14 – Elena Chapter
＜Chapter 14 – Elena＞
On the day of the coming-of-age ceremony.
Elena arrived at the banquet hall early.
A dazzling decoration that pleased the eyes.
Beautiful music that delighted the ears.
Various foods that stimulated the nose.
Each detail was being prepared in the banquet hall.
Except for the most important guest.
“Elena.”
“Sister!”
Elena embraced Alencia.
“Your dress is getting wrinkled.”
“Well, what does it matter? I’m going to see people anyway…”
Alencia covered Elena’s mouth with her finger.
“Don’t speak in a weak voice. Nobility must carry themselves with dignity. Even in unfavorable situations, don’t show weakness. Straighten your posture. Put strength in your eyes.”
While speaking, Alencia adjusted Elena’s posture.
“Like a sister?”
…”
Alencia Vampirus.
From Noble mtl dot com
The second daughter of the duke.
Second in line for the succession of the dukedom.
Alencia was always compared to her elder sister, Benia.
As time passed, his strength only intensified.
Maintaining a poised posture, he focused his gaze.
His voice carried authority.
Cold. Calm. Ruthless. Despite various words following, he paid them no mind.
There was no time to be swayed by rumors.
He had to move forward.
To defeat Benia and become a duke,
To regain the honor of the vampire duke.
Prepared to sacrifice himself for the family, just like his father.
If necessary, he could change his personality.
“Sister, try this. It’s really delicious.”
Elena, who had regained confidence, said as she took a bite of dessert.
“Should I try it too?”
While enjoying dessert, two men entered the banquet hall.
“Brother! Grandfather!”
Elena placed her plate on the table and rushed to the entrance.
Alencia also prepared to greet the guests.
She strengthened her soft, curved eyes.
She tightly closed her lips, previously smiling.
Only after making all the preparations did she walk towards the entrance.
“Oppa! Grandfather!”
The moment we entered the banquet hall,
Elena came running.
“Elena, you’re an adult now too…”
“Not yet. The coming-of-age ceremony isn’t over yet!”
Elena hugged me again.
I gently patted her back.
After exchanging greetings between siblings,
Elena clung to Grandfather.
“Grandfather!”
“Hello there. Has our granddaughter been well?”
Thump. Thump.
I turned my head at the sound of footsteps.
There was Alencia.
Her white dress complemented her blue hair.
Her white face and red lips were harmonious.
Even with a stern expression, she was beautiful.
“It’s been a while, Elwin.”
“It’s been a while indeed. Lady Alencia.”
Bang! Bang!
“You! How long are you going to use formal speech? We’re going to get married, so treat me familiarly!”
“Ah… well…”
I should have clearly told her at that moment.
I missed the timing and couldn’t disclose the fact that I had broken off an engagement until now.
While I was contemplating how to explain,
Aurencia spoke first.
“Relax, Elwin.”
“Yes?”
What is she talking about now?
We broke off the engagement, so we’re not going to get married.
Then, rank takes priority.
Aurencia is the daughter of a duke, like the sky.
I am a lower-ranking marquis, far below her.
And even that is a precarious position.
“Relax.”
“Ah… yes.”
The conversation between the two of us was cut off.
Using honorifics made me conscious of my grandfather,
But I couldn’t speak informally either.
This time, too, silent eye contact continued.
Our eye contact ended only after Grandfather intervened.
“hahahahaha!! Our Alencia truly has a broad heart!”
“Grandfather!”
While my speaking is a problem,
What Grandfather does is a bigger issue.
However, Alencia received his words as if accustomed.
“Thank you, Grandfather Campbell.”
“Euhahahahaha!! When you get married, make sure to have lots of children. I earnestly request it from you! hahahahaha!!”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Grandfather laughed heartily and patted Alencia on the back.
“No! Grandfather! Please…”
I barely managed to stop Grandfather.
Elena also, with a surprised expression, hastily guided Grandfather inside.
“I’m sorry, Miss Alencia.”
“It’s okay. It’s not the first time.”
“Wasn’t it the first time…? Allow me to apologize on behalf of him.”
“It’s fine.”
Alencia straightened her dress, then moved her steps outside.
As she passed by, her pointed nose and clear skin became visible up close.
Excitement.
The heart, which I never knew existed before, beat strongly.
Four years at the Vampire’s Duchy.
I wanted to leave.
The aristocratic power struggle didn’t suit me.
I wanted to distance myself from Alencia, who treated me coldly.
But,
Did she feel any affection during our time together?
Now, I didn’t want to part with Alencia.
I wanted to stay together a little longer.
“Lady Alencia.”
Alencia stopped walking and turned her head.
Her face was still beautiful.
Excitement.
My brain quickly worked.
Since I couldn’t say I wanted to be together, I had to find another excuse.
And my brain succeeded.
In an instant, I found a reason.
“I don’t know if you’re aware, but there’s a banquet at the Frontier today. Everyone who’s anyone will be attending. So, Lady Alencia, wouldn’t you like to grace the event with your presence?”
After saying it, I immediately regretted it.
The cold Alencia wouldn’t grant such a favor.
I was too hasty.
It was a method that didn’t consider Alencia’s personality.
I hurriedly spoke, “No, if you’re busy…”
“Alright.”
“What?”
“I’ll light up the place.”
Alencia passed by me again.
This time, she moved inside, not outside.
She went to Grandfather and Elena,
engaging in conversation. Smiling.
‘She smiles?’
When I first met Alencia,
back then, she smiled beautifully too.
She smiled at me.
As time passed,
her laughter disappeared.
She seemed to show no laughter to anyone.
Because she was the cold Alencia.
‘Could she really smile like that?’
Was it only to me that she didn’t smile?
While easily smiling at others?
It inexplicably hurt my chest.
During our conversation,
the time for the initiation of adulthood was drawing near.
The closer it got, the darker Elena’s expression became.
On the day of initiation, parents give compliments and gifts.
This applies to guests as well.
Especially for nobles, it is also an event to showcase their power.
Connections were an important measure of influence.
‘If only I had influential connections.’
Not just anyone can be invited, but family guests are recognized.
The family’s influence was essentially one’s own power.
The problem is, I have almost no connections.
If there’s anyone I know…
It would be Alensia here.
‘But Elena doesn’t have any guests either?’
Elena is a student of the gray tower.
I’ve been there a bit, so I know there are grades and classes.
Then it’s likely that there will be classmates.
That even they don’t come.
‘Could it be?’
Elena gathered both hands and glanced at the entrance.
I placed my hand on my younger brother’s shoulder.
I could feel my younger brother startled, lifting his body.
“Elena, don’t worry. I’m here, right?”
I intentionally laughed loudly and chattered.
I brought a lot of food and ate it recklessly.
What if it goes against noble etiquette?
The banquet hall should be bustling to my taste.
Of course, the gaze of Alensia watching me like that was irritating, but…
Time continued to pass,
and the time for the coming-of-age ceremony approached even closer.
Fortunately, Elena seemed to have calmed down.
Even if it’s beyond anxiety, even if it’s resignation.
At that moment, there was a commotion at the entrance of the banquet hall.
After a while, the door opened.
And the banquet manager entered.
“Frontier Lord Pronter, please enter!”
“Father?”
“Daddy?”
It was someone I never imagined.
He always patrolled the territory to protect us from monsters.
I’ve only seen his face a few times in the six years I’ve been alive.
There was never time for conversations.
He even attended my coming-of-age ceremony as the lord of the castle.
Elena ran towards him with a face devoid of worry and jumped into his arms.
I was there too, and so was Grandfather,
but it seemed like he couldn’t provide the same sense of security as Father.
As Father and Elena separated,
I bowed my head.
“It’s been a long time, Father.”
“I see.”
Cold.
As expected, he was cold.
After exchanging greetings with Allensia and Grandfather, Father took his seat inside.
Elena clung to his side, despite his coldness.
“What’s so good about someone so cold?”
On the other hand, I could understand Elena’s feelings.
Cold as it may be, Father remained Father.
Different from the me that entered Elwin’s body in the middle.
Elena was happy when Father came.
She no longer felt uneasy.
As the situation calmed down, she went to Hans, who came with Father.
Hans had been looking at me all along.
“Hans.”
“Miss Soyoung!”
Elwin’s escort knight.
I had spent two years with Hans.
Until I entered the vampire duke’s estate.
“It must have been tough.”
“No, I learned a lot following my lord.”
“I see. Once again, my…”
Escort? Attendant? Friend?
While contemplating the appropriate word, Hans spoke up.
“I came here because of that incident. My lord sent me to you, Miss Soyoung.”
“What!? Is it true!?”
I had sent numerous letters asking to send Hans.
I thought they were continually ignored and rejected.
However…
“Father. Could it be that you are actually a warm person?”
Thump.
Hans saluted.
“Lady So Yeong, will you give me another chance to escort you?”
“Of course. I’ll leave it to you from now on.”
At that moment,
The doors to the banquet hall opened again.
A boy who had not yet had his coming-of-age ceremony entered.
“Introducing Mr. Geoffrey Callas, the eldest son of the Callas artisan!”
