Chapter 7 – Part 1

Cedric nearly rose from his seat, slamming his fist on the table. Eliana and Calix seemed to be doing this purposefully, flaunting themselves just to provoke him. Calix, in particular, acted as if he didn’t care about the consequences of defying the crown prince right in front of everyone.

The spectacle wasn’t just shocking to the two royal brothers—it caused a ripple of chatter throughout the hall. But as the music started, the murmurs were soon drowned out.

Calix Vartica and Eliana Leiberte looked into each other’s eyes, exchanging smiles as if deeply in love. Their laughter and movements were graceful as if the disapproving stares and whispers around them didn’t exist.

Cedric’s golden eyes focused intensely on Eliana. Her bold dress revealed her shoulders and cinched tightly at her waist, flaring out into a vast, flowing blue skirt. She looked far more radiant now than she ever had when standing by his side, and her face lit with happiness as she danced in Calix’s arms.

Her movements were elegant, her smile wide, and even Cedric, who had never been inclined to speak highly of Eliana, could not deny how captivating she looked. No one on the floor, not even the noblewoman, could compare to her presence tonight.

‘He can’t take his eyes off her. What is he thinking?’

Elesio noticed the tension in Cedric’s clenched jaw, the way the veins on his forehead became more pronounced. There was no need for Elesio to further provoke him—Eliana herself was doing all the work by simply existing and dancing in front of them. She knew it, too; she must have understood how much she was getting under Cedric’s skin.

***

At the same time, Rachel was also watching Eliana across the ballroom.

‘This can’t be happening…’

Seeing Eliana dance in Calix’s arms stirred feelings she couldn’t quite define in Rachel.

‘This isn’t how it was supposed to go. This isn’t right.’

From the start of the evening, it felt as if Eliana had been constantly interfering with her plans. Rachel had envisioned herself standing proudly with Cedric, admired by all the nobles, but before she could even make her mark, Eliana had stolen the spotlight.

‘No one is looking at her with kindness, yet she’s shameless enough not to care.’

Rachel trembled with frustration. If Eliana’s dance partner had been a lesser noble, Rachel wouldn’t have felt this anger. But Calix Vartica was the subject of admiration for every woman in Moira. That he was now standing by Eliana’s side only fueled her resentment.

‘She must have begged him to dance with her, just to save face…’

Rachel knew that Calix and Eliana had been close since childhood. The three of them had often played together, though Calix and Eliana always seemed to share something special, a bond that Rachel couldn’t penetrate.

“Rachel, imagine how hard it is for Calix. I want to support him, but I just can’t…”

Eliana had cried for days when Calix had gone into isolation. She’d even shared her sorrow with Rachel, telling her how much it pained her. And when Calix returned, Eliana had been overjoyed, practically buzzing with excitement. Even though the three of them were close, it always felt like Calix and Eliana shared something deeper.

‘A special friendship…’

Apparently, Rachel wasn’t the only one who had sensed that connection. Calix was now publicly helping Eliana reclaim her dignity, dancing with the woman everyone else avoided.

‘Doesn’t he care about his reputation? How could a man from such a powerful family dance with a woman like her, someone who’s been disgraced?’

Rachel couldn’t comprehend it.

‘He could have any woman he wanted, but he chose someone with as many faults as Eliana?’

Her gaze shifted to Cedric. He was staring at the dance floor, completely ignoring Rachel’s pleading look. His expression was dark, focused solely on Eliana.

‘Stop this. Make it stop.’

Rachel wished Cedric would intervene and use his authority as the crown prince to end the spectacle. But instead, he simply watched Eliana with a scowl, unable to tear his gaze away from her. The grand music continued, echoing around the hall.

Rachel couldn’t stand it anymore.

‘I have to do something.’

She stood abruptly, unable to stay seated any longer.

***

The dance felt far too short. When the music stopped, the thrill of the moment lingered in Eliana’s chest. Though the dance had ended, Calix’s strong arm still held her waist.

Calix gazed down at Eliana, his eyes softening like they never were with others. People often say that Calix looked as cold as a northern wind when expressionless, but his gaze was warm toward Eliana.

“Shall we go?”

Calix extended his arm to her, offering to escort her back to her seat.

As his arm left her back, she felt an odd emptiness, as though she had already become accustomed to his touch. That brief closeness had left a lingering impression.

Eliana linked her arm with his, and the two returned to her table. What had once been an empty spot was no longer. A servant from Calix’s house had already set up drinks before them.

“I didn’t expect you to ask me to dance,“ Eliana said softly.

“Really? The moment I saw you, I knew I had to.” Calix’s voice was steady, but his words carried an unmistakable warmth.

“…”

“I really wanted to dance, just with you.”

Calix replied. Though he didn’t say much, his words hinted that he was fully aware of Bonita’s conflicts and the sneering remarks she had made at Eliana. His support touched her deeply.

“You’ve really improved at dancing, Calix. When did that happen? I can’t even claim to teach you anymore,“ Eliana teased.

“You haven’t been secretly hosting parties at the duke’s estate without me?“

Calix chuckled at her joke.

“That’s right, I have been. I’ll invite you next time—just you, of course.”

Playfully, he added,

“Let’s dance again for the next song.”

His crimson eyes stayed focused on her even after they had left the dance floor. Eliana didn’t respond immediately but stared back into his eyes. Despite the rumors and criticism that indeed reached Calix, he treated her differently from everyone else. He didn’t pay any attention to the malicious gossipers and remained unwavering.

‘Could I ever do that?‘ Eliana thought, impressed by his strength.

“For the next song, too?“ she asked faintly.

“Of course. I told you I only want to dance with you.”

When they arrived at the Marquis ‘ estate, Calix had entered the bustling party hall. His eyes immediately found Eliana sitting alone, though she was conversing with people at the adjacent table. However, the atmosphere was far from friendly—it was more like a group surrounding her to watch her struggle.

Calix’s pupils narrowed as he spotted Bonita Meraine picking a fight with Eliana. He knew Bonita all too well.

Bonita Meraine

“Your Grace, would you like to join me for tea? I know a lovely café.”

“No, I’ll decline. I’m not interested in private meetings.”

“But I’m sure you’d enjoy it. It’s a luxurious, unique place.”

“I decline.”

Despite his clear rejection, Bonita had persistently shown interest in Calix. Eliana stood tall and confronted them, handling the situation with resilience, but Calix’s heart grew colder. His face turned icy as he watched from afar.

Eliana was no longer anyone’s fiancée, making her more vulnerable to attacks, which Bonita was undoubtedly exploiting.

After Calix finished the dance and returned to his seat, he glanced briefly at Bonita. She nervously watched his every move, so their eyes instantly met.

‘…!’

The warm expression Calix had worn while dancing with Eliana was nowhere to be seen. Now, he looked at Bonita as though he was on the verge of spitting words of contempt. Her heart sank under the weight of his glare.

‘Th-That’s not what I meant, Your Grace,’

Bonita wanted to say. She’d tried to speak with him at every party, hoping to get closer. Despite his cold responses, she hadn’t given up—until now. Today, she couldn’t even imagine approaching him. His eyes were so frigid they chilled her to the bone.

‘Why did I go too far earlier? What do I do now? I shouldn’t have said it so loudly…’

Bonita felt so amused by Eliana’s situation that she got carried away, raising her voice without thinking. The damage was done, but she couldn’t just sit there. She was about to say something, but Eliana, noticing Calix’s gaze drift, turned her head.

‘Ah…’

She spotted Bonita, who looked pale and regretful.

‘He’s upset about what happened earlier.’

It was clear that Bonita’s carefully maintained reputation had just crumbled. Having seen her usual antics, Calix had now witnessed the full extent of her behavior.

Calix turned back toward the stage, and Eliana followed suit. Their actions felt like a dismissal to Bonita, as though they no longer deemed her worth their attention.

Her face went ashen. Calix gave Eliana his time and attention, and it was clear from their body language just how close they were. The sight shattered Bonita’s spirits.

“The daughter of Viscount Meraine was quite rude to you earlier,“ Calix said coldly.

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