Chapter 4 – Part 7

“Oh my, oh my. My Lady, look at the entrance. Quickly.”

Mila’s voice was filled with surprise as she called Eliana.

“Huh, what?”

When Eliana looked up, she saw a familiar face in her sight.

“……!”

It was an unexpected face. But seeing him walking toward her made it clear that he had come looking for her. The anxiety weighing down her heart suddenly eased a bit just from seeing his familiar face.

“Calix, how did you get here?”

Eliana spoke as she turned to him.

“…….”

Without answering, Calix quickly scanned the surroundings. His brow furrowed slightly as if something was bothering him. He wasn’t alone; he was accompanied by armed subordinates. In contrast, Eliana had brought only one maid and one knight.

“How did you get here…?”

Calix pulled out the chair across from her and sat down.

“Do you know what kind of place this is?“

“What kind of place…?”

“The people you brought along won’t be able to guarantee your safety, even for a moment.”

Calix exhaled briefly.

“Oh…”

Eliana had also sensed it—the atmosphere on the roads and the restaurant was rough. Although they hadn’t dressed in a way that would obviously display wealth, she could feel the furtive glances they were receiving. To the people here, Eliana was a noble lady they would never usually see in this area.

“When I sent someone to your household to ask how the Count was doing, Oliver said you had visited the western region to meet Bero Galizera.”

He didn’t seem pleased. It was clear that he found Eliana’s actions quite reckless.

“I know this area well because I once exterminated monsters here.”

“…….”

“I’m well aware of the dangers.“

“There wasn’t time to consider all that. I thought I needed to come as quickly as possible.”

“…….”

“Poisons become more dangerous the longer they’re left untreated.”

Eliana spoke calmly.

“So, did you come here because you were worried about me?”

Eliana asked with wide eyes, a mix of surprise, happiness, and disbelief swirling within her. She never expected Calix to go so far for her. Even though he had approached her more warmly than before at the Lequizet family’s party, until recently, they had kept their distance from each other.

“I figured it was better for me to move than to risk you going somewhere dangerous and not returning safely.”

“……”

“Now that I’m here, you won’t return without seeing the physician.“

Calix’s firm words gave Eliana a boost of confidence. She could have spent the day waiting and asking him more questions, but she didn’t want to rely on his help. She felt she owed him enough after the hunting competition and didn’t want to trouble him further when he was undoubtedly busy with his affairs.

“Thank you, Calix.“

Eliana’s voice trembled slightly at the end. She gave a faint smile, relieved.

Judging by her expression, it was clear she hadn’t managed to meet the physician in his absence.

“Did you go to see Bero Galizera?“

“Yes, as soon as I arrived. But I couldn’t meet him—he wasn’t home.”

Eliana explained everything that had happened to Calix, including that Bero’s return was uncertain and that she had left a note at his house.

As soon as he heard this, Calix gave orders to his subordinate. He instructed them to find a man named Mac Jarvis, who lived near Bero’s house, to track down the physician’s whereabouts.

“We’re short on time, so find him quickly.”

Eliana was unfamiliar with Mac Jarvis’s name, but it was clear that Calix and his subordinates knew him well.

‘Is he some sort of local figure?‘ she wondered.

“Yes, Your Grace,“ his subordinates replied before leaving.

Mila and Russell also stepped back to give them some privacy. Calyx glanced at Eliana’s plate, which was almost untouched, unlike the others. It looked like a bird had pecked at it, with little difference from when it was first served. Her face was slightly pale, and she seemed more drained than she had the day before.

‘She hasn’t been eating properly,‘ he thought, realizing how much this situation weighed on her. It wasn’t surprising, though—how could she not be troubled?

Talk of a broken engagement, the Count’s injury, and the cold treatment from her family—all of it was being directed at her alone.

“This place doesn’t work the same way as the capital,“ Eliana said.

“If you don’t have an appointment, meeting people is hard. Even if the physician had been home, he wouldn’t have let you in.“

“Why not?“

“Here, you can’t feel safe anywhere unless you’re armed. They won’t let you into their home if you don’t know someone.“

“I didn’t realize it was that bad. I knew it was a rundown area, but…“

“It’s not just monsters—people here are worse than beasts. You can’t relax for even a moment without a weapon.“

“I should have at least brought a dagger,“ Eliana muttered.

“Do you even know how to wield one?“

“Um… no.”

Now that she thought about it, she had noticed several rough-looking people in the restaurant. The thought that they could turn into robbers at any moment made her belatedly a little frightened.

“Sorry for making you worry, Calix.”

Calix glanced around as if on guard. His mere gaze made the people nearby quickly avert their eyes. Their body language seemed to indicate they had no intention of causing trouble.

Eliana let out a small breath, and the corners of her mouth, which had drooped, returned to normal.

Neither Eliana nor Calix said it out loud, but they both felt relieved at seeing each other. Eliana thought she was the only one who felt reassured upon meeting Calix, but he felt the same.

Calix had assumed that Eliana would still be at the Count’s mansion. He had even planned to share some information about the poison if she needed it. But when he heard from the butler that she had met a physician outside the capital, Calix bitted his lip in frustration.

‘She went to the monster-infested area alone…’

Having been in the area where he had made a name for himself, he knew all too well how dangerous it was. Eliana, as a person, didn’t fit in that place at all. The town wouldn’t be welcoming to someone so out of place. So, he had no choice but to postpone his duties at the Vartica estate and come to her.

“Excuse me,“ Calix called over the server.

“Please bring the menu again.“

“Wait, Calix, are you hungry too?“

“Not for me, for you. I’m ordering food for you.“

“For me…? But I already ate.”

Eliana was puzzled, but Calix shook his head.

“What did you eat? It looks like you haven’t touched a bite.”

“……”

“You ordered something too cold.”

Eliana looked down at her plate. As he said, the food was nearly untouched. Calix ordered her another meal, this time including a warm soup.

“By the time you finish eating, my men should have the right information.“

“Okay.“

“Just wait a little longer.”

With his reassurance, Eliana was finally able to eat. The meal she had with Calix present was very different from before. After finishing the bowl of soup, Eliana looked at Calix, who had come all this way just for her. Objectively, her situation was serious, but she didn’t feel hopeless anymore.

‘It feels so good to know that at least one person truly cares for me,‘ Eliana thought, realizing it anew.

“If it weren’t for you, from the hunting competition until now, I would have had a much harder time.”

Calix reflected on the past few days Eliana had endured: the Crown Prince’s announcement of the broken engagement, Rachel’s betrayal, whom she had trusted as a friend, and her father, the Count’s injury.

His help had been limited at best, but Eliana was genuinely grateful for even that tiny assistance.

“Eliana, what do you plan to do after the Count’s treatment?”

“……”

Eliana knew that his question asked how she intended to resolve everything that had happened. Amid the worst possible scenario, she was determined to carry out the resolve she had made since her return.

She had many things she wanted to accomplish—things far beyond the dreams she had once had.

“First, I’m going to accept the annulment.”

Her resolve was evident in her voice. Calix’s expression tightened slightly as if he could see all the consequences and turmoil this decision would bring.

TL NOTE: A more advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories.