Bailonz Street 13

“Calix!” she called out, but there was no response.

‘Did he take another path?’

The garden was large, and there were more than one entrance to the maze. Eliana knew at least three ways to get in. Calix was just as familiar with the layout of the Madrino estate as she was.

‘I should get inside first and surprise him.’

She stepped into the maze, hiding in the bushes and waiting to startle him. But after a while, there were no footsteps.

‘Hmm… seems like we missed each other.’

Realizing they had crossed paths, Eliana emerged from the bushes, brushing off the leaves from her hair and shoulders. She retraced her steps, glancing around the garden, eager to find Calix and share the fresh air and conversation she had in mind.

As time passed with no sign of him, Eliana began to feel a little anxious.

Rustle.

Just when she desperately scanned the area, there was finally a sound behind the bushes.

‘There he is.’

With a smile, she quietly tiptoed toward the noise, ready to surprise him.

“Here you are!” she exclaimed, pushing through the bushes with a playful grin. But her hand froze awkwardly.

“Oh…”

It wasn’t Calix in the bushes. Instead, it was a young noble couple she vaguely recognized. Though she had never seen them converse alone before, it was clear they were enjoying some private time. A blanket spread beneath them and two glasses on top made it obvious they were on a date.

“I’m so sorry! I thought you were my friend… I’m really sorry!” she stammered.

The couple was just as startled, staring at Eliana with wide eyes. Embarrassed, she quickly backed away.

“Really, I’m sorry.”

She hastily covered the bushes again, feeling guilty for intruding on their moment. Though she hadn’t meant to disturb them, it felt as if she had spoiled a precious moment of theirs. Judging by their flustered faces, it seemed like she had accidentally uncovered a secret romance. The least she could do was leave quickly. ŔÅＮɵ₿Ɛṩ

In her hurry to retreat, she stepped backward, thinking the ground was flat, but her heel caught on a stone.

‘Oh no!’

Losing her balance, she stumbled back. Just before she could hit the ground, she reached out into the air, squeezing her eyes shut in anticipation of the fall’s pain.

But the fall never came. A strong hand caught her, pulling her upright with such force that her body instinctively leaned into the person holding her.

“Careful.”

The voice was deep and gentle. Eliana opened her eyes, still startled, and found herself face-to-face with Calix. His crimson eyes were focused solely on her.

“Calix, where were you?” Eliana sighed in relief. She was comforted not only by his perfectly timed catch but also by finally seeing him after searching for so long.

“You weren’t there when I was looking, but then you suddenly appeared as if you fell from the sky.”

Calix helped steady her until she regained her balance. Once her head stopped spinning, and she straightened her clothes, he let go.

“Where were you?” he asked.

“I was waiting for you,” she replied.

“I was behind you the whole time.”

“Since when?” she asked, incredulous, to which he simply smiled.

“When you’re looking for someone, you should check behind you too, Eliana. You always look straight ahead—even when you’re running.”

“Did I really?”

“What did you see that startled you so much?” Calix asked, pointing toward the bushes Eliana had rustled through earlier.

“Was there a wild animal?”

The couple caught in their secret meeting had now become animals in Calix’s imagination.

“No, let’s just go somewhere else,” Eliana said quickly.

“Why? There must have been something strange,” Calix replied, looking like he was ready to dig through the bushes himself. Having already interrupted their moment, Eliana felt that protecting their secret was the least she could do.

“There was a giant rabbit, and it looked just like you,” she teased.

“What?” Calix scoffed at the ridiculous remark.

“Really, there’s nothing to see. You can’t look. Let’s go. The flowers I want to show you are over there.” Eliana grabbed Calix’s arm firmly. To her, it was a casual gesture, but for Calix, it felt different.

He stared at her slender fingers wrapped around his arm, contrasting with his strong build. Despite his curiosity about the “rabbit,” he let it go and followed Eliana.

As they moved to a new spot, there were fewer trees and more flowers, just as she had promised.

Eliana paused to admire the flowers, her gaze soft and full of affection.

“I should have matched your pace sooner,” she said, smiling.

“Who was the one that ran ahead without looking back?” Calix teased.

“I heard it was Eliana, the daughter of some count,” she joked, her playful tone bringing a smile to Calix’s face as he watched her.

“How are your reflexes so quick?” she asked suddenly.

“You mean catching you earlier?” Calix replied.

“Yeah. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve gotten hurt. Do you think it’s because of all the combat you’ve done? Maybe I should have learned swordsmanship instead of embroidery when I was younger.”

“It’s not too late, though there’s no real need for you to learn now,” Calix said.

Eliana looked puzzled at his words for a moment but then nodded.

“I suppose. After all, having a skilled knight by my side is faster than learning myself,” she said with a light laugh, but that wasn’t what Calix had meant. His eyes followed her movements carefully.

He had arrived at the maze before her earlier when she briefly disappeared from view. She had tried to hide, thinking she could surprise him, but Calix had seen it all. Even her confused search for him afterward, wondering why he wasn’t there.

‘So pure,’ he thought, amused by her bewilderment. When she had been startled by the couple in the bushes, he had almost jumped in to protect her. His comment about her not needing swordsmanship wasn’t because a knight could protect her better.

‘I want to be the one to protect you.’

Eliana, sensing his gaze, turned to find him watching her instead of the garden. Even in the dim light of the garden, his sharp features stood out.

“Are you not enjoying the garden?” she asked.

“I’m enjoying it too much. Time is flying by,” he said with a smile.

“Liar. Oh, by the way, I have something I wanted to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I… I was a little nervous earlier. Prince Cedric looked like he was going to cut you down any second.”

Though Cedric often spoke harshly, his threat earlier had felt genuine. Eliana knew well how jealous and wary Cedric was of those who had things he could not.

‘He’s the same man who couldn’t wait to get rid of Elesio, who was lower in the line of succession,’ she thought grimly.

The fact that Calix, who always stood by Eliana’s side and openly supported her, must have infuriated Cedric even more in front of the nobles. Eliana appreciated Calix’s support, but she didn’t want to bring trouble to the House of Vartica because of her, especially not to Calix.

Her worries stemmed from her decision to eventually leave Moira. She was already planning her departure, so she didn’t mind her own reckless actions. But Calix had his territory and people to protect in Moira. As she expressed her concern with a serious face, Calix only smiled.

“Is that why you were so serious? Just to tell me that?” he asked, his calm demeanor in stark contrast to Cedric’s earlier outburst, which only made Calix appear stronger.

He bent down slightly, bringing his face close to hers. His eyes scanned her face intensely, as though he could read emotions she hadn’t even expressed.

“Of course I was serious. I’m not worried about myself, but I fear you might suffer because of it,” she said.

Calix tilted his head slightly, knowing exactly what she was concerned about—the reputation he had built as Duke of Vartica and the potential for Cedric to retaliate against him more harshly.

But none of that mattered to Calix. It wasn’t something he had just started thinking about because of Eliana’s recent actions. He had long ago resolved that if it came to a confrontation with Cedric, he wouldn’t back down.

Though Eliana had no idea, Calix’s mind was already set.

“Eliana, do you think I should be afraid of him?”

Calix spoke boldly, clearly unfazed by Cedric’s petty threats of beheading. It was obvious that such childish intimidation couldn’t instill even a hint of fear in him.

“I’m not afraid of him. Not at all,” Calix said, his eyes glowing coldly under the moonlight. His demeanor had shifted entirely from the tender gaze he had shown Eliana just moments ago. Now, the imposing aura everyone spoke of—the one that made him seem so unapproachable—was beginning to resurface.

‘They say that when Duke Calix appears on the battlefield or in a dangerous land, not only the people but even the trees and birds tremble in fear.’

Eliana recalled those words spoken by Mila as they had rested in the inn while visiting Vero, the healer.

“Really?” Eliana had asked, wide-eyed and sleepless.

“Oh, absolutely,” Mila had replied. “They say with one swing of his sword, the head of a beast was severed clean. Even creatures that don’t understand human speech knew enough to run and hide.”

A figure feared across species. Perhaps, at times like these, Calix had that very same expression Mila had described.

“If he strikes at me, I’ll be eager to see how well I can fight back. Because I know I can match him,” Calix continued, his voice steady.

“Are you serious?” Eliana asked, surprised.

“Of course,” he nodded.

“Were you afraid when you faced Crown Prince Cedric?” Calix asked, his piercing gaze fixed on her.

Eliana shook her head.

“No.”

She hadn’t been afraid. Not in the slightest.

“Then we feel the same,” Calix said with a hint of satisfaction. Eliana now realized the depth of Calix’s feelings toward Cedric—much more intense than she had initially thought.

‘Perhaps he hates Cedric far more than I imagined,’ she mused. There was a weight behind Calix’s words, a deep-seated emotion that wasn’t shallow or fleeting.

“Does that answer your question?” Calix asked.

“…Yes.”

• Maxxxpen

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