw Terence, she felt restless and awkward, not knowing what to say, which made it hard to face him.

But now that he was going to war, none of that mattered.

“I’ll pray for your safe return.”

Perhaps her feelings reached him, for Terence smiled more comfortably and gazed at her.

Their eyes met in the silent hallway. Breaking the delicate mood, Terence gently took her hair that had fallen over her shoulder and spoke softly.

“I promise I won’t get hurt.”

His face, speaking quietly as if swearing to God, looked solemn. His burning violet eyes were filled with her.

His gaze, always so warm when looking at her, made Elina’s heart suddenly tighten in surprise.

Her heart beat differently than usual, and an unfamiliar sensation ran up her spine, so she quickly looked away from his eyes.

“Th-then, I’ll go now.”

She hurried away, not noticing his lingering, regretful touch. Only when she reached the castle gate did her blocked breath escape and cold air fill her lungs.

Tears she’d been holding back burst forth. After all the time spent avoiding him, she finally understood her own feelings.

At some point, she had come to love Terence. The reason she felt so hurt over the adoption issue she hadn’t even wanted was, she realized, because she liked him that much.

Even though she could have avoided him completely, she lingered in his sight, perhaps hoping he’d notice her feelings.

Looking back, she had always ignored her fluttering heart around him. She’d dismissed it as adolescent confusion, and couldn’t accept having such feelings for the son of her benefactor and possible future lord.

Her late realization of her first love tormented her for days. She suffered a fever for two days before finally accepting her feelings. From then on, she was certain about her feelings for Terence.

People’s hearts are truly fickle; after falling for him, she even thought it was lucky she hadn’t been adopted into the Grand Ducal family. If she’d become family, even secretly harboring such feelings would have been a sin.

After that, Elina tried hard not to let her growing feelings be discovered, staying near him. She skipped Academy classes to watch his victory marches, and during breaks, visited the Grand Ducal castle to secretly watch him train.

After graduating top of her class at the Academy, she volunteered as a mage for the Grand Ducal family. With her skills, she could have joined the Mage Tower, the most prestigious position for mages, or become an Imperial Mage, and even the previous Grand Ducal couple tried to dissuade her.

But Elina insisted on working at the Grand Ducal castle. She said it was to repay their kindness, but really, she just wanted to be near Terence.

She never thought of trying to be with him or confessing her feelings. It was enough that the previous Grand Ducal couple cherished her, and that Terence sometimes spoke kindly to her when they met.

She didn’t work right beside him, but just being in the same place as Terence was enough comfort, and her feelings grew as she stayed at the Grand Ducal castle.

Elina only decided to let go of her feelings for Terence recently, when she heard he had a fiancée.

It wasn’t the first time marriage talks had circulated. With such outstanding looks and abilities, and as the current Grand Duke, it was only natural that the great noble families would line up to link their daughters with him.

Elina, too, had often witnessed noble ladies admiring Terence from his side since childhood. Although, not once had there been any trace of affection in the air, thanks to Terence’s indifference.

But even Terence, who seemed uninterested in women, would eventually reach a point where he could no longer postpone marriage.

Elina worried whether she would be able to handle her feelings when that day arrived. And that time came a little sooner than she had expected.

“This time, it seems real. They say the engagement ceremony will be held within the year.”

While Elina was repairing the magic circle protecting the Grand Ducal castle, she overheard her fellow mages talking and almost drew the circle incorrectly.

Luckily, her colleagues didn’t notice the sparks flying from the circle and continued their heated conversation.

“Come on, this isn’t the first time rumors like that have come from the other side. I just don’t get it. If someone spreads a rumor about marrying His Grace the Grand Duke, does it actually come true?”

Among the nobles proposing marriage to Grand Duke Callium, there were those who spread rumors as if the match had already been made.

Whether they thought Terence would accept the proposal if the rumor spread through noble society, or if it was a way to eliminate rivals early, Elina couldn’t tell.

“No, this time it really seems true. My maid’s friend overheard Lady Rowen herself talking about it.”

The mage who started the topic spoke with conviction, and Elina’s expression visibly darkened.

She already knew that Lady Rowen, daughter of the Duke of Rowen, had admired Terence for a long time. Whenever there was a banquet or event at the Grand Ducal castle, Lady Rowen would always attend, stealing glances at Terence and blushing.

Lady Rowen’s brother, Young Master Rowen, was close to Terence, and Elina had heard that at the recent founding festival banquet, Lady Rowen danced with Terence at her brother’s request.

‘Maybe this time it’s really true.’

The Rowen Dukedom was a founding noble house, perfectly suitable for the Grand Duke’s marriage, and Lady Rowen was considered one of the Empire’s beauties.

Imagining the two standing side by side made Elina feel as if her chest was collapsing.

Lady Rowen was more than worthy to be Terence’s partner. No one would question such a match.

As a member of the Imperial Family and Grand Duke, Terence was fundamentally different from Elina, a Viscount’s daughter of common birth, who avoided attending any banquets out of fear of feeling the difference.

Her colleagues’ conversation faded from Elina’s ears. She realized it was time to organize even the feelings she had kept hidden so tightly.

Tidying up her feelings required persistent effort. Her face grew gaunt, matching the emptiness in her heart. Sorrow with nowhere to go turned into resentment, eating away at her.

Daisy, who worked with her often and knew her heart, was the first to notice her condition. Unable to watch any longer, Daisy coaxed Elina to attend a masquerade ball with her, saying the best way to get over heartbreak was with another man. Elina went to the ball, grasping at straws.