Chapter 9 – Part 4

At the mention of Benroze, Calix’s eyebrow immediately raised.

“They wanted to send you to Benroze?”

“Yes. You might not know about its bad reputation…“

“No, I know all too well. And I also know there’s no reason for you to be sent there.”

“My parents should know that too, but they seem to think the opposite. If I’m not careful, I’ve felt they’ll force me into the academy before I realize it. Father thinks that if I disappear for a while, people will forget about the scandal. He believes that if I stay away from the capital long enough, I could eventually marry into a respectable family.“

Calix’s expression darkened.

While Eliana’s family didn’t seem to mind the idea of her being sent to that dreadful institution, Calix was visibly opposed to it.

“Eliana, don’t go back to that house.“

“Huh?“

“You don’t know what might happen if you return to a family that would suggest such a thing.”

“…”

“Stay here in my mansion. You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.”

His reaction was entirely understandable.

“I’m not someone who will let things happen to me so easily. I’ve already exposed Paul’s corruption to ensure my stepmother loses her influence. It’s caused quite a scandal at home. They tried to kick me out, but it turned into chaos instead.“

“I was the one who exposed Paul’s deceit, and he was the one who got kicked out. I appreciate your offer, but… I plan to buy a new house in the capital and focus on my investments rather than rely on anyone.“

“A new house?“

“Yeah.“

“There’s also a second Vartica estate in the capital. If you don’t like it here, you can stay there.”

Calix was willing to offer his current home and even another house. From the look in his eyes, it wasn’t just words of comfort.

Eliana appreciated the endless generosity he extended toward her. However, she couldn’t easily accept his offer.

She couldn’t stay in his house purely out of friendship. She was planning to leave, and the more she relied on him, the harder it would be when the time came. It would only make the parting more painful.

“Thank you for the offer, Calix, but I can’t.”

“Why not?”

He looked at her with eyes that insisted on knowing the reason, and that look made her feel guilty for refusing.

‘Is it time to tell him? That I plan to leave…?‘

“The truth is… it’s for the future.”

“The future?“

“I told you I had a lot of plans after the broken engagement.“

“Yes.“

“I’ve been investing in jewels to gather some seed money, and I plan to invest that in a mine. If the mining investment goes well, I’ll have significant money.”

He watched her intently.

“That money will allow me to live outside the empire. That’s my goal. I’ve been saving up to make that happen.”

With those words, Eliana revealed her accurate plan beyond just the broken engagement. Once again, she found herself confiding in Calix first.

Calix’s pupils narrowed vertically. She had expected him to be surprised and perhaps saddened, but his expression was closer to shock.

“You’re going far away?“

Calix’s eyes grew thin with discomfort, as if he faced something he didn’t want to accept.

“You mean you’re leaving. For good.”

“…”

“So all this time, you were working so hard for that…?”

He sensed she had a goal, but he hadn’t imagined it would be leaving the empire.

A cold feeling washed over him as if his blood had suddenly chilled. His mind went blank. The shock of her words hit harder than he expected. Calix could feel the stiffness in his expression, even without looking in a mirror.

Eliana sensed the heavy atmosphere as well. Just as her investment in rubies had succeeded, she was confident the mining investment wouldn’t fail either. With her knowledge from the past, she knew this plan was foolproof.

She would soon have a large sum of money. With it, she planned to buy land on an island outside the empire and settle there. This plan filled her with joy but also meant saying goodbye to Calix.

“Is there no way you could stay?”

He looked at her as he spoke.

“…No. I want to leave.”

For some reason, Eliana felt nervous as she answered.

Though her plan didn’t wrong him, she still felt cautious.

“I only just started having the chance to talk to you…”

“…”

“I don’t want to let you go.”

His eyes were filled with sadness.

It hadn’t been long since they had rekindled their friendship, and now she was talking about leaving. Of course, he would feel disappointed. But it seemed his disappointment was much more significant than Eliana had anticipated.

“I wish you wouldn’t leave. Not anywhere.”

She couldn’t even bring herself to mention the distant Nisios Island. Calix was making it clear with his whole being that he didn’t want her to go.

Nisios Island was quite far from the Moira Empire.

In fact, it was nearly impossible for a non-royal citizen to get permission to leave the empire. The imperial family of Moira hated the idea of their people living outside their control. They wanted their citizens to live and die in the empire as personal property.

“Calix, I’m not saying I’ll leave right away.”

Even though many formalities were needed before she could go, Calix looked at her as if she would disappear at any moment.

“Do you despise this empire that much?“

“…It has only ever hurt me.”

Cedric Kynes had been the wall between them in the past. Now that wall was gone, Eliana talked about going even farther away.

It would have felt like a separation if she had lived in the palace, too, as he would rarely see her outside of official events. But now, she was saying she would leave the empire altogether.

“Hah.”

Calix let out a short sigh without realizing it.

Ever since the party at the Lequizet estate, Eliana had been constantly on the move. She hadn’t stayed in one place and stirred up several things.

Her talk of leaving wasn’t just an idle remark. She said it wasn’t immediate, but she would do it soon. Finally, Calix understood why Eliana had encouraged him to dance with the daughters of other noble families at the Madrino party.

‘Because she was already planning to leave.’

She knows she won’t be here in the future and wants someone else to fill her shoes. In her own way, she sees this as a way to take care of him and let go of his burdens.

“So that’s why you kept urging me to dance with other noblewomen, Eliana. You were worried no one would be left by my side once you were gone.”

Calix placed a hand on his forehead and lightly shook his head.

“Yes, that’s why, Calix.”

At her response, he raised his gaze, meeting her eyes.

“I’m sorry I startled you. I know it was a sudden topic.”

Now filled with a deeper heaviness, his red eyes focused on her. It wasn’t just disappointment in his gaze.

“It wasn’t just sudden, Eliana. It’s something I didn’t want to hear.“

“I understand. I know. I’m not saying I’ll leave right now. I haven’t even completed a fraction of my plans.“

“It sounds like you’ll leave without hesitation once that fraction is fulfilled.“

“…This is something I’ve always wanted. I wanted to live as a new version of myself.”

After all, she had a second chance at life.

“You didn’t want anyone to know who you really were?”

He hit the mark.

That was precisely what she wanted. She desperately wished to escape the passive, controlled life of Eliana Leiberte. On Nisios Island, she could even use a different name.

“Does that include me?“

“…What?“

“Do you want me to forget you, too?”

Eliana hadn’t considered that possibility before, but Calix’s serious question made her reflect. He wasn’t part of the group she wanted to escape.

“You never made me miserable; you never made me sad.”

“Eliana! Can’t you stay quiet? You’re disturbing Paul and Sylvia.”

“Eliana, you need to be more composed. Don’t embarrass His Highness!”

“Eliana, you’re utterly disgusting. Know your place.”

The voices that had commanded her endlessly and weighed on her so much made her want to abandon even her own name. Everything in her surroundings became detestable.

Calix stood up from his seat, and her gaze naturally followed him.

He approached and sat down next to her in the empty space. Up close, she could see how her words had affected him even more clearly.

“I want to keep calling you Eliana by your side. So, don’t go.”

“…”

“Stay with me.”

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