2.4

“….”  

Ellen silently stared at the letter from Leon.  

Even after they kissed, the replies she received from him remained formal. Every time she read the letters, which contained only plans for their meetings, she felt disheartened.  

“But it’ll be different when we meet, right?”  

Ellen let out a heavy sigh.  

The content of the letters she sent to Leon every day had changed slightly. Perhaps because she felt closer to him after the kiss, she found herself with more to write than before.  

Previously, her letters mostly consisted of talking about the weather and setting meeting times. Now, she added a little more detail.  

For instance, she introduced her two younger siblings, saying they were still young but very lovely children. Or she mentioned how she enjoyed eating desserts with him that she couldn’t have back in her hometown. She began sharing small stories about herself.  

She started writing about herself with the hope of having longer conversations with Leon during their next meeting. If they discovered something in common, she thought it might make her even happier.  

“….”  

However, when Ellen finally met Leon, it wasn’t as she had hoped. Their relationship seemed slightly off, as if it had grown awkward.  

Leon, who used to look her in the eyes while talking, now kept avoiding her gaze. Moreover, he didn’t mention anything she had written in her letters.  

Could it be that he didn’t properly read my letters?  

Ellen, who had been filled with anticipation after making plans for their date, quickly found herself disappointed.  

He must have read them since he replied and set the date, but why didn’t he say anything? Isn’t he curious about my siblings? Or about the Novary family?  

Ellen’s hometown, Alber Village, was a place most city dwellers didn’t know about. Unlike the city, it lacked many shops, and most people lived self-sufficiently. It was a rural village far from Melchia.  

It was a nature-friendly place where one could easily spot gentle animals like deer or squirrels while taking a walk.  

She had only briefly introduced the place to pique his curiosity, thinking he would naturally ask what it was like.  

But he didn’t.  

Was I getting ahead of myself?  

“Did you read the letters I sent?”  

“Yes, I read them and replied.”  

Feeling hurt, Ellen mustered the courage to ask questions she hadn’t dared to before, but Leon’s answers were brief and indifferent.  

He didn’t even look her in the eyes when responding.  

Were my letters burdensome to him?  

Even after kissing him, nothing seemed to change. Winning Leon’s heart was still no easy task.  

It’s hard to win someone over with physical affection.  

Originally, they had planned to go on a date at a dessert shop, but Ellen, having lost her appetite, suggested a walk instead. Leon agreed to her suggestion.  

Is he just spending time doing whatever because he doesn’t care about me?  

Despite her bold move to kiss him, Ellen was growing weary of Leon’s indifferent attitude.  

The more she desired him, the more she began to face the reality of her one-sided love—a hopeless situation she had been reluctant to admit.  

She started to realize that forcing her feelings on someone could make them uncomfortable, and this realization made her heart ache.  

If I were the one to suggest breaking up, would he actually be relieved? Probably. He’s probably giving me hints because he wants to break up quickly. I shouldn’t only think about myself.  

It felt like she was selfishly holding onto Leon against his will. She began to feel that it was time to let go of her desires and release him, which made her increasingly melancholic.  

After he had asked her out, she wanted to believe that his wish to break up immediately afterward was for her sake. She tried to comfort herself with the thought that Leon’s actions were considerate of her.  

As if the heavens understood her feelings, the weather suddenly turned gloomy. The gentle breeze grew stronger.  

The darkening sky matched her somber mood. In a way, it seemed fitting. It made her feel like she could finally say the words she wanted to say.  

Looking at Leon’s back as he walked slightly ahead, Ellen exhaled softly. She wanted to tell him to break up, but when she opened her mouth, the words wouldn’t come out.  

I can’t do it. I’ll write it in tomorrow’s letter instead. If it’s the content he’s been waiting for, maybe he’ll finally read my letter properly.  

Ellen smiled bitterly. Thinking that this was truly the end filled her with regret and sorrow.  

She wanted to take in one last image of Leon, so she gazed endlessly at his back.  

His broad shoulders, firm body, long limbs… Even his sculpted, handsome features made his back look captivating.  

Of course, his appearance wasn’t the only reason she liked him. On the worst day of her life, when she felt so humiliated she thought she’d never recover, he turned it into a special day. That’s why she liked him.  

It was like that two years ago. Ellen sighed heavily as she recalled the events of two years ago.  

Two years ago. 

“Ahaha.”  

With awkward steps and ungraceful dance moves, Ellen became the subject of ridicule from those around her. Still, she didn’t mind. These were things she could quickly improve.  

But when she fell flat on her bottom, Ellen couldn’t bear to stay in the ballroom any longer.  

As soon as the music ended, she covered her face and fled to the garden. She couldn’t endure the laughter she imagined echoing inside the ballroom.  

“Haa. I guess I’m not cut out for this.”  

She was supposed to charm the noblemen, but instead, she had failed miserably. Ellen had frozen under the pressure of her father’s words to act for the sake of the family.  

“What do I do?”  

Sitting on a bench out of sight, Ellen stomped her feet nervously.  

She needed to go back inside, dance, and socialize with the men, but she had lost all confidence. Instead, today’s events seemed likely to leave her traumatized.  

But even if she didn’t dance today, there were still several days left of the ball, and she would have to dance no matter what happened.  

I have to dance eventually….  

Ellen raised her head and looked around. She wanted to check if anyone was nearby. After scanning the area, she saw no one passing by.  

“Alright. If I practice alone, I’ll improve, right?”  

Ellen took a deep breath and stood up. Then she began to dance alone, repeating the steps she had performed earlier.  

She thought it would be fine since no one was watching, but having been embarrassed once, she couldn’t shake the feeling. Her movements were stiff and didn’t follow her intentions.  

She kept hesitating, especially at the move where she had fallen. It seemed like the trauma had truly taken hold.  

“Ahh. What do I do? I keep messing up!”  

Unable to dance as she wanted, Ellen grew anxious. All the time she had spent practicing seemed to have been in vain.  

Then.  

“Pfft.”  

A short laugh came from somewhere.  

“Is someone there?”

Ellen stopped dancing and quickly looked around. In the spot where the moonlight fell, a man stood.