Chapter 9 – Part 6

“That won’t be possible,” Calix responded firmly.

“And why not?”

“You’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions in the future. There’s no rush. But for now, we must head out. I must escort Eliana back to the capital, so we must postpone tea, Aunt.”

“Escort her? All the way to the capital?”

Linda’s eyebrows furrowed.

Eliana had already been given a warm reception upon her arrival, and even though she didn’t need Calix to accompany her, his attentiveness made it clear how much he cared for her.

“Calix, you really don’t need to—”

“Let’s go to the carriage,” Calix interrupted her. He smiled softly, extending his hand.

“Give me your hand.”

‘He wants to hold my hand…?’

‘Should I? It would be rude to refuse since he’s offering it so openly.’

Eliana felt her cheeks heat up, especially with Linda watching her every move.

‘It seems I’ve gained another person who dislikes me.’

“There are a lot of stairs. You could twist your ankle if you’re not careful. Just take my hand, okay?”

Calix urged her when she hesitated.

Turning back, Eliana gave Linda a brief farewell.

“I’ll be heading back to the capital now. I hope we’ll have another chance to meet in the future.”

She placed her fingers in Calix’s hand. The moment she did, she heard a short, sharp tut from Linda.

‘She really doesn’t like me, that’s for sure.’

At the same time, Calix tightened his grip on her hand. Even though it was supposed to be brief, he didn’t let go, even after they had descended the stairs.

“Watch your step, Eliana,” Calix said, his voice gentle.

“Okay.”

She glanced back again, feeling Linda’s gaze follow her every step. Even after they reached the carriage, Calix didn’t release her hand.

Calix’s eyes lingered on their joined hands, taking in the feel of her soft, silk-like fingers against his rough ones. Even holding her hand made him feel a ticklish warmth, something he didn’t want to let go of.

Her words about leaving, about going far away, echoed in his mind. He couldn’t bear to return her to a place like Leiberte Mansion, where no one truly cared for her. But her eyes were filled with a longing to return to the capital.

‘No matter how often I ask her to stay, she won’t.’

By the time they reached the front of the estate, the servants, Lamot and even Thompson and Logan, had gathered to see Eliana off, just as they had when she arrived.

Logan observed the two of them carefully. Calix was looking at Eliana in a way he had never seen before. This wasn’t the look of a childhood friend nor of someone seeing off the former fiancée of the Crown Prince. It was far more than that.

‘Something’s different about him.’ Logan thought to himself.

Lamot, too, shared that thought. He had already heard a detailed report from the head maid that morning, including Cosette’s account of Eliana visiting Calix’s room in her nightgown the previous night.

‘How long were they in that room together?’

‘Cosette couldn’t remember exactly, but it must have been at least thirty minutes.’

When Lamot heard the story, a small hope began to bloom. He wondered if something significant had happened between them.

‘If it did, that would be wonderful…’

“Calix, can you let go of my hand now?” Eliana asked, bringing him back to reality.

“Alright.”

When she asked, Calix slowly let go of Eliana’s hand.

Hearing the voices of the two, Lamot snapped out of his thoughts.

“All the luggage has been loaded, my lady,” Lamot informed her.

“Thank you, Lamot. I had such a wonderful time. I feel like my cheeks have puffed up in just one day from all the good food. It’s all thanks to you.”

“You’re too kind, my lady. I only regret not being able to serve you better. Please visit again. We will always be waiting for you.”

Lamot spoke sincerely. Although Duke Calix rarely expressed emotions, Lamot could sense how much care he had taken before her arrival and how delighted he was when she visited. And now, Lamot could see from his gaze that he didn’t want to say goodbye.

‘The fact that he allowed her to enter this space, one he seldom opens to others, proves how special she is to the Duke.’

Eliana also greeted Logan.

“Let’s meet again, My Lord.”

“Yes, my lady. Here’s a small gift. I prepared it with Lord Thompson.”

Logan handed her a beautifully decorated box.

“What is this?”

Calix raised his eyes and looked at Logan. This was something even Calix hadn’t expected.

“It’s our local specialty chocolate, made with fruits from our estate. Since you baked such delicious desserts for us, we prepared several as a token of appreciation.”

“Thank you so much. I’ll enjoy them.”

Eliana said her goodbyes to everyone individually. As she neared the carriage and said there was no need to escort her further, Calix shook his head.

“I believe we already settled that.”

“When?”

“In my heart.”

“What does that even mean? You should listen to what I say.”

“This time, listen to me.”

With that, Calix ordered the coachman to head toward the capital. The carriage quickly sped off, and the landscape of the Vartica estate blurred as they left. While Eliana had enjoyed the visit immensely, it had also stirred many complex emotions.

“Don’t leave. I don’t want to let you go.”

Calix’s voice had been undeniably sincere.

When Eliana mentioned her future plans, his response evoked far deeper emotions than she had anticipated. Because of that, she had found it difficult to sleep the previous night.

Turning from the window, she looked at Calix. Their eyes met as if he’d been watching her the whole time.

“Are you thinking about what we talked about last night?” Calix asked.

‘How did he know?’

Eliana was slightly surprised.

“Can you read minds too?”

“No. I can’t do that. But the expression you’re wearing is the same as the one you had when it was just the two of us last night.”

“I see.”

“Have you changed your mind at all?”

“…”

“About not leaving and staying here instead?”

“…”

“If it’s a new life you want, you can remake it here, Eliana.”

Calix’s voice suggested that he had also given this much thought. For some reason, Eliana wondered if he, too, had struggled to fall asleep last night.

“In the Moira Empire?”

“Yes.”

Eliana let out a soft laugh.

“You mean this impenetrable empire.”

The Kynes royal family held an iron grip on imperial power. And Eliana was one of the nobles they despised the most. If Cedric hadn’t been the first to suggest breaking off the engagement, or if they hadn’t promised in the Great Temple to live separate lives, who knows what they would have done to her. If she stayed here, she’d have to keep facing their loathsome faces.

“I never want you to leave. I want to show you that staying with me can bring you happiness rather than letting you go alone.”

Eliana looked up at him at his low, earnest voice. Calix’s eyes no longer shone brightly, making his words feel even more heartfelt.

“Calix…”

Eliana didn’t know what to say, so she simply called his name.

“I thought about it all night,” Calix spoke.

“About what?”

“That there’s no clear reason between us for me to hold onto you more firmly. It’s frustrating. I wish there was something stronger than just the shell of friendship.”

“…!”

Eliana unconsciously swallowed as she met Calix’s gaze, which seemed to pierce through her. His expression, demeanor, and words all resembled confessions.

A confession. Realizing that time had shifted, the atmosphere from last night, when they were alone, had now seamlessly followed them into the carriage.

“You’re making me a little flustered by saying that.”

“Is it the first time a man has confessed to you?”

“…!”

“Yes, I’m confessing to you now. I want you by my side, not as a friend, but as something more special.”

Eliana’s eyes trembled.

‘So, this is why he insisted on accompanying me.’

The carriage, which wasn’t small by any means, suddenly felt cramped. Inside it, there were only the two of them.

‘I’ve imagined Calix paired with someone kind and him finding happiness, but I’ve never imagined myself as his lover.’

But it seemed Calix’s thoughts were entirely different. His eyes were fixed on her, filled with the desire to keep her by his side as a woman. His typically cold demeanor toward others was replaced by an intense demand in his red eyes, far more substantial than usual. It was an emotion she couldn’t easily laugh off or immediately accept.

Eliana lowered her gaze. Calix didn’t miss a single detail of her reaction.

‘Now that I’ve confessed, everything feels clearer than before.’

Calix thought.

‘I told myself I supported her decision to go to the imperial palace, but I never truly meant it. I just pretended. I can’t stand by and watch her leave forever to a place that might as well be another palace.’

Only now could he fully confront his feelings.

‘From the start, I was never satisfied with being friends.’

He had harbored feelings for her for a long time.

“This is too sudden, Calix.”

“A confession doesn’t come with a warning.”

“But…”

“I want you to be my lover.”

“Lover?”

Eliana lifted her head.

“I want to show you you can find happiness here without leaving this empire.”

‘Lover… with Calix and me.’

Even the mere thought of binding the two of them with such a word caused her heart to race in confusion and agitation, but Calix showed no signs of wavering. His gaze made it clear that no matter how she responded, his feelings wouldn’t change.

“I can’t say yes to that. I’m sorry.”

It felt wrong to drag this out any longer. Eliana quickly expressed her refusal. Neither Calix’s confession nor the thought of staying in Moira had been part of her plans.

Calix’s face slowly hardened. The sharp look on his face suggested that it might never soften again. Eliana felt a pang of guilt and couldn’t look away from his face, which twisted into a bitter smile.

A suffocating silence filled the carriage until they arrived at Leiberte Manor.

“We’ve arrived at the Count’s residence, Your Grace,” the coachman announced.

“Let’s get out.”

Calix was the first to step out of the carriage. He extended his hand to help Eliana down, and the touch of his hand, after his confession, felt even more delicate and complex. She became acutely aware of how gently he was escorting her.

“Thank you for bringing me here,” Eliana said somewhat awkwardly. Calix looked down at her. It seemed he had more to say, but he simply nodded.

Hoping he might say something else, Eliana didn’t immediately enter the manor and waited. But instead of speaking, Calix turned to reboard the carriage. Eliana would have invited him for a drink or rest if he had not confessed. Now, however, that didn’t seem appropriate.

“Um…”

Eliana called out to him, not wanting to let him leave just like that. Calix glanced back briefly but couldn’t find the words to continue.

“I’ll contact you later.”

As soon as he got back in the carriage, it quickly disappeared from view. Left alone, Eliana stood with her bag and the chocolates gifted by Thompson and Logan. Calix had just been by her side, but now that he was gone, a strange emptiness settled in.

‘He must be hurt by my rejection.’

She recalled his hardened expression after her refusal, so different from the comfort and ease he had shown when they were together. The disappointed look he had worn the night she told him she was leaving also crossed her mind. It was clear his feelings were much more profound than something he could simply brush off.

“Sigh.”

Eliana breathed heavily, her mind even more tangled than before.

When one person confesses and things don’t work out, it’s often hard to return to how things were.

Calix had been the only person in Moira she could genuinely trust. She had never wanted things to become strained between them, but now, nothing was certain anymore.

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